Grabo Classic vs Pro vs DeWalt?

[squall_line]

I'd have thought that the DeWalt Grabo had been out long enough by now to be able to find a bunch of comparison discussions, videos, etc. about the differences between the original Grabo Classic and/or Pro models and the DeWalt licensed version.

Alas, my searches come up mostly empty.

Here's my take on what I can tell:

Grabo Classic - Manual on/off, analog vacuum gauge.  Retails ~$200 with battery/charger

Grabo Pro - Digital vacuum gauge, auto-off/on when vacuum is drawn/drops below threshold, retails ~$300 with battery/charger

DeWalt - Similar to Grabo Pro?  I see a digital gauge, guessing it's auto-off/on?  $250 bare tool, $350 kitted with batteries and charger

The original Grabos seemed to come with spare seals and/or batteries, but it looks like they may have decontented the packages to counter inflation and keep the price the same.

I don't have any DeWalt tools, but there are a bunch of battery specials with Black Friday coming, so I'm looking at that as an option.

My primary use case right now is removing drywall and eventually installing some drywall in my garage.

Can anyone with experience speak to the differences between the DeWalt and the originals?

Thanks!

 

[Mettes]

I have the Pro and had my hands on a DeWalt last week at a trade show.
It was a surprise to me to see it, didn't know it existed.

Technically they are identical, I think they even share the same seal, but not sure.
You "gain" on the flexibility of the DeWalt ecosystem. For me that is a big plus, now I have to keep a dedicated battery charged (after I bought it) for a tool I do not use that often, but when you need it...
So for me it's nobrainer, was thinking of getting a second Grabo, but it will definitely be a DeWalt. Even thinking about selling the Grabo and getting 2 Dewalt's.

 

[live4ever]

Have a pair of the classics and would have definitely preferred being in a battery ecosystem I already had.  No experience with the Pro or DW so can’t help with your purchasing decision.  When I’ve really needed my Grabos, it has been nice to have a pair.

These tools wouldn’t be my first choice for drywall work though.  Maybe I’m missing something.  There are more secure, cheaper, and quieter ways of carrying and lifting the stuff.

 

[cpw]

I have never used the original, but did use the Dewalt yesterday to install some shower doors.  The gauge is digital and it does have auto on/off.

I am bought into the Dewalt and Festool battery platforms, so once it came out without a custom battery it was a no-brainer to try it.  I didn't even have an application in mind, but it was perfect for manipulating the glass panels.  I don't know how well it will work for drywall.

 

[Cheese]

The Nemo Grabo Pro and the Dewalt Max Grabo are the same machines. Nemo rates their machine at 375# max while Dewalt rates their machine at 265# max although both machines are capable of lifting in excess of 530#.  So it appears to be just a rating/safety decision.
The only difference I could find is that the Dewalt has an audible signal for a low battery while the Nemo has a visual signal.

I purchased my Nemo when they first came out so there wasn't a Dewalt option.  I would have preferred the Dewalt because of the battery platform even though I don't own any Dewalt cordless tools.  [big grin]  As battery tech changes Dewalt will continue to upgrade their batteries while I feel the Nemo battery tech is probably frozen in time.  [sad]

Having said that, I charged the battery last November when I put the Nemo away. In September of this year, I pulled out the Grabo and started to use it to install NY bluestone for a walkway. I used it for the entire day on the year old battery charge so you can't complain about that. It only needed to be charged every other day to install 250 SF of bluestone saw cut slabs.

A single Grabo works fine but a single person using 2 of them works even better. And then for those heavy items, 2 Grabos & 2 people work even better yet.

 

[squall_line]

These tools wouldn’t be my first choice for drywall work though.  Maybe I’m missing something.  There are more secure, cheaper, and quieter ways of carrying and lifting the stuff.

I'm removing existing drywall and trying to keep the debris to a minimum, at the cost of additional time. The existing drywall was nailed, so I need some way to hold the drywall in place while I free it from its moorings.  I figured the Grabo has enough additional future uses that it may come in handy for something like this, but that may also be me looking for an excuse to get one?

