Concrete grinder
Encyclopedia
A concrete
grinder can come in many configurations, the most common being a hand-held Angle grinder
, but it may be a specialized tool for countertop
s or worktops. There are also purpose-built floor grinders that are used for grinding and polishing marble, granite and concrete. Machines that grind concrete floors are usually made to handle much more stress and will have more power to drive the unit as concrete has a much higher sliding friction than marble or granite which is also worked wet, therefore with less friction. In fact some types of marble will spark when it is ground dry, causing deep damage to the marble surface.
All concrete grinders use some sort of abrasive to grind or polish such as diamond tools or Silicon carbide
. The diamond tools used for grinding are usually diamond grinding cup wheel
s, and for polishing are usually diamond polishing pads.
Concrete is usually ground dry for convenience, because it can be done with fewer people than wet grinding although a HEPA
filter-equipped vacuum is needed to capture the fine dust produced. Of course concrete can also be ground wet in which case no vacuum is used.
Fine concrete dust contains silica which is very harmful to the lungs and can lead to silicosis
so all effort should be made to avoid breathing concrete dust. For green building methods many have seen the benefit of using concrete grinders that are designed for wet grinding. These machines do not require electricity and are run on alternative fuels.
The picture on the right is an example of a concrete floor grinder. This is a Levetec three-head planetary grinder, which has a three-phase motor and will run on single or three phase power.
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
grinder can come in many configurations, the most common being a hand-held Angle grinder
Angle grinder
An angle grinder, also known as a side or disc grinder, is a handheld power tool used for cutting, grinding and polishing.Angle grinders can be powered by an electric motor, petrol engine or compressed air. The motor drives a geared head at a right-angle on which is mounted an abrasive disc or a...
, but it may be a specialized tool for countertop
Countertop
Countertop usually refers to a horizontal worksurface in kitchens or other food preparation areas, bathrooms or lavatories, and workrooms in general. It is frequently installed upon and supported by cabinets...
s or worktops. There are also purpose-built floor grinders that are used for grinding and polishing marble, granite and concrete. Machines that grind concrete floors are usually made to handle much more stress and will have more power to drive the unit as concrete has a much higher sliding friction than marble or granite which is also worked wet, therefore with less friction. In fact some types of marble will spark when it is ground dry, causing deep damage to the marble surface.
All concrete grinders use some sort of abrasive to grind or polish such as diamond tools or Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide , also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon with chemical formula SiC. It occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite. Silicon carbide powder has been mass-produced since 1893 for use as an abrasive...
. The diamond tools used for grinding are usually diamond grinding cup wheel
Diamond grinding cup wheel
A diamond grinding cup wheel is a metal-bonded diamond tool with diamond segments welded or cold-pressed on a steel wheel body, which usually looks like a cup...
s, and for polishing are usually diamond polishing pads.
Concrete is usually ground dry for convenience, because it can be done with fewer people than wet grinding although a HEPA
HEPA
High-Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA is a type of air filter. Filters that are awarded the HEPA accolade are used in various locations, whether in medical facilities, automotive vehicles, airplanes, home filters, or wherever very pure air is sought. The filter must satisfy certain standards of...
filter-equipped vacuum is needed to capture the fine dust produced. Of course concrete can also be ground wet in which case no vacuum is used.
Fine concrete dust contains silica which is very harmful to the lungs and can lead to silicosis
Silicosis
Silicosis, also known as Potter's rot, is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs...
so all effort should be made to avoid breathing concrete dust. For green building methods many have seen the benefit of using concrete grinders that are designed for wet grinding. These machines do not require electricity and are run on alternative fuels.
The picture on the right is an example of a concrete floor grinder. This is a Levetec three-head planetary grinder, which has a three-phase motor and will run on single or three phase power.