How a Floor Grinder Works in 3 Easy Steps

Grinding, polishing, and preparing floors such as terrazzo, stones, and concrete floors are jobs that demand and require a professional operator with a lot of skills and technical know-how concerning the machines, tools, the materials used for the job, and what is expected to be the outcome at the end of the operation. We have here collated materials on how a floor grinder works in 3 easy steps.

Table of content

• What are floor grinders
• Type of floors 
• Features and component of a floor grinder
• How it works
• Available Floor Grinders 
• About Tikweld
• Conclusion

What are Floor Grinders?

Floor grinding machines are uniquely designed hand-controlled machines/tools with a disc attached at the bottom, which acts as a grinder. They are used to prepare a new smoothen texture concrete floor, level up uneven parts of various surfaces, and polish and repair damaged concrete and wood floor surfaces.

There are three types of floor grinding machines.

• Handheld floor grinders.
• Walk-behind floor grinders.
• Ride-on floor grinders.

The Type of Floors to use a Grinder

Grinding machines are used to work on different floors such as:

CONCRETE FLOORS

Using the right technical skills is the first step in refinishing a concrete floor using floor grinding machines, which can later be subjected to further treatment or design or left as it depends on what is requested; this restores and brings back a new look to your concrete floor. As time goes by and building settles, concrete can deteriorate and experience unevenness. Stains, spills, and cracks can be visible, at this time, floor grinders are used and due to the popularity of this type of floor as a result of various advantages that are attributed to it such as durability, not expensive, lasts long, with little maintenance cost and grinding machines are mainly used on concrete floors. A grinder touch on a concrete floor can present a great outlook, and using a floor grinder can bring about the following benefits:

• It helps prepare the base for other activities that need to be carried out.
• It removes rough surfaces, stains, and spills.
• It polishes the floor and gives it a clear shine.
• Scrapes off glues, epoxy, or a form of adhesives on the floor.

HARDWOOD FLOOR

One of the luxurious floor options is hardwood flooring and the number one choice for homeowners because it comes in different styles, designs, and colors. They are durable, can stand some wear and tear, and still look good, low maintenance which requires just frequent mopping and dusting to keep clean. However, even on hardwood floors refinishing and retouching are necessary, which is done by changing the accessories of your floor grinder to fit the one needed for operating on a hardwood floor. This is done by removing the first-floor layer and exposing the wood under, which is then treated and replaced with a new top stain and coat cover for the finishing. Exterior wood surfaces such as wood decks can also be restored faster with a grinder.

Advantages of floor grinders on wood floors includes;

• Restores shine to the wood floor
• Removes stains, scratches, and old varnish due to wear and tear from the wood surface.
• After grinding, the color and tone of the wood floor change.

Buy Online... Concrete Floor Grinder Machine 10Hp KD 6T -540 KAIDA

MARBLE AND TERRAZZO (STONE FLOOR)

Marble and terrazzo or granite are popular stone flooring that used in offices, homes, or commercial structures; although they are quite expensive, they possess high resistance to impact for heavy objects and traffic with more strength and are also fire resistant. Just like other floors, stone floors also require professional maintenance as they can lose their original nature due to dents and damages on the surface as a result of accidents, movement in the area which causes scratches, also chemicals used on the floors during cleaning can also make it lose its shine. The use of floor grinders on these floors can bring back their appearance, and these grinders can be used on stone floors to carry out the following operations:

• To prepare the floors for further applications.
• Creating an even and leveled surface.
• Restoring it shine by polishing them.

This different application works on whether the floor is a new one or an old one that was already in use for quite some time and required some retouching. Rather than replacing a new stone floor when it gets bad, it is cheaper and more advisable to refinish and maintain, which boils down to getting a floor grinding machine to save up this cost.

FEATURES AND COMPONENTS OF A FLOOR GRINDER

Grinding machines have various parts that carry out different functions that make them work effectively and efficiently. These are:

• Base or Bed:

The base is where all the machine parts are rested. It carries the table drive process, which guides how the table should slide on it at the right angle. It is made up of an iron cast.

• Table:

Some grinders are made up of two tables, the upper and lower. The upper is at the center; it moves in any direction to hold the workpiece in place and has the head and tailstock, while the lower table works the sliding movement on the base carried out by power or can be done manually.

• Headstock:

The headstock is located over the base and with the aid of a dead center. It drives and supports the workpiece holding it down while driving it.

• Tailstock:

The tailstock accommodates various workpiece lengths and can be fixed and adjusted to any position.

• Wheel head:

The floor grinding machine has a driving motor with a grinding wheel which can be operated with electrical power or with manpower with its head built on a slide located at the end of the bed and moves in a straight line to the table.

• Cross-feed:

In machines for grinding cylindrical surfaces, the relative approaching and receding movements of the grinding wheel and the workpiece are usually produced by the operation of a so-called cross-feed mechanism.

Such a mechanism includes a handwheel connected through suitable gearing to the wheel head or the work support, so that rotation of said hand wheel relatively adjusts the wheel head and the work support toward or from each other. Usually, the handwheel, or a drum rotatable with it, is graduated to indicate the extent of these approaching and receding movements.

