Preparing floors: grinder, bush hammer or stripper?

The choice depends on what you need to do to the floor. To grind it you need a machine with diamond discs or wheels, to roughen it for slip resistance a bush-hammering machine with its head, to remove paints and coverings a stripper with blades. In the collection you will find both the machines, single-phase 230 V from 250 to 1,800 W, and the replacement tools, with diameters from 75 to 400 mm.

Types

• Surface preparation machines. Such as the Seastripper 15, 100 and 200 by Sea Technology, for removing coatings, paints and surface layers. Replacement blades are available as accessories.
• Surface grinders and sanders. Also walk-behind, for levelling concrete and substrates with discs and wheels.
• Planers. In the collection there are the Makita planers PC5000C, PC5001C and PC5010C, to be chosen according to the data sheet.
• Pneumatic bush hammers and bush-hammer heads. For slip-resistant bush-hammering. Pneumatic ones consume compressed air: from 200 to 980 l/min in the specifications.
• Diamond wheels, PCD discs and hook-and-loop discs. Tools to fit on the machines, including the type R silicon carbide discs by Breaker.
• Pads. Fibre, alfa brite, felt or hook-and-loop, for cleaning and polishing.

How to choose by job

In practice the stages follow one another: first you remove what is on top (stripper), then you level (grinder with wheels), finally you finish (finer discs and pads). There is no need to buy everything at once: start from the stage you need today.

Features to look at

• Tool material. Tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, ceramic, zirconia, felt: the material decides what it works on. Check on the data sheet which material it is intended for.
• Diameter. From 75 to 400 mm. The larger it is, the more surface you cover per pass, but more power is needed.
• Fitting. Hook-and-loop or SDS: check that it is compatible with your machine before ordering.
• Power. From 250 to 1,800 W for 230 V electric machines.
• Weight. From 2 kg for small tools and machines to over 90 kg for the largest machines.
• Air consumption. For pneumatic ones, from 200 to 980 l/min: check that the compressor can cope.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by name. The right disc depends on the material to be removed, not on the type of machine.
• Ordering a disc with an incompatible fitting. Hook-and-loop and SDS are not interchangeable.
• Using an undersized compressor. With pneumatic bush hammers, the tool performs poorly.
• Holding the machine still in one spot. It digs into the floor.
• Working without a vacuum cleaner and protection. You need ear defenders, goggles and a dust mask.
• Not checking for wear. A worn tool works badly and overloads the machine.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between grinding and bush-hammering?

Grinding makes the surface smoother; bush-hammering roughens it with small blows, and is useful for slip resistance.

Do I need a vacuum cleaner?

Yes. The machines must be connected to a dust extractor.

When do I change the tool?

When it no longer removes material as it did before. Check the wear often.

Can I use a disc on a normal power tool?

It depends on the fitting. Some tools are compatible with power tools, others only with their own machine: check the fitting on the data sheet.

What protection is needed?

Ear defenders, goggles and a dust mask. Tools are fitted and changed with the machine stopped and unplugged.

You will find machines and tools in the Floor sanders, scrapers and strippers collection: to choose the right ones, request a quote or advice from the AMES technicians.