When it comes to grinding and polishing concrete, one of the questions we are frequently asked is if it’s better to use water or is dry grinding the better option. The short answer is “Use water.” The next question is “Why?” and so we’re going to break down why it’s better to use water to polish concrete and also when there are exceptions to the rule.
Wet Grinding Improves Performance
The number one reason is that using water to with a concrete grinder on a slab improves the performance and outcome, and this may be all the reason you need. Using water adds lubrication between the tooling and slab, reducing heat and friction. This leads to getting a consistent scratch pattern across the slab, thus consistent results. If your next step is polishing, using water helps remove the existing scratches more thoroughly and quickly.
Using Water Prolongs the Life of Tooling
Dry grinding, especially if you’re not using the right bond for your slab, can close off your diamonds and keeping you from getting the results you need or taking a much longer time to finish the task. If you’re using resin bond tooling, the friction and heat from dry grinding can lead to the resin actually melting.
Using water keeps the tooling cool and the diamonds open which prolongs their lifespan. This saves you money, and because you’re getting good results, it also saves you time (which, in turn, saves money!).
Wet Polishing is Safer
When you are grinding dry concrete, you know it kicks up a lot of dust and particles into the air, and while a high-quality dust collector will remove much of the particulate, you and your team still may end up inhaling some. Wet polishing prevents dust from rising into the air and improves the air quality.
The concern here is with concrete slurry. Often, cleaning and disposing of concrete slurry is the bane of any wet grinding or wet polishing project. However, you can use a slurry solidifier to turn wet slurry into a solid compound that’s safe, easy, and efficient to dispose of.
Always Read Manufacturer Recommendations
When determining if you should use water when grinding or polishing concrete, the number one rule is to look at the manufacturer’s guidelines on your tooling. If they’re designed for dry grinding, run them dry. If they’re designed for wet grinding, run them wet. As long as you’re following the manufacturer’s recommendations, you’ll most likely get the lifespan and results you expect.
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Whether you need slurry solidifier, tooling, or even a new grinder, we have everything you need to get flawless results on your next concrete project. Reach out to our team today at (815)472-7944 or fill out our contact form to learn more about our selection, brands, and get a price quote.