grout removal

[frankmazuca]

I am a do-it-yourselfer and have installed 12 inch super saltillo tiles with five eigths grout lines. The grout has been discolored due to the final coat of sealer-Roval 1088- I applied to the tiles. I need to remove the grout. I bought a Dremel grout remover kit and it seems extremely tedious and slow. I also have used a screwdriver and hammer to remove the grout. Any comments or suggestion? I also own a decent Porter-Cable router-is that an option?
My better half does not like grout stain, so that is out.

Any help sure would be appreciated. I am not looking forward to spending the next month of two removing grout on about 300 sq feet of floor.

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[DonB]

Hi Frank,

One of the pro's here, doitright, has recommended a Fein Multimaster as the way to go on a project such as yours. I've taken some out quickly using a V diamond wheel with a 30,000 rpm flexi shaft machine. I'd be scared of the control issues with a regular router.

Have you tried sanding down a micro layer to see if that would suit you?

Don

[frankmazuca]

Don
Thank you for your help.

I have been experimenting with several different methods of removal and the discoloration goes fairly deep in spots. I am all for tools that will make my life easier. I went to several web sites and a pnuematic version is avaliable. Is that a good choice? i have a large Husky compressor I bought at home depot. Do you have a model number to recomment?

Also, while online the Fein multimaster has speeds of 21,000. Keep on looking for 30,000 rpm?

[JTG]

Frank
The advantage of the multimaster is that the dust will be less. It is a tool that does its thing with vibration but a spinning or turning blade. There is also an option attachment that will attach an vac to collect dust.
JTG

[DonB]

Frank,

Maybe John (aka doitright) will weigh in on this. He has one of these Fein tools and recommends it. I've never seen one. What I used is a completely different animal but it worked for me.

Don

[frankmazuca]

Hello Don-I had confusion on your idenity. What make of machine do you use for your work.

Frank Mazuca

[DonB]

Hi Frank,

I'm sorry for the confusion.

I used a 5 amp Craftsman cutting tool with a flexible shaft attachment. I suppose it's like a Dremel on steroids. I used a small V shaped diamond wheel chucked in a 1/8" collet running at 30,000 rpm to cut the grout out of about 60 ft² of tile the other night. 3/16" grout line. Nervous work but it went quickly with no damage to the tile.

Don

[doitright]

Hi Frank, Welcome! :)

Normally I would recommend the Fein Multimaster. Since you have such wide joints for the saltillio, I would use a variable speed grinder (such as a Metabo WE9), or a Jepson saw (controlled by a heavy duty dimmer switch box to slow it down). Also required would be a good shop vac with a 3 micron filter.

With any of these tools, be extremely careful with the edges of your saltillio. If not, you'll chew them up. :eek:

[frankmazuca]

Don, John, and Jerry

Thank you for all your help.

Frank Mazuca