protecting a concrete floor

[jack707]

Is there anything else I can use beside fire blanket to put on the floor to protect it?.

 

[ovrszd]

Big assumption on my part here......

Wanting to protect your floor from welder and/or cutting torch slag??? I don't use anything on my floor. Small particles are no problem. If I'm using a Plasma Cutter or Cutting Torch I am conscious of larger molten pieces that land on the floor. A gentle nudge to move them a couple times til they cool off prevents popping of the concrete. Been in my shop 7 years with 99% of my metal work happening in one area. You hafta look very closely to find any damage.

 

[CNC Dan]

Is there anything else I can use beside fire blanket to put on the floor to protect it?.

A piece of sheet metal would do it.

 

[Shield Arc]

When my shop first got built. I went through a stage of trying to protect the floor. Then I just gave up. But if I'm doing a lot of cutting in one place I lay down a good size sheet of 16-GA to protect the floor.

 

[4570Man]

I don't do anything to my floor. We don't use a cutting torch inside very often, and a welder doesn't produce big enough slag to hurt anything.

 

[jack707]

I will go with 16ga. sheet metal, the reason I asked is because I see some pitting on the concrete under my welding bench. Thanks

 

[bdog]

I weld and cut all the time in my shop. The only time I have damaged the floor was when I did about 50' of cutting on 2" plate. The massive amounts of slag hitting the floor made it pop even though what I was cutting was 4' off the ground. Normal light duty stuff has never hurt my floor.

 

[Deere Dude]

I generally slide a metal 5 gallon bucket under the welding. It keeps the slag from bouncing around the floor also.

 

[lomita]

Hardiboard or equivalent in other brands in comes in 1/4", 4'x8' sheets. I use it on my table to keep from burning the plywood below and it's better than a metal top because your slag won't stick. It works!
I believe the 1/2" thick is only in 3'x5' sheets. It will show burn marks if a torch if left in place for too long but will not burn through unless you are careless.
A couple of sheets will cover a 8x8 area.........set your project on top and you are good to go.

 

[lamanated]

piece of a above ground swimming pool metal liner, the metal yards get them and sell it for 30 cents a lb.

 

[dntfxr]

I just lay down a few equal sized pieces of angle like a upside down V. The air space is enough to keep from popping the concrete.