Buy Online... Concrete Grinding Machine 4Hp 420V CV450 Kaida

HOW IT WORKS

STEP 1

The basic principle of how a floor grinder works is quite simple, and it's all in the grinding process involving a finish work process on the floors. With the presence of a v-belt and pulley system, the electric motor on the grinding machine supplies the power to the grinding wheel, which starts to rotate, and work is carried out. The electric motor revolves at about 150-15000rpm, which differs depending on the types of floor grinder involved and the finishing quality needed.

STEP 2

There is a disc attached to the concrete grinder with an abrasive material attached to the bottom of the plate, which is responsible for grinding the concrete with the aid of a grinding wheel. In this process, the abrasive material undergoes a relative motion in contact with the work area or surface floor, which removes excessive and unwanted materials from the floor. 

STEP 3

Depending on the nature of the job at hand, the blades of a grinding machine have different cutting capacities, which are powered by a gas or electric motor positioned at the top of the machine-controlled in the opposite direction by the user. The machine has no indication sensor to notify that a work is finished, the finished and quality of the job done is only observed by the worker or operator.

However, the concrete or floor dust produced as the machine grinds is sometimes vacuumed by the machine, and this is known as a dry concrete grinding, while in some other cases, a slur of the dust is made using water, which can then be used disposed and this is called wet grinding.

Buy from our shop

Concrete Grinding Machine CV 660 Kaida

Tikweld Welding Supplies and Services is the distributor of KAIDA Floor Grinding Machine and Accessoriesin Nigeria. The Concrete Grinding Machine CV660 Kaida has the following features; a four grinding disc, the main plate and the planet disk are driven independently to ensure the flatness of the ground.

Concrete Grinding Machine KD-600 Kaida

Tikweld Welding Supplies and Services is the distributor of KAIDA Floor Grinding Machine and Accessoriesin Nigeria. This Concrete Grinding Machine KD-600 Kaida is designed for grinding concrete and stone materials, make your work in cost-efficient way to meet your different requirement job.

Edge Grinding Machine CV280 Kaida

Tikweld Welding Supplies and Services is the distributor of KAIDA Floor Grinding Machine and Accessoriesin Nigeria. The Concrete Grinding Machine CV660 Kaida has the following features; a four grinding disc, the main plate and the planet disk are driven independently to ensure the flatness of the ground.

Stone Polishing Machine KD-686 Kaida

Tikweld Welding Supplies and Services is the distributor of KAIDA Floor Grinding Machine and Accessoriesin Nigeria. Our Stone Polishing Machine KD-686 Kaida is Suitable for dry or wet polishing and grinding.

Bosch GWS 9-115 Professional Angle Grinder in carton

Features: GWS 9-115 Professional

• Direct cooling for high overload capability and long lifetime
• Anti-rotation protective guard – quickly and easily adjustable, provides reliable protection
• Gear head can be rotated in 90° steps
• Handle can be used on right or left

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a floor grinder come as a corded or cordless machine?

Floor grinders are mostly found in corded forms because of the high amount of power required to enable the machine to work effectively. This power is usually obtained from a direct electrical source. A battery pack cannot exert the amount of power a floor grinding machine needs to operate well.

Can a particular floor grinder work on all floor types?

Floor grinders are tools and machines that are quite versatile and can be used for various projects. They possess a rotating disk at the bottom with different blades sizes. The disc/blades come in different types, with different cutting capacities based on the nature of the job at hand; there are discs for concrete floors, wood, marble, and terrazzo floors, which can be occasionally interchanged to fit with the present job at hand.

What are the precautions to take when handling a floor grinder?

Whether you're handling a walk-behind or a handheld floor grinder, both are powerful machines and tools that should be handled with care and caution. All necessary instructions and precautionary measures must be fully adhered to when using this to protect yourself as well as others around you. Here are a few things to consider before using a floor grinder for any project;

• Get familiar with the machine or tools you're going to be using, and this is to enable you to observe any fault, loose parts, or faulty wire that can cause harm during the operation.
• Read the user manual and follow instructions written, always seek advice from more experienced personnel if need be.
• Always be fully kitted with your complete PPE before using the machine.
• When operating the floor grinding machine, be mindful and observe the people around you, keep a safe distance away and make sure at no time should your feet and hands come close to the moving parts.
• Do not try to override the instructed speed limit of the grinder; this can place you at high risk and does not hasten the job; rather, it can wear down the machine parts.
• A short break is always advised if one begins to feel tiredness in the feet or hands, unplug the machine from the wall if it is going to be unattended to.

About Tikweld

Tikweld welding supplies and services are the major distributors of all welding equipment, welding accessories, and welding consumables, Fire suppression systems and Floor grinding machines. The services we render are Tank fabrication, metalworking, general welding, piping fabrication and maintenance, hydraulics and bolting, epoxy flooring, fire suppression system, and coating.

These floor grinding machines are available at TIKWELD Welding Supplies and are suitable for use in a wide range of industrial projects and home-based applications. Our range of construction welding materials is highly ideal in accomplishing the day-to-day tasks of professional jobs with a high-efficiency level.

CONCLUSION

Floor grinders are known to be one of the most popular finishing work tools, and this article sets out to give a clear explanation and information on floor grinders and their mechanism of action on various types of floors with the different advantages that come with it. They are used for polishing and smoothing concrete floors to restore shine to surface floors. They are also used to apply various types of Epoxy flooring, terrazzo, and marble floors to give your floor a fresh and new look.

For your purchase or to learn more about floor grinders, you can contact us at Tikweld welding Supplies and Services.