I ordered some wet rubber polishing drums for some inside corners of a concrete countertop I am working on (undermount sink). I believe they were imports and are not a great brand since they dont seem to be holding up very well at all. The time delay getting the drums has allowed the concrete to harden a little more than it should, but I think there must be better ones out there. Suggestions?
Thanks
Brad
Replies
This is where I go to get stone/tile products. Really knowledgable people, even put up with a diy'er like me.
http://www.masterwholesale.com/
thanks. I found lots of options there and they ship to Canada too. Before ordering the last drums I found some at granite city (concrete countertop specialists) that seem better, but they never replied to my questions about shipping.
Brad
if you look online... you will find a diamond impregnated router bit that is for this purpose... you can go to youtube and see it at work...
p
Will the diamond bits polish to 1500 or better? My last concrete top was 2" thick and I have an undermount sink. Two more to go yet.
Thanks
Brad
if you have more to do... i'd get some 2" strips of lexan... and bend it (boiling water or open flame or heat gun works... glue the ends so you have a loop... to the exact size opening you want... cut a piece of 2" thick blue foamboard to fit inside the lexan so it keeps it's shape... with the lexan you will have as close to zero polishing as you can get...
not sure on the grit...
p
thks. I wanted the exposed sides of the opening to have the same appearance as the top, so I bought six drums (50 - 1500). It turned out to be a quite a bit more work and three of the crappy drums are worn out now. I think the next tops I will do exactly as you suggest.
Brad
Brad, The problem isn't with the quality of the drums, the problem is the diamond/resin matrix is formulated for granite which is very hard and not especially abrasive. You are trying to use it for concrete which is very soft and very abrasive. The concrete's abrasive nature is ripping the diamonds out of the bonding matrix before they are worn out. The bonding matrix is formulated for granite and designed to shed diamonds over time as they dull, since granite isn't very abrasive they make the matrix very weak.A much better choice would be silicon carbide grinding cup stones. You can get them from 5" diameter down to about 2" diameter.I think Braxton Bragg has a decent selection, knowledgeable sales staff and reasonable prices.If you use silicon carbide stones you will need to learn how to balance a new stone with a wheel dresser. If you can watch someone with experience balance a new stone the process is easily copied. It isn't easily explained in writing. Without balancing it it may chatter against the surface you are trying to grind. They are pretty cheap and should grind a lot of concrete.Good luck,
Karl
Thanks for the info. That makes a lot of sense.
Brad
I've got silicon carbide drums from this company: http://www.leitchco.com/abrasives.htmlThey worked very well for the sink cutouts on my countertop. Their cost is reasonable and this is a very helpful company.