Glitter Bit Operating Instructions

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How to use the Glitter Bits, mortar removal (raking), single brick removal, why you need to extract the dust during brick removal; product limitations, warranty information.

Are You In Compliance?

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

The Dust Director has been used and has figured prominently in just about every silica dust control study since its inception in 2001.

This includes the Dust Director’s acknowledgement in OSHA’s Final Rule (read it here): Requirement of dust control to keep workers from breathing silica dust – Effective 23 June 2016.

Final Rule – Required CFM Ratings

Is your vacuum in compliance? Does it have enough CFM?

* To comply with OSHA’s Standard one of your first steps is to select a vacuum or cyclone that has enough CFM to handle your wheel’s diameter. Use the chart and information below to help you select the model that has enough CFM.

OSHA’s Silica Dust Exposure Law. Additional vacuum cleaner information & requirements. OSHA’s Final Rule Is NOW the Law. Are you in compliance?

Comparison. Are you using a common wet/dry shop vac for dust control?

Still Using a Standard Wet / Dry Vacuum as a Dust Extractor?

Compare & Consider

…Shop Vac and Rigid Vacuums have their place. We all have one.

With OSHA’s Final Rule: You Will Get Fined Using a Non-Compliance Dust Extractor.

KNOW THE RULE:

OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica

Rule requires engineering controls (tools and equipment) to keep workers from breathing silica dust.

What is Respirable Silica Dust? These tiny particles (known as “respirable” particles) can penetrate deep into workers’ lungs and cause silicosis, an incurable and sometimes fatal lung disease. Crystalline silica exposure puts workers at risk for developing lung cancer and other possible debilitating respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary and kidney disease.

How Much Respirable Silica Dust is Safe to Breath? OSHA has issued their Final Rule to curb these respirable and kidney diseases in America’s work force by limiting a worker’s exposure to respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic over an 8-hour shift.

What Does 50 Micrograms of Respirable Silica Dust Look Like? A good example may be one of those small paper packets of sugar or artificial sweeteners found in restaurants.

When used to demonstrate the dust concentration inside a building, the size of a football field (100 yards x 53 yards x 14′ high). The weight of one of those little packets is 53 micrograms, which is slightly over the PEL (permissible exposure limit) for Silica Dust of 50 micrograms.

Such a fine dispersing of dust at this concentration would essentially be invisibility. It is also enough to put the workers at risk by contaminating the work area — the size of a football field x 14′ high.

OSHA’s Respirable Silica Dust Law – Effective: 23 June 2016. Since 1999, the Dust Director has been involved with various organizations aimed at improving the health and safety on construction sites. On a meeting, dated 23 April 2014, the Dust Director was invited to participate in a discussion about OSHA’s upcoming Silia Dust Standard. Besides the representatives from OSHA, the following organizations were also present:

• NIOSH
• CPWR (Center for Construction Research and Training)
• Various university research scientists and professors
• Health and environmentalist
• Mike Kassman, National Safety Coordinator for the International Masonry Institute (IMI)
• Jerry Scarano, Vice President of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers (BAC).

In past meetings, by the use of various air testing meters, NIOSH determined that the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of a worker being exposed to silica dust should not be greater than 93.4. [On record, NIOSH tested the Dust Director System (dust control guard and vacuum), and determined the complete system “provided the greatest reduction of capturing silica dust at 94% than any other vacuum and dust guard that was tested.]

Currently, to simplify the understanding and importance of containing silica dust exposure, OSHA and all parties involved, have adopted the buzz phase of “visible dust,” as their measurement of whether silica exposure is being sufficiently contained for both the workers and public.

