Although diamond concrete saws work by grinding away materials, they’re not the same as diamond cup wheels. You need diamond cup wheels for surface grinding and polishing jobs because they have the power and grinding surface to complete the job quickly.
What Are Diamond Cup Wheels?
Like diamond saw blades, diamond cup wheels have segments bonded to the edges of the wheel core. Cup wheels are different than saw blades because they grind and polish surfaces rather than cutting the hard material in the first place. They’re called cup wheels because they have a cup-shaped, curved depression in the center.
If you need to smooth rough concrete, remove paint or adhesives like epoxy from concrete, or polish a concrete floor or stone countertop, you’ll need a diamond cup wheel.
Things To Look For in Diamond Cup Wheels
The diameter of the wheel matters based on the type of material you are grinding or polishing. Wheels with larger diameters have more segments and give a smoother result, while smaller wheels are more prone to leaving scratches behind.
The density of the diamonds in the grinding segment also affects the outcome. A continuous diamond cup wheel has a rim that is completely covered in diamonds and is suitable for polishing and smoothing fine surfaces. Grinding wheels may have single or double rows. Most diamond grinding wheels have segments, spaced apart from each other, attached at intervals to the wheel. Larger segments are suitable for grinding very hard surfaces. Smaller segments do a good job removing adhesives and paint.
Grit
Grit is a measurement of coarseness: the lower the grit, the coarser the diamonds, meaning they are larger and spaced farther apart. Diamond cup wheels with a higher grit rating have finer diamond surfaces, with either continuous diamond surfaces or more closely spaced segments. These are suitable for polishing stone, concrete, and other materials to a high sheen.
Don’t Forget the Bond
Like diamond saw blades, the bonding agent that adheres the diamonds to the surface of the wheel makes a difference. Soft bonds grind away, repeatedly exposing new, sharper diamond crystals. Hard bonds don’t grind down so easily.
Remember that “opposites attract” when it comes to bonds on diamond cutting or grinding tools. Soft bonds are best for hard materials, and hard bonds are good for softer surfaces.
Contact Pro Blades Outlet with any questions about diamond cup wheels, why you need them, what you do with them, and how to choose the right one for your job.
