Grinder Dolly

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Im needing to grind a concrete floor and the commercial grinders rented in town are very expensive, so I figure that I can use an angle grinder, with variable speed and the proper disks, in a bracket like these.  The problem is that they are way over priced too.  So Im looking into welding one up.  The big trick to making one work seems to be the gas struts that level the grinder head.  Any advice on finding these? Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by UpnorthThe big trick to making one work seems to be the gas struts that level the grinder head.  Any advice on finding these?
Reply:If you can get the numbers/make/brand off the commercial struts.  The force/length is very important.  You might find them at autozone or some auto parts store also.  I know autozone sells some misc. struts.
Reply:by the time you build one and then burn up a grinder, I think you could rent on for the day and accomplish it much easier and cheaper.
Reply:The rental store here wants $130 per day for their floor grinder, and there will likely be at least that much in wear charges before Im done.  Considering even when I have a rush on a well defined job I rarely get tools back in time there is no way that one day will be it.  I am hoping to polish the floor of my basment after pouring 2" concrete to contain heat tubes.  Google polished concrete floors..... if this works out then I'll be "densifying" and polishing the floor in my garage as well, so having the tools in the long run will be better than renting.  As for burning out a grinder I will be using a grinder with a water fed arbor designed for concrete use, so hopefully not an issue (fingers crossed).  Looking at the design closer the sole point seems to be allowing the grinder head to float/tip in all axis to avoid letting it dig in, this way it would actually be better than a rental unit (they will show "corn rows" on over laps that would need to be blended out).Im thinking that ditching the struts alltogether and welding up a "gimbal" with one ball joint centered over the head would be best.....
Reply:Looks like the struts are extended, thus keeping downward grinder pressure to the floor. Otherwise the grinder flops around.  The front strap keeps the nose from digging.  Might be some other adjustment we can't see.Might want to rent one for part of a day.  Get an idea of how to proceed.How confident are you with hooking up electrical for use around water.
Reply:i say rent one, detail it (meaning make prints for one) and then build it and modify to your needs... after you have made a better product, then build a bunch and sell em to the rental stores....nothing fancy, just a few hot glue guns for metalwww.sicfabrications.com
Reply:Electricity and water is a concern, the grinder has it's own gfi on the cord, I'll use it on a gfi outlet and wear rubber boots.The rental units are a whole different type of unit, but I'm thinking now that I have a pdf manual with parts list I'll call the company up on monday and price out the bits I dont have figured out, might get lucky.With a variable speed grinder and the vast aray of pads out there having a unit like this will probably come in handy for maintainence of the floor after its done, if this whole plan works.  Worst case I put down laminate, cut up the steel for the next project and all Im out is sometime and argon.  Parts, metal and lessons transfer to the next project.  As long as it's safe, which takes us back to, well the rubber boots will make me feel safer anyway.
Reply:if i was you and calculating my costs to build vrs cost to rent, my "build" estimate would  have a line item called "phoque up the new floor get pissed break something" witha good chunk of money in it...