CASE STUDY: Dust Left to Fly from a Skyscraper

An interesting case study was provided by a Detroit contractor who was tuck pointing at a high rise office building in downtown Detroit, 35 floors above the sidewalks. A summarization of his findings on silica dust exposure is as follows:

• Two workers were tuck pointing an office building, 35 floors up, without the use of dust control
• The thinking was, to leave the silica fly and let it disburse into the sky . . . that it wouldn’t harm anyone or anything
• As the safety coordinator for the company, he monitored the air quality of his workers
• His air quality readings were as follows:
  • Employee “A” was working in air quality that measured 85 times over the NIOSH established PEL
  • Employee “B”, working downstream from employee “A”, was receiving a concentrated dose of dust as his air quality measured 135 times over the PEL!

While this case study shows how “visible dust” may be seen, more importantly was the moral obligation we need to take for our construction workers, the public, and the environment.

Dust Emissions — Does Your Vacuum Leak Dust?

Check your vacuum! With OSHA’S “No Visible Dust Law”, is there a gasket beneath the motor head to seal the tank?

With the OSHA ruling You will get fined using a vacuum that leaks.

• With a Dust Director Vacuum, Like-New Suction is Every Time –
  Unlike other vacuum cleaners where the same cartridge filter is used again and again and again . . .
• With a Dust Directo? Vacuum, the HEPA cartridge filter stays clean.
  While it may get dusted, it will never become caked ~ Guaranteed.

Urethane Motor Head Gasket. Beneath the motor head of every Dust Director Vacuum & Cyclone is a poured-in-place urethane gasket that is used to ensure a positive airtight seal between the motor head and its tank. Commonly used shop vacuums and even higher priced vacuums will use foam or nothing at all.

The urethane gasket ensures against dust leakage into your work area and prevents even the slightest loss of vacuum which would naturally reduce suction power. Many wonder how the suction of a Dust Director Vacuum and Cyclone seems so much more powerful than other brands, one of the reasons is the urethane gasket.

Dust Director’s Increase in Suction Power While a complete Dust Director System (vacuum and dust guard) have been successfully monitored by NIOSH to operate within the guidelines of their established PEL, a very important feature in all of the Dust Director? Vacuums and Cyclones is the poured-in place urethane gasket.

While some vacuums use foam as a gasket, 90% of all vacuums use nothing! This startling statistic includes vacuum’s that cost well over $2000 dollars. While the Rigid vacuum, for example, does not use any type of gasket (while leaking profusely), the consensus among morally conscience contractors is a Rigid vacuum is simply not designed to be used for silica dust containment.

Dust Director vs. the Competition:

On a visit to masonry tuck pointers in Chicago and Detroit, the suction power of the Dust Director Vacuums was compared to the Bosch 3931 Airsweep, Hilti VC20 and Fein Turbo I vacuums. Simply by placing our hand over the inlet port of each vacuum, the following was the agreed upon results:

• Dust Director Model DD1000: 15% greater suction vs. Bosch & Fein, 25% greater suction vs. Hilti
• Dust Director Model DD1200: Easily 20% greater suction than the DD1000
• Both Dust Director models where considerably lighter than Bosch, Fein and the Hilti vacuums.

Grinding Brick Mortar Joints with a diamond blade is fast - However . . .

Removing mortar or concrete from tight areas has always been a problem, until now…

Solutions

Problem Area

1. Finishes the cut what a diamond blade can’t – such as: Mortar joints on window & door brick returns, irregular or recessed mortar joints on stone walls, and the vertical mortar joints on brick walls.

2. Detail or intricate cut-outs of hard mortar or concrete on masonry walls, architectural columns, sculptures, inside fire places, etc.

3. Completes the 90 degree mortar cut-out around a brick.

SOLUTIONS:

1/8 x 3″ Glitter Bit

1/4 x 3-1/2″ Glitter Bit

Problem Area

4. Single Brick Removal ~ From hard, S-Type Mortar.

5. Toothing-out individual bricks for installing windows and doors.

SOLUTIONS:

1/4 x 4-5/8″ Glitter Bit

Use the 4-5/8″ Glitter Bit and the Brick Dust Controller

– Individual brick removal within 6 minutes –

Problem Area

6. Grout removal from ceramic tile, granite and marble panels.

Glitter Bit Tile Dust Controller – with depth adjustment & 3 straight edges for straight-line guidance.

