You know that the grinding and polishing diamond pads you use, coupled with your grinding and polishing pattern are what determine your results. Using the right grit, choosing the right bond, and following the set pattern of grinding into finer grits before moving on to high grit pads for polishing will get you the smooth, even surface and soft sheen or high-gloss shine you want. Because your diamond pads are so important, we wanted to shed some light on transitional pads and why you should never leave these key tools out of your grinding and polishing pattern.
What Is a Transitional Pad
When you’re using a concrete grinder, you know that in most cases, you have to start first few passes with an aggressive grind using a metal bond diamond pad in order to smooth out uneven areas. However, this kind of tooling leaves a deeper scratch pattern, so if you go from a metal grinding pad that cuts deep into the concrete to a resin polishing pad, you’re not going to be able to get those scratches out of the surface.
That’s where a transitional pad comes in. Typically, the diamonds are bonded with ceramic or copper, though sometimes metal, and they are the transition between a metal diamond and resin diamond tool that can eliminate the scratches and rough spots to get the surface ready for the polishing phase of the project.
While metal pads level the slab due to their rigidity, transitional pads smooth the slab. These pads have some flex and give so they move with the slab.
Choosing the Right Transitional Pad
At Buy Manufacturers Direct, we carry a wide variety of concrete tooling, including transitional pads from Inland Diamonds. Known for their commitment to excellence, Inland produces long-lasting, highly effective tooling that helps you get the best results for your work. To learn more or to get our lowest price on products, reach out to us today at 815-324-8071 or fill out our contact form to speak with a representative and get started.