If you want a smooth, near flawless polish on a concrete slab there are two key components to making this happen. First, you need to have the experience and knowledge to know what steps to take, how to care for the concrete, and how to operate the equipment properly. Second, you need to use the right equipment for the task. Does this mean that a larger concrete grinder is necessary to get a high-quality polish?
How Equipment Affects Polish Outcomes
The key to getting the outcome you want on your polished concrete floor relies on using a proper diamond sequence and making sure the concrete tooling you use is the right type for the grinder you’re using. As long as you have a good quality grinder that you’re familiar and comfortable with operating and your diamond tooling is compatible with it, you should have no problem getting an excellent polish on your slab.
Using a larger floor grinder, such as the Prep/Master 4430 Electric Floor Grinder, will help you get the job done more quickly because you’ll cover a working width of 44 inches and has 8 tool plates. Compare this to the Prep/Master 2807 which has a width of 28 inches and only two tool plates. Both will get you an excellent result assuming you’re pairing the machine with the right tooling and following the proper pattern of grinding, densifying, then polishing, it’s only that the larger machine will get the job done more quickly.
Choosing the Right Tooling
So, if the diamond pattern and using the right tools to match your machine’s performance dynamic is what’s important, how do you choose the right option to go with your machine? First, you factor in the grit you need. Typical projects start with either a 30 or 40 grit for aggressive grinding and requires two passes. Next is a 60 or 80 grit, and gradually using larger numbered grit to represent the finer grind you are trying to achieve. Most polishing is done with a 1500 or 3000 grit diamond.
On top of this, you’ll need to factor in the bond that holds the diamonds and wears away through the grind in order to continually keep the diamonds open and exposed. A hard bond is ideal for a soft concrete floor while a softer bond requires a hard bond to avoid releasing new diamonds too quickly.
Get the Grinder and Tooling You Need
At Buy Manufacturers Direct, we have everything you need to get your next concrete project done right, from powerful grinders to tooling and accessories. Call us today at 815-324-8071 or fill out our contact form to speak with a representative and get started.