3 Tools For Grinding Concrete Floors
The key to long lasting epoxy floors is to remove the “cream” layer of concrete during the preparation stage. To do this right you’ll need at least 2 of the 3 machines we discuss in this article. DIY types can get away with a 10 ” floor grinder, and a 7″ hand-held grinder. For pros to get the job done faster or for bigger jobs, a grinder with a 18″- 30″ floor grinder, and a 7″ hand-held grinder is a must.
There are 3 must have tools to grind concrete floor to get them ready for epoxy flooring. We are going to cover what a Do-It-Yourselfer can get away with vs what a pro must have. And we are going to start by answering what concrete actually is, and what we mean by the “cream layer”.
What is concrete made of?
Concrete and cement are not the same thing. Cement is an ingredient in concrete. Concrete is made up of water, aggregate (sand and/or gravel), and Portland cement. This type of cement comes in a powder form, and acts as the glue, when mixed with water and the aggregates.
Removing the “cream”
Once this concrete mix is poured and troweled out smooth, the “cream” layer comes to the surface. This layer gives the floor a smooth, polished look. Well, epoxy does NOT like to stick to smooth polished fsurfaces. And so the “cream” layer has to be removed by grinding it down until the aggregate is showing, and the surface easily absorbs water.
These photos show the difference between a smooth concrete surface with few scratches in it, and what a properly ground floor looks like.
Slightly scratched floor.
Properly ground concrete floor.
Floor Grinder for the Do-it-Yourself type
As a home owner, you’ve decided against those DIY garage kits, and opted to do it right by grinding your floors. This is great news. Not only will you get hte satisfaction of doing your epoxy floors right, they will last upwards of 20 years!
10″ Wolf Pack Omega
If you are doing the floor in your garage by yourself, the 10″ Wolf Pack Omega is the perfect size for one person to handle. It weights 65 lbs, so it’s a bit hefty, but not impossible to load into your truck by yourself. The Wolf Pack Omega is powered by 110 volts, and runs at 6500 RPM, for easy grinding.
PurEpoxy carries the 10″ Wolf Pack Omega floor grinder for sale. Click here to check it out.
The OMEGA 10” Grinder is ideal for working in tight, small spaces. Utilizes 3 pieces of standard WOLF Trap tooling. Equipped with an port for dust free grinding. Folds down for easy transport. It also has a removable shroud for edge grinding.
Floor Grinders for the Professionals
17″ Wolf Pack Nomad
For the professionals that lay out epoxy floors everyday, the 17″ Nomad, by Wolf Pack Equipment is a good size machine for small jobs. The 17″ Nomad is the perfect grinder or scrubber for anyone in the industry. With a 17″ path, it can be used efficiently in confined spaces as well as tackling large jobs just as easy.
Although light weight and easy to transport, this grinder is incredibly strong and durable. Weighing in at 133 lbs, it’s best if 2 people lifted it into a truck.
PurEpoxy carries the 17″ Wolf Pack Nomad floor grinder for sale. Click here to check it out.
20″ Wolf Pack Warrior
The WARRIOR 20″ Grinder is the best quality, and lowest cost floor grinder on the market. The WARRIOR is built for edging, grinding, and polishing concrete floors. It has variable speeds, an adjustable handle, and adjustable head pressure.
It features an 8 gallon water tank. Running on 220 V, you’ll have to ensure you have the right power source. Weighing 330 lbs., you’ll either need more guys to lift into a truck, or use a ramp, or a Tommy Lift.
PurEpoxy carries the 20″ Wolf Pack Warrior floor grinder for sale. Click here to check it out.
25″ Wolf Pack Delta
The DELTA is built for edging, grinding, and polishing concrete floors. It’s ideal for both opened AND confined spaces. Built for low maintenance, the DELTA’s sleek, ergonomic design is perfectly balanced. Equipped with a durable, floating stainless dust shroud, and 3 flexible grinding heads. The locking adjustment handle means no pins to lose. The DELTA is operator friendly due to the easy to use control panel, built in tool box with tool kit, and 2 USB charging ports. Connects to Vac 3 for dustless operation.
The DELTA has a 7 gallon water tank. Running on 220 V, you’ll have to ensure you have the right power source. Weighing in at 681 lbs., you’ll defineately need a truck with a lift gate for this hefty machine.
PurEpoxy carries the 25″ Wolf Pack Delta floor grinder for sale. Click here to check it out.
27″ Wolf Pack Beta
The BETA 27” Grinder is ideal for both opened AND confined spaces. Built for low maintenance, the BETA’s sleek, ergonomic design is perfectly balanced. Equipped with a durable, floating stainless dust shroud, and 3 flexible grinding heads. The locking adjustment handle means no pins to lose. The BETA is operator friendly due to the touch “screen control panel, built in tool box with tool kit, and 2 USB charging ports. Connects to Vac 3 for dustless operation.
So, it’s almost the same as the DELTA. But the BETA has a 27″ working width, and it has a higher grinding pressure of 523 lbs, vs 456 lbs for the DELTA. Weighing in at 681 lbs., you’ll need a lift gate to get this bad boy into your truck. It also runs on 220 V, so you’ll have to ensure you have the right power source.
PurEpoxy carries the 27″ Wolf Pack Beta floor grinder for sale. Click here to check it out.
30″ Wolf Pack Alpha
The ALPHA 30” Grinder is ideal for both opened AND confined spaces. Built for low maintenance, the ALPHA’s sleek, ergonomic design is perfectly balanced. Equipped with a durable, floating stainless dust shroud, and 3 flexible grinding heads. The locking adjustment handle means no pins to lose. The ALPHA is operator friendly due to the easy to use control panel, built in tool box with tool kit, and 2 USB charging ports. Connects to Vac 3 for dustless operation.
The 30″ ALPHA is the widest working width Wolf Pack has to offer. It has all the features of the other grinders, but has a higher grinding pressure and is heavier. It also runs on 220V, so you’ll have to make sure you have the right power to operate the machine.
PurEpoxy carries the 30″ Wolf Pack Alpha floor grinder for sale. Click here to check it out.
5″ Hand-held Grinders
No matter if you are a DIY type or a professional, to get in the hard to reach places, you’ll need a 5″ hand-held grinder. We recommend the DeWalt concrete Surface Grinder Kit (DWE46253).
It features a brushless motor, requiring no brush changes. The Electronic kickback brake engages when a pinch, stall, or bind-up event is sensed, engaging with maximum force to quickly stop the wheel, reduce the movement of the grinder, and shut the motor off. POWER-LOSS RESET® – The ON/OFF trigger switch has a no-volt release function. In the event of a power outage or other unexpected shut down, the trigger switch will need to be cycled (turned off and then on) to restart tool. Variable speed functionality lets the user change wheel speed for applications as needed. DWE46005 bail handle (included) offers multiple positions for user preferred configuration.
Conclusion
We now know we must remove the “cream layer” of concrete to have a rough surface for the epoxy to stick to. A DIYer can get away with a small 10 ” floor grinder. While a professional has a choice from 10″ to 30″ floor grinders. And whether you are a pro or beginner, you’ll both need a 5″ hand-held grinder for those hard to reach places.
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