What Goes With What – Grinders, Shot Blasters & Scabblers

When it comes to floor preparation, having the right machine is only half the job. The real results come from the correct flooring machine accessories the tooling, dust extraction, and power setup that turn a basic hire into a professional system.

Whether you’re grinding, blasting, or scabbling, understanding which accessories pair best with each machine ensures efficiency, cleaner sites, and consistent surface profiles.

Here’s a full breakdown of what goes with what —and how to get the most from your setup.

Floor Grinders

Purpose: Surface removal, smoothing, polishing, coating removal, and levelling.
Examples: Husqvarna PG 450, T6, X8, HTC 500, Terrco

 

🔧 Diamond Tooling

Diamond shoes or segments are the main consumable for any grinder. Matching the right bond, grit, and pattern to the floor makes a massive difference.

• Soft bond – for hard concrete (keeps diamonds exposed)
• Medium bond – for average concrete
• Hard bond – for soft or abrasive floors (avoids fast wear)

 

Common patterns include single, double, and triple segment tools.
Popular systems: Husqvarna EZchange™, Terrco, Cup discs and 250mm grinding plates.

 

💣 Coating Removal – PCD Tools

If you’re removing epoxy, thick paint, or glue, use PCD (Polycrystalline Diamond) shoes.
They slice through coatings rather than grind them off, saving diamonds for finer passes.

Tip: Follow with a 30–50 grit metal bond to remove PCD marks before polishing or sealing.

 

✨ Polishing Pads & Hybrid Tools

Once the surface is flat, move to hybrid or resin pads for polishing:

• 100 grit – transitional polishing
• 200–800 grit – fine polishing
• 800–1500 grit – high-shine finishes

 

Apollo Pads and easy edge are ideal for use with edger grinders or look at  power trowel tooling, giving contractors full flexibility from heavy prep to high gloss.

 

🧲 Dust Extraction & Vacuums

Grinding generates fine silica dust that must be controlled.
For compliance and site safety, pair every grinder with an M- clas or H-class HEPA filtration system:

• Small grinders: Husqvarna DE120 or Nilfisk S3LP
• Medium grinders: Husqvarna D60 or 415v vac
• Large planetary machines: Husqvarna T7500 or D80

Always match the vacuum’s CFM rating to the grinder size and use anti-static hoses with proper cuffs and reducers to prevent blockages or electric shocks.

 

⚡ Leads & Power Supply

Grinders are power-hungry machines, so ensure the correct supply:

• 110V (16A / 32A) – for small single-phase grinders (PG270, 450)
• 415V 3-phase (32A / 63A) – for large planetary models (Husqvarna 400– Terrco 3000)

 

Always use 5-core heavy-duty leads, regularly PAT tested, with secure CEE-form connectors. Multi-Hire supply custom extension leads, splitters, and transformers for safe site setups.

 

⚙️ Shot Blasters

Purpose: Creating CSP texture before coatings, screeds, or overlays.
Examples: NFE A95, A97, A99, Husqvarna 1-10DPS

Shot blasters are the go-to choice for fast, controlled surface texturing. Getting the most out of them means maintaining clean media flow, proper suction, and correct shot size.

🔧 Key Accessories

• Steel Shot (Blast Media)
  Available in grades from S390 to S460
  • Fine shot (390) – light keying or cleaning
  • Medium shot (420) – standard coating removal
  • Coarse shot (460) – deep profiling or heavy rust removal

 

Recycling your shot is essential. Replace it when fractured or dusty to keep the blast pattern even.

 

• Wear Liners & Control Cages
  These protect the blast chamber and direct media flow. Worn liners reduce efficiency and increase dust – inspect them regularly.
• Rubber Seals & Brushes
  Contain the rebound of shot. Replace them as soon as they start to fray to prevent media escaping.
• Magnetic Brooms
  For collecting stray shot from the surface afterwards – a small tool that saves hours of cleanup and keeps shot out of vacuums.

 

🧲 Dust Extraction

Shot blasters rely heavily on suction to reclaim shot and remove dust. Pair with:

• Husqvarna D80, DL7000,
• Use a cyclone pre-separator to stop steel shot damaging vacuum filters
• Always use anti-static hoses and check gaskets for leaks

⚡ Power & Leads

Shot blasters often run 415V 3-phase motors, so correct power setup is critical.
Always:

• Use 63A 3-phase leads rated for industrial use
• Keep cable runs short to prevent voltage drop
• Ensure the vacuum and blaster share a balanced power supply

For smaller 110V units like the A95, a 32A transformer and heavy-duty lead are ideal.

🔨 Scabblers

Purpose: Aggressive removal of laitance, contamination, or damaged concrete.
Examples: BEF 200, BEF 250, BEF 320

Scabblers impact the concrete surface with carbide or steel heads, making them ideal for removing thick coatings or preparing damaged floors.

🔧 Key Accessories

• Tungsten Carbide Tipped (TCT) Flails / Drums
  The main consumable. Available in:
  • 5-point stars for heavy removal
  • 9-point stars for lighter texturing and heavy removal
  • Milling drums for bitumen and adhesives (sale only)
• Spacer Washers & Retaining Pins
  Often overlooked, these maintain correct spacing and stop uneven wear.

🧲 Dust Extraction

Scabbling creates large debris and airborne dust. Fit the correct dust shroud and connect to an H-class vacuum with adequate airflow.
For large scabblers, pair with Nilfisk S3LP or DE120 .

⚡ Leads & Air Supply

Electric models, use 32A 110V or 415v  leads, ensuring all connections are IP-rated for site conditions.

 

🧠 Pro Setup Tips

1. Cable Management – Use cable ramps or hooks to keep leads clear of moving parts and prevent trip hazards.
2. Dust Control – Pair every prep machine with extraction and air filtration. HEPA vacuums are mandatory on live or indoor sites.
3. Pre-inspection – Check tooling segments, blast media, and TCT drums before every hire to avoid downtime.
4. Power Balance – Never overload a transformer. If running multiple machines, request a splitter or site power audit.
5. Hose Compatibility – Use the correct diameter hose for suction efficiency: 38 mm for small tools, 50–76 mm for large grinders/blasters.

🧰 Ready-to-Run Hire Packages

At Multi-Hire Power Tools, every hire can be supplied with the full flooring machine accessories and equipment:
✅ Correct diamond tooling for your floor hardness
✅ Dust extraction and hose setup
✅ PAT-tested leads and transformers
✅ Optional training and on-site setup support

 

We stock and support Husqvarna, NFE, Wolff, Portamix, BEF, and Von Arx, along with consumables and spares to keep your project moving.

 

📞 Need Help Matching Accessories?

Choosing the right accessories can make or break a job. Speak to our team for tailored advice on machine compatibility, surface conditions, and site power requirements.