Some repeat orders are more useful than long conversations. This one was simple and honest.
A contractor in Alabama first tested a heavy-cut grit and said it “functioned perfectly.” Then he moved straight to the next pain point: “Clockwise cut… removing thinset on some jobs and several coats of epoxy with quartz on others… pads with tungsten wear bars are not aggressive enough.”
That’s the moment most coating-removal workflows either get faster — or get messy.
Setup A: Clockwise PCD (when removal must “bite”)
If your problem is thinset residue or epoxy with quartz broadcast, and scraper-style wear bars aren’t aggressive enough, clockwise PCD is usually the cleanest first step. Direction matters because PCD is directional tooling: match the grinder rotation to the tool direction to reduce pull and improve control.
Use case: thinset removal, epoxy/quartz coating removal, glue/mastic stripping.
Recommended tool type: Lavina PCD coating removal tools with clockwise and counterclockwise direction options.
Setup B: 20/30 Extra Soft Bond for Hard Concrete
This is a different job from coating removal. The goal is not to bite into thinset, glue, or epoxy. The goal is to cut hard concrete, open the surface, shave high spots, and leave the slab ready for the next grinding or coating-prep step.
For very hard concrete, a 20/30 grit extra soft bond metal tool can be a better starting point than a standard medium bond. The softer bond exposes fresh diamond faster, which helps the tool keep cutting instead of skating on the surface.
Use this setup when the slab is hard, dense, or difficult to open. It is also useful when the contractor needs stronger concrete cutting but still wants a controlled scratch pattern before moving into the next step.
How to choose between A and B (fast decision rule)
Choose Setup A, clockwise PCD, when the main problem is material sitting on top of the concrete: thinset, glue, mastic, epoxy, or quartz-broadcast coating.
Choose Setup B, 20/30 extra soft bond, when the coating is already removed or the main problem is the concrete itself: hard slab, high spots, slow cutting, or a surface that needs to be opened before epoxy or polishing.
Simple rule: PCD removes coating. Extra soft bond metal cuts hard concrete.
- If you’re mainly fighting thinset/epoxy/quartz coating that won’t release → start with clockwise PCD.
- If the slab itself is extremely hard and you must cut/flatten high spots for epoxy prep → start with 20/30 extra soft bond metal diamonds.
Jobsite requirements (to avoid problems)
Before confirming the order, check the Lavina model, tool direction, concrete hardness, coating type, and the next step after grinding. For PCD tools, direction matters. For metal bond tools, slab hardness and bond selection matter more.
If the contractor is not sure which setup to use, ask for three things: machine model, floor photos, and the job goal. That is usually enough to decide whether the job needs clockwise PCD, 20/30 extra soft bond metal tools, or both.
- Keep the machine moving; avoid parking in one spot (reduces gouging).
- Test a small area first to feel pull/chatter and confirm the profile you want.
- Plan the next step: after removal, most crews switch to metal grinding to control scratch pattern and flatten the surface.