The machine matters. The blade matters more. Matching the right blade to the material you're removing is the single most important variable in floor scraper performance — and the most common source of slow production, excessive blade use, and operator frustration when it's wrong.

A high-performance floor scraper with the wrong blade is an expensive way to get disappointing results. Too thin a blade on a hard material flexes and loses its edge quickly. Too thick a blade on a soft material can't cut in at the right angle and glides over the surface instead of undercutting it. The machine's downforce is only as useful as the blade's ability to engage the material correctly.

This applies equally to the ArmorEdge XDS, the Bucket-Edge, and any compatible machine including the Bartell Terminator. The blade system is the interface between the machine's force and the material being removed. Getting that interface right is what separates a productive scraping day from a frustrating one.

ArmorEdge blades are available in four thicknesses, each engineered for a specific range of materials and removal challenges. The selection logic follows a straightforward principle: the thinner the material you're removing, the thinner the blade you should use.

FUNDAMENTAL RULE

Match blade thickness to material thickness. A thinner blade cuts under thin coatings precisely. A thicker blade provides the rigidity and edge mass needed to handle hard, thick, or multi-layer systems. Using the wrong thickness in either direction costs production time and blade life.

FLEX — 2.5mm

The FLEX blade is the thinnest profile in the ArmorEdge lineup. Its flexibility allows it to conform to minor surface variations and cut cleanly under thin, well-bonded coatings without the rigidity that would cause it to skip or chatter.

●      Epoxy coatings (light to medium bond)

●      Vinyl plank and VCT adhesives

●      Thin elastomeric coatings

●      Surface prep on smooth concrete substrates

●      Parking stall areas with 1–2 coat systems

The FLEX is the right starting point when the coating is thin and well-adhered to a relatively flat substrate. It cuts in cleanly at a shallow angle, which is what thin material removal requires. Using a heavier blade on thin coatings often results in the blade riding over the material rather than cutting under it.

HEAVY — 3mm

The HEAVY blade is the most versatile profile in the lineup. It provides more rigidity than the FLEX while retaining enough flex to handle moderately uneven surfaces. The 3mm HEAVY also features small notches near the base that allow the blade to sit deeper in the holder — increasing stiffness further and allowing the clamp to make better contact with the blade body.

●      Thin-system waterproofing (urethane, Puma systems)

●      Thinset and light mortar beds

●      Multi-coat parking stall systems (2–3 coats)

●      Drive lanes and ramp approaches in parking structures

●      Flooring removal on moderately uneven substrates

The notched 3mm HEAVY blade is also compatible with Bartell Terminator machines, making it the go-to blade for operators running Bartell equipment who want an aftermarket option with superior edge life and toughness. If a standard 3mm blade isn't cutting in cleanly but 5mm feels like overkill, the notched 3mm is the answer — it adds rigidity without jumping a full profile.

BARTELL COMPATIBILITY

The notched 3mm HEAVY blade fits Bartell Terminator machines. Operators running Bartell equipment can use ArmorEdge blades for improved edge life and toughness — available at floorscraper.ca.

SUPER — 5mm

The SUPER blade is built for jobs where material resistance is high and edge life is the priority. At 5mm, it carries significantly more mass behind the cutting edge, which translates to longer edge life under aggressive scraping conditions. It handles heat, friction, and impact better than thinner profiles.

●      Hot rubber waterproofing membranes

●      Mastic adhesives

●      Ceramic and porcelain tile

●      Tough urethane membranes on ramps and turns with up to 5 coats

●      Multi-layer systems where lighter blades lose their edge quickly

The SUPER is the right blade when the removal job is eating through HEAVY blades faster than expected. The trade-off is a slightly less flexible blade — which is a benefit on hard materials but can limit performance on surfaces with significant irregularity.

XTREME — 6.5mm

The XTREME is the heaviest blade in the ArmorEdge lineup. At 6.5mm, it is engineered for maximum durability under the hardest removal conditions — applications where impact loads are high, material is thick, and edge life is the primary concern.

●      Asphalt and bitumen coatings on concrete

●      Thick mortar beds

●      Heavy-duty tile removal on industrial floors

●      Any application where the XDS 10" asphalt head is in use

The XTREME is not the starting blade for most jobs. It is the right blade when the material is so hard or so thick that even the SUPER loses its edge before the job warrants a change. On asphalt removal — one of the most demanding applications the XDS handles — the XTREME is the appropriate default.

Blade	Thickness	Best For	Key Advantage
FLEX	2.5mm	Epoxy, VCT, thin coatings, light prep	Flexibility on uneven surfaces, precision on thin material
HEAVY	3mm	Thinset, urethane, 2–3 coat systems, Bartell compat.	Versatility + notched version for extra rigidity
SUPER	5mm	Hot rubber, mastic, tile, tough membranes	Long edge life under high-friction conditions
XTREME	6.5mm	Asphalt, thick mortar, heavy industrial	Maximum durability under impact and hard material

If you know what material you're removing, the blade decision is usually straightforward.

Parking Garage Waterproofing Removal

Parking stalls with 1–2 coats: start with 2.5mm FLEX or 3mm HEAVY. Drive lanes with 2–3 coats: 3mm HEAVY standard. Ramps and turns with up to 5 coats or PUMA methyl methacrylate systems: 3mm HEAVY notched or step up to 5mm SUPER. Production rates with the XDS 26-inch waterproofing head on these systems reach 5,000 to 10,000 square feet per day.

Hot Rubber and Membrane Removal

Hot rubber waterproofing — multi-layer spray or hot-applied membranes found on plaza decks, below-grade walls, and overburden areas — requires sustained force and a blade that can maintain its edge through thick, stringy material. Start with the 5mm SUPER. If the system is particularly thick or the bond is aggressive, move to the XTREME. Ride-on scrapers on the same material are typically limited to a 6-inch blade width and around 100 square feet per hour. The XDS with the right blade and the 26-inch head is in a different production category entirely.

Tile, Mortar, and Hard Coatings

Ceramic and porcelain tile with mortar beds on commercial renovation jobs: 5mm SUPER is the standard starting point. Heavy mortar, asphalt, or industrial tile on concrete: 6.5mm XTREME. These are high-impact applications where blade mass directly translates to edge life and production consistency.

Epoxy and Industrial Coatings

Light to medium epoxy coatings in warehouses, commercial kitchens, and labs: 2.5mm FLEX. Heavier epoxy systems with significant build-up: 3mm HEAVY. Mastic adhesive residue: 5mm SUPER. The key on epoxy is having enough downforce behind the blade to shear the bond cleanly — which is why the XDS's 2,800 lbs of combined force makes it effective where walk-behind electric scrapers cannot generate enough pressure.

The XDS blade flip system allows the operator to pull a pin, rotate the head 180°, and lock it back in place—all without tools or leaving the skid steer. This places the opposite cutting edge in contact with the floor, allowing work to continue in seconds.

The rule of thumb is to flip the blade when cutting performance starts to decline—slower penetration, increased chatter, or the machine working harder to achieve the same results. Replace the blade once both cutting edges have reached the end of their useful life. Regularly flipping the blade and using proper backdragging techniques will maximize blade life and keep production consistent.

Replacement blades in all four profiles are available directly at floorscraper.ca. Keeping the appropriate blade profiles on hand for the material being removed minimizes downtime and maintains productivity throughout the job.

Order replacement blades in all four profiles — FLEX, HEAVY, SUPER, and XTREME — at floorscraper.ca. The right blade for your next job ships directly to you.