Floors for welding

[JackOfDiamonds]

Floors for light metal working

I build bikes. I have a metal lathe and I also do some rare arc welding but a fair amount of cutting and sanding. I can do the arc welding or oxyfuel cutting outside, but my floor will see lots of metal chips, sandpaper sand, oil drips... sweeping metal chips is a constant thing.

I'm thinking about epoxy or RaceDeck but how do they handle welding slag, chips, or sparks?

I'm guessing RaceDeck is no go for sweeping up chips, or welding slag but grinding sparks would be ok I hope?

What about epoxy? Will sweeping up metal chips ruin it?

 

[aventino68]

I would think anything getting molten metal dropped on it isn't going to cope. I had race deck and just swapped out the tiles that got too peppered with holes. I'm doing epoxy next and I'm assuming slag from metal work will cause a repaint in the future. Maybe keep metalwork in one corner so its a small repaint or tile replacement.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I would think anything getting molten metal dropped on it isn't going to cope. I had race deck and just swapped out the tiles that got too peppered with holes. I'm doing epoxy next and I'm assuming slag from metal work will cause a repaint in the future. Maybe keep metalwork in one corner so its a small repaint or tile replacement.

Well like I said I can avoid the slag. But sweeping up metal chips from the lathe and drill press has to be done constantly. I can't see race deck as something easy to sweep with a broom. So I think epoxy is my better option but it would still **** if hot chips can get embedded in it or be hard to sweep up.

 

[Snip]

I'min about the same boat, home metal fabrication and machine shop, along with working on motorcycles and some cars/trucks (would like to do a s-10/LS swap in the future). New shop will be aprox 2600 sf. I've been looking hard and following threads on a product called "HellFire"which would leave me with a nice silver/lt gray finish and is resistant to heat. My other option I'm considering is to just use a densifier and a good sealer leaving me more of a natural concrete finish. Decisions, decisions decisions,lol

 

[bad_idea]

I did epoxy in my last garage (cheap rustoleum kit) and it did not hold up. In this garage I went with GhostShield and it has held up well so far to the hot work. Oil drips lead to stains, it doesn't handle those well. Greatest selling feature for me was cost and ease to apply. My garage is a workshop first and foremost. I'm not concerned with looks but want it clean and functional. Ghost Shield has served that purpose well so far (2 years).

 

[twistedstang]

What in the world are you stick welding in your shop? Mig or tig would be way less smokey and dirty and way easier on your floor

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

At this point I'm sorry I said anything about welding because I can do that outside. My bigger problem is metal chips and sweeping up dust.

 

[frankd]

I have a plastic interlocking floor from bigfloors.com. It's not racedeck but the product is similar. I personally wouldn't recommend any sort of interlocking plastic floor in your situation. Leaks will seep through the floor joints and get under the tile. Metal shavings will also get stuck in the joints and be a pain to clean.
I'm very happy with my floor but wouldn't have installed it if the concrete floor was in good shape. Unfortunately it was patched, cracked, pitted, etc and the easiest and most cost effective option was to just cover it. I also don't do a bunch of work in the garage.
Any time I'm changing oil or doing any messy work I put a tarp down first to contain any spills/mess.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Re: Floors for light metal working

I build bikes. I have a metal lathe and I also do some rare arc welding but a fair amount of cutting and sanding. I can do the arc welding or oxyfuel cutting outside, but my floor will see lots of metal chips, sandpaper sand, oil drips... sweeping metal chips is a constant thing.

I'm thinking about epoxy or RaceDeck but how do they handle welding slag, chips, or sparks?

I'm guessing RaceDeck is no go for sweeping up chips, or welding slag but grinding sparks would be ok I hope?

What about epoxy? Will sweeping up metal chips ruin it?

You lost me at bikes. What kind of bikes?

Neither will handle slag. Both handle the rest reasonably well. Coating will be easier to clean but tiles are easier to replace a damaged section

 

[Kaizen]

At this point I'm sorry I said anything about welding because I can do that outside. My bigger problem is metal chips and sweeping up dust.

I have epoxy with a clear coat. i weld in the shop. I try and keep it to one area as it does burn when larger chunks hit it. Perhaps a large drill press with new bit on thick metal might make a piece that hot but i have not noticed. No its not going to be a shiny piece of glass. its a working shop.
I used it on my new shop to protect 80percent of it and happy i spent the money on it. The other 20 percent i can touch up or recoat if i care. just dropped two mufflers from vehicles on the lift and both took three inch divots including concrete.

 

[nadogail]

I learned that the pretty floor that she ordered for the garage did not stand up to welding slag. Every once in a while I am reminded that home garages were never intended to be welded in.

I say "Yes Dear"

 

[RPH]

Ghostshield products and stains if you want color. I used 8505 penetrating sealer, can’t recommend it anymore stronger. If you have a working garage then look into this.

 

[rsanter]

The best....
Grind and polish the floor and then put an emulsifier.

Next best
Garage floor paint.
I had this in my last garage/shop and it was great.
It was cheap (cheaper than epoxy), and easy to fix if I drag something across the floor and scratched it.
Sweep up is sooooo much easier on a painted floor than bare concrete

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I like the idea of floor paint. Fully knowing it's not going to hold up in high-wear places, but should be dirt cheap and easy to just roll some more out to freshen it up. I can put down some floor mats or racedeck in the high traffic spots. What is the recommended floor paint?

 

[esvee]

I put down rust bullet and it's held up remarkably well to showers of sparks from a grinder, and regular cleaning.

 

[brownbagg]

why not just plain concrete

 

[santagary]

why not just plain concrete

yes!!!!

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

why not just plain concrete

We might have a winner here. Nothing really wrong with plain concrete, some sort of coating would just look better, and maybe be easier to keep clean.

 

[king nero]

^ this. My workshop is bare concrete, polished and relief cut just after finishing.
No paint, no epoxy, no sealer, nothing. very easy to roll around on creepers or to move tool carts.
Welding is mainly GTAW, so very little dirt (only from grinding), but I have a mill that sends flying sparks (high speed ally) and a shitload of mild steel chips everywhere. My floor is as new.

 

[GRivera]

If your concerned with oil/petroleum based stains I wouldn't recommend Ghost Shield 8505. I applied it to my floor preceded by a densifier and it stained with transmission fluid.

 

[Ron_J]

If your concerned with oil/petroleum based stains I wouldn't recommend Ghost Shield 8505. I applied it to my floor preceded by a densifier and it stained with transmission fluid.

I think I saw this comment from you on another post and it surprises me. I haven't had my 4500/8510 down for long, but I've had oil and power steering fluid on it and it just beaded up and wiped up without a trace.

Maybe the difference between the 8505 and the 8510?

 

[RPH]

I think I saw this comment from you on another post and it surprises me. I haven't had my 4500/8510 down for long, but I've had oil and power steering fluid on it and it just beaded up and wiped up without a trace.

Maybe the difference between the 8505 and the 8510?

Nope, I used 8505 and it’s a working garage. Overhauled a couple tractors in there and they leak. Different oils and other drippings. All cleaned up, even the area that had oil soaked cardboard from where the engines were cleaned in frame. I truly don’t know why he had the problem but that has not been my experience over the last few years.

 

[bad_idea]

It has been my experience. The ghost shield doesn't do well with oils in my garage. It doesn't soak into the concrete like bare concrete, but it does discolor the floor. Not a big deal really.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi,
No resinous coating can handle welding slag. Sparks are fine, slag not as it will burn mark the coating and damage it.

Choices are penetrating sealer like Ghostshield which we carry, or a coating and use welding mats.