Get the best concrete grinder for your needs.
Flooring contractors expanding their kit have to choose between a concrete grinder with a planetary or rotary design. Figuring out which one is best for your kit, and your jobs, takes valuable time you could spend installing beautiful floors. In this article, we’ll break down what each design is, the differences between the two, and which one might be best for you.
Proper concrete grinding equipment is an absolute necessity for any flooring contractor. Especially for contractors working with concrete and epoxy floors. If you are expanding your kit, you can look into our Concrete Grinder Packages article to help you find the perfect package for your needs. Help your new floors stay sleek and flawless for longer with proper concrete grinding equipment!
What is a Planetary Concrete Grinder?
A planetary grinder is a machine that has multiple grinding heads, or discs, that rotate around a central point. Planetary mechanisms are generally lightweight, easy to control and perfect for smaller jobs. These machines generally come on the smaller and more affordable side due to their design.
Pros & Cons of a Planetary Machine
If you’re on the fence about buying a planetary machine, it might help to learn when, and where, these machines are best used.
PROS:
- Planetary machines are easy to control and move from site to site because of their weight.
- Often more affordable
- Planetary designs grind in a straight line, simplifying the grinding process for the operator.
CONS:
- Most ideal for smaller jobs, may be more inefficient than the traditional rotary concrete grinder mechanisms when it comes to larger jobs.
- Not as effective as the rotary designs at removing thicker coatings or polishing large concrete floor spaces.
Recommended Planetary Grinder
We recommend using the Concrete Genie model for smaller residential jobs. If you need something more substantial, we also recommend the Peanut Mammoth concrete grinder.
What is a Rotary Concrete Grinder?
A rotary grinder is a machine that has one spinning disc, or head, that rotates around a central point. These machines are often heavy and up to any size grinding task you throw at it. Because of their weight and grinding mechanism design, operators of these machines should be trained.
Pros & Cons of a Rotary Machine
Rotary machines are often more specialized, so it’s important to know exactly what you want, and why you want it.
PROS:
- Concrete grinders with a rotary mechanism are able to tackle large floor spaces and thicker coatings due to weight and design.
- Provides a more exhaustive grind for polishing or flooring systems installation.
- Higher production rates (quicker grinding) and RPM.
CONS:
- Less mobile due to its weight, also means some training is necessary for operators to learn the most efficient and safest way to grind.
- Often more expensive due to their specialization, intricate mechanisms and grinding capabilities.
Recommended Rotary Grinder
For any commercial or industrial jobs you might have, the Mammoth 800 concrete grinder is a perfect durable & efficient solution for your grinding needs.
Choosing Between Planetary & Rotary Grinders
As you can see, there’s a few key differences between each style of machine. Ultimately, which one you decide is best for your kit is up to you. Only you know what size job sites you’ll be working with, among the other factors, like floor coatings. While there are objective differences to them, there is no real objectively better machine & design, it all depends on what you’re using it for.
If you’re regularly working on larger job sites and warehouse floors, investing in a quality rotary grinder might be the thing that propels your business to success. Otherwise, for more residential contractors, a smaller, more mobile, lightweight planetary grinder should cover every need you might have.
Learn How To Use A Concrete Grinder
Getting the right grinder for your flooring jobs is very important, but it’s only valuable if you know how to use it. Learning how to safely and efficiently use your new grinder can massively improve your productivity on the site, and reduce any unnecessary risks. With our 5 day Polished Concrete University course, you can learn from professionals backed by years of experience. In the class, we will guide you through:
- Using a concrete grinder correctly
- How to polish concrete
- Patching & repairing concrete
Sign up and let us help you get a running start into this booming industry!
Conclusion
Planetary and rotary grinders are useful mostly depending on how, and where, you use them. Using this guide, you should be able to better determine which one you’ll need for your jobs! Making a smart investment by buying a quality concrete grinder that fits your contracting needs goes a long way.
If you have any other questions about which grinder to purchase, or how to use your new grinder, contact our specialists at (954) 228-8856. From the grinders, to the grinding metals, to everything else you need on site, you can find it at competitive prices on our EpoxyETC store.