Welding/Machine Shop Floor Question

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Got my shop building built, getting ready to add power and am looking at how to finish the concrete floor.  I am looking for thoughts and ideas.This is just a hobby shop I will use as a small machining area, a welding/metalworking area, and woodworking.  I plan to keep the welding and metal forming away from the woodworking area.I don't know if epoxy or Racedeck tile make sense for the welding, and the machining area, welding especially.  I would imagine that the sparks would burn right through, and the machining chips would embed themselves.  The floor is a finished, but not slick concrete slab.What do you guys think?Steve in Central TXHH 187Hobart Champion 10k Welder.GenLincoln 225 AC'DC Arc welderEnco 3-in-1 lathe/mill/drill pressEnglish Wheel40" Sheet metal Brake/shear/rollerVarious metal benders/formers.4x6 metal bandsawOA, 40 and 50 amp plasma cutters3-in-1 TIG/Plasma/Arc ShopsmithTable saw, planer, jointer drum sander, drill press, bandsaw
Reply:Epoxy is nice we have it in our barns break room/ office. If you slide things it will scratch. Saw a polished concrete floor that was nice. smooth  but not too slippery. Tiles are ok but porcilan chips or breaks and rubber would burn.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:tile will be no goood!!! polished concrete all the way!!!!
Reply:I have an epoxy finished floor with lots of burn marks and spots from arc welding.  The finish on my floor does not stand up to the stuff that falls from the arc welding I do.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Just smooth concrete. Just like aircraft hangers.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:I agree. Some things are prettier, but nothing is better than concrete.
Reply:Dude, smooth or polished concrete.You'll be sorry if you do anything else.....Measure twice, cut once.Millermatic 211Millermatic 251Miller Dynasty 200DXESAB O/A Set-up
Reply:Polished concrete is way good.  Smoother and easier to move stuff around on.  The polished floor is also easier to clean dry and liquid messes too.  Seems like polished floors are more level and true too, but I dont have any proof to support that observation.  Any way if you have dirt and your pouring, get it polished and call it good.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I would put something on the floor in the machine area. Its nice to have a softer floor in case you drop a machined part, concrete will damage them where as a rubber floor wont. I once saw a train yard machine shop floor that was made of 4x4 and 4x6 blocks about 12" long that were stood on end and set in sand to make a 12" thick solid wood floor. After over 100years this floor still looked good almost like brick but it wouldnt damage the large gears they would machine in there.
Reply:I would also recommend seperating the machine area from the welding/metalworking area. Grinding dust and welding dust are very abrasive and will eat up the ways on your machines
Reply:I have always liked an oil and paint stained floor, more natural (and easy to do). I have not forund any epoxy or coating that will last against weld splatter and heat in a welding area.
Reply:My sister company just moved into a new facility.   They did one hell of a T.I. on the building before they moved in.   one of the things they did was epoxy coat the floors.    well after 6 months their nice black floor looks like hell.  pretty beat up and pop marked.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:stevewm   -   The SR-71 was built on the smoothest and most polished of slabs.  Why is your concrete anything less; what would Kelly say ?   OpusLast edited by OPUS FERRO; 06-04-2011 at 01:56 AM.Reason: continuity
Reply:Kemiko concrete stain.  Inexpensive and makes your floor look like expensive marble. Doesn't protect at all, just makes it look good.Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Thanks for the replies, guys.Probably makes the most sense to put the metal operations outside the woodworking and machining areas and put mats around the lathe and grinder.  I "might" go with epoxy in the enclosed part of the shop area but the idea of just plain old concrete sure appeals, too.  I see lots of steel buildings around here that are so pretty inside that the owners leave the tractors and other machinery outside.  I mainly want something that is easy to keep clean and so far bare concrete meets that need however.  I worked in the aircraft developing and manufacturing business and the most unusual floor I saw was at the Pratt&Whitney jet engine plant in East Hartford, Conn in the machine shop area.  It was made from 4x4s placed vertically.  It was a great floor for the shops because a dropped part would bounce but over the years it was really oil soaked and very difficult to keep clean.  A fire would have been like a fire in a coal seam.Steve in Central TX
Reply:Beware of epoxy that is too smooth. Our aircraft maintenance hangar floor had to be redone with grit because the slighted moisture made it a slipping hazard. I prefer traction to beauty.