Which 3M pad to use for cleaning garage floor?

[ghostdog]

Hey guys,

I have a floor buffer and was thinking that it in combination with the 3m scotchbrite buffer pads would make quick work of cleaning my garage floor in preparation for an acid stain. Does anyone have an idea which colored pad to use (they come in various levels of coarseness)?

Thanks for the help

 

[Ultimate Floors by Rhino]

The coarser the better. I think we always end up with either the red or the black pads I can't remember.

 

[ghostdog]

Thanks! What type of cleaner do you recommend? Or do you just use water with the pads?

 

[srmofo]

we use the black pads at the shop.

As far as soap goes we also use a degrease floor soap but I dont think its available to the public. It will burn your skin....really though, the buffer does most of the work and unless you have a ton of grease and oil on the floor dish soap and water would probably work wonders

 

[Ultimate Floors by Rhino]

Since your going to stain then you can use whatever. I like purple power myself on bare cement. On coated floors I like Dawn dish soap.

 

[dcs Inc]

It depends on how long and deep the stains are. You want to find a degreasing etching remover. It's getting harder and harder to find because of EPA crack down. I like to use Portland cement. Not the mixed stuff but straight cement. Sprinkle it on the offending oil stain and then let it set for 24 hours. Scrape it off and apply again. Do this till it is dry when you scrape it off. Does a really good job. Keep the area dry and it will do the trick. As far as the pads, it wont take the hardened trowel finish off. Your concrete needs to be open to accept a reactive acid stain. If it has a glazed hard mechanical troweled finish, a really diluted muriatic acid etch may be your only solution. Too much and the acid stain will not react because you will have burned off the agents in the surface paste that the acid stain reacts to.
gene Elite Crete of Indiana

 

[pitterpat]

It depends on how long and deep the stains are. You want to find a degreasing etching remover. It's getting harder and harder to find because of EPA crack down. I like to use Portland cement. Not the mixed stuff but straight cement. Elite Crete of Indiana

Gene,

I live in Indy. Can you get strtaight Portland cement here if you are not a contractor? And what about a degreasing etching remover?

I recently moved into a new (new to me) house and the 3rd garage I am going to use as a garage to restore a VW. It is a bare garage so I need to do some work to it 1st...like paint the ceiling white (no windows), clean up the floor, insulate and drywall. I may just get the ceiling painted this year and the floor cleaned really well because of lack of funds.

Thanks, Pat

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Guys:

We have a pre-reduced material that is used to open hard troweled concrete without eating up the cream. Naturally, the concrete has to be oil/grease free for it to work.
Link: http://legacyindustrial.net/cart/power-trowel-prep-solution-1-gallon-p-155.html

 

[dcs Inc]

pitterpat, Lowes or any of the box stores have portland cement. It comes in rather large bags though. I'm not sure if you can get smaller ones as I'm usually buy larger quantities when I've purchased it.

My supplier quit selling the degreaser etcher I use so I'm kinda on the hunt myself. It came in a 5 gallon metal bucket and if you didn't use it all you had to put into a plastic bucket becuase it would eat a hole in the metal one. (That may be why he stopped carrying it) gene

 

[waxoffwaxon]

Below are the 3m pads, they are 1500 grit & 3000 grit. they will shine the floor and clean, but not deep clean stains , need degrease or stain removers with a brush on your machine, like a strata-grit brush to make your life easy, you can use a black pad or a carbon impregnated pad.. then use the pads to shine an honed the floor. Also, 1500 grit pad is not enough for prep for staining, I always et my floor to 200 to 500 grit. Twister pads are made in 500 grit


Diamond-Coated Floor Pads
Use to clean and condition worn and
dull stone floors.
Rotary,
Automatic, Propane &
Electric Scotch-Brite™ Sienna Diamond Floor Pad Plus
Diamond coated floor pads for cleaning and conditioning worn
and dull marble, terrazzo, and polished concrete flooring.
Low Speed 175-600 RPM
High Speed 1500 RPM & Above

Diamond-Coated Floor Pads
Use to clean and polish stone floors.
Rotary,
Automatic, Propane &
Electric Scotch-Brite™ Purple Diamond Floor Pad Plus
Diamond coated floor pads for cleaning and polishing marble,
terrazzo, and polished concrete flooring.
Low Speed 175-600 RPM
High Speed 1500 RPM & Above

Hope this helps,
Clint
www.waxoffwaxon.com