After I take a look at at the moment’s polished concrete gear I see a massive number of obtainable gear, kinds, sorts, and choices. Most true concrete sprucing machines are planetary, whereas most floor preparation machines are counter rotary model. You may nonetheless polish with counter rotary machines. And with planetary, you are able to do floor prep. I do know it’s a bit of complicated. How have you learnt what sort of machine you ought to be working? What sort of instruments are greatest in your machine? What sort of energy ought to I look at – excessive voltage, single part, propane?
There are numerous selections to be made when taking a look at gear. The very first thing to contemplate is what sort of labor you largely do. We speak to numerous guys that carry out floor prep just for coatings or different surfaces. For that sort of labor, a counter rotary gear-driven machine will carry out one of the best. Gear-driven machines (versus belt-driven) can ship extra torque to the ground when coping with coating elimination or heavy cementitious membranes. They have an inclination to grind sooner due to the direct switch of energy to the ground, and further head weight. You may nonetheless polish with these grinders, however they require extra talent by the operator, utilizing oscillation to forestall striping the ground.
Bigger Jobs – One other issue to contemplate is manufacturing, how large an space do you sometimes cope with? 5,000 sq ft.? 50,000 sq. ft.? The larger flooring would require bigger platform machines. If I had been solely sprucing massive areas (over 20,000 sq. ft.) I’d take a look at an influence trowel system. These programs are super-fast, wet-cutting programs. Not for coating elimination or demolition however nice for sprucing.
You will nonetheless must find out about slurry elimination, therapy, and disposal. There are corporations that may show you how to with that.
Smaller Jobs – In case your work is primarily small to medium-sized sprucing initiatives, then chances are you’ll wish to contemplate a smaller platform planetary grinder. Planetary machines are extra forgiving for novice polishers and are much less more likely to produce striping or monitoring traces. These may be gear or belt-driven machines. Single-phase energy and even propane, nice for residential or small industrial retail. Simple to mobilize and get onsite, nice for small areas or hallways. These machines are additionally nice for sprucing cementitious overlays or doing mock-up panels for a bigger mission. There are additionally some hybrid-type machines within the market: two-motor machines that may run the heads in two instructions directly (planetary) or flip the heads in the identical path (counter rotary). These machines have some benefits however require an engineering understanding to function them correctly. I wouldn’t suggest these for newcomers.
Commonplace Options – Different components or options chances are you’ll discover helpful will rely upon what the producer provides as “commonplace gear.” Among the extra progressive options I’ve seen over the previous few years embrace multi-position weight kits, permitting you so as to add or take away head weight as wanted for the job you’re doing.
Battery transport programs are additionally helpful when mobilizing on and off initiatives or loading from a trailer utilizing a ramp. These machines have a journey wheel that may be eliminated when not in use and let you transfer a heavy machine with out manually pushing.
Distant management machines have been in use for a number of years however latest enhancements in software program enable for extra options such as oscillation management and water jet switches.
One other characteristic I like is machine-mounted lighting, LED lights within the entrance and behind the machine the place the operator stands is a superb characteristic, particularly when working nights the place there could also be numerous shadows or low gentle areas.
Lots of machines include built-in water tanks, relying on whether or not you’re a moist or dry polisher chances are you’ll discover this characteristic helpful. In case you are a primarily a moist sprucing contractor, I’d take a look at the tank capability to see how a lot it may maintain. Additionally, digital allotting management is nice for any such use.
Having correct decide factors on a machine body can also be an amazing security characteristic, making it simple to raise the machine, (these needs to be clearly marked).
Any concrete grinder at the moment shall be geared up with a mud shroud, so when related to a vacuum system the operator can work mud free. That is obligatory for compliance with the OSHA Silica rule.
Upkeep – Different issues could be machine upkeep necessities. For instance, what’s the interval for altering the gear oil for gear-driven machines? For belt-driven machines, how typically do you must rigidity or exchange a belt?
Ensure that the digital field is well-sealed and ventilated to forestall overheating. The management panels or remote-control options needs to be clearly marked and simple to grasp.
Tooling – The kind of tooling plates needs to be thought-about. Ensure that you’ll be able to run the tooling you want in your mission necessities. Some producers supply common plates that may accommodate many various kinds of tooling whereas others are proprietary and solely let you run one sort of software. The model of the coupler for the tooling plates can even range from very tender to very agency or exhausting. Tougher couplers will assist lower a flatter floor, good for coating elimination, however have a tendency to show extra aggregates when driving over a excessive level within the flooring. Softer couplers are extra forgiving for sprucing, permitting the machine to observe the ground. These tender couplers will put on out extra shortly. Examine them typically to ensure they’re in serviceable situation.
Energy – Relating to energy, I like to take a look at the amp draw of a motor vs horsepower. For instance, a increased horsepower (or KW motor) will draw extra amps than a smaller one. Going to a high-voltage unit will cut back the amp draw required for the machine. There’s a studying curve to all of this, a few of you already know what you want and what you want. Others may be beginning out and want to find that good machine in your firm. Ask round and demo a machine when you’ll be able to so you’ll be able to attempt before you purchase. Lots of distributors and producers have demo machines you’ll be able to lease or check out so you’ll be able to see what works greatest for you.
