Hydraulic ring saws concrete sawing
MegasawConcrete Cutting

Hydraulic Handheld Ring Saws – Dos and Don’ts

Are you looking to have some concrete cut? Hydraulic ring saws are an essential tool as part of the process. Let’s take a look at do’s and don’ts of using hydraulic ring saws in more detail below.

Hydraulic ring saws are powerful tools that can make short work of almost any cutting job, even cutting concrete. Like any power tool, however, they must be handled with respect.

A short lapse of attention, or a few moments of laziness, and you could lose an eye or a finger.

Staying Safe When Using a Ring Saw

DO: Wear appropriate safety equipment. Safety glasses, robust footwear, a face mask and gloves should be a part of your day-to-day safety kit when cutting concrete on the job.

Even if you’re wet cutting, wearing a mask will help to protect your lungs from any dust that gets kicked up.

The long-term impact of inhaling concrete dust is unclear, but it is known that inhaling large amounts of dust can injure the lungs, causing fibrous scar tissue to form, which can lead to a condition called fibrosis.

DON’T: Use a handheld hydraulic wind saw in bad weather. Heavy rain can lead to slippery surfaces, strong winds can make it difficult to control the saw.

Bad weather, in general, can make it difficult to concentrate and may lead to unsafe operation of the saw.

DO: Check the blade before operating the saw, and replace it if necessary.

DON’T: Operate any form of hydraulic or power tool while tired, intoxicated, or taking medication which could cause drowsiness.

DO: Ensure that you are wearing appropriately fitting clothing (no baggy sleeves or loose garments) and that any loose jewellery has been removed.

If you have long hair, ensure that it is tied back and suitably contained so that there is no risk of anything catching the saw blade while it is rotating.

DON’T: Attempt to use a handheld saw as if it were a fixed tool. If you need to cut a small item, use an appropriate tool for that job.

DO: Turn off the tool when it is not in use, and make sure that the safety/guard is in place if you are going to leave the tool unattended.

DON’T: Touch the tool immediately after you have been cutting with it. The blades of ring saws cut through abrasion and can get very hot. Always allow them to cool down before moving them.

DO: Make sure that the area around you is free from obstruction and that there are no children or pets nearby before you start cutting.

In addition, make sure that there are no loose items nearby that could cause distraction or obstruction, and that you have a stable foothold.

DON’T: Operate a ring saw in an area where you would be unable to summon help in an emergency. Ideally, there should be others with you when you are working.

DO: Take regular breaks. Operating this kind of machine can lead to nerve or circulation damage in the fingers/hands.

If you start experiencing tingling, prickling or altered sensation in the extremities, stop using the saw immediately.

The risk of nerve and circulation damage increases at colder temperatures, so more frequent breaks may be necessary during cold weather.

Putting Safety First

Modern hydraulic ring saws are incredibly powerful and can make short work of things that would have previously been challenging to cut. With the right blades, they can be a joy to use.

You and others on your site should get regular safety training to ensure that the machines are operated safely.

Whenever you are handling powerful equipment, whether it’s a hydraulic handheld ring saw, a drill, sander, or something else entirely you should always wear appropriate safety equipment.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for using the tool to the letter and never cut corners.

A few extra moments doing things right today could save you from some expensive mistakes or a trip to the emergency room!

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website. 

MegasawConcrete Cutting

Can Hydraulic Ring Saws Cut Any Type of Concrete?

Did you know that there are many different kinds of concrete and that each type has its own purpose in construction jobs?

There are more than 20 different varieties of concrete, each with different levels of strength, pouring method, and weighting of ingredients or additives to make it suitable for use in a given environment.

Let’s take a look at this in more detail below.

What are the Most Commonly Used Types of Concrete?

The most simple form of concrete is simply a mixture of cement, water, and aggregate.

This mixture gives us ‘normal strength’ concrete which sets within 30 to 90 minutes, and has a strength of 10 to 40Pa. That type of concrete is ideal for making pavements or flooring.

It is strong when compressed under a load, but it is weak in tension. This kind of concrete is usually easy to cut.

