Segment Types
Depending on the material and finish you are looking to achieve, different segment types and shapes are best used.
As a general rule of thumb, a) the more segments a tool has, the smoother the finish and the less aggressive it is, due to more surface area and less weight on each segment and b) the smaller the segment, the more downforce and the more pressure you’ll get out of the machine and also the more aggressive the segment will be, meaning it will wear out sooner.
PCD
Suited for: Removal of coating thicker than 3mm: glue, epoxy, mastic, rethane, black bitumen paint, paint, adhesives.
Manufactured with premium grade polycrystalline diamonds, PCDs are unmatched in the coating removal industry. They are ideal for removing thicker pressure-sensitive coatings over 3mm thick such as glue, epoxy, mastic, black bitumen paint, paint and adhesives. PCDs are more aggressive and longer-lasting than standard diamond cup wheels as metal bonds can glaze up easily on thicker coatings. This tool’s scraping action eliminates gumming up of the segments and maximises production.
PCDs will leave a rougher finish but are the ideal first step for removing approximately 50% of the coating before using a metal bond segment to remove the rest. Even though this involves 2 steps, the coating is removed a lot quicker. As PCDs can badly gouge the floor, especially if the operator is inexperienced, Syntec offers parts with stabilising buffer segments that reduce the depth of the cut and prevent the PCD from digging in too much.
PCDs with a Mini Jet, Jet or Full Jet are designed to offer a very well protected and more durable PCD for light-, medium- and heavy-duty machines. The jet stabilises the PCD when hitting control joints and prevents it from falling out. The ramp in front of the PCD lifts it back out of the cut and helps it glide into the material.
While PCDs are very wear-resistant, they are not very impact-resistant. Therefore it is important to watch out for joints, bolts and particularly steel. It is also important to ensure they are facing in the correct direction or else they will scrape over the material rather than push/cut into it. When determining whether a left- or right-hand rotating shoe/plate is needed, view the machine from the operator’s perspective (from above) and check if the disc holding the shoe/plate spins anti-clockwise or clockwise. Keep in mind that on cretemowers the disc usually spins in the same direction as the motor, however, on a planetary grinder it usually spins in the opposite direction. When using PCD plugs, place them into the disc so that the PCD is in a straight line with the centre of the machine.
ANTI-CLOCKWISE = LH
CLOCKWISE = RH
SUPA SPIKE
Suited for: Removal of light glue and paint.
Leaving a rougher surface profile on concrete for epoxy keying purposes, Supa Spikes were designed for those who don’t own a shot blaster.
They represent the happy medium between a PCD and a metal bond and are perfect for the removal of light glue and paint (<2mm), however, are not suitable for the general grinding of concrete.
ARROW
Suited for: Removal of thin vinyl glue, carpet glues, light coatings and mortars. Aggressive grinding of bare concrete.
Prep concrete and remove the coating, all in one step. With a sharp leading edge and a 10-degree positive rake, arrow segments pierce light coatings. Similar to a ship’s bow, they are designed to tear and pull away.
MINI ARROW
Suited for: Removal of coatings, epoxy and mastic.
The smaller the arrow, the more aggressive it is. Mini arrow segments tear through coatings and eliminate gumming up of segments.
V
Suited for: Removal of light coatings and general concrete prep.
With their angled positioning, V-segments provide fewer scratch marks.
TORNADO
Suited for: Aggressive grinding of concrete.
Tornado cups feature a flat core, allowing for more surface area to place longer segments that reduce gouging even more than spiral cups by not digging in as much. Tornado cups provide aggressive grinding with less ring marks, the 3 and 6 segment models being the most aggressive.
TURBO
Suited for: Aggressive grinding and shaping of natural stone, concrete, granite, marble.
The best of both worlds - designed for aggressive stock removal and shaping of concrete or stone surfaces before smoothing these out with resins. With their segments sintered closely together, Turbo cups don’t leave horseshoe marks.
DOUBLE ROW
Suited for: Grinding of concrete with bumps and imperfections.
Featuring segments that are lined up end-to-end to create a circle, these cups are ideal for aggressive removal of imperfections and concrete bumps. They do, however, tend to leave aggressive circle/horseshoe marks in the concrete.
BAR
Suited for: General concrete prep.
Ideal for removing concrete with a long leading edge. Single bar segments are designed to maximise performance when operating smaller machines. Double bar segments offer longer life and typically perform better under heavier machines. Bar segments are best used up to 80 grit, followed by round D26 segments if you are wanting to move on to less of a scratch profile.
T
Suited for: Removal of light coatings and high spots. General concrete prep for coating.
T-Cups are used for the aggressive removal of light coatings and provide a smooth finish. They mechanically prep and leave an absorbent concrete surface free of contaminants that will help create a strong lasting bond with whatever coating is to be applied afterwards.
Specifically designed for prepping edges, the T-shaped segments hang over the edge of the cup wheel, ensuring proper preparation right up to the wall and reducing gouge marks. Before T-segments were available, operators often used to tilt spiral cups to get to low areas leading to heavily worn edges. T-segments eliminate this uneven wear.
ROUND
Suited for: General concrete prep.
Ideal for finer grits with less of a leading straight edge, a large surface area and no specific corner.
This design helps minimise deep scratching and excessive gouging, especially on uneven floors.
SPIRAL
Suited for: Removal of soft and abrasive materials like thin set from concrete. General concrete prep.
Typically, spiral cups are used for edging with hand grinders. Positioned at an angle, these segments are designed to reduce gouges on the floor. Fewer segments offer more speed, more segments offer twice the life. More segments are better suited when the concrete is a little softer, perfect for removing soft and abrasive materials like thin set.
BEVEL
Suited for: General concrete grinding.
Grinding at a slower rate and tapering, rather than cutting, the bevel shape enables machines to ride smoothly up and over controlled edges, cracks and expansion joints while minimising chipping and reducing stress to machine gears, couplers and belts. Bevelled edge segments are also ideal when grinding uneven floors while reducing scratch marks.
NON-BEVEL
Suited for: Light coating removal. General concrete grinding.
Non-bevelled segments add more surface area and are excellent for grinding concrete under heavier machines without leaving scratch marks.
SOLID
Suited for: General concrete grinding.
Ideal for straight out concrete grinding, solid plugs offer excellent results on level smooth surfaces as they leave fewer marks than any segments with a corner.
RAPIDA
Suited for: Extremely hard trowelled, smooth concrete that has been strengthened with curing agents.
During the curing process, the curing agents form a membrane over the top of the concrete slab which stops the water near the surface from evaporating too quickly and strengthens the concrete cap. These extremely hard surfaces require a specific bond that prevents the diamonds from glazing over. Syntec has developed a revolutionary bond for exactly this type of grinding application, allowing for powerful grinding on even the hardest concrete.