Riding Scraper Blades for Efficient and Effective Flooring Removal
Patented Ride-On Scraper blades are available in a variety of sizes to suit any application.
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How do I choose the best floor scraper blades for my project?
The best floor scraper blade for your project depends on the flooring type needing removal. In other words, are you removing soft flooring or hard flooring types?
- Soft flooring (also known as soft goods) like carpet, VCT, rubber etc. is removed quickest using a flat blade. Specifically, side cutting floor scraper blades, called self-dicing, allow your floor scraper to cut a path through the floor and roll it up as it cuts, making cleanup faster and easier.
- Hard flooring types, like ceramic tile or wood, usually require more specialized blades or shanks with a specific design. Therefore, carbide tipped blades are the most efficient option when removing stone tile, epoxy and thinset.
How long will a blade last before it needs replacement?
A blades lifespan depends heavily on two factors- the smoothness of the underlying concrete and how hard the coating is being removed. A rough or cracked concrete floor will wear down blades significantly faster than a smooth floor- sometimes cutting the blade life in half.
- Flat Blades– As a rule, most flat blades are rated at 3,000-5,000 square feet per 6” of blade (a 12” wide blade is rated 6,000-10,000 square feet). This number can vary wildly depending on the floor. A smooth concrete floor with a soft coating (like VCT, carpet or glue) will usually give 10,000 or more square feet per flat blade. If the concrete is rough, porus, cracked or covered with thinset, your blade life could drop down to as little as 2,000ft. Re-sharpening the blade on a regular basis will give you a clean floor, but will lower the lifespan.
- Thick blades and heavy shanks- These are also rated at 3,000-5,000sq feet. It should be noted the main purpose of shanks is to break up the large flooring on top and remove the majority of the top layer- not 100%. Cleaning what’s left is most efficiently done with a flat blade. When shanks are used this way, their life can be extended well past 10,000 square feet in most cases.
- Carbide Tipped blades and shanks– Carbide tips are wear down slower and cut longer in between resharpening. Most carbide tipped blades are rated at 3,000ft, however just like shanks, carbide tips are meant only to break up the tile by cutting cornrows or breaking the top layer into pieces. Once that’s done, it’s most efficient to clean up with a 6” flat blade.