Reinforced concrete is made to a similar formula, but has tension bars in it to help it handle bigger loads. In more modern concrete recipes, fibres are added to improve strength as well.

Some concrete is re-stressed, which helps to strengthen it before it is put under load in the real world.

For very heavy loads, there are high-density concrete options which use much heavier aggregates.

There are also high-performance recipes, and recipes which use vacuum pumps to reduce the water content of the recipe, as well as concrete which uses other substances such as glass or asphalt as a part of their aggregates.

How is Concrete Cut?

Hydraulic ring sawing is often used to cut concrete. These saws are ideal for cutting large concrete slabs, and for cutting into walls or other fixed items.

Hydraulic ring saws are handheld and use diamond blades which cut via abrasion. This makes them very good for cutting even when the concrete is quite dense and solid.

Can Hydraulic Ring Saws Cut Any Type of Concrete?

Hydraulic ring saws can cut most types of concrete, even reinforced concrete. The blades that are used for these saws are good for plunge cutting and work best for very dense and hard materials.

Note, however, that the best type of saw to use is one that is water-cooled, as this prevents dust from being kicked up and also to stop the blade from glazing over with dust and metal (from the bond used to hold the diamond segments in place).

If the blade is allowed to overheat then it will start to smooth over and become less effective at cutting.

What are the Limitations of Hydraulic Ring Saws

The main limitation of a hydraulic ring saw is that it is limited in terms of how deep it can cut, based on the diameter of the blade.

The size of the blade is limited because large blades are difficult to handle.

Hydraulic ring saws are good for making straight cuts in smaller, awkward to reach places, but they are not always the ideal tool for the job.

Cutting concrete takes experience because it can be tricky. It is hard to produce clean cuts into thinner slabs without them cracking and breaking, and it is hard to cut thicker concrete too.

Chainsaws are good for deep cuts, as long as the vibration action of the saw will not be an issue. Hydraulic saws are versatile and are suitable for most concrete cutting applications.

If you are not sure what blade to choose, or whether a hydraulic handheld ring saw is suitable for your project, then be sure to seek expert advice so that you do not cause irreparable damage to the wall or slabs.

With the right tools, your construction or renovation project should be a breeze.

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website. 

safety tool in concrete cutting
MegasawConcrete Cutting

How to Control Noise and Dust When Cutting Concrete

Anyone who’s ever tried cutting concrete will tell you that dust and noise are two of the biggest deterrents to the job.

Concrete dust containing silica and a variety of other hazardous materials can lead to severe breathing issues, and the high noise levels can damage hearing.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to control noise and dust associated with concrete cutting.

So what methods work best for controlling noise and dust? Dry cutting as everyone knows gives rise to large amounts of dust laden with silica, which is the single most health-damaging component of concrete dust. These abrasive tiny particles,

  • Damage the lungs of a person
  • Reduce the capacity to breath
  • Leads to chronic breathing trouble

Continuous exposure to silica may lead to lung cancer, tuberculosis, and COPD.

Dust and noise associated with concrete cutting at construction sites are a serious health hazard leading to respiratory illness and hearing loss to the workers.

One of the crucial engineering controls for minimizing the damage and developing a healthy environment for workers is the application of the wet method of cutting concrete. Studies indicate that the use of water in relation to concrete cutting can reduce the concentration of hazardous dust to a staggering 85%.

“The wetter the better” seems to be the motto when it comes to concrete cutting. This is an evidence-based finding, so it is completely dependable.

According to a recent research, respirable geometric mean concentration of dust through dry cutting is approximately 14.396 mg/cubic meter, which is 10 times more than wet cutting projects.
The use of water hose during concrete cutting reduces the amount of silica dust to just under 1.1 mg/cubic meter. Spray control on the other hand, allows only 1.2 mg/cubic meter of silica dust to escape to air.

Studies undertaken in relation to various tools for concrete cutting have thrown up startling results, but all seem to indicate towards one thing.

Based on OSHA regulations, one should never use concrete gas powered saws for dry cutting.
The only exception can be made in cases where the construction firm is ready to take the onus for a sampling to ensure that dust exposure never increases above the allowed limits.

