Carpet mastic removal, help

[64osby]

Friday I pulled up about 3000 sq/ft of nasty 30 year old carpet, Did it by myself in about 4 hours. Creative use of a metal bar, chain and a small John Deere tractor.

Now I am trying to get the mastic off the floor. Some is very dry and scraps off easy the rest is thicker and a little gummy.

Hand scraping is not an option, 3000 sq ft.

Called a few tool rental places. One said use a floor sander w/ 80 grit discs. #2 said to use a diamond grinder either 15" electric or 30" gas powered.

Can anyone provide some input or experience, Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

WOW that's allot of area or I would suggest a cup brush on a grinder....... cup brushes do not gum up as easy as sandpaper discs

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

I would scrape off the dry easy stuff first, then apply Citristrip to the rest with a roller and extension. Let it set for 24 hrs. and scrape off the gummy stuff easily, use a scraper with a 12" wide blade for this.

The sander and diamond grinder will make a huge mess with concrete dust, and you don't want to be breathing that stuff.

Bob is right about the gummy stuff clogging up the sanding belt too, and the grinder won't be much better. You'll be spending more time trying to clean the gummy junk off the tool so it will cut than using it.

The wire cup brush will work, but will be a lot of labor and take a while.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

could get a block of dry ice and set it on the soft glue for a couple minutes then it would pop right off with a scraper.

 

[64osby]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

Cup brush - I'll try and check that out. thanks Bob.

I've eaten enough cement dust for 1000 life times, I installed auditorium chairs for over 25 years, my last stress test showed my lungs were still very clear.

I'm trying to avoid manual labor, scraping 1 foot at time doesn't sound good. I have tested a few areas with some sharp scrapers and yes I can get it clean but it takes 1/2 hour to get 9 sq ft clean.

Does citristrip come in 55 gal drums? I was searching the web and they say boiling water works better than strippers & chemicals.

Dry ice just sounds like a PITA, sorry.

I know there is some commercial / contractor equipment out there that will do the work for me.

I worry about the diamond blades because if I wear them out they charge me $300 plus the rental fees.

I will have another 1500 sq ft after this phase. Thanks for the input so far.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

No offense taken, years ago I had a large supply of dry ice available to me and used it for several non conventional applications including what you are doing at the moment, it's also good for installing press fit bearings without a press, but I was able to get large quantity's at a small cost then.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

If you're trying to avoid manual labor, let us know how the cup brush on the grinder works for you.

Just had another thought. If they say boiling works better than strippers, why not rent a steam pressure washer like this:

http://www.daimer.com/pressure-washers/super-max-7000.htm

Would probably be quicker and easier than the grinder... cleaner too.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

If you're trying to avoid manual labor, let us know how the cup brush on the grinder works for you.

Just had another thought. If they say boiling works better than strippers, why not rent a steam pressure washer like this:

http://www.daimer.com/pressure-washers/super-max-7000.htm

Would probably be quicker and easier than the grinder... cleaner too.

Good idea......... but..... where is all that crap going to end up when it is blown off the floor????

Hmmmmmm anything you do will be a huge mess

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

Pneumatic scraper with a 4", 6", 8", or 12" blade. They're as low as $25 at some stores. The even make a long reach handle that you can stand while using them.

 

[64osby]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

Pneumatic scraper with a 4", 6", 8", or 12" blade. They're as low as $25 at some stores. The even make a long reach handle that you can stand while using them.

Thanks Fireman, I did a quick look on line and did not find anything that low cost, but I will keep looking.

I have a few rotary hammers, spline or sds, wonder if I could find something for them.

I wonder what a weed wacker would do, can you put metal cable in a weed wacker?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

Thanks Fireman, I did a quick look on line and did not find anything that low cost, but I will keep looking.

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-pneumatic-scraper-kit-95826.html

There is a wider blade available, but that would come from a more specialized store. I thonk I've seen them up to 10" wide. There is also a handle available, but I'm not sure of the cost. It's called a spud bar.

 

[64osby]

Re: Carpet mastic removal, help

Think I found the solution, a portable Edco single disc grinder with Dyma-Serts. Removes mastic, sealers & high spots. States it will do 200 to 250 sq ft per hour, with 3000 sq ft, thats only 12 to 15 hours of work, Rents for $55 plus $120 for the Dyma-Serts. What a deal