Filing or grinding concrete down involves removing material from the surface to level it or reduce its height. The specific method depends on the amount of concrete you need to remove.
For both methods, ensure you wear appropriate safety gear, including eye protection, dust mask, gloves, and hearing protection.
Methods for Filing Down Concrete
Based on the amount of material to be removed, different tools and techniques are recommended:
For Moderate Material Removal
If you only need to remove a moderate amount of material from the concrete surface, such as leveling uneven spots or smoothing rough areas:
- Use a 9″ Grinder with a diamond facing wheel. This tool setup is effective for grinding down the surface. The diamond facing wheel is designed to abrade and remove concrete efficiently.
For Larger Material Removal
When you need to remove a significant amount of concrete, a two-step process is more effective:
- Cut Slots: First, create a series of cuts in the concrete.
- Cut slots approximately every 1/2″ or so.
- Cut the slots to the desired depth you want to remove.
- Use a diamond cutting blade on either a grinder or a circular saw for this step.
- Break Apart: Once the slots are cut, break out the sections between the cuts.
- Use a bushing head attachment.
- Attach the bushing head to a demo hammer.
- Use the demo hammer with the bushing head to beat the concrete down to the required depth by breaking the material between the slots.
Choosing the right tool and method based on the amount of material you need to remove is crucial for efficiency and effectiveness when filing or grinding concrete down.