Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about the GRABO VACDRILL — capability, surfaces, safety and sourcing.
What is the VACDRILL?
The GRABO VACDRILL is a standalone hands-free cordless drilling system. A built-in powered vacuum cup anchors the tool to the work surface with up to 45 kgf of holding force at 0.8 bar, and an SDS rotary hammer then drills up to 145 mm deep without anyone holding it.
How much weight can the vacuum hold?
Up to 45 kgf when attached to non-porous surfaces at 0.8 bar. That figure is a best case under stated conditions — porous, dusty, textured or curved surfaces achieve less.
What size holes can it drill?
It accepts SDS bits up to 40 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length, with a maximum drill depth of 145 mm.
What surfaces does it work on?
It works best on smooth, non-porous surfaces: glass, polished stone, glazed porcelain, sealed or trowelled concrete, painted or coated steel and smooth composites. Open-textured block, unsealed brick, friable stone and aerated concrete are poor or unsuitable.
Can it drill overhead?
Yes — overhead work is one of its main use cases, because the machine supports its own weight and supplies its own feed. Overhead attachment puts the whole load on the seal, so surface preparation matters more, and you should never position yourself directly beneath the tool.
Does it control dust?
It has a dust collection port for an extractor, capturing debris at the hole. Use an extractor rated for fine construction dust; a general workshop vacuum passes the respirable fraction straight through.
What battery does it use?
A 20 V 6 Ah lithium-ion lithium-ion pack; a 20 V 5.0 Ah lithium-ion configuration also appears in GRABO documentation. The same pack powers both the rotary hammer and the vacuum pump.
Can I drill glass or tile with it?
You can attach to glass and tile very well, but they must not be drilled with hammer action. Use diamond tooling with rotation only and appropriate cooling. Toughened and laminated glass cannot be drilled after manufacture at all.
Is it patented?
Yes. The core invention is US patent US11253978B1, 'Self-holding and self-driving drilling system', with the press form covered by US design patent D968,485 S and further filings in China, Europe, Canada and Japan.
What does it cost?
Published material has shown a list price around US$380.00 (SKU OV-V1), but pricing and configuration vary by market and reseller. Confirm current pricing with GRABO or an authorised dealer.
Who makes it?
GRABO is a brand of Nemo Power Tools Ltd. GRABO technologies are patented, trademarked and/or registered in over 49 countries.
How is it different from a magnetic drill?
A magnetic base drill clamps to ferrous steel with an electromagnet and cannot grip concrete, stone or glass. Vacuum anchoring works on any sufficiently smooth, non-porous surface regardless of whether it is magnetic.
Still stuck?
Try troubleshooting a weak attachment, the how-to guides, or get in touch.