Devin Devine, stone artisan based in Pennsylvania, projects across the USA
to order a bench or bird bath, email devin@devineescapes.com
Grabo review
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2022
Having used the grabo for over a year and a half, I’d say it’s great for flagstone. If I were going to build a patio larger then 200 square feet, I’d probably buy one, just to save my finger tips, and a bit of time. If I were going to build a patio 400 square feet or bigger, or if I were a professional expecting to build a few patios a year (and I am) then I’d buy 2 or more. Both grabos and all 4 batteries and chargers are still working good, despite the rough nature of this sort of work.
On today’s post I’m going to talk about some new tools, and show you some of what I’ve been working on. I’m just telling you what’s new! Today we’ll be looking at the hot new toy on the market, the tool designed to make lifting heavy stones easier, the grabo.
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But I’ve been lifting stones for years, what do we need this new gizmo for? Well, let’s look into it though, just in case it ends up helping us work more safely and with less strain on the joints and tendons. Short answer: okay, yes–it does.
I paid 300 a piece for mine, ordered online during a black Friday sale. You might expect that I got a good deal but the joke is one me–now that the holidays are over you can find them for 250.
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Vacuum powered lifting
So the way this thing works is it has a rechargeable battery, which powers a mighty little vacuum. There is a rubber gasket type surface, that you use as the suction cup. This gasket is maybe half an inch thick–until you press the “go” button. Once you press “go” the vacuum starts sucking down unto the stone, squeezing that gasket and compressing it down to maybe a quarter of an inch.
This gasket is what makes it work, on not-quite-perfectly smooth surfaces. Note, I’ve found that for more smooth surfaced stone, the grabo’s own vacuum power is enough to grab hold of that stone. For a more textured, more rippled stone surface, you may have to push down, to get it to grab. There’s a little dial with an indicator telling you if you are in the green–meaning you have full suction, and safe to lift, or still in the red–meaning there is not sufficient suction yet, not ready to lift.
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Is the grabo safe, for lifting heavy stones?
Well, you have to pay attention to what you are doing. Lifting and maneuvering 100 pound, 200 pound, 400 pound stones is going to present dangers, whether you are lifting using vacuum tech, machinery, or bare hands. Having said that….yea, at some point, someone is going to lift a dangerously heavy object using one of these, and not realize that the vacuum isn’t sufficiently gripped. I just hope that 300 pound stone doesn’t hurt the boy too badly, when it falls.
Well:
- life is dangerous.
- A job site is dangerous.
- Prying up a stone slab using your finger tips (if you don’t have a grabo) is also potentially dangerous. Aside from this risk of your hand slipping, there’s also the cumulative damage to your fingertip over the years.
- Power tools must be handled be sober people who are paying attention.
- All power tools are dangerous, but save time. Someone is dropping a stone themselves, somewhere at some point–with or without this tool.
- Used wisely, this tool may save you from some chronic pain in your fingers, back, wrists, and other joints besides
- Used unwisely, things could tale a bad turn….
The grabo does make it easier to lift flagstone, bluestone, any stone that is fairly flat. I don’t think I’ll use it constantly on every job…but it will be used often, on many, possibly most jobs. I can see using this on pattern-cut flagstone…..for the entire job. (update–this was correct) No peeling the stone up by the edge, just lift from the middle and set down into a bed of stone dust or mortar.
So far, I’ve not yet used grabo to lift any stone that I couldn’t already lift without it. But what the tool does, is it allows me to pick up the stone in a different way, to get a grip on the stone from the top. This bench that I’m installing, for example, went together easily. In the past, it’s usually been kind of awkward, hefting a 4 foot long 100 pound+ stone like this. I need to stand it up on edge, and then heft it up unto my knee….and then get the stone all the way up to my waist, where it can be held comfortable.
Pretty soon I’ll be telling my workers, “you kids got it too easy, back in my day…”
In my opinion–buy two.
Having two grabos, and only having had them for a few weeks now–I’m already using them a good deal. In my opinion, having two is way more than twice as useful as having one.
but for lifting really heavy stones?
Like I said, so far I’ve only used this tool to lift stones that I already can, un-aided. But this thing gets a serious grip on a flat stone. I can see using this with a strap, and a second set of hands, like two guys using this to manipulate large stones. Or, using this in conjunction with a skid steer, or a pulley/block and tackle sort of situation. Overall, I don’t expect to be regretting this purchase.
Then again, I do plan on updating this blog post, going back and adding a paragraph or two after this thing has been put to the test on multiple large jobs. They do seem to be built sturdy, but then again I tend to be rough on tools. We’ll see!
*someone should make a 1950’s version of the grabo. With modern battery power, but with powder-coated solid steel body and all parts serviceable and replaceable. Charge double. Artisanal food has become a thing, artisanal furniture, etc–we need a new fad–artisanal power tools. Think about it: some entrepreneurial young person buys a bunch of drills, or angle grinders and re-houses them in a powder coated steel body. Re-sells them, along with repair manuals and order forms for replacement parts. They should come with a replacement main switch and at least one spare set of carbon brushes already, anyway. Okay, I’m done.
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Generally, we’re expecting grabo to be hugely useful, on large flagstone installations. On jobs like this, you end up having to place, and the lift and -re-place, huge flagstones many times during a day. Prying the heavy stone up, heaving it up to a standing position, flipping it over, etc. Any tool that offers another method for moving these bad boys around, will be appreciated. The old methods will likely be used more often–but this will make your life a lot easier, nonetheless, on jobs like this. Expecting to use it less often, on walls, but that we’ll be rather grateful for it on those occasions when it is used.
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colorful new bird baths
Okay then, let’s look at a couple things that I have built with a bit of help from the grabo.
Shades of amber and honey on this colorful bit of sand stone. I like to build these with a dry edge, or ledge, creating a dry place for the birds to land upon. The edges of the bowl slope gently.Many birds will not use a bath with steep sides, as they don’t feel safe entering.
I also like to create and arrange these in pairs. Smaller birds may prefer a smaller puddle to splash in. Larger birds, or birds of a may aggressive species, may dominate a bird feeder or a bath situation. Having a second bath nearby, helps make it so everyone get to splash and drink.
I think of these two as the kid brother bird baths. IDK, I see them from a certain angle, looks like an older brother and younger. Seen from another angle, and they look more like 2 homies, friends out or stroll, one of them a bit shorter.
interlocking flagstone base, for colorful sandstone top
Boulder bench delivered in Chadds Ford
Bench with interlocking flagstone legs and swirly white/yellow/orange seating platform.
Happy New Year!
Don’t let the world get you down kiddo, we’re doing alright! Spend time outside and keep positive. Whatever happens in the world, YOU have a power to make 2021 awesome.
I just don’t know if I could toss around stones of that size even with the grabbo. I do appreciate your style!
Well it’s good to be appreciated 🙂 thank you.