Using the correct diamond tooling will dramatically improve your efficiency and jobsite success, but how do you know which ones to choose for specific jobs? The following is a guide to help you make the diamond tooling choices for your project.
DIAMOND BOND BASED ON CONCRETE HARDNESS
Selecting the proper bonding for your diamonds will ensure you get the most life out of your tooling while maintaining a good production rate. Using a bond that is too hard for the concrete you are grinding will cause your production rate to suffer, conversely using a bond that is too soft will cause life of your tooling to be shorter.
- Mohns hardness 3-5: Very hard to hard bond
- Mohns hardness 6-7: Medium to medium soft bond
- Mohns hardness 8-9: Soft to extra soft bond
SEGMENT NUMBER BASED ON MACHINE SIZE
Small, lightweight machines that are 18-22 inches should use single segment diamond tools. The only exception to this would be for a non-planetary or counter rotation style grinders. For fixed head style grinders such as the Husquvarna PG 400 it is advisable to use double segment style tooling. Medium to large grinders 25 + inches should use double segment diamond tools.
SEGMENT SHAPE
- Removal: Arrow, Rohmbas, Ellipse and Star
- Surface Prep and general grinding: Dots or bars
- Thin set and cement-based underlayment’s: PCD’s with wear bars, followed 16-25 grit arrow segments.
- Aggregate filled epoxy floors and urethane cement floors: PCD’s with wear bars, followed 16-25 grit arrow segments.
- Flexible coating, glues and mastics: PCD’s without wear bars, followed 16-25 grit arrow segments.
- Thin film epoxy, urethane and polyaspartic coatings: 16-25 grit arrow segments.