How to Grind Concrete with an Angle Grinder. Grinder to cut concrete

How to Grind Concrete with an Angle Grinder

An angle grinder is a power tool used for grinding and cutting. It’s one of the most common types of power tools found in construction sites and workshops. Because it’s so versatile, you can use it for a wide variety of tasks. One of these is grinding concrete.

Concrete is a tough material to work with. It’s abrasive and can be hard to remove once it’s set. That’s why it’s important to use the right tools when working with it. Angle grinders are thus some of the best tools for grinding concrete. Grinding a concrete surface to make it smoother and more visually appealing is possible if you use a grinder the right way.

• I. Benefits of using angle grinders to smoothen concrete

• 1. Versatility
• 2. Portability
• 3. Power

• 1. Choose among the best angle grinder models
• 2. Choose the right grinding wheel
• 3. Clean the concrete surface
• 4. Use a good dust collection system
• 5. Make sure to use safety gear
• 6. Work your way in
• 7. Watch out for overheating
• 8. Consider using wet conversion kits

• 1. Always wear safety gear
• 2. Check the maximum recommended speed of your disc
• 3. Make sure that your discs have been properly tightened
• 4. Keep two hands on the tool

Benefits of using angle grinders to smoothen concrete

If you have a rough concrete patio or concrete floors that you’d like to level, using a grinder can solve your problems. After all, it’s a reliable tool that can efficiently smooth out rough concrete surfaces. By using a grinder, you can remove any imperfections and create a smooth, level surface.

Versatility

You can use angle grinders for so many different jobs because they can work with a wide range of angle grinder discs. Thus, you have to simply use the right attachment to use with your grinder. You’ll then be able to do different jobs without having to use a different tool for each one.

Check out the different angle grinder uses for more ideas.

Portability

Another thing that angle grinders have going for them is that they’re easy to handle. They’re definitely not hand tools, but they’re also built to be easy to carry and maneuver. You’ll be able to cradle a grinder comfortably and securely in both hands without worrying about keeping it under control, even at high speeds.

Power

You can trust the best angle grinder to be powerful enough for tough jobs. Just make sure that you have the correct attachments, and you’ll be able to rely on the grinder’s motor to give you enough juice to grind, cut, and remove material. Angle grinders with a speed of at least 10,000 RPM are best for grinding concrete.

What you’ll need

If you’re planning on doing anything with angle grinders, not just grinding concrete, you need to make sure that you have all the equipment and gear that you need. Here are the basic things you’ll need:

Respirator: Grinding concrete can produce large amounts of dust, which can be harmful to your health. Thus it’s best to wear a good full-face respirator to make sure that you won’t breathe in dust generated by the grinder.

Safety glasses: The dust can also get into your eyes, making safety glasses a necessity. To make sure that you’re well protected, wraparound glasses are likely the best choice. They can provide you with more protection and reduce the amount of dust that can get near your eyes even further.

Hearing protection: Angle grinders can get quite loud, especially when they work with tough materials. Loud power tools can be bad for your hearing, which is why effective hearing protection is essential.

Knee pads: It’s likely that you’ll be spending a significant amount of time on your knees while grinding concrete surfaces. You’ll be more comfortable if you put on knee pads, which can reduce the strain on your knees as you work.

Vacuum cleaner: It’s not enough to protect yourself from inhaling the dust generated by angle grinders. You need to periodically clean up any dust in the area, so it’s best to have a vacuum that has a large capacity.

Tips for smoothening concrete with angle grinders

Make sure that you have everything you need before you get started on grinding any concrete surface. We’ll also let you in on a few tips to help you ensure that you do a good job and end up with a smooth and level surface, be it at home or on the job site.

Choose among the best angle grinder models

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have the right type of grinder for the job. Keep in mind that a more powerful grinder with speeds of at least 10,000 RPM is more ideal for grinding concrete. Check out our list of the best angle grinder models to find the right one for you.

