Quick Answer

The gloss comes from the sequence, not from any single pad. On a 20-inch high-speed burnisher, use dedicated burnishing pads (1500-3000 grit stage) on a driver plate for the final mirror finish, and resin pads at 1200-1500 rotations per minute for intermediate stages. Burnishing pads are soft and flexible, designed to work at high speed without burning the concrete.

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Burnisher vs Floor Grinder

The practical details.

Crews that rush this part rarely get a mirror finish.

About How Burnishing Pads Fit

Key points for the polishing sequence.

Burnishing pads are round discs (in most cases 16-27 inch) that attach to a driver plate under the burnisher.

This stage decides how much reflection the floor finally shows.

Grit Selection

What matters most in this stage.

Pair with burnishing pads matched to your driver plate.

• 3000: mirror finish after a fresh burnish.
• 800 on a burnisher: only for light re-burnishing, at the low-speed setting.
• 1500-2000: general mirror finish and daily maintenance.

Miss this step and the gloss will not come up evenly.

Operation Tips

The practical details.

• Overlap passes by a third for even mirror finish.
• Dry-burnish only — no water on a high-speed burnisher.
• Keep the equipment moving; stopping heats the pad and leaves a mark.
• Change the pad when the reflectivity fades or it loads with fine dust.

Crews that rush this part rarely get a mirror finish.

About Safety Tips

Key points for the polishing sequence.

• Unplug before changing pads.
• High-speed equipment throw fine dust — wear a dust mask and eye protection.
• Don't use burnishing pads on a slow floor abrading equipment; they're not made for sawing.

This stage decides how much reflection the floor finally shows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Am I able to use regular resin pads on a burnisher?

A: In short, At low speed (1200-1500 rotations per minute) yes for light work; above that use dedicated burnishing pads.

Q: What size pad fits a 20-inch burnisher?

A: The practical answer is, 20-inch pads for the full plate; inspect the driver plate — some burnishers take 19-inch pads.

Q: Should I burnishing pads remove scratches?

A: For most jobs, No — they add mirror finish. Strip scratch marks with a grinder and resin pads first.

Q: At what interval should burnishing pads be replaced?

A: In short, Every 20,000-50,000 square feet, or when the reflectivity drops off.

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Conclusion

The finish is the sum of the stages - stay disciplined and the floor shines. For a 20-inch burnisher, fit burnishing pads to the driver plate and dry-burnish at high speed for a fast, even mirror finish — after a grinder and resin pads did the sawing.