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https://www.bunnings.com.au/for-hire-coates-floor-grinder-24-hr_p0256361
Can I use this coates floor grinder to remove old carpet glue from concrete? It mentions removing grout. If not, what kind of tool do I need?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Spravotchka. It's excellent to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about removing carpet glue.
Before you start, I'd like to make you aware that in the past, glues and adhesives used on carpet and underlay may have contained non-friable asbestos. Depending on the vintage of your property, please bear this in mind and, if in doubt, take all precautions to ensure your safety and that of those around you.
What sort of flooring are you planning on laying in this area?
The Coates Floor Grinder excels at removing cement-based grout and adhesives left behind from tiling on concrete floors. Carpet glues are likely to gum up the machine's disc before you can remove a substantial amount of it. You'll need to use a floor scraper for carpet glues and preferably a premium product similar to the QEP 8" Extend Floor And Wall Scraper. You'll also find a chisel or sharpened cold chisel effective at removing the more stubborn sections.
A multi-tool fitted with a scraping attachment is another option that can effectively cut the glue away.
You can apply Diggers 1L Glue Rid to soften the glue ten minutes prior to trying the above methods. Make sure you ventilate the area well before using it. Open all windows and have that fan blowing in fresh air. Also, remember to wear your PPE including an appropriately rated respirator.
Looking at the amount of glue that's there (which doesn't appear to be a whole heap), I'd suggest going with the floor scraper and potentially using the Glue Rid if the adhesive is stubborn.
Please let me know if you have questions or need further advice.
Mitchell
For some reason, I didn't come across the appropriate tool whilst searching earlier @Spravotchka. I've just discovered that we do hire the Coates Floor Stripper. These 240V bladed floor strippers are the industry standard for removing adhesives. However, since there is such a thin layer of adhesive, I'm not convinced that it will be able to get under that and lift it off.
The only alternative I can think of would be to purchase an angle grinder and fit a Flexovit 180 x 180 x 25mm Diamond Cup Grinder Blade. That's the only disc that is suitable for the removal of glues, epoxies, etc. If the diamonds become gummed up with glue, touch the blade to some concrete or a house brick to remove the glue before continuing. You can use a standard oxide grinding disc, though they are pretty aggressive and can clog easily.
Given that I've now found a diamond cup blade that can remove glues, I'm just waiting on Coates to get back to me to ensure their floor grinder is indeed not suitable. Removing carpet adhesive is one of the most tedious jobs when it comes to home renovations; if you can do it with a larger, more powerful machine, all the better.
Mitchell
Hi @Spravotchka,
I've been able to double-check with Coates Hire, and they are advising that the type of diamond grinding shoes supplied on the hire machine are only suitable for grinding back concrete. In their experience, when used for carpet glue (which has happened in the past), the blades gum up almost immediately, and the machine ceases to remove material.
Let me mention @TedBear and @tom_builds to see if they have any thoughts on effective methods for removing the glue.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