Powdered dust & debris are extracted into the window for total containment & complete cutting visibility.

Glitter Bits
1/8 x 3″

1/4 x 3-1/2″

With the Glitter Bit Tile Dust Controller

Glitter Bit Characteristics

Durability . . . How tough are they?

Glitter Bits are used to round corners on granite counter tops – Even 1/ (1-1/8″ thick).

Excellent for Concrete Crack Chasing

Designed specifically to cut hard Portland Type S-Mortar . . .

Cuts or routes-out cracks on concrete floors . . . Even on floors with exposed aggregate or high PSI concrete.

Excellent for concrete spall repair projects . . . Grinds concrete from hard to-get-to areas . . .

Finished “V” shaped, concrete crack –

Using the Glitter Bit a concrete crack is routed-out for epoxy or joint sealant injection.

Without any airborne dust . . . Using the Glitter Bit’s Brick Dust Director.

Dust Control . . . Creates Less Mess

The Diamond Tuck Pointing Bit creates at least a tenth of what a diamond blade on an angle grinder does.

More importantly, the dust doesn’t shoot into the air . . . and the dust that is created stays relatively close to the surface, which significantly reduces your clean-up expense.

Fantastic for detail or intricate cut-out work around terracotta panels

Glitter Bit Specifications

Directions for Use

Finishes the job what a diamond blade can’t…

1. Specifically designed to grind Concrete & Hard “S-Type” Mortar.
2. Smooth Cutting . . . Excessive force is NOT required nor recommended. A die grinder operating between 8000 and 15000 RPM’s provides the cutting speed you need . . . Especially on hard materials.
3. Glitter Bits are for use in variable speed Die Grinders, operating between 8,000 and 15,000 Rpm.
4. As Glitter Bits wear, it is possible that the metal shank will vibrate. With the variable speed feature in the die grinder, being able to quickly lower the die grinder’s RPM speed will improve the Glitter Bit’s cutting performance and life.
5. Creates a tenth the dust – compared to an angle grinder & diamond blade. The dust that is created stays with a 3′ square area (even without using a vacuum). The dust simply doesn’t go airborne, as it does when using an angle grinder and diamond blade.
6. DIRECTIONS for USE. When grinding brick mortar joints, start by positioning the Glitter parallel to the wall.
   • Angle the tip of the Glitter Bit into the joint on a 30 degree angle & proceed to grind this way, using a raking motion.
   • Always maintain a 30 degree to 45 degree angle as you continue to rake the bit across the mortar.
   • Try not to use the very tip of the Glitter Bit, doing so will wear the diamonds from the tip prematurely. Diamond crystals need speed for life. The outside perimeter has the correct surface speed necessary for long Glitter Bit life, whereas its tip is only spinning at 300 RPM.
   • Never push on a Glitter Bit. Let the bit and the die grinder’s 8000 to 15,000 RPMs do the grinding. Applying excess force on a Glitter Bit will cause the shank to bend or even snap.

Testimonials

The bit scares me! It is just too simple to use – any one can use it . . . You don’t need to have any tuck pointing training or skill level do use this tool.
You have complete control of the bit . . . total and precise control when grinding next to a window . . .

Cutting out a single brick:

Now you got something – – Superb! Absolutely the perfect tool for spot brick replacement. The vacuum attachment was the key.

Ed Frieze – Apprentice & Safety Coordinator
Brick Layers & Allied Craftworkers, BAC Local 9
Pittsburgh, PA 412 – 825 – 0923

Please feel free to call Ed with any questions on how well the 4-5/8″ Glitter Bit works for cutting-out individual bricks (see below).

I personally cut out over 300 bricks with a single bit. Though it was very soft mortar, there was some hard mortar and within two minutes we had the brick out.

