Buying Guide

Not sure which equipment is right for your project? This guide breaks down the key categories and helps you choose the right machine based on your application, job size, and surface type.

Floor Grinders

Best for: Coating removal, surface leveling, concrete polishing, adhesive removal

Floor grinders use rotating diamond tooling to grind, smooth, or polish concrete surfaces. Choose based on:

  • Working width: 10" for edges and small areas, 20-25" for production grinding
  • Power source: Electric (indoor/enclosed) vs. gas/propane (outdoor/ventilation limited)
  • Dust control: Look for integrated vacuum ports or Magna-Trap systems
  • Application: Coating removal needs aggressive PCD tooling; polishing needs progressive diamond grits
Shop Floor Grinders

Scarifiers / Planers

Best for: Heavy coating removal, surface profiling, trip hazard removal, milling

Scarifiers use rotating drum cutters to aggressively remove material from concrete surfaces. Choose based on:

  • Working width: 8" for tight areas, 12-18" for production work
  • Depth of cut: Light scarifiers remove 1/16" per pass; heavy-duty units remove 1/4"+
  • Cutter type: Carbide for general removal, beam cutters for heavy milling
  • Self-propelled vs. push: Self-propelled for large areas, push for precision work
Shop Scarifiers

Concrete Saws

Best for: Expansion joints, utility cuts, road repair, demolition cuts

Walk-behind saws cut concrete, asphalt, and masonry with diamond blades. Choose based on:

  • Blade diameter: 14" for shallow cuts (4-5"), 20"+ for full-depth cuts (7-8")
  • Power: Electric for indoor, gas for outdoor/deep cuts
  • Wet vs. dry: Wet cutting reduces dust and extends blade life; dry cutting for quick shallow cuts
  • Weight class: Lightweight (under 200 lbs) for residential, heavy (400+ lbs) for road work
Shop Concrete Saws

Core Drills

Best for: Plumbing penetrations, HVAC openings, electrical conduit, anchor holes

Core drills cut clean, round holes in concrete, masonry, and stone. Choose based on:

  • Hole diameter: Handheld rigs for 1-4" holes, rig-mounted for 4-12"+ holes
  • Mounting: Handheld for small holes, anchor-base or vacuum-base rigs for larger cores
  • Power: Electric for most applications, hydraulic for extreme diameter or underwater
  • Bit type: Wet diamond core bits for clean cuts; dry bits for quick small holes
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Concrete Vibrators

Best for: Consolidating fresh concrete, eliminating air pockets, improving finish quality

Internal vibrators consolidate fresh concrete to eliminate voids and honeycomb. Choose based on:

  • Head diameter: 1" for thin walls/forms, 1.5-2" for standard pours, 2.5"+ for mass concrete
  • Power source: Electric (most common), gas (remote sites), pneumatic (hazardous environments)
  • Shaft length: Match to your deepest pour depth plus 2-3 feet
  • Frequency: Higher frequency (12,000+ VPM) for thinner mixes; standard for normal concrete
Shop Concrete Vibrators

Screeds

Best for: Leveling and finishing fresh concrete slabs, flatwork

Vibratory screeds strike off and consolidate fresh concrete in one pass. Choose based on:

  • Type: Vibratory (Power Rod style) for most flatwork, roller screeds for large pours
  • Length: Match to your pour width; most systems are modular/expandable
  • Power: Gas engine for portability, electric for indoor/enclosed pours
  • One-person vs. two-person: Shorter screeds (under 12') can be one-person; longer need two
Shop Screeds

Still not sure? Call us at (800) 555-4739 or email support@kordello.com and we'll help you choose.