However, by knowing the exposure levels related to various concrete cutting projects as well as in relation to two different types of equipment used, it is possible to take the necessary precautions.
Through the use of the right respirators, it is possible to keep dust and noise exposure levels to a minimum. Regularly using water controls with concrete gas powered saws is an effective and proven way to reduce respirable dust levels significantly.

Aside from ensuring the safety of the workers, firms also need to ensure the well-being of the onlookers and other people present on-site.

In addition to using the right methods for concrete cutting, preferably the wet one, it is important to use the right precautions to ensure complete protection from dust and high decibels.

Here are some protective measures approved by OSHA for ensuring the best results related to concrete cutting projects without compromising the workers health:

A. Use of respirators: Respirators offer the best protection against dust laden with hazardous silica. Proper training related to this protective equipment is necessary to ensure optimal benefits. It is the job of the project manager to ensure effective training.

B. Use of safety glasses: Use of proper safety glasses is extremely necessary to keep the eyes protected throughout the cutting process.

C. Good quality headgear: When you are protecting all the parts of your body during concrete cutting, it is important to consider a good quality headgear too. A hard hat forms a barrier against falling objects, so its importance should never be underestimated.

D. Proper hearing protection: Proper hearing protection, such as earmuffs and earplugs are another must have when it comes to concrete cutting sites. However, it is important to replace them on a regular basis to avoid chances of getting ear infection. Also, proper training in this regard is necessary.

E. Use of proper foot protection: The wearing of proper footgear is extremely necessary for protection against twisted ankles or abrasions of any kind. Over-the-ankle leather solid boots are a good choice.

Studies indicate that the use of wet cutting methods for concrete is the best way to keep workers safe from the hazardous dust.

However, for ensuring better control of noise, it is important to use high-quality equipment and maintain them in good order. This, along with the use of the right protection is a surefire way to maintain optimal construction place conditions.

MegasawConcrete Removal

Concrete Recycling: Mega Saw’s Contribution for a Greener Environment

MegaSaw has been offering concrete drilling and cutting solutions for 40+ years now. They use cost effective and safe methods for masonry products and concrete related services. Aside from this, the company also contributes towards a greener environment through successful recycling of concrete, ensuring complete peace of mind for their clients.

With MegaSaw coming to the aid and ensuring proper disposal of on-site debris, making significant savings is not difficult.

Cost savings with MegaSaw concrete recycling:

  • Savings on transport to landfills, at the rate of $.25/ton per mile
  • Savings on disposal costs at $100/ton

As time passes, the costs of using landfills already overburdened with debris are becoming quite expensive. In such situations, the construction industry has no other option but to look for alternatives to deal with concrete debris successfully, so that they do not become an unnecessary burden.

Today, landfills remain heavily regulated, so naturally, the debris related to land clearing, construction and demolition has become a big headache for everybody related to the real estate industry.

MegaSaw understands the situation very well. They are always looking for ways to minimize the hassles for their clients.

The good news is they have developed a viable method of dealing with this problem, while doing something for the environment at the same time.

Recycling of concrete waste is how they managed the problem. This solution produced the best results for their customers.

Concrete Recycling Process

Do you think that recycling concrete is a complex and expensive process? With MegaSaw at the helm, everything becomes smooth, quick, and highly affordable. Their use of the latest technologies signifies fast solutions in keeping with specific project needs.

Over the years, the company has made a conscious effort toward incorporating state-of-the-art equipment and methodologies, with focus on environmental issues.

Naturally, they emphasized the use of a simple concrete recycling process, which is both time and budget friendly.

For example, when it comes to recycling pavement concrete debris, the process involves breaking the pavement, removal, and crushing of the concrete slabs.

The crushing process turns big slabs into materials of specific quality and size for ease of recycling. Now it becomes possible to reuse the crushed concrete as aggregate in concrete or other structural layers.

In general, people tend to use it in combination with virgin aggregate for new concrete use scenarios. However, it is important to remember that the maximal use of recycled concrete is in the form of sub-base layer aggregate. MegaSaw uses both formats based upon specific situations and client requirements.

Developments in modern technology have led to advancements in the recycling process. MegaSaw is quick to jump on the chance to use them as quickly as possible.