Choose the right grinding wheel

Once you have the right type of grinder, the next step is to select the correct grinding disc. The most common type of grinding disc is the abrasive disc, which is used for general purpose grinding. Check your grinder to see which disc sizes are compatible with it.

Clean the concrete surface

Concrete surfaces, especially those outdoors, can be quite dirty and can have small pebbles, bits of dried leaves, and other kinds of debris. These can affect how well your grinder will work. Thus, make sure to thoroughly sweep up the concrete surface you intend to work on before firing up your grinder.

Use a good dust collection system

Angle grinders can produce a lot of dust. Some come with dust bags that can make dust management easy, but these dust bags typically aren’t very large. Unless you’re okay with having to stop working every few minutes to empty the dust bag, it’s best to set up an efficient dust collection system. See if you can hook up your grinder to your vacuum to make dust management easier.

Make sure to use safety gear

Angle grinders are a powerful tool that can grind, cut, and polish with speed and ease. It’s one of the most versatile tools in a mechanic’s or builder’s arsenal, but there are certain things that you need to be aware of before you get started. Perhaps the most important thing to learn is safe angle grinder uses.

Angle grinders already come with certain safety features that can help you, but you should also wear the correct safety gear to mitigate the risks of injuries.

Work your way in

Always start at the outer perimeter of the area you’re working on. Start grinding along the edges and progressively work your way into the center of the surface. This can help you work more efficiently and keep the surface level.

Watch out for overheating

Unless you’re working with a wet grinder, it’s likely that your grinder will heat up because of the friction. Thus, it’s important to keep an eye on how much your grinder heats up. If your grinder starts to get too hot, you can pause for a while until the tool cools down.

Consider using wet conversion kits

As previously discussed, angle grinders produce significant amounts of dust and tend to heat up quickly. However, wet angle grinders prevent dust from flying and spreading over the work area, and they also help reduce overheating. A lot of the options on the market are dry angle grinders, but you can buy a wet conversion kit if you’d like to safely use water with your grinder.

Safety tips for angle grinders

All power tools carry a certain degree of risk with them, even though they’re well-designed and come with safety features. Thus, these safety tips can help you further reduce the risks of using power tools like angle grinders.

Always wear safety gear

Put your respirator mask, safety eyewear, and hearing protection before you even turn the grinder. This will ensure that you’ll be protected against the dust and noise produced by the grinder. Additionally, you should make sure that you avoid wearing any loose clothing to keep it from getting caught in the grinder. If you have long hair, you should also keep it neatly tied up.

Check the maximum recommended speed of your disc

Regardless of which angle grinder discs you use, most if not all of them have a maximum recommended speeds. Make sure your know the maximum speed for the disc you’re using, and make sure that it matches the lowest speed setting of the grinder you’re using. You can check the packaging of the angle grinder discs you’re using to see what their maximum speeds are.

Make sure that your discs have been properly tightened

Keep an eye on the blade tightening mechanism of your grinder and learn correct and proper angle grinder uses. Some are designed for tool-free adjustments, while others will require you to use a wrench of some sort to make the adjustments. If you’re not sure how to secure the disc, you can watch tutorial videos that can show you how.

Keep two hands on the tool

An angle grinder can pack quite a punch. Though they’re relatively compact, you’ll still have to hold them with two hands to keep them safely under control. Put one hand on the side and the other on the rear. You’ll be able to easily maneuver the tool without losing control over it. Another important thing to keep in mind is to keep your fingers off the power button so you won’t accidentally turn the tool off or on.

Author Profile

Fagjun Santos is a content writer by day, recipe GIF enthusiast by night. When she’s not watching other people make food, she covers the good, the bad, and the technical in industrial equipment and various professional tools. Formerly a newbie at all things pertaining to HVAC, surveying, construction, and more, she can now tell a caliper from an angle finder.

How to Use an Angle Grinder to Smooth Concrete

Whether you’re planning on tearing up your basement floor to build an elaborate new man cave or you need to smooth out some uneven patches of concrete on your garage floor, you need somewhere to hammer hard liquor in peace.

