The concrete grinders usually equipped with several applications. They can be used for removing the stubborn tile glue or vinyl glue. They can be used to smoothen out uneven surfaces in a concrete slab or even grind down a concrete slab to expose aggregate for a unique polished concrete look.
STEP 1 – Get to know the grinder
These are very powerful machines and these
machines are very dangerous. You need to ensure that you read the user manual
carefully and understand all of the features of the machine.
In most cases, the manufacturer might even offer a free course on how to correctly operate the machine to ensure you get the best possible results. You can search such videos online to learn the grinding process. But concrete grinding is a risky task and it is better to hire a professional service in this regard.
STEP 2 – Prepare the grinder
While initiating any major concrete grinding works, this is always a good practice to complete a full check on the machine. Ensure that cables are not damaged & that the extractor vents are completely clear.
STEP 3 – Use the correct diamond shoes
One of the most integral parts of
any concrete floor grinder is the well-made diamond shoe. These are the
diamond-encrusted metal shoes which are attached to the grinder.
Different types of Diamond Shoes:
- Floor
Polishing Shoes
- General
Purpose Shoes
- Carbide Shoes
Floor Polishing Shoes
Floor polishing shoes are usually of a high grit ratio and can be very relevantly used either wet or dry. This means you can wet the concrete surface with a hose in order to give a smoother finish during the grinding process. These shoes would generally be used to give you that much-needed smooth polished look for says the lobby of a hotel or bank.
General Purpose Shoes
These general-purpose diamond shoes are a great all-rounder. They are strong enough to remove tough epoxy, vinyl glue, and very aggressive concrete removal. They tend to have a #30/1 grit ratio and are generally the most used diamond shoes on the market because of their tremendous versatility.
Carbide Shoes
These particular diamond shoes are well-coated with very tough carbide, which makes them absolutely ideal for those tough jobs where you meet tough epoxy or glue that the general-purpose shoes will not move. These shoes will be moved through pretty much anything and make short work of the toughest glue removal jobs.
STEP 4 – Install new shoes each time
It is always best practice to install new diamond shoes each and every time you start a large grinding project. If you use the shoes from the last project then you run the risk of burning them out halfway through. Then you will have very different results when you install new shoes halfway through a floor grind.
STEP 5 – Dust extraction
During the procedure of grinding, the large floor grinders end up creating a massive amount of dust. If you do not want to contaminate other areas of the project, then it is a great idea to install Zip-Walls and has big Dust extractors attached to the Grinder in order to control the contamination. On say a 1,000 square meter project can produce 1,000kg of dust extracted depending on the level you intend to grind off.
Following the above steps to use a concrete floor grinder will help you in
achieving the most optimum output which is also very sustainable at the same
time. You can search such concrete floor grinders online and check their
features to choose the best one.