If you use an angle grinder to grind concrete, later on if you need to cut concrete, bricks, metal, plastic and more, you just need the right blade and you can use your angle grinder again. For some projects an angle grinder is the only option for grinding concrete such as polishing concrete bench tops, sculptures, or walls. Yes, you can safely use your angle grinder to level concrete flooring and remove paint, thin-set, or other obstacles that have hardened onto the base.
When you’re done reading this article, you’ll know how to choose the concrete planer or grinder for your needs. A concrete planer is a concrete prep machine that uses rotating cutting tools to scar, remove and smoothen the surface of the concrete. A concrete grinder is a walk-behind machine that cuts into the surface of concrete up to 1/8 inch.
Yes, a concrete grinder can be expensive, especially the best concrete grinder, but it’s well-worth the cost in the end. Although there are many different names for concrete grinder, including concrete planers, scarifiers, milling machines, surface planers, etc. Makita PC5000C Five-Inch Concrete Planer – Best Handheld Concrete Planer Best Feature: Constant Speed Under Load. This concrete planer is so pretty in its aqua blue jacket and matching metal carrying case that you won’t want to get it dirty.
To help you determine which machine you need to have ready for your next project, we’re looking at how to choose between a floor grinder and a scarifier. As we mentioned, choosing between a floor grinder or a concrete scarifier is dependent on what your goal is. To find the right floor grinder or scarifier for your business, reach out to a member of our customer service team.
“Nope gotta get the right blade… Just cut up a concrete bathroom floor that is about 2″-ish thick with tiles on top… like butter on the 4.5 grinder with a 5″ blade, no guard … but because it’s electric and not water proof… lets say dust are all over but cuts like butter for $40/10pk and only have used 1/2 of it’s life. I did use the Dewalt industrial version of the grinder… I have cut 5″ concretes with a 7″ HF grinder and a 6” Dewalt blade… those blade makes a huge differences.
If you have to cut concrete or do a heavy amount of grinding a 9 Inch grinder is a lot faster and more suitable for the job compared to a smaller handheld grinder. A 9-inch angle grinder with a cup stone attachment will do nicely for grinding concrete and leveling bumps in concrete floors. If you need to do a lot of refinishing work on a floor, you might be better off using a dedicated floor grinder instead. These tools will grind concrete much more quickly than by hand.
Concrete scarifiers are highly versatile and efficient machines, removing large quantities of concrete with little effort on your part. Use a concrete scarifier to quickly attack high spots along walkways, cutting away concrete to level the sidewalk and minimize or eliminate trip hazards. You can use a concrete scarifier to smooth uneven areas and create a level surface ready to be finished with a topcoat or further smoothed with a grinder.
angle grinder vs concrete planer Related Question:
What is the difference between a concrete grinder and a concrete planer?
Scarifiers, also called concrete planers or milling machines, remove concrete faster and more aggressively than grinders. That’s because they use the pummeling action of multi-tipped cutting wheels, or flails, that rotate at high speeds to chip away at the concrete surface.
Can I grind concrete with an angle grinder?
An angle grinder can be used to level, smooth and polish concrete by grinding it down. They can also be used to remove paint and floor adhesives. To grind concrete with a angle grinder you need a diamond cup wheel, a dust shroud attachment, and a vacuum cleaner.
Can you use a planer on concrete?
Planers use multi-tipped cutter assemblies that rotate fast, chipping away at concrete surfaces and removing old coatings. Concrete planers are also versatile – some models are capable of removing up to 1/4″ of concrete in one pass, and some offer adjustable cutting depths.
Why do you scarify concrete?
Scarifiers remove concrete faster and more aggressively than grinders due to the pummeling action of the cutting wheels that rotate at very high speeds. The cutters chip away at the concrete leaving rough surface profiles for various purposes.
What does a concrete Scabbler do?
Scabblers use compressed air to hammer piston-mounted bits into the concrete surface. They tend to roughen the concrete surface more than grinding or scarifying.
How much will a concrete grinder remove?
How much will a concrete grinder remove? A grinder can take off up to 1/8 of an inch of material with each pass — less than a concrete scarifier, which cuts into surface coatings and the underlying concrete and can cut about 1/4 of an inch with each pass.
Can you grind concrete smooth?
If you have any type of concrete surface, it can be smoothed with a concrete grinder to achieve the desired look using common concrete grinding techniques. A concrete grinder is an abrasive tool working with a diamond attachment.
Can I sand concrete instead of etching?
Yes, you will need to grind in order to remove the sealer at the surface and provide a proper profile for the coating. You cannot acid etch. The reason is that the sealer prevents the acid from reacting with the minerals in the concrete since the concrete is sealed.
How long does it take to grind concrete?
Most people will perform a grinding process on a two-car concrete garage floor in about two hours. However, this does not include the time spent working on the edges. You can use a smaller grinder for the hard to reach areas near the walls and in the corners.
Can you grind concrete down 1 2?
A small planetary concrete grinder with basic grinding tools will remove around 1/16” of the concrete in 1-2 passes in a normal situation. You might be able to remove more – 1/8” if use a heavier concrete grinder and more aggressive PCD tools. In fact, an angle grinder with a cup wheel will do the best job.
When should you scarify concrete?
To be specific, scarifying is great when you need to cut deeper than ⅛ of an inch into the concrete. These projects often involve stripping away old coatings (like epoxy or paint), or leveling the concrete so it can be textured by shot or sandblasting.
Can you use a concrete planer on asphalt?
Concrete grinding removes surface coatings without heavily impacting the concrete underlayer. It is often used to level concrete and asphalt, remove trip hazards on sidewalks, create sidewalk grooves and remove heavy-duty overlays and hard industrial coatings.
How do you smooth a rough concrete basement floor?
To smooth a rough concrete slab, you will need to brush off all debris with a broom, then wash away the grime with a mop using neutral cleaner and warm water. Next, you will want to identify the areas with cracks or misshapen areas.
What are lawn scarifiers?
A lawn scarifier, sometimes referred to as a ‘dethatcher’, is a garden tool that is designed to cut through the soil, helping to remove dead moss and other debris like grass cuttings.
What is shot blasting concrete?
Shot blasting concrete is a resurfacing process that uses metal beads “shot” out of a machine to “blast” away tough debris and contaminants. It’s a comparable method to sand blasting, but it provides a much more powerful clean due to the size and speed of the metal pellets.