 

[rst]

Since when do new tools need justification  [big grin]

 

[live4ever]

These tools wouldn’t be my first choice for drywall work though.  Maybe I’m missing something.  There are more secure, cheaper, and quieter ways of carrying and lifting the stuff.

I'm removing existing drywall and trying to keep the debris to a minimum, at the cost of additional time. The existing drywall was nailed, so I need some way to hold the drywall in place while I free it from its moorings.  I figured the Grabo has enough additional future uses that it may come in handy for something like this, but that may also be me looking for an excuse to get one?

Having done a few demolitions of the type you describe, honestly not seeing where the Grabo fits in.  Once you get the edge of a piece loose via pry bar, it’s just a matter of learning to apply the right leverage to the sheet to pop the subsequent nails on the next stud (more of a whole body rocking rather than pulling with your hands and arms - the latter just gets you small pieces in your hands).  And it gets way easier after each successive stud/joist.  Even if you break off at a half or quarter sheet, it’s not that messy.  I’m not sure whether the Grabo will help what is already a pretty easy/painless process, but I’m going to have to try it next time just for curiosity-sake.

I’ve made plenty of purchases for obscure reasons, so I fully support your rationale.  And you’ll love the thing(s) if you ever do anything with glass or tile.    [cool]

 

[squall_line]

These tools wouldn’t be my first choice for drywall work though.  Maybe I’m missing something.  There are more secure, cheaper, and quieter ways of carrying and lifting the stuff.

I'm removing existing drywall and trying to keep the debris to a minimum, at the cost of additional time. The existing drywall was nailed, so I need some way to hold the drywall in place while I free it from its moorings.  I figured the Grabo has enough additional future uses that it may come in handy for something like this, but that may also be me looking for an excuse to get one?

Having done a few demolitions of the type you describe, honestly not seeing where the Grabo fits in.  Once you get the edge of a piece loose via pry bar, it’s just a matter of learning to apply the right leverage to the sheet to pop the subsequent nails on the next stud (more of a whole body rocking rather than pulling with your hands and arms - the latter just gets you small pieces in your hands).  And it gets way easier after each successive stud/joist.  Even if you break off at a half or quarter sheet, it’s not that messy.  I’m not sure whether the Grabo will help what is already a pretty easy/painless process, but I’m going to have to try it next time just for curiosity-sake.

I’ve made plenty of purchases for obscure reasons, so I fully support your rationale.  And you’ll love the thing(s) if you ever do anything with glass or tile.    [cool]

I'll have to try that method. Not sure how old the drywall is, but I know the studs are plenty old and holding on rather strong, so I'll see if I can get things popping instead of the way I've been doing it.  Thanks!

 

[Cheese]

Not sure how old the drywall is, but I know the studs are plenty old and holding on rather strong, so I'll see if I can get things popping instead of the way I've been doing it.  Thanks!

If those studs are old Doug fir...good luck in pulling the nails.  [eek]

What I've done in the past is to take a .040" cut-off disc to the nails, it's a lot easier in several respects.

 

[live4ever]

Not sure how old the drywall is, but I know the studs are plenty old and holding on rather strong, so I'll see if I can get things popping instead of the way I've been doing it.  Thanks!

If those studs are old Doug fir...good luck in pulling the nails.  [eek]

What I've done in the past is to take a .040" cut-off disc to the nails, it's a lot easier in several respects.

A Kwick-gripper or clone is the right tool for pulling…can clear a whole wall of nails in minutes and very low wrist strain compared to end nippers.

Cutting is an option too but it hurts my OCD to leave metal in unless I have to. 

 

[squall_line]

Not sure how old the drywall is, but I know the studs are plenty old and holding on rather strong, so I'll see if I can get things popping instead of the way I've been doing it.  Thanks!

If those studs are old Doug fir...good luck in pulling the nails.  [eek]

What I've done in the past is to take a .040" cut-off disc to the nails, it's a lot easier in several respects.

A Kwick-gripper or clone is the right tool for pulling…can clear a whole wall of nails in minutes and very low wrist strain compared to end nippers.

Cutting is an option too but it hurts my OCD to leave metal in unless I have to.

