Can I "wet" polish concrete with this Orbital Sander?

[FTG-05]

I have this Bosch single speed random orbital sander/polisher: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-2...andom-Orbital-Sander-Polisher-ROS10/202242754

I use the "wet" in quotes since obviously I'm not running water through it like a +$250 wet grinder. But what I would do is lightly wet the surface of the concrete while I'm working on it. I'm not trying for a mirror finish, just smooth the surface up a bit. This would be for an outdoor concrete table top.

Would these polishing pads work? They have the velcro backing just like the dry sanding pads I get for this orbital sander.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056JHCPG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'm open to any other suggestions and/or comments (except for the obvious $250 option ).

Thanks!

 

[dutchgray]

Whilst I am sure it would work it will be pretty slow and most likely will ruin the sander, as the dust extraction system will pull the water into the sander body and whilst it isn't going to go directly through the motor its bound to get everywhere in time.

 

[mike93lx]

that is a really low power sander designed for light wood working. you will not enjoy it.

grab a cheap polisher from harbor freight and go at it with that.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I would get a $40 harbor frieght polisher. 7" pads will be easier to work with than 5" ones anyway.

I recently cut and polished granite countertops with Amazon purchased polishing pads, and I'll tell you that even the 50 grit pads are not very abrasive. They are for polishing, not for removing a significant amount of material. You'll use the 50 grit pad for 90% of the work, and then just polish the concrete with the other pads.

That being said, I was able to obtain "professional" results with Amazon stone polishing pads, so it will definitely work for you. You don't need an expensive polisher with water attachment, just spraying water on the concrete is enough. I like to use a Poweraid bottle with a 1/8" hole drilled in the cap as a spray bottle. You'll be surprised how smooth and shiny you'll be able to get that concrete after properly polishing it. Once its smooth, its not that hard to get a shiny finish on it with the 400 and 800 grit pads.

Definitely don't use the pads that work by hand, you need superhuman arms to use them for anything significant

 

[FTG-05]

Whilst I am sure it would work it will be pretty slow and most likely will ruin the sander, as the dust extraction system will pull the water into the sander body and whilst it isn't going to go directly through the motor its bound to get everywhere in time.

OOPS! Somebody failed to think about that!!!!

 

[FTG-05]

that is a really low power sander designed for light wood working. you will not enjoy it.

grab a cheap polisher from harbor freight and go at it with that.

When you say a polisher from HF, do you mean one like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-10-amp-heavy-duty-digital-variable-speed-polisher-62297.html

That appears to be for car paint polishing. Will it work with the diamond polishing pads?

Thanks!

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Get this grinder with variable speed can be found elsewhere cheaper.
http://www.toolocity.com/5-makita-angle-grinder-variable-speed.aspx

These pads and wheels

Pads
http://www.toolocity.com/4-hurricane-wet-diamond-polishing-pads.aspx

Pad holder
http://www.toolocity.com/4-back-holder-rigid.aspx

Or you could just use grinding flap wheels also. Depends how smooth you want.

When done you can use the grinder for other projects, the variable speed is very nice. Just run a sprinkler over your stone while polishing, keep the dust down.

 

[WWheeler]

If you can hook a shop-vac up to your orbital, like I can on my Dewalts but the dust extraction is round and made for it - not familiar with the bosch but that image looks like that might not be a possibility, I suspect it could work and that the water shouldn't be much of issue, especially if the job isn't too big. If I already had an old one I was ready to retire anyway or I got at a garbage sale on the cheap I'd give it shot before I went and spent any coin on something more suited for the purpose. If you do go that route let us know how it works out.

 

[FTG-05]

Found this yt video of a guy polishing concrete countertops with a orbital sander (around 15:40) albeit dry:

 

[FTG-05]

Just to let everyone know what I'm working on, here are typical pics of the concrete table top:

 

[WWheeler]

Just curious. What the hell is on the end of the chain through that eyebolt that you're trusting to support that thing?

 

[bczygan]

Just to let everyone know what I'm working on, here are typical pics of the concrete table top:

Wow!

What's the use going to be?

Bill

 

[barrybeefburger]

Just curious. What the hell is on the end of the chain through that eyebolt that you're trusting to support that thing?

Looks like a shooting bench?

 

[FTG-05]

Just curious. What the hell is on the end of the chain through that eyebolt that you're trusting to support that thing?

!/2" eyebolt welded to the reinforcing frame inside the concrete. That pic represents the 4th table top, all have been done using the same concept.

I delivered the 5th about a week or so ago.

It's now set up and hot to trot.

 

[FTG-05]

Looks like a shooting bench?

Win, win, chicken dinner!

 

[PhysicsDude]

When you say a polisher from HF, do you mean one like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-10-amp-heavy-duty-digital-variable-speed-polisher-62297.html

That appears to be for car paint polishing. Will it work with the diamond polishing pads?

Thanks!

That polisher will work with the diamond pads. With diamond pads, you can't put too much pressure on them anyway (the pads will start coming apart and the embedded diamonds will break loose under too much heat/pressure), so a slower less powerful polisher isn't an issue. The variable speed grinders and other tools made for concrete polishing are pretty pricey, as you've seen. A car polisher is a very similar tool for much cheaper.

It looks like you work with these concrete tables a lot, I think it would be worth investing in a tool to make polishing them easy. That sander will work, just not sure how well or how long. You might also look into getting 50 grit or 100 grit pads in bulk. The 400+ grit pads are useless for your application.

 

[FTG-05]

That polisher will work with the diamond pads. With diamond pads, you can't put too much pressure on them anyway (the pads will start coming apart and the embedded diamonds will break loose under too much heat/pressure), so a slower less powerful polisher isn't an issue. The variable speed grinders and other tools made for concrete polishing are pretty pricey, as you've seen. A car polisher is a very similar tool for much cheaper.

It looks like you work with these concrete tables a lot, I think it would be worth investing in a tool to make polishing them easy. That sander will work, just not sure how well or how long. You might also look into getting 50 grit or 100 grit pads in bulk. The 400+ grit pads are useless for your application.

Good stuff, thanks!