So what’s the ideal power tool you likely already own that you can use to complete such a task successfully? An angle grinder, of course.

Using an angle grinder to create a smooth polished-looking finish on concrete flooring can be achieved with a decent degree of tenacity and a few supplementary accessories.

Honestly, this job will be a cakewalk for you.

Can I Use an Angle Grinder on Concrete?

Let’s start by saying that an angle grinder isn’t the only tool you can use to smooth out or cut concrete with, but it is the most practical and cost-effective option for DIYers.

If your sole occupation doesn’t revolve around you lugging bags of cement around a building site on a daily basis, you might be unaware of what tools of the trade are required?!

Now while that trusty angle grinder of yours can be utilized to cut through dense compound materials like metal or concrete, it can only do so if you’re using the right wheel.

Two different wheels are typically used to cut and smooth out the concrete.

For cutting concrete, you should use a diamond blade that can be used for wet and dry cutting of concrete. A diamond blade is an exceedingly versatile asset to have at your disposal as it can slice and dice everything from stone to granite, brickwork, and even tile.

How do You Smooth Concrete With an Angle Grinder?

A wet-angle grinder would be the most preferable way to smooth a rough concrete surface. This tool helps streamline the entire process and also drastically reduces the potentially harmful effects of airborne particles like silica dust.

If you’re unaware of the hazardous impact silica dust could have on your health if sufficient safety precautions are not administered, you might be rather shocked. It’s estimated that in Australia alone, over 230 per year develop lung cancer due to silica dust exposure.

While there are risks associated with grinding and cutting concrete, these risks can be effectively eliminated if you take safety seriously and wear the recommended PPE gear.

How to Prevent Silica Dust Exposure When Grinding?

In the construction industry, you conduct what is known as a JSA or JHA before you commence any job. This is a risk assessment that helps you analyze the task before you actually start.

Ultimately, this procedure is undertaken to merely act as a (safety) refresher for operators in the industry they are already qualified for, but it’s also deemed a legal document.

Now, while you don’t have to roll out the same kind of draconian safeguards for your one-man (or woman) DIY operation, it gives you an idea of the kinds of preventive measures implemented to protect workers in recent times.

Alright, on that note, before you even consider firing the angle grinder to pound the pavement, you should assess what inventory you already have and what’s missing for you to complete this job constructively and more to the point safely.

What Kind of Grinding Wheel Do You Use on Concrete?

When attempting to exploit your angle grinder to manipulate such a robust surface as concrete, you need first to fit a diamond cup wheel.

This grinding wheel vigorously removes deteriorated paintwork, degrading wallpaper material, glues, epoxy resins, and other surface coatings you like (metaphorically) banished to the shadowland.

So yeah, it’s safe to say that when it comes to assaulting unsightly concrete, you’d like to smooth out or even butcher with the right blade; an angle grinder is perfect.

On that note, here are a few essential and even non-essential but highly beneficial items you will require to smooth concrete effectively.

What You’ll Need

• Full-face respiratory protective mask for protecting your lungs from airborne particles; including concrete and silica dust

• A decent set of knee pads to protect your knees while kneeling on the concrete floor, ideally get a set that is deemed to be professional grade

• High-quality hearing protection (at least NRR of 24 dB) as cutting and grinder concrete can generate up to 104.8 dBA

• Standard anti-fog safety glasses (low profile glasses are the better option if you’re wearing a mask) and wrap-around might be the better option

• A portable heavy-duty Wet/dry vacuum with a power cord that is of an adequate length to move around freely with about 8-gallon plus capacity

• A surface grinding dust shroud that will fit the size of your angle grinder, preferably with a quick-release switch

• Thinset removal bit which will come in super handy if you’re moving ceramic floor tile from any concrete surface

• Some diamond polishing pads work for both wet/dry are great for polishing stone slab surfaces

• A pressure washer with a decent amount of oomph, although I recommend you consider hiring one for the day

• And, if you already don’t have one, an angle grinder with a variable speed drive setting and at least 10,000 RPM plus.

