My latest project begins!

[Jaguar Fan]

Grinding the garage slab. It is about 1100 sf which includes about 200 sf of closets built into the back of the garage for storage.

The concrete is REALLY, REALLY hard. I'm even wondering if the original owner had had it treated with a densifier. With a new 7" Diamabrush and an old beat up dust shroud, a dust separator, and a strong Shop-Vac, I'm barely getting the surface. I contrast this with using a then-new 7" Diamabrush on my last project where I filled up many dust bags inside the Shop-Vac (without the dust separator).

I'm grinding now, and plan to do the coating in September when I'm back in town and when my neighbor's back to help. I haven't decided on which product to use on the concrete as of yet. I'm on the fence between a decorative metallic ($$$) and the less expensive but perfectly fine traditional 100% solids epoxy medium broadcast of flakes.

The concrete is REALLY, REALLY hard. With a new 7" Diamabrush and an old beat up dust shroud, a dust separator, and a strong Shop-Vac, I'm barely getting the surface

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Looks like a great start!!

 

[mikec35]

I've done that, just like you, on my knees with a 7" diamabrush removing a surface that was coated with polyurea- all 900 sq ft. That is hard work. I'd do it with a stand up rental unit next time. Looks good, keep up the great work!

 

[Armorpoxy]

Take care of your back!

 

[Jaguar Fan]

It got about 1/3 of the garage done, then new Diamabrush just wasn't doing much of anything. A visual inspection of the Diamabrush shows it has lots of abrasive on it, and no damage to speak of - but it just wasn't "biting" like it did a few hours before when it was new.

So, I bought a 2nd new Diamabrush- and it was great for the second third of the garage ... now it, too, is barely doing anything. Dang, this concrete is hard.

I pulled off the 2nd Diamabrush and put on a diamond concrete cup wheel (not new, but in great shape). The concrete is just laughing at me. I can leave the grinder (15 amp, 8,000 RPM) in one spot, just moving around a few inches randomly, and after 15 seconds it is barely scratched. This is really, really hard concrete.

I only have one small section left.

I've switched to a rolling shop chair from being on my knees, and that helps a lot.

I may bite the bullet and get yet another grinding cup or Diamabrush. Or maybe just say what-the-heck and acid etch the last bit. Or maybe just plan on spending 4 hours trying to grind the last bit.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Wow that is hard concrete.

 

[Gerald O]

Are your grinding wheels clogging up maybe?

 

[NitroShark]

You should be using the optional "bale handle" on your dewalt grinder.

Then use the stool you have like I used to grind 1685 sq/ft. Much more comfortable than using your knees. At least that's what I found out. Use a small spray bottle of water to "squirt" a small bit of floor to help clean the wheel so it doesn't clog and stops grinding.

Sorry, little late to the party.




.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Are your grinding wheels clogging up maybe?

No -- not at all.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

You should be using the optional "bale handle" on your dewalt grinder.

Then use the stool you have like I used to grind 1685 sq/ft. Much more comfortable than using your knees. At least that's what I found out. Use a small spray bottle of water to "squirt" a small bit of floor to help clean the wheel so it doesn't clog and stops grinding.

Sorry, little late to the party.




.

All done now. I switched to a rolling stool pretty early on. I finished up without the bale handle - but could have used it.