After all, it signifies an economical way to deal with various concrete pavement types. Some of the technology inputs available from the company include the following:

  • Concrete pavement breaking for continuously reinforced, mesh-and-dowel, or plain
  • Mechanized steel removal for minimizing hand labor
  • Crushing equipment application & use for accommodating steel reinforcement

Recycling of Concrete Pavement

Recycling of concrete pavement is MegaSaw’s forte. They offer the best solutions for all types of pavement recycling. This includes use of latest recycling technology for

  •   Plain Jointed Pavement
  • Continuously Reinforced Type
  • Reinforced Jointed Pavement
  • Airport Pavement

Use of high quality equipment ensures that the company is able to recycle concrete pavements of high thickness, including those that are 17 inches or more. Recycling involves transportation of concrete debris to a recycling plant. But many times, they also use portable machinery for on-site green disposal of concrete.

The MegaSaw Benefits

Do you know why concrete waste poses such a big threat to the environment? The simple reason for this is that concrete debris is never biodegradable, not in any shape, form, or way!

So, while over the years, it may gradually crumble pitiably, it still sits as it is in place or at landfills for times to come. Can you allow this to happen to your environment? What about the substantial costs involved in transportation to the landfills in the first place?

MegaSaw takes its concrete disposal responsibility seriously. They will never allow Mother Earth to clutter up unnecessarily.

Consequently, when you are dealing with this company, you will be able to reap all the benefits related to concrete recycling the successful way.

Concrete recycling is the energy saving endeavor when compared to various mining processes or transportation related to new aggregates. Use of recycled material in new constructions is another cost-saving proposition that the company wants their clients to benefit from thoroughly.

Remember, the responsibility of MegaSaw doesn’t end with construction project completions. It already contemplates the next step – that of recycling concrete successfully. Naturally, one cannot deny the company’s contributions towards a greener environment!

MegasawConcrete Cutting

Factors to Keep in Mind Before Buying A Wall Mounted Saw

Wall mounted saws are very effective when there is a need to cut concrete at high heights and flat surfaces. Hence, for creating a clean and precise cut, selection of a wall mounted saw packed with modern technical features and featuring a portable design is necessary.  A highly efficient and versatile wall saw, is certainly a worthwhile investment. However, buying a wall mounted saw involves weighing several important factors as discussed below:

Easy Portability and User-friendly Design

An important consideration when buying a wall mounted saw is its design and versatility. It should be lightweight and designed to be portable, and it should also be easy to store when not in use. Read the mounting features very closely and find out the limitations and benefits it offers when it comes to performing concrete cutting on a bench top surface. Mounting features should provide complete flexibility to mount it at various heights. New modular models are easier to install and use, because they have user friendly controls as compared to several models that are bulky and complex to operate.

Power and Efficiency

For optimum performance of the wall mounted saw during cutting, a continuous water supply plays an important role. For this, it is necessary to buy a wall saw with a water cooled electric motor. Wall saws with this feature are very low weight and deliver remarkable power to the spindle. For seamless performance and control, make sure you purchase one which comes with a high performance two-speed water-cooled gearbox

Blade Type

Another important factor to consider is the versatility of the saw. It is easier to make a wide variety of cuts in length with a wall mounted saw that comes with a T-shank jigsaw blade and replacing the blade should be quick and easy.

Type of Motor

When making cuts on materials with different hardness, a variable speed motor provides better productivity since switching to a different speed for each type of material is easy.  These

machines can be used to create a precise cut for door openings, ventilation channels, window openings, dovetail cutting, special cutting, flush cutting and various diverse applications of concrete cutting.

Blade Guard

There are different makes and models of saws available on the market that come with various blade guard settings. Replacing the blade should be relatively easy for contractors. Don’t forget to read the technical specification on the type of blade, which needs to be used with the wall saw. Blades with various diameters should easily fit with the saw to complete cutting in complex places and precise cutting of various material types.

Remote Controller & Display

Don’t forget to check the features of the remote control which gives you complete flexibility in operating the wall saw at a safe distance. Have a look at the technical features and check for the longest distance from where you can operate the saw and examine the size of the LED display. The technical specs are important  in ensuring the you will purchase a machine that will give you complete control over the sawing process as it provides detailed information about the power level, operating time, current, pressure and service period.

