Coating Removal vs Concrete Prep Tool Finish differences?

[Colin Len]

I'm wondering if anyone out there can fill me in on what the surface is like after using each of these two tools (the ones rented from Home Depot). How rough is the surface when done? Is there circular scarring? I'm trying to decide which one I should rent (or if I should rent both). Specifically I'm hoping one of these will match the finish I am getting from my 4" diamond cup wheel + angle grinder as I'm really liking the result. I just don't want to grind the whole area with a 4" grinder.

My front porch has about 3-5 coats of paint on it and I want to strip the paint and then seal the concrete. Not looking for it to be perfect like a polished concrete floor, just bare concrete instead of painted. But I don't want it to be a really rough surface with huge circular scarring from a grinder. So far with the diamond cup wheel I'm able to get it sufficiently smooth and finished well to my liking. I'd like to use the "coating removal" tool to get rid of the paint but I'm not sure what the resulting finish will be like. If I need another level of prep then I'm just worried the "concrete prep" tool may be too aggressive if the whole point is to rough the surface for epoxy adhesion.

Any help is greatly appreciated, close up photos of what the conc surface looks like after each of these tools would be great too!

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

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[Colin Len]

Colin Len - how big is your front porch? If you're getting nice results with what you're doing, it might be worthwhile just going with what has been working.

It's not huge (~100sqft) so using the 4" grinder is on the table as an option. The other issue is that the grinder gives a great finished surface but it doesn't really like to cut thru the paint so it's fairly time consuming. If it was bare conc and I was just giving a light grind to the surface it'd be a lot faster. This is what got me thinking about using the "coating removal" tool since that's what it's made to do. Plus, I just figure it may be smarter to rent the bigger tool (work smarter, not harder). And, depending on how the result turns out I may try the finish on my back patio too which is larger and I definitely wouldn't want to do 4" at a time.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Mastic removal tool has fewer teeth, allowing the teeth to cool between strikes. Slower pace, less life from teeth but more aggressive.

Either will leave an acceptable surface for coatings.


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[SunsetsAndFriends]

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[Colin Len]

Mastic removal tool has fewer teeth, allowing the teeth to cool between strikes. Slower pace, less life from teeth but more aggressive.

Either will leave an acceptable surface for coatings.


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I don't plan to use a "coating" with any kind of build that would need a rough surface. Thus why I'm specifically looking to match the finish I'm getting with my diamond cup - which is pretty smooth. I still need to research which product I plan to use but I'm pretty sure it'd be one that soaks into the concrete instead of adding thickness on top.

So the coating removal tool will leave a more aggressive/rough finish?

A Diamabrush attachment for a 7" angle grinder would work. I don't know if they make a smaller one. For less than 100 sq ft, I don't know that you really want a walk behind machine anyway, especially if you don't already own it.

I suppose I could use this as an excuse to buy a tool but I don't see myself having many uses for a 7" grinder. The 7" diamabrush attachments are expensive and when combined with a new grinder this will be more expensive than renting.

And remember, I may want to do this same finish on the back patio (which is larger) so I'd like to find one solution for both (if possible).

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

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[Colin Len]

Well, two tool rentals will cost more than buying a 7" grinder and 7" Diamabrush. Also, when you own the tool, you can work at your pace.

I figured if it worked on the front I'd just move to the back and do that on the same day. The total area isn't too bad so I should be able to knock both out in a day pretty easily.