SCARIFIERS

Scarifiers, also called surface planers or milling machines, remove concrete faster and more aggressively than grinders. That's because they use the pummeling action of multi-tipped cutting wheels, or flails, that rotate at high speeds to chip away at the concrete surface. You can choose from many different styles of interchangeable cutter assemblies to achieve the profile you need for each job.

The cutting wheels themselves are mounted on shafts on a removable drum. The number of cutter shafts per drum varies by model, but generally machines with more shafts can hold more cutters per loading for increased scarifying action and faster production rates. Look for machines with quick-change drum designs that allow you to switch or replace cutters in minutes.Equipment choices range from small handheld units with 2- to 3-inch cutting widths to manual push or self-propelled walk-behind scarifiers with working paths of 4 to16 inches. Production rates for walk-behind models range from 350 to 1,500 square feet per hour, depending on machine size and horsepower, material to be removed, hardness of the concrete and type of cutter used. Cutting depths are adjustable on most machines, with some models achieving up to 1/4 inch of material removal in one pass. More sophisticated models have self-leveling scarifying heads that automatically adjust to contours in the floor. As with grinders, scarifiers are available with a choice of power options (including gas, electric, diesel and air) and with hookups for attaching a vacuum to collect dust and debris.