Ease of Maintenance

Finally, an important factor to consider is the ease of maintenance of the saw. Unless the saw is long-lasting and resilient, it will not be a good value for money.  For further convenience, it often comes with a dust port that can be attached to the shop vacuum for keeping the space clean and improving visibility. Thus, it should be extremely convenient and simple to maintain and clean a well-chosen wall mounted saw.

MegasawConcrete Cutting

Cutting Concrete Inside The Building Or Construction Site?

No one can deny the importance of cutting concrete for construction purposes. Nevertheless, it is necessary to take care of safety measures and precautions.

Construction workers have to make do with limited spaces and cloistered areas when dealing with concrete cutting. This renders the job quite difficult and not to say hazardous. It is necessary to demand ample space and proper ventilation for getting on with such endeavors successfully and without untoward happenings. Here below are some safety measures and precautions to take during concrete cutting.

Consider Ventilation

Experts and experienced campaigners believe that ventilation is the most crucial factor it can be the difference between a safe work environment and a hazardous one. If you are working in a confined space, ensure that there is proper aeration available.

Choosing the Right Equipment

In order to ensure that chances of accidents are kept to the minimum use of identifiable, active minds for cutting concrete is necessary. With the high developments in technology, nowadays such instruments are available that can work successfully and uneventfully even in cloistered spaces. Whether there is restricted ventilation or completely closed environment, you can use them with aplomb and get positive results in a hassle free manner. Not only is productivity high but also you can stay away from unnecessary trouble onsite. Equipments using electrical cutting technology use vacuum or water for dust suppression and this make them ideal for closed space or indoor use.

Use of Wet Cutting Technology

Those who are looking for a cost-effective technology coupled with a secure work process do not have to look beyond wet concrete cutting technology. However, this may not be thoroughly suited for indoor use. Professionals need to consider water damage, prevention measures and most utilize vacuum systems or protective sheeting to ensure such protection.

Using the Vacuum System

Another interesting method of successfully dealing with the waste from wet concrete cutting which is in keeping with the latest technological innovations is use of vacuum systems. This system attaches directly with a concrete hydraulic chain saw. This is ideal for collecting the slurry created from wet concrete cutting. This slurry remains collected in a secure tank, which you can roll around easily on a job site. Today, it is also possible to find a vacuum system containing attached floor squeeze mounted on the tank for ease of use.

Health Considerations

Besides taking care of the job site, condition protection it is necessary to remain aware of the health issues related to concrete cutting. Continuous exposure to concrete dust during cutting can lead to a wide variety of health hazards. For example, contact of wet concrete with skin may lead to appearance of rashes, skin irritations, and burns.

Contact with eyes leads to similar results and it may even need medical intervention. Prolonged exposure to concrete dust while cutting enters the lungs and because of the presence of crystalline silica may lead to such serious conditions as silicosis. This disease has long-term repercussions taking away the ability of an individual to work and lead an active life. High degree may even lead to life-threatening conditions. For the prevention of such occurrences, it is preferable, if you wear gloves during the process along with goggles for giving your eyes adequate protection.

Megasaw Van | #1 Concrete Cutting Company in Melbourne
MegasawConcrete Cutting, Core Drilling

New Core Drilling and Concrete Cutting Projects By MegaSaw

Bunning Store

MEGASAW joins the construction team helping to build new Bunnings Stores. The main contractor has MegaSaw core drilling holes through the concrete panels for down pipe penetrations. Most of these core holes are done out of a Boom lift or a Scissor lift. MegaSaw has operators with Elevated Platform Tickets which enables our operators to operate these machines.

Masters Store Project

MegaSaw joins the construction team helping to build new Masters Stores. Just like on the Bunnings Projects, the main contractor has Megasaw core drilling holes through concrete wall panels for down pipes and plumbing penetrations. On these projects we are core drilling holes up to 250 mm diameter and again some core holes have to be done out of a Boom Lift or Scissor Lift.
We have updated staff vehicles and purchases 2 new Ford XR6 Dedicated gas Utes. MegaSaw now has 3 of these vehicles in our fleet.

