The Types of Concrete Grinder

2021-07-06

A concrete grinder is a finishing tool used to perform the process of grinding and leveling concrete surface to provide a smooth finish. Concrete grinders use horizontally rotating discs to perform a multitude of tasks, from light texturing to open the pores of the surface to removal of paints and thin coatings. The key to their versatility are the grinding attachments, which are available in a variety of types and grits to suit different applications. The concrete grinder can be used as surface preparation tool, aggressive coating removing tool and concrete polishing tool. Because grinders use rotary action rather than impact to remove material, the depth of material removal is depend on the type of attachment used. They generally leave behind a smoother concrete profile and when working on hard, dense concrete they may polish rather than abrade the surface.

Types of Concrete Grinders

The selection of concrete grinder is depend on the job to be executed and the type of material to be removed. The two main concrete grinder types are:

Hand-Held Concrete Grinders

Walk Behind Concrete Grinders

1. Hand-Held Concrete Grinders

A hand-held grinder is used to grind concrete surfaces at the corners and tight areas. And it used in areas where walk-behind grinders cannot be easily reached for grinding. It can also be used to remove bumps, form marks, and graffiti from vertical surfaces or to grind concrete countertops. Like the large grindrer, hand-held grinder come with a selection of grinding accessories and can be hooked up to an industrial vac for dust control. The grinding process creates large amount of dust which is taken out through a shroud and extraction hose attached to the tool unit.

2. Walk Behind Concrete Grinders

A walk behind grinder is a large concrete grinder unit that helps to grind the larger areas of concrete. For floor and slab surfaces, you can find walk-behind grinders ranging in size from single-disc units for working in small or restricted areas to dual-disc, triple-disc or even four-disc machines for high-production grinding of large slabs. Disc rotation speeds range from about 250 to over 3,000 rpm. On multiple-disc units, the discs usually are counter-rotating to provide balanced torque so the grinder won't pull from side to side.

For more even grinding, some grinders are also equipped with floating heads that will follow the contour of the floor and adjustable rear wheels to keep the grinding discs level. Generally, walk behind grinders offer a choice of power options, including electric, gasoline and propane. Most grinders are equipped with vacuum ports for dust-free dry grinding. Some also include water mist systems so they can be used with wet or dry cutting attachments.