Nemo GRABO PRO-Lifter 20

Boy and Girls,

As my Fe$tool VAC-SYS is no longer available/retailed, this was my next foray into air vacuum clamping.

While I concentrated on its combination in using it as a vacuum pump, its primary use is for holding timber/glass panels.  Furthermore with appropriate adaptation, it can be used in clamping.  I intend to include it in my Clamp Series Blog and thought a separate review would not go astray as some readers may find them useful.

It was first publish by me at LJ on 27th September, 2021 and now migrated here as I’ve picked up rumblings of "what is a GRABO" whenever I happen to refer to it.

 

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Boy and Girls,

 

I thought I'd do a review of this gizmo for all the members that drool over the Fe$tool SYSVAC yet begrudge the shekels to pay for it and may be seeking a gentler hip pocket alternative.  Not everyone can see the need for a vacuum clamping system, however, if you are adventurous enough, this may be the camel that broke the straw's back and provide some degree of inspiration.

 

Before I go into the cons, compare the shekels of $400 (Aust)  for a GRABO Pro as compared to the Fe$tool offering for around $2,600 (Aust), for a clamp and the pump.

 

Primarily it is a semi-costly alternative for a Glass pane vacuum lifter, however, its potential can be limitless especially if you live in a glass house and yonnies are being tossed all around you.

 

Having the Fe$tool SYSVAC, I have no real need for this feature I'm about to extoll and what I offer is pure postulation, however, I can envisage some easy customisations to bring it into fruition.

 

The GRABO comes in two flavours, the standard

and the Pro

versions.  The standard comes with a spare battery which is sadly lacking from the Pro, but the Pro has a neat digital display (in a variety of selectable units)

rather than an analogue display gauge of the standard,

 

The Pro will automatically cut off when the appropriate pressure is reached and re-activates if it drops, while the standard has to have it running/pumping all the time… the machine can be turned off (not recommended by manufacturer) and it will maintain pressure for a considerable time, however, it needs to be visually monitored and turned on as it may drop below "minimum gripping" pressure.

 

Gallery picture #3 had the GRABO Pro running intermittently as the pressure was constantly depleting due to the unevenness of the rough dressed timber it was holding,

 

I happened to experience a fortunate incident, making me the proud owner of both versions.

I initially bought my first GraBO (standard) from Izzy Swann as at the time, he was offering a free "vacuum plate",

that when place under the GRABO, with the appropriate hardware, can be turned into a vacuum press.

 

A close friend, in the glass trade, happen to be visiting (between lockdowns) and upon seeing my standard, had an immediate requirement for it and asked if he could borrow it for a few days.

He was so impressed that he rigged out his shop replacing all the manual glass lifter pumps with the Pro version for all his staff.

As a "thank me", he bought a Pro for me as well and gave back the original standard so I now have 2 GRABOs. Fortunately the batteries are interchangeable so I have 3 batteries between the 2 gizmos.

 

Both versions have 4 solid metal lugs

to use as anchors in shop made jigs.  I can imagine an upside down/sideways (NOT bloody pictures) setup that would function in the same manner as the Fe$tool SYSVAC… buying two and used in tandem would provide greater holding power and would be a helluva lot cheaper than the Fe$tool alternative… I did buy another Fe$tool VAC clamp, however, while it integrates beautifully with the original, it came with a $1,300 (Aust) price tag.

 

If you play around with sheetgoods (ply, MDF, especially melamine), metal plates, concrete tiles and/or thick glass in your workshop, you'll find these invaluable in a clamping setup after permitting ease of moving the sheets around in the workshop.

 

One downside is that it is not the best for very thin (3mm and somewhat 6mm) porous MDF, however, they would be light enough to not require the GRABO.

 

I got onto this gizmo through Izzy Swann's WEB site and he has made some great inspirational videos,

that will test your resolve to resist a purchase temptation.

He also made a neat video of using the GRABO for routing templates without the need for double sided tape.

While the plates are no longer bundled free, they can still be purchased from his WEB site, and can be used with the GRABO to make a great vacuum pump for vacuum gluing.  Do yourself a favour and at least check it out.

 

The anchor lugs are not as user friendly as I initially imagined, however,  as a proof of concept, I designed a method for captivating a 3/8" nut for attaching some sort of fittings for an upside down/sideways clamping jig.

The pieces were laser cut out of MDF as I was too bloody lazy to chisel out a hex nut shape from solids,

when laminated,

provide a receptacle to secure a nut and prevent rotation,

An "arch" was designed

to slip over the lugs

to permit attachment of a piece of 19mm x 42mm hardwood

that can be clamped to a bench as proof of concept for a jig to hold timber horizontally or vertically,

 
Above I have adopted it as a vacuum pump to hold timber.  I have seen many YouTube videos about shop made clamps... however, you still need a pump and the GRABO is portable.
   

With a bit of imagination and reaching into your lobster pot wallet you may surprise yourself with what uses you could devise for a GRABO…

 

Keep safe, jocks... and your jocks, safe!