Refinery Project:

MegaSaw gets inducted ready for work at SHELL Refinery. One needs to have special skills and machinery to carry out concrete cutting and drilling works around all those fuel tanks. MEGASAW has both.

MegasawUncategorized

Risk And Hazards Associated With Concrete Cutting

People who regularly work with concrete and masonry drilling and cutting equipment are at high risk of wide range of hazards, like silica dust, saw kick back, toxic exhaust fumes, collapsing walls, blade fracture, electrocution, noise pollution, vibration, slips, falls etc.

These devices are vulnerable to the violent pressures unleashed when the blade of saw jams inside a cut compare to fixed saws. These forces are usually considered as kick-back, pull in or push back and are quite tough and often impossible to control leaving the operator at risk of potentially lethal injury from such an uncontrollable circular saw.

Supervision, instruction, and training are imperative in all concrete and masonry cutting and drilling operations.

Risks and Hazards

Some hazards are quite common and widely witnessed in all types of concrete cutting and drilling, albeit there are some hazards specific to particular types of devices, like:

Push-Back, Kick-back, or Pull-in – These are potentially fatal forces, experienced suddenly and often become difficult to manage. Such conditions can lead to injury when quick cut concrete saws and hand-held are facilitated. It may also wrench the saw from its fittings leaving the saw running on the ground freely.

Obstructions in the Concrete Being Cut – Such obstacle can lead to sudden back-push, back-kick or pull-in movements of the device. They occur when the blade comes in contact with some resistance within the masonry or concrete like from reinforcing steel mesh, bars, or brick ties.

Pinched Cuts – These cuts are witnessed when the material, being cut moves from its place, leading to increased the risk of kick-back etc.

Off-line Cuts – Such situation can make the saw to pinch or bite that may lead to push-back, kick-back, and pull-in movements. These occasions are mostly experienced working with hand-held saws.

Blunt Cutting Edges – This situation is witnessed by relying on a saw blade having a wrong diamond cutting bond. In this situation the bond holds the cutting diamonds together too hard and it leads to delay in cutting process that may lead to the surface diamonds getting blunt.

In this situation, some additional force is applied particularly with hand-held saws, thus catapulting the probability of push-back, kick-back, or pull-in.

Worn, Damaged Saw Blades, or Inappropriate Blade – These can make the blade to vibrate, wobble, shatter, or fragment and often fly off. Blades get disintegrated when force is applied if the blade is dull and when any obstacle is met, which may lead to incorrect cutting groove.

Hazardous Dusts – Such dusts are generated by cutting and drilling equipments that perform dry operations and does not apply water for cooling purpose of the cutting parts to bed the dust.

Cutting Concrete Pipes – For this activity, some special safety procedures should be taken to prohibit the pipe from moving while cutting, specifically when a handheld saw is used. A hazard during pipe cutting can be counted to be the pressure from the increased flange at the pipe-end resulting in closing and pinching the saw blade, resulting in blade shatter or kick-back injury.

Toxic Fumes – In the lack of proper ventilation, petrol motor emissions packed with carbon monoxide and other harmful gases can generate to hazardous levels.

Electric Cables, Water or Gas Pipes – Exposing utility services, particularly in existing structures, can expose the operator to the risk of electrocution, slipping, and open to toxic gases or often explosion too.

Power Cords – When linked with electric-powered cutting devices and other equipments, these may often be damaged. Reservoir of water coolant and suspension could lead to electrocution because of an exposed wire.

Uneven Surfaces – Such situation can enhance the risk of tripping and stumbling of the operator, leading to an unusual movement of the saw resulting in kick-back.

Wet, Slippery Surface – This condition of having slurry or water on floors can make the operator slip and fall.

Vibration – Whole body or arm vibration, if borne for a long time by using drilling and cutting device, may result in nerve, joint and circulatory damage.

Working Alone – Working without any assistance may be a risky bet as this activity would require assistance in case of any urgency or injury.

Noise – High decibel of noise emerged from concrete cutting or drilling is a potential workplace hazard.

