With the popularity of concrete in modern construction practices, every concrete worker is familiar with the control joint, whether for walls or for flooring.  Control joints are a necessary part of concrete work.  As concrete ages over time, it shrinks.  That shrinkage leads to cracking within the slab of concrete.  While the cracks are inevitable, they are manageable.  If not managed with properly placed control joints, the cracks are unmanageable and difficult to maintain.  This is where control joints come in to save the day.  Control joints act as a planned crack to ensure the cracking is straight and manageable. The control joints work by filling the joint space next to a specific slab of concrete with the right filler that will expand as the concrete shrinks, allowing the concrete to maintain its form and cover the same amount of space, without unmanageable cracking.  These joints are a necessary part of concrete work and must be planned for and spaced out accordingly.

There are two industry-standard types of joint fillers:  epoxy control joint fillers and polyuria control joint fillers.  Semi-rigid epoxy fillers are easy to use, have a flowable pour, and may be applied with a bulk gun or a dual component pump.  However, polyuria control joint fillers appear to be the better option of these two fillers.  Polyruea fillers have the same advantages as the epoxy filler, but also are fast-setting, which allows for a quick shave making them perfect for caulking or repairing existing cracks.  Another plus of the polyuria filler is that it can be made in a multitude of colors.

How Does a One Man Polyurea Pump Work?

Now that we understand the benefit of the polyurea filler for our concrete control joints, we need to understand more about the application of the polyurea filler.  Just like the epoxy filler, polyuria filler can be applied manually or with a dual component pump.  Dual component pumps are necessary for the chemical reaction to take place to form the polyuria.  Specifically, the chemical reaction creates the polyuria through the mixture of a resin component and an isocyanate component (often a soft block prepolymer).

The One Man Polyurea Pump allows a single person to manage the pump with both of their hands managing different aspects of the filling operation.  One hand controls the pump’s position.  The other hand dispenses the joint filler with the other.  The user must first premix any necessary polymers and then ensure the correct items are placed in the correct poly tanks.  Cross-contamination is a real issue and needs to be avoided.  Once the correct materials are placed in their respective poly tank, the user should conduct a test spray through the manifold to ensure the stream is even and equal. If that test is even and equal, then the static mixing tip should be added to the manifold .  Once the static mixing tip is added, applying a test strip of polyuria to a piece of cardboard will allow the user to ensure the cure time is also proper. As the test cures, discard the static mixing tip and pump grease into the fittings of the manifold to prevent any cross-contamination.   After the test cure is deemed correct, the mixing tip should be replaced with a new one and the joint filler may then be applied.  It is essential to maintain the cleanliness of the pump to ensure it works properly for you during the next use.

Why is it Better Than a Traditional Pump?

The benefit of the One Man Polyurea Pump comes down to efficiency.  This pump allows one person to handle the task of joint filling while other members of the work crew focus on other facets of installing or repairing concrete.  Traditional pumps would require multiple people to operate.  One person would handle the application, another person would manage the pump position, and potentially a third person would manage the levels in the poly tanks.  Not only does the work crew become more efficient, but it is also cost-effective for the business owner as the cost of labor for the business decreases by using a one-man pump as opposed to the traditional pump.

Features of U.S.SAWS One Man Pump

U.S.SAWS features an industry-leading One Man Polyurea Pump with its SX20550 model.  This pump is a prime example of why the one man polyuria pumps are essential to a concrete working crew as it is perfect for single person operation.  The pump is equipped with a T handle that allows the user to easily guide the pump during the application process by knowing precisely where the pump should be to avoid wet floor joints.  When moving the pump to a new position, the attached waste bucket provides a place for the mixing tip to drip instead of on the floor.  There is also storage for a battery or generator as needed.  The poly tanks hold a volume of 6.5 gallons, and are semi-transparent to allow the operator to monitor fluid levels.  The SX20550 also comes with an enclosed box that is perfect for tool storage.  For the operator that requires something different from the standard 1:1 component ratio, U.S.SAWS does offer a 2:1 component ratio if needed.

Always on the innovative side of the tool world, U.S.SAWS has the right joint filler pumps for your job.  Contact U.S.SAWS to discuss your options.