Average response time: under 24 hours
The fastest way to spec PCD tooling is to start from your grinder, not the coating. On a 250-800 mm planetary floor grinder, bolt-on trapezoid PCD discs strip 0.5-3 mm of epoxy fastest; on edge grinders and small walk-behinds, a 6-to-12 tip PCD cup wheel is the practical choice; and on Husqvarna, EDCO, Lavina or Scanmaskin plates, brand-matched PCD shoes seat flat and change in seconds. As indicative 2026 factory prices, trapezoid PCD discs run $4-$14, cup wheels $12-$28 and brand-specific PCD shoes $5-$16 per piece in bulk. PCD beats a metal-bond diamond shoe on any organic coating about 0.3 mm or thicker.
Polycrystalline diamond does not grind epoxy - it shears it. The PCD edge scrapes the film off the slab in chips instead of heating and smearing it. A metal-bond shoe on the same floor quickly loads up, glazes over and stalls, which is why crews often double their hourly output the day they switch to PCD on coated slabs. Diamond shoes still own the leveling and profiling passes; PCD owns the removal pass.
Trapezoid PCD discs bolt onto the three- or four-seat plate of most 250-800 mm planetary grinders. Two or three PCD segments - bar, round or chip style - attack the coating while the open layout lets slurry clear. On 1-2 mm epoxy and polyurethane, a 2-3 segment disc typically strips 150-400 m2 an hour; on 3 mm-plus trowelled epoxy, a full-face PCD disc such as the Full PCD Trapezoid Disc with Alloy Dot (JOY-TP-PCD1A1) clears material in one pass and saves a second trip over the floor.
A floor grinder cannot reach wall edges, column bases, doorways or stairwells. That is where the PCD Cup Wheel with 6 PCD tips (JOY-CW-PCD6) earns its place on a 125/180 mm angle grinder. Six PCD tips strip paint, glue residue and thin epoxy along the perimeter at 15-35 m2/h; on heavier buildup, a 9- or 12-tip wheel lasts longer and cuts cooler.
High-production machines use proprietary plate systems, and generic trapezoid discs will not seat right. For these, buy PCD built for the plate:
| Floor condition | Best tool choice | Why metal-bond diamond shoes fall short |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5-3 mm epoxy or polyurethane coating | 2-3 segment trapezoid PCD disc | Glazes over, smears the film, stalls the grinder |
| VCT glue lines, mastic, self-leveler residue | Chip or full-face PCD disc | Rubberizes under heat and loads the bond in minutes |
| Paint, curing compound, thin sealer | 5-8 small PCD tip disc | Removes 3-5x slower and wears flat on soft film |
| Bare cured concrete, leveling scratches | Metal-bond trapezoid shoe | PCD would gouge the slab and cost 5-10x more per m2 |
| Edges, stair nosings, columns | PCD cup wheel on angle grinder | No floor grinder reaches within 10-15 cm of the wall |
A: Two to three PCD segments per shoe clears most 1-2 mm epoxy fast; five to eight small PCD tips suit thinner paints and curing compounds; full-face PCD is reserved for 3 mm-plus trowelled epoxy and heavy buildup.
A: PCD removal is normally done dry with a HEPA vac, which keeps the coating brittle. Wet grinding cools the tool but softens the film and slows the strip - reserve wet for the follow-up diamond passes.
A: PCD will gouge deep, uneven scratches and wear fast because there is no soft film to shear. Use PCD only on coatings; switch to a metal-bond shoe once the slab shows through.
A: The PCD segment itself is similar, but the backing and connection differ - bolt-on trapezoid, Redi Lock, EDCO round plate, Lavina pocket or WerkMaster quick change. Always quote the machine model.
There is no single best PCD tool - there is a best match between your machine plate, your coating and your edge tool. Start from the grinder, choose trapezoid PCD for open floors, a cup wheel for edges and brand-matched shoes for production machines, then test one set on your own job before volume. Tell JOY TECH your machine model and coating thickness and you will get the right backing, a sample set and a factory price for the whole program.
Written and reviewed by JOY TECH - an SGS & BV audited, CE/RoHS certified diamond tools manufacturer founded in 2004, exporting to 50+ countries.
Our factory and quality management system are audited by SGS and Bureau Veritas. Products meet CE/RoHS requirements and every piece is 100% inspected before packing.
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