It is suggested that an appropriately experienced and qualified engineer should conduct an on-site assessment prior to performing any cutting or drilling of a pre-tensioned or post-tensioned structure of a building or structure.

The evaluation report should be documented and presented before the person contracted to perform the task.

Identify Hazards and Control Risks

Identifying the hazard and assessing the risk for every type of concrete cutting and drilling tasks is required to develop and implement control measures for every piece of equipment and every job.

Control measures should include safe working tactics, should be conceptualized in consultation with everyone at the workplace, including workers, employers, managers, supervisors, in charge of workplaces, contract people, and health and safety representatives.

When working with such hazardous equipments, it is essential to follow certain laid down safety measures. Some of the most successful safety rules include – control measures must be daily reviewed and analyzed by communication and consultation, safety and health committee meet ups, regular check of equipment and work safety measures, keeping track of accident and near-miss records, injury and lost time data; and repair and maintenance reports.

MegasawConcrete Grinding

Diamond Grinding Concrete Floors, Tools, Methods and Basic Tips

Concrete floors are getting trendy and very common in homes and everywhere. Albeit, it doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance but it does call for daily care and cleaning for retaining the shine. The concrete is polished using machines that strips soiled and old concrete and unearths the new shiny layer.

How to polish concrete? By grinding the concrete ! This would require the right equipment for grinding. Let’s have a closer look the types of grinders that can help you grind your concrete flooring.

Types of Grinders

Concrete GrindingHand-held Grinders – These are small grinders that are used for minor grinding work. These are dustless and are mostly 5 – 7 inches in diameter with one head. It is quite common and versatile and is used often for domestic purpose. You can use it to remove paint or other irregularities found in a small part of your floor made of concrete. It cannot take place of walk-behind machines which are used to clean large sections of concrete.

Multiple-Held Grinders – Such type of grinders is packed with horizontally rotating discs that perform various tasks. The most vital aspect of this grinder is that several attachments can be fixed as per the requirement. Such attachments are in myriads of structure for various applications.

Dustless Grinders – These are dustless grinders having a dust cover to discard the dust collected in the cloak. This grinder saves your cleaning time and is packed with multiple features to perform the task quickly and gracefully.

How to Grind Concrete

Grinding machines meant for this purpose are equipped with disks imbued with diamond bits capable to grind down the concrete as per need to offer it the desired shine. These tools use fine-grit polishing disks to offer a sleek and smooth look to the floor.

To start with initially the coarse grits are applied to drain out the minor stains and other flaws. It readies the floor for further smoothing and cleaning. After this stage the process may require up to 3 to 4 passes to prepare the floor for final polishing. This entirely depends on the type of concrete as some may get its best shine in less cleaning and tougher concrete may require more counts of polishing. The advanced stage of polishing may require a polishing disk having finer grit – nearly 1800 to 3500 grits.

To start with, use 1800 grits of polishing disk, turn the hose on and apply about 1/2-inch of water over a 5 foot of area. Now stop the water source. Run the concrete grinder over the wet area until the entire water dries out. You should complete the entire floor section using this methodology.

When you are done, unplug the concrete appliance and now apply the next grit disk to the tool and follow the same process as you did with the earlier grit disk to get a better polish this time.

Again run the tool over all the wet areas and let the water dry out leaving the floor shining and even completely. Following these steps you can complete the polishing of the entire floor.

Now unplug the tool. It’s time to fix the 3500-grit polishing disk on the tool and use it the same way as before. Just ensure the floor remain wet wherever you use the concrete polishing tools. This final disk will offer the highest gloss shine that you are looking for. Once achieve the desired shine, mop off the floor.

Dry and Web Methods

You can grind the concrete using two methods: dry and wet.

In the wet method, water is required to cool the diamond grits and cleaning the dust that is formed while grinding process. In this type of grinding, water works as lubricant, simmers down the friction and elevates the life of polishing equipments, particularly the disks, which can melt due to high temperature.

In dry grinding the tool is featured with a separate provision to retain the dust within a cover leaving no mess behind.

You can use a fusion of both types of grinding to get the finest and desired shine in the concrete. Initially you can try dry grinding and finally the wet process to clean and finish the floor completely.