Getting started

Okay, so let’s assume you’ve got every mandatory piece of equipment to smooth out this problematic concrete surface in question productively.

The process I’ll explain here will presume that you are removing everything from deteriorated paint and epoxy, to even old degraded Thinset or remaining residue after you’ve removed some vinyl tile.

How Smooth Concrete With A Grinder: Step-By-Step

Here’s a step-by-step process for conducting this job in the most efficient manner:

Step 1

Prep the floor area by cleaning it appropriately. You can vacuum and mop the floor, or if it’s a complete and utter debacle, you may need to utilize a pressure washer to clean the surface appropriately.

Step 2

Once the surface area is sufficiently clean, you should run an extension lead/power strip with surge protection for your wet/dry vacuum and angle grinder if it’s not a cordless grinder.

Step 3

The next step involves connecting your dust shroud to the angle grinder. The dust shroud should be securely fitted to the grinder by tightening the clamp fitting on the suction hood, which will lock the shroud in place.

Step 4

Next, you’ll need to connect the vacuum nozzle to the vacuum adapter on the dust shroud and then likewise to the wet/dry vacuum inlet.

Step 5

Now, with the power still disconnected to your angle grinder, you can fit whichever wheel you plan on smoothing your surface with to your grinder (I recommend you start with a diamond polishing pad).

Step 6

With everything connected and in place, you should now make use of your safety gear by fitting your mask, gloves, earplugs, and knee pads.

Step 7

Okay, so you can now release the hounds and begin smoothing the surface area by working the angle grinder around the perimeter of the room if you want to work from the outside in circular motions.

Step 8

Once you’ve smoothed out the perimeter edges of the floor space, you can now work your way inwards, manipulating the angle grinder in circular motions, which will deliver a greater degree of consistency.

Step 9

Now that you’ve smoothed the larger part of the surface area, you’ll notice that you’ll be left with an untouched section of concrete around the perimeter zone. This is, unfortunately, caused by the dust-shroud plastic lip, which obstructs the grinding wheel from smoothing the surface closest to the wall.

Step 10

To rectify this, you can remove the dust shroud from your angle grinder and go over these leftover sections focusing on any areas of concern. But remember, if you’re going to be using your angle grinder without a dust shroud, keep your mask on and position your vacuum near the grinder.

You’ll probably have to continually keep emptying the waste materials that the wet/dry vac collects throughout this entire operation, as the average vacuum only has around a 6-gallon capacity.

This sort of inconvenience can be avoided by utilizing a wet-angle grinder/polisher.

However, if this is a one-time job, I’d recommend you either stick with the method mentioned and suck it up (literally) or hire a wet-angle grinder.

Buying a tool like a wet angle grinder that you’ll probably use just once isn’t very fiscally friendly.

Well, that’s pretty much it. You can now get to cleaning and degreasing the slab, and once you’ve finished playing Mrs. Doubtfire, you can apply any coats you desire.

How do You Smooth a Rough Concrete Patio?

As you’re likely already aware, concrete is an extremely durable substance that provides a level of longevity that hardwood or even tile tends to lack. For this reason, concrete is a brilliant choice for floor and wall surface finishes.

You can also finish concrete so that it showcases a fantastic wet look with either a low gloss or high gloss acrylic concrete sealer.

But, over time, and with enough wear and tear, your concrete will begin to look like Nick Nolte after a 4-day bender with Charlie Sheen as his wingman.

If you’re now facing this predicament with your patio, thankfully, you can redeem your now FUBAR patio surface and turn back the hands of time to restore your patio to its once-former glory.

How do you achieve this, you ask? The better alternative when it comes to transforming your tired old concrete patio is to resurface it. You can attain an outstanding finished surface for your aged patio by using some basic materials and household tools.

