Uneven grinding isn’t just a minor hiccup on the job. It messes with surface finishes, kills productivity, and leaves you burning hours chasing mistakes. Whether you’re prepping concrete for sealing or knocking down high spots, a consistent finish is non-negotiable. Tradies who rely on flat and polished surfaces know the frustration—one pass looks good, the next reveals ridges, dips, or swirl marks. That’s where planning, proper tooling, and solid practices make all the difference.
Planetary grinders are built for balance and control, giving smoother, flatter passes compared to single-head machines. But even the best kit won’t deliver if it’s not set up right. If your finish looks patchy or feels uneven underfoot, it’s time to work out what’s going wrong and get it back on track.
Not all imperfections show straight away. Some only jump out under lighting or after the sealer goes down. Keep an eye out for:
Surface feels wavy or uneven under a straight edge
Swirl marks, striping, or patchy sections running with grinder direction
Discs or shoes wearing faster on one side
High or low spots creating trip hazards
These issues affect more than looks. Uneven grinding can shorten the life of coatings or overlays, lead to premature slab wear, or cause water pooling. A quick check with a 2–3 metre straight edge or spirit level across the floor saves headaches later.
If your planetary grinder is still leaving ridges, it’s usually down to a few common culprits:
Wrong bond selection – Running the wrong bond for the slab hardness is one of the fastest ways to get uneven scratch patterns. Auskut’s colour-coded bond system makes it simple: e.g. black (HF) for hard floors → soft bond, red (MF) for medium floors → medium bond.
Improper Machine Maintenance – Worn couplings can cause pressure shifts and you’ll grind heavier on one side. Ensure your machine servicing is up to date with the Auskut workshop.
Worn or mismatched tooling – Mixing new with old or running odd sets throws off balance. Always run full sets with matching grit, and wear stage.
Surface irregularities – Dips, cracks, and high spots need prep before grinding, otherwise they’ll amplify through your finish.
Operator technique – Sitting too long in one spot, racing across the slab, or poor overlap all leave lines and gouges.
Don’t walk away from a patchy floor—fix it with these steps:
Match your bond to the floor – Use Auskut’s bond chart every time. Soft floors need hard bonds (yellow SF, green VSF), hard floors need soft bonds (black HF, blue VHF, pink XHF).
Re-align the machine – Book machines in with the Auskut workshop for regular maintenance to keep plates, heads and bolts seated evenly and spinning free. On single-head grinders, always re-level the machine at the start of each new job to avoid uneven cutting.
Rotate and replace tooling properly – Swap positions in a set pattern to even out wear. Replace full sets, never mix ages or conditions.
Use overlapping passes – Each run should overlap the last by about one-third of machine width.
Adjust speed and pressure – Too fast = skate over highs. Too slow/heavy = dig into soft patches. If ridges appear behind the grinder, increase speed and ease pressure.
Clean down between jobs – Dust or slurry jammed in plates clogs diamonds and kills performance.
Once you’ve corrected uneven grinding, avoid repeat problems by building good habits:
Stick to bond matching – Auskut colour codes keep it simple and foolproof.
Keep tooling sets even – Same grit, and wear stage across the grinder. Rotate positions regularly.
Stay on top of maintenance – Replace belts early, tighten bolts, check bearings.
Protect gear in transport – Use covers or brackets so plates don’t shift in the ute.
Train your team – Even experienced operators forget overlap or pressure control. A quick refresher keeps standards high.
Invest in trade-grade tooling – Cheap wheels wear unevenly. Auskut Redi-Lock shoes and cup wheels are built for consistent performance.
Uneven concrete costs you time, money, and reputation. A finish that looks sharp and holds up long term always starts with solid prep—and planetary grinders can make that happen when set up right.
With Auskut, you get the complete system: planetary grinders, Redi-Lock shoes in every bond and grit, vacuums for dust control, and slurry management to keep sites clean. Back it with the right operator technique and maintenance, and you’ll deliver smoother results without costly do-overs.
For tradies chasing consistent, high-quality concrete finishes, don’t let uneven grinding slow you down. Run the right Auskut gear, matched to the slab, and keep every pass clean, flat, and professional.