Knowing my luck, I'd hit every third or fourth nail corpse with the screwgun when I went to install new drywall if I cut them off.  We'll see how this ends up going, for sure.

 

[Cheese]

Cutting is an option too but it hurts my OCD to leave metal in unless I have to.

Ya, my OCD was also put to the test and I too wanted to pull every nail until several of the nails snapped...then I rethought the situation  [big grin]  and that RA grinder suddenly looked perfect.  [smile]

 

[Koamolly]

Cutting is an option too but it hurts my OCD to leave metal in unless I have to.

Ya, my OCD was also put to the test and I too wanted to pull every nail until several of the nails snapped...then I rethought the situation  [big grin]  and that RA grinder suddenly looked perfect.  [smile]

I’ve gone from using a grinder to a multi tool with a Bosch carbide blade.  The Bosch blade is fast and lasts a really long time.  The longer blade can usually reach any nail in 2X4 studs, even getting between studs nailed together.  Also good for cutting off nails that have penetrated the studs through the side so I don’t catch my hand when doing any electrical or plumbing.  I start with vice grips or large nail puller on the nail, then go with multitool for any that are impossible to remove.  CDO (Alphabetically) for sure. 

 

[live4ever]

Cutting is an option too but it hurts my OCD to leave metal in unless I have to.

Ya, my OCD was also put to the test and I too wanted to pull every nail until several of the nails snapped...then I rethought the situation  [big grin]  and that RA grinder suddenly looked perfect.  [smile]

I’ve gone from using a grinder to a multi tool with a Bosch carbide blade.  The Bosch blade is fast and lasts a really long time.  The longer blade can usually reach any nail in 2X4 studs, even getting between studs nailed together.  Also good for cutting off nails that have penetrated the studs through the side so I don’t catch my hand when doing any electrical or plumbing.  I start with vice grips or large nail puller on the nail, then go with multitool for any that are impossible to remove.  CDO (Alphabetically) for sure.

Love those Bosch carbide blades.  Not so ouch per blade in the 10 packs. Poor [member=75217]squall_line[/member] .  What else can we sell you for your project?  [tongue]

Some Viking Jacks perhaps?

 

[DynaGlide]

That's some good tongue in cheek there. .I like the Viking Arms!

DeWalt offers a version now too. So does Irwin.

Back to the topic. Drywall removal or any demo work is going to be messy. Just get after it with a pry bar and clean up when you're done. I'm a fan of OMT with long life nail cutter blade for nails that won't come out. I don't spend that long trying for removal before I just cut them.

There's a time and place for precision overthinking.

 

[rst]

I bought two crappy lifting arms off Amazon some years ago.  I got a Viking on sale.  1/8” is too coarse an adjustment for my usage.  On something 7’ high and 36” wide 1/8” doesn’t cut for fine tuning.  I love my original  Grabo. If it wasn’t for my Graco sprayer I wouldn’t have any DeWalt batteries.

 

[usernumber1]

grabo announced a preorder for a high flow version of their lifter. looks very interesting

the battery is different again. the regular grabo has its own battery now. wonder if the new high flow can share with dewalt, or where is it even from.

the greed will get to these companies. i dont see why they don't join one of the alliances.https://cordless-alliance-system.com/en/ and now there'shttps://www.ampshare.com/
https://order.grabo.com/product/grabo-high-flow/

and to the topic. i have not used the dewalt. the grabo one however is very well received. lifted and carried double 8x4 sheets of 1/2 drywall no problem
it also allows any random or smaller person to be a helper - like carrying a window or other large items like sheet goods

there is one issue that heavy items will force grabo against your leg and can pop open the battery. just have to be mindful which way you orient it
i would be curious if that happens with dewalt, or if dewalt can even carry so much porous weight

 

[Blackmothww]

I recently pick 2 grabo pros for 196.36 each. amazon had a warehouse deal. Might be some still left. I received mine today and both were brand new in box.

 

[onocoffee]

Anyone have any thoughts on using the Grabo in the manner of the Sys Vac? Maybe a clamp setup to mount it to a workbench to hold a workpiece?