Now, for this job to go smoothly (get it), you’ll need a few things. Some of these items you might have to buy, others you’ll hopefully already have, and a few you’ll be able to hire.

Using Your Concrete Cutting Saw Skills

Cary Grant — the Las Vegas decorative-concrete impresario, not the Hollywood movie icon — has crafted dramatic masterpieces through his company, Floor Seasons, that could be considered Oscar-worthy, if there was a decorative concrete category. His concrete cutting saw skills have put him on the map.

concrete cutting with angle grinder

Likewise, Rick Lobdell, owner of Concrete Mystique in Nashville, has produced his share of award-winning art. He’s an artist, first and foremost, with a master’s in art to prove it. “I’m a concrete artist, not a decorative concrete contractor,” says Lobdell.

Though Grant and Lobdell are about as geographically far apart as they can get, both share a common pursuit and an integral skill set — decorative concrete artistry and deft use of concrete saws as an important tool in the creation of their signature works of art.

A saw in the hands

Lobdell, a classically trained artist, studied art the old-school way: he learned how to paint with a brush, palette and canvas. Since the starving-artist lifestyle wasn’t his calling, he began a career in the construction industry which incorporated his artistic talents. Some 12 years ago, he went to work for Concrete Mystique and acquired the business three years later.

“I hand draw everything I work on. I don’t think stencils are necessary for what I do as an artist,” he says, about plotting and cutting joint lines — or as he calls them, engraved lines.

Lobdell describes a collaboration with illustrator John Campbell on an interior residential entryway featuring an elegant stained floor with a fountain/pool image at the center. Campbell’s contribution was the realism and detail reflected in this central feature.

The first day, Lobdell drew lattice tile and two wrought iron-like vines using chalk-like soapstone. Then he engraved lines to separate the art elements and the background using an angle saw, a must-have in his toolbox, and a specialty cutting tool, the Cobra from Engrave-A-Crete. The latter was used for straight lines.

After painting the lattice and vine design, he returned the next day to regrind with the angle saw and apply a clear sealer. “When I do interiors, I do serious coatings to protect them,” Lobdell says. “It’s artwork and I want it to be around a long time.”

Next up is a residential patio featuring a vine and leaf pattern. Lobdell sketched the design on site, drew it on the surface and engraved the lines, all in one day. For color variation, he used different concentrations of a black acid stain and applied it with artists’ brushes. When he was done staining, he neutralized and power-washed the surface. The next day, he recut all the joint lines. But no grout for him.

“I like the white lines,” he says, and regularly uses a wider blade, 3/8 inch thick. This produces the highly visible, light-colored lines in his decorative work.

He also likes math. “Basic algebra and geometry, nothing crazy, are extremely important on many of my projects,” Lobdell says. “It’s very rare when I don’t use math,” especially considering his essential tools are a straight edge, tape measure and a square. “I use math to create layout and designs in my compositions. It’s what makes my process so efficient.”

On his free-form projects, usually involving vine and leaf patterns, math doesn’t play as large a role. “It’s more about understanding how to lay out a space. Everything becomes asymmetrical which makes math harder or less important. In this case I no longer need the Cobra to cut straight lines because there are none. Instead I am doing everything with my DeWALT angle grinder with the wider blade. I just follow my lines as close as possible,” he says.

“When I am using my angle grinder, I feel a sense of freedom as if I am carving my design more than just engraving it.”

Lobdell notes on these free-form projects, it’s important to have a strong lower back, a good base to stand balanced, and an intent FOCUS on cutting the surface. “Sometimes surfaces are really soft and I have to lightly touch it. Other times, the concrete is incredibly hard and I have to push fairly hard into the concrete to create my line.” The most important thing is to follow your drawing.

Projects that revolve around cutting curves with his angle grinder are quicker to complete, Lobdell says. “Straight lines with lots of math and the Cobra slow me down because it takes a lot more concentration to break down a complex design” before engraving, he says. “Starting and stopping lines takes a lot of FOCUS.”

