Tools needed to polish concrete

You want to avoid a machine that leaves behind visible lines or striping. As in the Kung Fu example, the decision on the appropriate type of equipment for your needs starts with listening and learning. You must truly have an in-depth understanding of what your target market is going to be and the project size your company intends on pursuing. Purchasing equipment can be a huge capital investment, and the differences between some of the equipment can equate to tens of thousands of dollars. This is why it is imperative to understand who your clients will be and if you will be servicing the residential, light industrial or heavy commercial market.

When making such an investment, take into consideration that single-head machines can range in grinding widths from 20 to almost 40 inches. Obviously, the smaller machines are great for getting into tight and hard-to-access areas and fit through most conventional doorways. Conversely, larger equipment can almost double production rates on large projects, but they require higher voltage and three-phase power to operate. The reality of this market is that it is tough to compete with the big guys already established in the polishing world, especially when you are trying to get into this business.

Passive is where the drum is driven with a single belt, which means the drum is rotating but the grinding heads are just spinning freely and not being driven with a secondary belt. A true nonplanetary grinder is where the drum is not spinning but the heads are gear-driven. The grinding heads overlap each other. Some think that this type of grinding machines is better-suited for heavy bulk removal.

If you are not careful with this type of machine, though, it is very easy to get visible lines or striping, which makes it necessary to swing the machine side to side to avoid a corn row effect.

Of course, theoretically this means you would have to have a propane dust extractor too assuming you are grinding dry , since you would be defeating the purpose if your vacuum was electrically powered. Also, there are certain scenarios where the fumes from a propane-driven machine are not acceptable.

Does this mean most professional polishing contractors use one complete system throughout the entire process? The reality is, more often they do not. Each of the contractors was using a certain brand of grinding equipment with dust-extraction equipment and diamond tooling produced by a competitor. The best advice I can give to anyone considering diving into the polished concrete business is to do your research on the manufacturers and ask plenty of questions.

After all, would you buy a new car without asking any questions? The last thing you need is to make a large investment, only to find out that your equipment is not performing like it should or you do not have the market to support your investment. I know of two scenarios in which contractors tried to save a few dollars upfront and purchased equipment that performed marginally, at best.

A year later, they put their machines up for sale to purchase grinders that ran more efficiently and, quite frankly, polished a heck of a lot better. Fortunately for him, he was able to use his equipment on a weekly basis for prepping floors for cement-based toppings.

For the greatest versatility, choose grinding equipment that is universal, allowing you to interchange diamond tooling from other manufacturers. Here is a list of questions I recommend bringing up when talking to polishing equipment manufacturers:. This is the indispensable workhorse on any polishing project.

Look for a machine with a planetary drive system -- a large primary polishing head ranging from 17 to 36 inches in diameter fitted with three or four smaller satellite heads that hold the diamond abrasives. When the machine is operating, the satellite heads rotate in the opposite direction of the primary head to eliminate linear grinding marks in the floor. Buying tips: Floor polishers can weigh anywhere from to 1, pounds.

Heavier machines produce greater friction levels, resulting in a better polish. If you're polishing dry, be sure your machine is equipped with a built-in vacuum port to collect the dust.

Get various grit levels, ranging from about 16 to the higher the number, the finer the abrasive level. You'll need two basic types of abrasives: Coarse diamond segments bonded in a metallic matrix for surface preparation and initial grinding from 16 to grit and finer diamond segments embedded in a resin matrix for honing and final polishing from to grit. A concrete polished floor is cost effective solution that is also great looking. However, re-polishing your industrial concrete floor can be quite a tedious task.

You will need the right know-how and equipment in order to get the job done right. Below are five essential tools for creating the perfect concrete polished floor.

It is not only important to have the best grinders, but the correct weight and RPM of the grinder is also necessary for a good polishing job. Grinders come in various sizes and go up to 36 inches. The size of the grinder will depend on the area of the surface that a polisher will cover in one day. A diamond grinder equivalent to HTC is ideal for cutting and polishing floors. A grinder with a higher RPM is needed for polishing the concrete in the steps.

Having the correct cutters is equally necessary. The right cutters for the diamond grinder are just as important as the grinder. Each concrete floor is different and no 2 floors will ever turn out the same.

Our concrete polishing equipment rental rates are not only the best in the industry, but our equipment is far superior. Our support professionals are ready to assist you on a moments notice, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Your success is our success! Glossy Floors proudly offers the following services: Polished Concrete, Stained polished concrete, epoxy flooring, coating removal, surface prep, concrete leveling and equipment rental. As long as the concrete project is in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas or Texas we would be honored to work on your concrete project.