Masonry Restoration Contractor, St. Louis, MO

I cut over 2000 feet of vertical brick joints using the 3-1/2″ Glitter Bit. And it still has life . . .
I also used the same bit with a flooring chisel to removal at least twelve (12) brick that were broken.
I know a lot of masons from the Maryland area will be contacting you . . . we are all impressed.

Masonry Restoration Company, Frederickburg, MD

Glitter Bit Dust Controllers

Dust Control for using the diamond Glitter Bits

Attaches to the neck of a Makita Die Grinder for dust-free concrete & masonry grinding

Complete bit visibility still maintained . . .

Glitter Bit – Brick Dust Controller. A 1-1/2″ diameter vacuum hose is held loosely but securely in place by the dust controller attachment. Dust is effectively captured as you move the Glitter Bit around the brick’s perimeter. Additionally, the dust controller lets you easily move the vacuum hose in-and-out of the controller to quickly adjust the hose to the dust extraction.

Our updated model (not shown) includes the “squares edges (3)” of the Tile Dust Controller (shown below). Likewise, on updated Brick Dust Controller handles both brick and straight line cut dust control applications (the Tile Dust Controller is discontinued).

Special Application: Cutting-Out a Single Brick

Individual Brick Removal / Brick Replacement

6 Minutes per Brick for Complete Removal
This includes cutting through hard “S-Type” mortar & over 3/16″ V-Ties
(masonry anchor) without breaking the bit.

Glitter Bit Life – Description.
Glitter Bits are specifically designed for durability while grinding hard materials type-s mortar, granite and concrete with heavy aggregate.

Single Brick Cut-Out Procedure

1. For use with variable speed die grinders, operating at less than 15,000 Rpm.
2. A vacuum must be used for this application *.

(Click on here to download the 1 page instruction manual)

1. Start your cut into a brick’s mortar joint by positioning the 4-5/8″ Glitter parallel to the horizontal mortar joint. Angle the tip of the Glitter Bit into the joint on a 30? angle & proceed to grind this way, both horizontally & vertically – around the brick, to obtain a 1″ depth.
2. Maintaining a 30 degree to 45 degree angle as you continue to “work the bit” – using a combination of holding the bit on the angle and rotating it in-and-out of the mortar joint. Do not grind perpendicular to the wall. Doing so will wear the tip of the bit prematurely. Diamond crystals need speed for life. The grinding speed for Glitter Bits is obtain on the perimeter of the bit. Whereas the very tip of a Glitter Bit is only spinning at 300 RPM.
3. Repeat steps (1) and (2) above three or four times around the brick’s perimeter, going 1″ deep per pass, to successfully and quickly grind the mortar until the brick is free.
4. Remember to grind with the side of the bit and not use the tip of the Glitter Bit. Never push on the bit ~ let the bit and the die grinder’s 8000 to 15,000 RPMs do the grinding. Applying excess force on the Glitter Bit’s 1/4″ shank will bend the heat treated drill rod and cause injury should the Glitter Bit snap.
5. Vacuum excess dust from the brick joint.
   • Periodically, stop your grinding
   • Remove the vacuum hose from the Brick Dust Controller
   • Using just the vacuum hose, go around the brick’s perimeter
     to vacuum the dust that remains deep inside the brick joint.
   • By not removing the dust deep inside the joint, cutting speed
     is reduced (you’ll just be pulverizing the existing dust).
6. After the Glitter Bit has completely cut through the mortar joint and the dust is removed, lightly tap on the face of the brick to remove the brick.

How effective is the Glitter Bit at Cutting-Out an Individual Brick?

Call the man who witnessed the whole procedure and called it, “Superb“.

“Ed Frieze” with the BAC Local #9
Apprentice & Safety Coordinator, Brick Layers & Allied Craftworkers
Pittsburgh, PA Ph: 412 . 825 . 0923