Above all, take your time and practice honing your saw-cutting skills. “You have to be careful and calculating. Starting out, I took my time, since you only get one shot at it. Of course you make mistakes. When I train others, I don’t expect them to be as fast as me.”

Lobdell started out a dozen years ago doing basic design patterns, then graduated to more complex images and designs. “As I got more confident, the designs got more complicated.”

The design was based on a pattern found on an area rug elsewhere in the home.

Road to mastery

Showing examples from his extensive portfolio spanning some 20 years, Grant reviews the saw-cut methods employed to create precisely plotted joints separating color and image elements in several projects.

One is a lobby/waiting room of a high-end auto-detailing shop, where a concrete floor was colored with an acid stain and a solvent-based dye. For the curvilinear joints separating acid-stained from dyed areas, Grant used thin-gauge PVC pipe bent into arcs. This pipe was then used to trace lines in the floor.

“There’s no way to do a 40-foot arc without plotting it out” to get the geometry right, he says. He used a DeWALT angle saw and masonry blade to cut the joints.

This technique for plotting and cutting the curvilinear joints is a low-cost alternative to using an advanced saw that Grant didn’t own years ago, when this project was installed. Today a concrete engraving saw such as Engrave-A-Crete’s Mongoose, which he concedes is “pricey” for a contractor starting out, is well worth the investment.

Another project was a foyer in a learning center where Floor Seasons created a detailed pattern of “swirly” filigree set into a dark acid-stained floor. Again, PVC pipe formed the large, sweeping arcs. For the “leaves” and more intricate swirling branches, he traced the joint lines of custom-made metal templates onto the surface, followed by an angle saw. The art elements were grouted and painstakingly sealed with a small chip brush.

A third Floor Seasons project involved the skills of a tattoo artist who helped create an intricate dragon figure. The artist first drew chalk lines, followed by pencil for the final design (chalk would blow away during cutting). For such detailed work — slowly and methodically cutting numerous pencil lines — Grant used a 4-inch DeWALT blade.

Grant’s last example involves a highly stylized, multicolor Chicano character for a Mexican restaurant. For this complex project, custom-made vinyl stencils made from a customer-supplied PDF file were the only real option.

Grant laid out vinyl-patterned sheets with black lines to separate colors, and cut the joint lines through the lines in the vinyl with an angle saw. The design was hand-painted with a small chip brush, sealed, grouted and sealed again. The grout cleans up the art, he says, covering spots in the joint line where some color may have “rolled in.” The results are clean lines with no ragged edges.

Lessons learned

• If possible, make cuts before walls are in place. This makes the job along the edges more manageable.
• Limit periods of cutting to 15 to 20 minutes and then switch blades or take a break. This kind of cutting produces “a lot of heat, and wear and tear on the saw.” Don‘t rush.
• Practice is essential. When he started out in the decorative trade, he practiced making circles, horse’s heads, letters and other images on surfaces that were later covered with carpeting or other flooring materials.
• Sell the client on the color and design features of the project, but avoid using colored joints as they have to be hand-painted and sealed. Instead, use grout in any color. If a client insists on hand-colored joints, charge accordingly. Typically, a steep premium will nip this idea in the bud.
• Ensure all saw-cut lines touch so there’s no interruption in the joint line.
• Don’t apply sealer outside the saw-cut joint lines or the stain applied later won’t penetrate properly. The sealer must be first ground off.
• Metal templates can be reused many times, while vinyl ones are used once.
• Don’t include cut circular patterns smaller than a soda can in diameter. Tools that can cut smaller circles are difficult to use and not always precise.
• Remember, you can’t erase a saw-cut line to fix it.

What Angle Grinder Blade For Concrete? | Things You Should Know

Ann Hutchinson is the heart of the team, senior editor and our Head of Product Reviews which means she sets the testing parameters of each group review ensuring that tests resemble everyday use.

