I have a small piece of pigmented concrete (3'x1.5') that I want to grind/polish to expose the aggregate and polish - ultimately buff with some beeswax. I'm thinking there's gotta be some stone/granite guys out there that have some experience here.

I don't have a variable speed grinder/polisher (although I want one)....do you think this can be done by hand? I'm planning on working thru a grit ranging from 120-1200. I do have an automotive buffer to apply the wax.

Will I kill myself trying to wet sand this by hand? I don't really want to drop 300 bucks on a grinder and another 300 bucks on diamond pads to clean up 4.5 sf of concrete.....but maybe it's unrealistic to think I could use this...
http://www.dkhardware.com/product-1494-z2set-3m153-flexible-diamond-hand-pad-set.html


I eventually plan to attempt a concrete countertop - which would require the grinder/pad purchase but I'm not quite there yet. Any opinions?

Is 3M the consensus product as well (for diamond pads)? Thanks for the help.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene