Concrete is a durable and versatile material, but it requires proper preparation to ensure a smooth, clean surface ready for coatings, sealants, or polishing. Grinding is a key step in concrete prep, removing imperfections and creating an even surface. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional contractor, this guide will walk you through the difference between prepping concrete with a direct drive or passive planetary grinder.
The Helix 110V grinder does both a passive planetary grind and a direct drive grind. Either method is an effective way to prep your concrete floor. If you are going to grind in preparation for a new coating, you will probably just direct grind. This is the fastest and most aggressive method for concrete grinding with the Helix. A direct grind attaches the tooling directly to the grind and scrape plate.
Grinding in preparation for a clear coat, you could use both methods of prep. Open the concrete with a direct grind, then come back through with some 30-grit diamonds on the satellites to smooth out the scratches. This method of grinder tooling attachment on the Helix is passive planetary. The tooling is attached to free spinning satellites that run across the floor.
Another method of concrete prep with the Helix 110V grinder is for polishing. This machine will polish up to a 400-grit finish. Before using your resin pads to begin polishing, you would use a series of prep diamonds on your passive planetary hubs the whole time.