Cutting Cement Wall By Angle Grinder

An angle grinder is a handheld power tool that can be used to perform a series of mechanical tasks like cutting, grinding, and polishing. When equipped with a grinding or diamond blade, the tool cuts concrete efficiently.

Do you think that working with concrete is a messy business? If you aren’t much experienced in DIY projects but would like to learn a thing or two about angle grinders. then this guide is for you.

Angle grinders are versatile tools that can be used to do an array of mechanical tasks. Whether you want to cut a concrete block or polish a tile, an angle grinder can do the job perfectly.

Different Attachments For An Angle Grinder

• 1. Angle Grinder Discs
• 2. Cut-Off Wheels
• 3. Flap Blades
• 4. Wire Discs
• 5. Segmented Rim Diamond Blades
• 6. Polishing Pads

• 1. Put On Safety Gear
• 2. Prep Up Your Workspace
• 3. Fire Up The Angle Grinder
• 4. Cut The Concrete Slab

Angle grinders are highly versatile and can be equipped with a variety of discs to suit the task at hand. From grinding to cutting and from sanding to polishing, an angle grinder can be used to do any job.

Angle Grinder Discs

Grinding discs are the most common ones and come in different sizes and types. Just like sandpaper, their hardness is measured in terms of grit. A higher grit number indicates less coarse texture, while a disc of a lower grit level is more coarse.

The latter can grind faster, but it produces more sparks while working and gives a rough look to the final product. When our team compared both the types, we noticed that angle grinder cut concrete more efficiently when it was equipped with higher grit disc.

Moving on to its usage, grinding blades can be used to remove excess material from a surface, prep up metal before welding, and clean up cuts. You can use them to sharpen your gardening tools or grind metals before welding.

Cut-Off Wheels

As the name suggests, cut-off wheels are used for slicing metal. They are the most dangerous type of angle grinder blades due to their thin build for delivering accurate cuts. They are the best for doing detailed work, but we suggest being extra careful while working with them. In case you abruptly change the position of the grinder, a cutting blade can easily shatter, and the small flying parts can cause serious injuries.

over, you can use cut-off discs for cutting metal tubes, bars, and sheets. They are also good for altering the length of bolts and cutting welds. Just ensure that you are properly geared up while using them.

Flap Blades

Moving on, a flap disc is quite similar to a grinding wheel but is primarily used for finishing. It has a smooth texture and can be used to polish ceramic tile, metal, concrete materials, and several other solid materials. Just like grinding blades, flap discs also come in different grit levels. The higher the grit, the smoother the blade will be.

If you are looking for an angle grinder attachment to remove scratches and burrs from your project, then a flap disc is a competent choice. It can also be used to smoothen the edges and polish gouged-up metal.

Wire Discs

Wire discs are brush instruments made with wire bristles typically used for cleaning paint and rust. Depending on their texture, wire discs are of two types – crimped and knotted. The former has wavy or twisted filaments and is used for light polishing, while the latter, with metal wire loops, is better suited for heavy brushing.

These attachments are ideal for scraping rust and corrosion, removing waste from metal and concrete surfaces, washing, surface painting, mixing welds, polishing, and deburring. Furthermore, if you want to remove resin from a concrete block, then this one is your best bet.

Segmented Rim Diamond Blades

Diamond blades are hands down the sharpest angle grinder attachments. They are called so because the wheels have segmented rims and synthetic diamonds at the edge. The sharpness and durability of the blade increase with its number of segments.

Owing to their diamond rims, the blades can be used to cut hard-to-penetrate and tough materials like granite, porcelain tile, concrete pavers, etc. It is used for dry and wet blade operations alike and is efficient for both types of cutting.

Polishing Pads

Lastly, polishing pads are made of smooth material and are used for gently polishing a surface. You can find a lot of options on the market and choose one based on the desired smoothness level. For instance, if you want to polish a dent in your car, then a buffing wheel made of wool is the perfect option, as you don’t want to scratch it.

