Recommend a pneumatic polisher?

[jrcampbe]

Hey guys,

This house I rent has the hardest water I have ever seen. Iron. Since it's a rental, I don't want to install an expensive iron removal system. As a result, I need to scrub iron stains. I use chemicals like CLR where possible, but the shower is marble tile, which is basically limestone. You can't use chemicals on that.

The traditional technique is to scrub with pumice stones. This *****.

I want to buy an air sander/polisher so I can zip this **** off in a reasonable time.

Do any of you know anything about stone or marble polishing compounds and tools? I know you have to be careful with power tools not to take too much off.

What tool should I buy? What pads? What compound?

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[gtermini]

I've always had great luck with Dynabrade tools. They make some specialty air tools, and probably have one specific to your application. They aren't cheap.

Greyson

 

[rlitman]

Using power tools can eat up the limestone worse than chemicals.
The traditional method is to scrub marble with oxalic acid powder (Barkeeper's Friend). That not only loosens and removes the rust stains, but also converts the rust into iron oxalate, which is both clear, and water soluble (no more orange).
Is it really marble, or is it travertine or limestone? There IS a big difference in density and porosity, although not much in chemistry.

I'd either treat the tiles with a water repellent sealer, or go cheap with something like Thompsons water seal, or put a clear shower curtain over the tile to keep the water off of it.

Is there some leaky part that has more water running over it than it should, where the stains are concentrated?

edit: though I do not think it will last that long per treatment, you could try Rustoleum Neverwet.

 

[Herod]

Ingersoll Rand makes the finest air tools on the whole planet. Call their "800 number".... I bet they can answer your question, and sell you what you need.

 

[rlitman]

Ingersoll Rand makes the finest air tools on the whole planet.

They make some nice stuff. They import some **** from China.
To put them above Dynabrade is more than just a stretch though.

If you're just looking to grind off the top layer of stained stone, a diamond polishing pad (wet is better) will run on just about any pneumatic angle grinder. 1500 - 3000 grit should be good, though you may need to start with 800 or so to get fast enough results.

Look on ebay. You can find hook and loop diamond pads that will polish granite or concrete, and foam backers that fit a 5/8-11 spindle. Since you're doing this in a shower, you don't need a machine that supplies its own water, and since you're looking at pneumatic, wet polishing will not pose an electrical risk.

Do you have a SERIOUS compressor that can run a grinder or DA? A 110V machine will not cut it.

 

[gtermini]

Ingersoll Rand makes the finest air tools on the whole planet.

IR makes way tool many imported junk consumer grade tools. They have a few high-end quality tools, but nothing like true industrial pneumatic tool companies. Price tags don't lie.

http://www.atlascopco.com/us/

http://www.apexpowertools.com/brands/material_removal/

http://www.dynabrade.com/dyn10/intro2/intro4.swf

Greyson

 

[Herod]

IR makes way tool many imported junk consumer grade tools. They have a few high-end quality tools, but nothing like true industrial pneumatic tool companies. Price tags don't lie.

http://www.atlascopco.com/us/

http://www.apexpowertools.com/brands/material_removal/

http://www.dynabrade.com/dyn10/intro2/intro4.swf

Greyson

Scrubbing shower tiles is an industrial application?