After 3 years of ignoring a 50000 gallon sw plaster pool, the chickens came home to roost. The plaster had become so rough that kids toes would bleed. " Be good or daddy will make you swim", was a real threat. There was so much scale it looked like one of those big flocks of blackbirds crapped all over it. Tested my water (finally) and the calcium hardness recommended draining pool half way and then try again.
So, my realistic choices were resurface (18k ballpark, or try something else. Something else won. And the results, although not perfect are 90 percent better tactilely , and 75 percent better visually. I bought drp tools diamond grinding pads and 7 inch backers. I used a dewalt polisher with adjusted rpm to no more than 3000 rpm. I started with the 50 grit and moved to 70 then 120. I did not see a lot of benefit to the 70, so after a day pretty much just used the 50 then the 120. I used just the 50 in the deeper end , where no-one is going to be walking, and the 50 grit finish is pretty dang good; like 14 hours after shaving your head. 120 is not baby bottom smooth but close. DRP tools did not have any pads smoother than 120.
I worked in 3x3ish squares, and for near perfect; 5 minutes at each grit. Its a two man job with the partner using a pressure washer to keep the area cleaned off, and the diamond pads cutting. Make sure to use the gfi extension cord, put 3m no-residual duct tape on your tile and put a towel in the drain, so sludge doesn't fill it up. I used a wet dry vac and a trash p[ump to remove waste water, a good utility pump would likely do the trick as well. I could handle about 20 minutes without a break. It was a back killer. If you are American, get a group of Mexicans to do it. If you are Mexican, get a group of Americans to do it. Job is worse than drywall work.
It took a week, working about 5 hours a day. Get good gel kneepads. Get a 7 inch backer pad for each grit. I used about 5 of the 50 grit pads, 1 70 and 1 120. Bullnoses are hard, use the 120 and slower rpm. When your first 50 grit stops cutting well, cut it down to fit a 4 inch pad for tighter areas. A local pool guy says there are crews that you can hire that do this job. The one he has used uses a weedwhacker that has been modified to use the hook and loop backer pad, and ziptie a hose to it.
Love this community,
Vaya con Dios
So, my realistic choices were resurface (18k ballpark, or try something else. Something else won. And the results, although not perfect are 90 percent better tactilely , and 75 percent better visually. I bought drp tools diamond grinding pads and 7 inch backers. I used a dewalt polisher with adjusted rpm to no more than 3000 rpm. I started with the 50 grit and moved to 70 then 120. I did not see a lot of benefit to the 70, so after a day pretty much just used the 50 then the 120. I used just the 50 in the deeper end , where no-one is going to be walking, and the 50 grit finish is pretty dang good; like 14 hours after shaving your head. 120 is not baby bottom smooth but close. DRP tools did not have any pads smoother than 120.
I worked in 3x3ish squares, and for near perfect; 5 minutes at each grit. Its a two man job with the partner using a pressure washer to keep the area cleaned off, and the diamond pads cutting. Make sure to use the gfi extension cord, put 3m no-residual duct tape on your tile and put a towel in the drain, so sludge doesn't fill it up. I used a wet dry vac and a trash p[ump to remove waste water, a good utility pump would likely do the trick as well. I could handle about 20 minutes without a break. It was a back killer. If you are American, get a group of Mexicans to do it. If you are Mexican, get a group of Americans to do it. Job is worse than drywall work.
It took a week, working about 5 hours a day. Get good gel kneepads. Get a 7 inch backer pad for each grit. I used about 5 of the 50 grit pads, 1 70 and 1 120. Bullnoses are hard, use the 120 and slower rpm. When your first 50 grit stops cutting well, cut it down to fit a 4 inch pad for tighter areas. A local pool guy says there are crews that you can hire that do this job. The one he has used uses a weedwhacker that has been modified to use the hook and loop backer pad, and ziptie a hose to it.
Love this community,
Vaya con Dios