However, if you want to polish concrete blocks, then you can choose a more coarse polishing pad. Another thing worth noting while using these attachments is the speed. As a rule of thumb, maintain an optimum speed while using polishing pads, as going faster can damage the surface while going slower won’t make much of a difference to the finished product.

Are Angle Grinder Blades Universal?

Angle grinder blades are generally universal and can be used with any model. However, some grinders might come with unique orientations and connecting ports, so it is best to check your exact model before buying a blade.

What Angle Grinder Blade Cuts Metal?

Metal is a tough material, and it takes enormous strength for tools to cut through it. Therefore, it is essential to select the right angle grinder blade for cutting metal. If you pick the wrong one, the blade can shatter during the process and injure you. While a sharp and thin blade is more prone to slipping, a blunt one can leave the job unfinished.

To strike the right balance, we suggest working with cut-off or diamond blades. Both these attachments are sharp, cut deeper, and make clean cuts. This eliminates scratches and burrs, giving a smooth and finished edge to the metal pieces.

How To Use Angle Grinder Blade To Cut Concrete?

We told you how to equip your angle grinder according to the task, be it cutting metal or concrete. Now let’s discuss how to use your handy tool to perform that task, as in, how to cut concrete. Concrete cutting process can be daunting, but here are a few simple steps you can try:

Put On Safety Gear

Handling an angle grinder blade is no easy task, and even some experienced DIYers are prone to hurting themselves while using it. So, as a rule of thumb, wear proper personal protective equipment to keep yourself safe from accidents and injuries. A complete protective kit for cutting concrete comprises the following gear:

• Safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from debris and sparks
• Earmuffs to stay clear of the noise
• A dust shield or face mask so that you don’t inhale any powdered concrete dust or silica
• Gloves for holding the handle better and preventing slips and accidental cuts
• Boots to stay safe from debris
• Tightly-fitted clothes so that fabric doesn’t get caught by the angle grinder disc

Prep Up Your Workspace

Once you have put on the safety gear, you need to prepare your workspace. We suggest using the angle grinder in an open and clear area where there are not many people, especially kids. Try and avoid using it in your garage because it is usually cramped up with discarded stuff. Declutter your workspace, taking special care that the floor isn’t littered so that you don’t trip and fall.

Equip your angle grinder beforehand and set its disc by opening the spindle and inserting the preferred diamond blade. After equipping the blade, move on to the concrete slab you will be cutting.

Make markings using chalk and ruler to ensure perfect cuts. If the block you want to cut is small, then we emphasize clamping it down to your workstation. That’s because you will be more prone to slips due to the smaller working surface, not to forget that tiny pieces fly more easily while cutting.

Fire Up The Angle Grinder

When everything is ready, plug in your angle grinder to a power source and adjust the blade guard such that it is positioned between the tool and your body. Now turn it on, and once the disc reaches its maximum speed, let it run for at least half a minute.

Cut The Concrete Slab

Move the grinder toward a concrete slab at an angle of 90° and make a cut of nearly half the depth of the slab. After making the initial divot, keep cutting until you reach your desired depth by moving the grinder to and fro.

Start carefully with a light hand, cut slower, and eventually work your way through the concrete. You can apply more pressure as the cut gets deeper. Just make sure that you don’t force the blade into the slab. After a minute or so, you will gain momentum and will be able to cut the slab effortlessly.

Angle Grinder Blade For Concrete Conclusion

An angle grinder is the only tool that can be used for a plethora of tasks, such as grinding, polishing, cutting, deburring, etc. It is a handy device that comes with different types of attachments and handle accessories to be better suited for carrying out different projects.

However, if you are looking for an attachment that is the best for cutting concrete, then we recommend using diamond blades. That’s because these are the sharpest and cut the concrete’s surface efficiently.

That said, we have reached the end of this informative guide. Thanks for reading, and do try using an angle grinder for cutting concrete. We’ll see you next time!