Category Archives: Mastering Concrete Engraving

After Staining & Engraving Concrete | Final Steps | Washing

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Once you’re done transforming a dull gray floor into a beautiful work of art, there are a few steps to consider when finishing the job.

In this video, final washing of the decorated concrete is demonstrated.

This is part 28 of an on-going series on Decorative Concrete, and is taken from the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

After all engraving and staining operations have been completed, remember to clean your surface one last time.

On an exterior project, utilize a pressure washer. Be sure to pressure wash corners and edges with a wand.

On an interior project, again, utilize a floor machine, with a nylon bristle brush, wet vac, and mop. After wetting the surface, scrub the floor with a nylon bristle brush.

Again, as a reminder, it is important that you apply only the amount of water you can control. Care here will prevent you from damaging surrounding surfaces that may be water sensitive, such as drywall and molding.

Work in small sections so you can immediately wet vac the water and residue created in the floor machine’s scouring process. A wet mop up following the vacuuming is the preferred next step.

Purchase the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics to see this series in its entirety.

Mongoose 411| Special Tips, Tricks & Free-Form Curves

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The Mongoose is one of the most popular concrete engraving tools from Engrave-A-Crete.

In this video, special tips & tricks, and how to cut free-form arcs and curves into existing concrete is demonstrated.

This is part 27 of an on-going series on Decorative Concrete, and is taken from the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Long, sweeping, freeform arcs and serpentine grooves are relatively easy to do with a Mongoose. Draw the proposed line to be cut. When a groove is to be parallel with the edge of the slab edge, use the edge marker tool.

Put a lot of downward pressure on the engraver to keep the wheels from skidding sideways in the turns. Forward progress must be maintained. Once you begin the cut, do not stop. If forward progress stops, any attempt to restart the cut will create an ugly bobble or a kink in the groove.

For incremental control of forward or reverse movement, use your left hand to rotate the left rear wheel.

Hoses and cords dragging behind will make it difficult to maintain straight cuts. When cutting straight lines, have a helper control the vacuum hose and extension cords. If assistance is not available, lay the hoses and cords over your shoulder or strap them to your leg with tape or a bungee cord.

Use a 12-3 extension cord to get the most power to the Mongoose. Motors will run cooler, last longer, be more powerful, and you will get the job done faster. Put the vacuum cleaner on a separate circuit.

Make operations easier by adding on extra sections of vacuum hose. 12 to 20 feet or more is recommended. Consider installing a Gortex Clean Stream filter on the vacuum for better operation.

The pointer should be checked if it is the first cut of the day, or if your Mongoose was accidentally kicked or bumped.

Drilled anchor holes in the concrete can be filled with crack filler or concrete patch material.

Do a complete layout and snap all chalk lines prior to beginning cutting. This allows you to check for accuracy and that the pattern looks good.

When doing freeform curves, if possible, start on a straight section that leads into the curve. It makes tool alignment much easier.

To draw a line parallel to the edge of the slab, a handy tool is the edge parallel marker, produced by Engravacrete.

Purchase the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics to see this series in its entirety.

The Mongoose | Cutting Circles & Arcs Into Concrete

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The Mongoose is one of the most popular concrete engraving tools from Engrave-A-Crete.

In this video, cutting perfect circles and arcs into existing concrete is demonstrated.

This is part 26 of an on-going series on Decorative Concrete, and is taken from the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Perfect circles and arcs are a snap to cut with the Mongoose. Attach a connecting tube to the upper hole on the Mongoose chassis. Slide the connecting tube into the center pivot. Securely tighten the wing nuts.

Slippage at this connection during cutting will cause an ugly circle. Re-check the wing nuts before cutting. Place cross hairs on the slab at the center of the circle.

Exactly align the slots of the center pivot over the cross hairlines. On a small diameter circle, a lone operator can hold the center pivot in place by standing on it during cutting.

For larger circles, a second person must stand on the center pivot or the center pivot should be secured with concrete anchoring screws. When a second person is standing on the center pivot, the Mongoose operator must take care not to cut faster than the second can shuffle their feet clear of the connecting tube.

Purchase the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics to see this series in its entirety.

The Mongoose | Starting & Stopping Cuts

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The Mongoose is one of the most popular concrete engraving tools from Engrave-A-Crete.

In this video, properly starting and stopping decorative concrete cuts is demonstrated.

This is part 25 of an on-going series on Decorative Concrete, and is taken from the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Align the front and rear pointer over a chalk line. It is usually easier to press the rear pointer down to the concrete and leave the vacuum nozzle in place when aligning for a cut.

Remember your goggles and other safety equipment. To prevent a possible kickback, grasp the rear wheel. Depress the red safety button on the side of the handle. Pull and hold down the trigger switch. Press down to cut.

View the rear cutting edge of the blade through the blade guard opening. If the cut needs to go backward, rotate the rear wheel to back up the tool.

Right now, do not be too concerned that the beginning of the cut is exactly where you want it. It is always better to have an undercut than an overcut.

Now concentrate on the front pointer. Proceed with the cut. When approaching the end of the cut, view the blade’s front cutting edge through the guard opening.

A handy alternative to looking at the blade, when beginning and ending a cut, is simply look at reference marks on the side of the chassis.

First, place pencil marks on the side of the chassis to indicate the front and rear of the blade. Using soapstone, place a perpendicular mark at the beginning and end of the proposed cut. When the marks line up, the cut is complete.

Purchase the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics to see this series in its entirety.

The Mongoose | Adjustments | Decorative Concrete Engraver

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This is the Mongoose, one of the most popular concrete engraving tools from Engrave-A-Crete.

In this video adjustments of the depth and the blade are demonstrated.

This is part 24 of an on-going series on Decorative Concrete, and is taken from the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

With the Mongoose unplugged and upside down, view the alignment of the center of your blade in relation to the front and rear pointers using a combination square.

If an adjustment is necessary, loosen the jam nuts which hold the pointer sights and adjust accordingly. After making all adjustments, it is recommended that you verify that the blade is properly aligned.

The process is simple. Snap a chalk line. Aim the pointers at the chalk line. Roll the tool forward while keeping the pointers aligned over the chalk line.

Visually verify that the blade is centered on the chalk line.

As the Mongoose blade wears, you may have to adjust the plunger housing in order to engage the blade with the concrete.

If an adjustment is required, mark the current position of the housing. Slightly release the two screws, and slide the housing upward about one eighth of an inch. Re tighten the housing screws. Adjust the depth limiting screw to the desired depth of cut.

Check to see if the spring action works properly.

When downward pressure is released, be sure the blade completely disengages from the concrete. The blade should hover at least one quarter inch above the slab.

Purchase the DVD Mastering Concrete Engraving, The Basics to see this series in its entirety.