Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

[l008com]

I'm grinding the paint off my old floor. I borrowed my uncles air compressor and air grinder tool. What I didn't realize at the time was that the air compressor is severely inadequate for constant use of the grinder tool. I originally planed on working on it all weekend long, and finishing the floor this weekend. Well instead, this is all I got done:



The paint is grippy paint, the kind that has sand mixed in. I'm trying to get the floor bare, and I also want to hit the walls. But they don't have to be bare. Just smoother so when I put new paint on it, its more smooth. This time when I paint it, I'm going to use non-grippy paint except for on some specific walking areas. Using it everywhere wasn't a great idea. So I have a 3.5CFM/15Gal air compressor, and I'm using one of these air tools with 4" discs (happens to have a tiny disc in this picture, but the ones I'm using are much bigger.



It works really well, except that I get about 2 minutes of use, then 10 minutes of waiting for the pressure to build back up.

So I'm considering my alternatives, because I don't want it to take two months to finish this particular job...

I looked into renting a bigger compressor. I can get a 16CFM compressor for $65 per day. But that still might not be enough air for continuous use. And I still might not be able to finish the whole floor in one day. That's going to get pretty pricey, pretty quick.
Someone suggested a belt sander, would that be appropriate to use? Do they make 'belt's for them that would be good to use for this kind of paint, but that wouldn't dig into the resin too much? These discs I'm using seem to be absolutely perfect for the job.
My discs:


I feel like, if i used regular sandpaper, the sand in the paint would tear up the sandpaper. But I don't know, I've never done this before.

How would you guys go about removing grippy paint from your decks?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

You need an electric grinder, stop by Harbor Freight, they don't cost much.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Get a 4" angle grinder from harbor freight and the 36 grit flapper wheel. It will take it off like butter.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

You need an electric grinder, stop by Harbor Freight, they don't cost much.

MAN!!! I thought I was going to beat everyone to this one!

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders/4-inch-angle-grinder-91222.html
Don't those use solid hard discs? Won't that cut info my floor? Do they make grinders like that, that take the same soft twist-lock pads that I'm currently use?

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Replies are coming in fast!! This flap disc, will one be enough or should I get a few?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

I don't like flap discs because they cut fairly slow, but they do work. Nonskid sand will eat grinding discs rapidly, so you may need to buy a few.

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Get a 4" angle grinder from harbor freight and the 36 grit flapper wheel. It will take it off like butter.

I don't like flap discs because they cut failry slow, but they do work. Nonskid sand will eat grinding discs rapidly, so you may need to buy a few.

I sense conflict!

 

[produceguy]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Flap discs worked great for me.

I picked up a 4 inch grinder at lowes for 40$.

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Flap discs worked great for me.

I picked up a 4 inch grinder at lowes for 40$.

How much did you grind, and how many discs did you go through?

Also there's a harbor freight down the street now so I'll definitely go there. I can easily get the tool and discs for less than half what I'd spend renting a bigger air compressor for just one day.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Most here buy grinding discs a few at a time, or even one or two at a time, I used to buy the grinders themselves by the case.

If you have ever tried to grind non skid with actaul sand in it you'd know a disc lasts about a minute or so before its dull.

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Most here buy grinding discs a few at a time, or even one or two at a time, I used to buy the grinders themselves by the case.

If you have ever tried to grind non skid with actaul sand in it you'd know a disc lasts about a minute or so before its dull.

These 4" pads I bought are working great. And they were cheap enough that I bought 10 of them. Too bad they won't fit in one of those electric grinders. That would be perfect.

 

[DanielR]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Grinder with 24 or 36 grit paper on a backing plate works better than anything else i've tried.
Disks are $1.50 at my local HD/Lowes, so i buy few at a time.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

The amount of sand used and whether its paint or gel coat will determine how fast you can remove the old stuff. A small amount of sand in paint and its not too bad, a lot of sand in gel coat can be difficult.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

I would shy away from a belt sander too.

Is the surface you are stripping perfectly flat, or is it "bumpy" (like paint over some coarse-weave roving)? If it is bumpy, also get some wire-brush cups for that $30 Harbor Freight 4" angle grinder and that'll get into the crevices. Wire brush cup sounds bad but it won't dig into the resin if you don't push hard. Just let the tool do the work.

If you go this way, I got a bunch of leftover flexible flapwheels (36 or 40 grit and some 80 grit IIRC) and cup and straight wire brushes for my 4" HF grinder (5/8" arbor, IIRC), lemme know.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

I'm grinding the paint off my old floor. I borrowed my uncles air compressor and air grinder tool. What I didn't realize at the time was that the air compressor is severely inadequate for constant use of the grinder tool. I originally planed on working on it all weekend long, and finishing the floor this weekend. Well instead, this is all I got done:



The paint is grippy paint, the kind that has sand mixed in. I'm trying to get the floor bare, and I also want to hit the walls. But they don't have to be bare. Just smoother so when I put new paint on it, its more smooth. This time when I paint it, I'm going to use non-grippy paint except for on some specific walking areas. Using it everywhere wasn't a great idea. So I have a 3.5CFM/15Gal air compressor, and I'm using one of these air tools with 4" discs (happens to have a tiny disc in this picture, but the ones I'm using are much bigger.



It works really well, except that I get about 2 minutes of use, then 10 minutes of waiting for the pressure to build back up.

So I'm considering my alternatives, because I don't want it to take two months to finish this particular job...

I looked into renting a bigger compressor. I can get a 16CFM compressor for $65 per day. But that still might not be enough air for continuous use. And I still might not be able to finish the whole floor in one day. That's going to get pretty pricey, pretty quick.
Someone suggested a belt sander, would that be appropriate to use? Do they make 'belt's for them that would be good to use for this kind of paint, but that wouldn't dig into the resin too much? These discs I'm using seem to be absolutely perfect for the job.
My discs:


I feel like, if i used regular sandpaper, the sand in the paint would tear up the sandpaper. But I don't know, I've never done this before.

How would you guys go about removing grippy paint from your decks?

Those rol lock discs your using are for surfacing.. Not for removing paint ( there basically scotch bright pads on a disk ).

Personally..I would use my DA sander to remove the gel/paint down to glass ( if thats what your asking for ).

DA and some 40-60-80 grit paper ( whatever works best ).

Please do use your respo and other protection..

YD.

Edit: get your vacuum handy during the sand/grind stage.

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

So I just went to harbor freight and bought that exact model of grinder, plus a pair of 36 grit flapper discs, all 4.5". I don't know if I'm going to need more but I assume I can get those discs at my local hardware store if I need more. I hope you guys are right about this thing! Although for the price, even if it only kinda works, I'm golden. Cost all of $25 for the grinder and the discs. They had bigger and nicer grinders, but I don't expect to use this thing very often once this specific job is done. So next nice day, I'll use this grinder on my floor. Then I'll hit the walls with the air tool, it seemed to work extra well on the walls, getting them exactly how I want them to come out. I might be boating in May after all!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Don't forget the Respirator.....

 

[l008com]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

All done. Here's a video of my finished product:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqHM1r4lMPY

Please note that it looks like it's wet because it IS wet, I JUST got done rinsing out all of the dust.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Floor Grinding - I Need A Better Plan

Looks GREAT! Soooo.... how many flappers did you use???