So, how are these areas addressed? Stand-up edgers are designed to prepare an edge. Once they are set up, they work well, but they do take practice to set up and use correctly. The grinding wheel fitted to a stand-up is also similar, if not the same. The grinding action is also like using a hand grinder.
A hand grinder is a valuable power tool. It can be used to perform many tasks. They come in two sizes, 7” and 5”. Seven-inch grinders are used to grind concrete. They spin at a high speed (7,000 rpm). The high-speed, low-end torque, weight, and grinding wheel size are designed to remove concrete stock. The 5” grinder/polisher is more for finish work. Yes, it can be used to grind but when used for honing and polishing it “shines”. DiamaPro Systems has the HGX-7 7” Hand Grinder, and the HGP-5 5” Hand Polisher.
Selecting a grinding wheel is the next step. You can choose the segment shape, bonding material hardness, and abrasive grit that fits your needs.
Types of Concrete Grinding Wheels
Unfortunately, there is not one grinding wheel that is a “do-it-all”. Fortunately, there are grinding wheels that are designed to perform well in any situation. They use a medium hardness bond to hold the diamond abrasive which works on all concrete slabs. Diamond abrasives are made in different grit sizes. The smaller the grit number designation, the coarser it will be.
The key to selecting the right grinding wheel is to have a guide to get you pointed in the right direction. DiamaPro Systems has done just that. They incorporated a pictorial description along with a written one to help make your choice easier.
- TURBO CUP WHEEL
- Ideal for leveling, removing coating, and grinding concrete.
- Aggressive scratch pattern
- Removes thin set, thin glues, epoxies, and urethanes.
- CONTINUOUS RIM CUP WHEEL
- Ideal when multiple grits are needed.
- Best cup wheel for concrete polishing
- Provides easy grinding and shaping of rounded surfaces, corners, angles, and edges.
- DOUBLE ROW CUP WHEEL
- Ideal for opening hard concrete.
- Overall great general-purpose cup wheel
- Grinds around drains and uneven surfaces without excessive gouging.
- ARROW SEG CUP WHEEL
- Extremely aggressive segment shape for grinding
- Use for coating, adhesive, thin set, and grout bed removal!
- Segment design splits and lifts materials from the surface.
- 10 SEG TURBO CUP WHEEL
- Ideal for leveling.
- Removing coating
- Concrete grinding
- Produces an aggressive scratch pattern.
- Removes thin-set and thin glue.
- Removes epoxies and urethanes.
- 20 SEG TURBO CUP WHEEL
- Ideal for grinding producing a smooth surface.
- Removes thin surface treatments.
- Removes thin set, glue, epoxy coatings, and urethanes.
- T SEG CUP WHEEL
- Aggressive “T” shape produces a clean, finished surface.
- Helps ending swirl marks.
- CONTINUOUS RIM TURBO CUP WHEEL
- Ideal when multiple grits are needed.
- Best cup wheel for concrete polishing
- Provides easy grinding and shaping of rounded surfaces, corners, angles, and edges.
- 8 SEG CHIP PCD ROUND CUP WHEEL
- Best tool for removal of heavy epoxy, coatings, mastic, glues
- Fast stock removal of concrete
- Scraping action reduces the gumming up of segments and maximizes production.
- 12 SEG CHIP PCD CUP WHEEL
- Best tool for removal of thin epoxy, coatings, mastic, glues
- PCD chip design helps reduce gouging.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Grinding Wheel
So, what needs to be considered when selecting a grinding wheel? You’d think it would be a simple process, but many factors are involved. The cup wheel needs to be compatible with the hand grinder used. The substrate is a factor along with the hardness of the concrete, the amount of stock that needs to be removed, and the desired final finish.
Hand grinders are produced in two sizes, 5” and 7”. The larger the grinding wheel that can be attached, the larger the grinder body. All varieties of available grinding cup wheels are produced in both sizes, but typically the 7” is used for grinding and the 5” is used for honing and polishing because they are easier to handle.
Although concrete seems hard, not all concrete slabs have the same hardness. It’s typically categorized as hard, medium, and soft. A MOHS Hardness Test determines concrete hardness. This test was developed for the gem industry. Diamond has a MOHS Hardness of 10, extremely hard, and talc has a hardness of 1, extremely soft. Concrete is remarkably similar. When selecting a cup wheel knowing the hardness can be invaluable. Using a soft-bonding matrix will work best for grinding a hard slab. When grinding a soft slab, using a hard bonding matrix is where you need to be. There are manufacturers that only produce cup wheels with a medium bond that will work well on most slabs.
As explained above, there are different segment shapes to choose from. Each shape has its own use. These segments are what hold the industrial diamond that does the cutting. Diamonds come in different grit sizes. The lower the grit, the more aggressive it will be. It’s recommended to start on the less aggressive side. The grinding wheel can always be changed to a more aggressive style.
Tips for Optimizing Grinding Efficiency
When selecting a cup wheel, the quality of the wheel is important. If you want a long-lasting abrasive wheel, buy one from a dependable supplier that only carries quality items. Niagara Machine sells diamond wheels that have been evaluated and approved by contractors that use them daily. They rely on quality every time they use it. It must perform the work most efficiently without breaking the bank when buying it.
Conclusion
Hand grinders are used on most concrete projects. If it’s to reduce a lip, smooth out a rough spot, or polish an edge, a grinding wheel will need to be chosen. Selecting the proper grinding cup wheel can be a daunting process. Terms such as grit, segment shape, threaded or nonthreaded, and bond hardness will be thrown around. Understanding the hardness of the concrete surface that will be ground will also help in making the choice.
DiamaPro Systems has the knowledge, quality, and inventory to guide you when buying the correct cup wheel. We have a vast variety of cup wheels available through our distributors found throughout the country. Give us a call before you start your next project and stock up on the most popular diamond cup wheels.