Precautions

It is advisable to unplug the polisher when changing grit polishing disks to ward off any possibility of electrical shock. You should wear gloves and rubber boots to avoid any damage to your hand and legs by heat and dust. Check the grinding tool for any cracks, chips or missing components before actually using it.

With right concrete grinding appliance and the appropriate process of grinding, you can polish the floor or the countertop of your kitchen on your own! But don’t forget that high-end grinding tool brings some specific risks too! Educate yourself in facilitating these tools properly to get the desired results and maintaining the right sustainability of the tools as well.

cutting concrete road using
MegasawConcrete Cutting

Concrete Cutting Techniques, Learn from the Experts

If you are professional dealing in construction sector you would be aware that every construction project requires some type of concrete cutting or core boring. It may be appearing quite simple and straightforward, but practically there are many factors that require attention to execute a safe and successful concrete cutting project.

Concrete cutting calls for sharp and appropriate tools; best equipments in good shape; good supply of cooling water and of course an apt and experienced operator. Concrete operating cutting equipment can be used simply and safely but for this you should be well acquainted with the potential hazards and must be aware of the functions and features of the device you are operating.

You can employ different mechanisms and tools when it comes to cutting concrete. A basic knowledge of concrete-cutting processes can be of the essence for you to perform a project.

Diamond Drilling

Diamond saws work fast and precisely compare to other cutting techniques. You would also need fewer operators and it can also enable you to cut reo bar and other metals that are often required in the construction process. Diamond saws are noiseless and generate least vibration compare to any other type of drilling and cutting tools. At the same time they’re less likely to harm the surrounding parts of the floor or concrete.

Concrete Wall Sawing

This method encompasses a circular blade fixed on a track-mounted tool. This track enables the tools to climb the walls and cut ceilings also. Generally, this technique is facilitated to cut walls that are thicker than 16 inches and seldom those concretes that are 36 inches thick or more. This is entirely a different technique and warrants experience and expertise.

Wire Sawing

It is used when all cutting methods collapse or go to toss. These are mostly used for larger concrete-cutting projects. These saws constitute of multi-strand cable having small diamond segments aligned through an array of pulleys attached to a hydraulic powered wheel. When the wheels pull the cable the wire spins around and cuts the material.

Flat Drilling

Such drilling process is often used for parting flat surfaces, like floors, pavements and bridge platforms. It’s often considered to be slab sawing also. In this method the tools used are kept on a cart that you can push from the rear. Such process can help you reach broken pipes or wiring under a concrete floor, highway, patching or road and cutting plumbing canals.

Core Drilling

This process of drilling is used for making precise circular holes. You can use this for forming exit for pipes, electrical wires or ventilating, heating, or air conditioning vents to fit through. You can also use this drilling machine for collecting concrete samples. These are steel tubes having diamond-tipped bits.

Precautions

All the above stated tools are highly effective but at the same time there are certain guidelines that should be followed while using these tools. Concrete dust is harmful to the lung, eyes and sinuses. It also becomes abrasive and corrosive damaging the surrounding concretes too.

You need to control the dust erupting out of this drill bits. It can either be controlled by wet cutting in which the dust is accumulated in the cooling water or using pneumatic tools that can suck the dust in an air stream.

When putting in use the diamond cutting blade or any other abrasive disk drilling device like concrete saw, water is used to cool the cutting tools. You must manage the spillage of cooling water and drainage should be offered or a vacuum mechanism like wet vacuum can be attached to monitor spreading of the cooling water.

It also requires proper grounding, insulation and right ground fault protection. You must also be aware of the possibility of machine base rotates violently without warning. You should keep your body away from the possible rotation route of the device base during a core drilling process.
Don’t forget to de-active any power channels that are in the surrounding of the cutting or drilling operation.

These are the mechanisms and techniques that can be facilitated to cut the concrete using various concrete cutting saws and tools. All these tools are meant for different applications given the situation and requirement of the occasion. As every machine manifests certain flaws if not handled properly, it is suggested to get yourself accustomed with the type of tool you are going to use beforehand to get the best output.

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