Angle grinders are versatile power tools that are most often used to cut through materials with abrasive or diamond blades. This is why you’ll often see angle grinders at the ready on most construction sites. But they can also be excellent grinding machines.
An angle grinder can be used to level, smooth and polish concrete by grinding it down. They can also be used to remove paint and floor adhesives. To grind concrete with a angle grinder you need a diamond cup wheel, a dust shroud attachment, and a vacuum cleaner.
Is Grinding Concrete With an Angle Grinder a Good Idea?
If you’re looking for a tool to level concrete, you might be wondering whether an angle grinder might be the right choice for you?
An angle grinder is an excellent choice for many reasons. It is small, mobile, and relatively cheap to buy. The other great benefit is it’s versatility. No one wants a shed full of tools that they use once every 10 years. If you use an angle grinder to grind concrete, later on if you need to cut concrete, bricks, metal, plastic and more, you just need the right blade and you can use your angle grinder again.
In this article, we’ll discuss which projects an angle grinder can assist you with, as well as the best practices to adopt when cutting concrete.
So, continue reading to find out more about grinding concrete with an angle grinder…
The Advantages of Using an Angle Grinder for Concrete Grinding
Angle grinders aren’t always necessarily the first tool you think of for concrete grinding and cutting, but there are loads of benefits to using this tool over others.
For instance, angle grinders are small and mobile, so you can work on harder to reach areas and perform more precise work. This is great for grinding flooring around doorframes and fixtures.
Also, they’re not grounded onto the floor like larger concrete grinders and therefore afford you more flexibility.
What Types of Projects are Angle Grinders Suitable for?
The biggest positive in using an angle grinder to polish concrete is that you are not restricted to the floor. For some projects an angle grinder is the only option for grinding concrete such as polishing concrete bench tops, sculptures, or walls.
An angle grinder can handle different shrouds and accessories, making it suitable for to all kinds of various projects – including the grinding of concrete.
Provided you have sufficient power, speed, and use the correct diamond cup wheel, angle grinders can be very effective at grinding concrete. When you use an angle grinder to grind concrete, they’re best suited to small to medium-sized tasks.
Other tools might be more reliable for heavy-duty concrete cutting or grinding. But, yes, you can safely use your angle grinder to level concrete flooring and remove paint, thin-set, or other obstacles that have hardened onto the base.
The Disadvantages of Angle Grinders for Concrete Grinding
While an angle grinder has the power to cut concrete, it isn’t always the best tool for the job.
The biggest disadvantages of using an angle grinder for concrete grinding are:
1. Size
As angle grinders commonly use blades up to five or seven inches in diameter, it would take a long time to level a concrete floor using this tool. If you are working on a floor, a floor grinder would be a better option
2. Comfort
If you are grinding a floor with an angle grinder you will be on your hands and knees. For flooring a walk behind grinding machine is more comfortable.
3. Efficiency
Most grinding machines do not come with a wet attachment. Since most angle grinders are for dry use, they don’t have the benefit of water cooling them down. Due to their lack of cooling abilities, angle grinders wear their diamond blades down quickly when cutting concrete. But there are speciality angle grinders made for concrete grinding, and then they also come with water attachments.
For this reason, many professionals use a walk behind concrete floor grinding machine that uses water. This is usually because this is better at keeping the diamond wheel cool and provides excellent performance where grinding concrete is concerned.
Pick the Right Size and Power for Your Angle Grinder
Choosing the right size and power of the angle grinder for the job is crucial to getting the best results and preventing injury. You can choose between four to seven inch angle grinder. These are the most commonly used for concrete grinding.
You may also wish to choose a grinder with a motor that can draw between 5-9 amps. The more power the tool can handle, the better it will be able to cope with the task.
The most potent angle grinders can reach up to 15 amps. Professional grinders can be used for more involved projects and are generally more robust.
Stay Safe While Using an Angle Grinder
Just like with all power tools, you should keep in mind safety procedures while you work.
Angle grinders can kickback. This means that when you are grinding or cutting, the wheel can get caught in the material. As a result, the tool might jerk back or fly out of your hands – so you must keep a firm grasp of the tool at all times.
Make sure the guard on the angle grinder is up and intact and that you are using the tool in a safe environment. Put on gloves that protect your hands from the vibrations of the grinder, and take regular breaks when you feel yourself getting tired.
Wear safety glasses while you work. As you grind , pieces of debris, sparks, or concrete dust could fly into your eyes. At worst, this could cause severe injury leading to blindness. So, always protect your eyes when working with an angle grinder.
You may also stir up lots of dust while you work. Inhaling silicone dust or other materials during construction work could lead to respiratory problems. Wear protective face masks, and attach a vacuum and dust shroud to the angle grinder to suck up most of the particles.
Last but not least, if you feel your angle grinder becoming too hot, turn it off. Allow the grinder some time to cool down.
Start Grinding Concrete with an Angle Grinder Today
As you can see, angle grinders are powerful handheld tools, and with the right diamond blade, you can use this device to level concrete effectively.
They’re best suited to working on smaller, more detailed tasks, where you need to reach an area you otherwise might not be able to access. Just make sure your angle grinder has sufficient power to go up against concrete.
For more information on grinding concrete with an angle grinder, please feel free to reach out and contact us today. We’re always happy to help!
I’m impressed, I have to admit.