Paving suction pads - Lifting & handling slabs

[steven.leonard]

Does anyone know of any good suction pads to make lifting and laying heavier slabs a bit easier. I could do with the single handed type. I have sealey suction pads at home but they're suited to bodywork on cars etc. The surface needs to be completely flat for the seal to be airtight so most riven etc pavers are too rough. Any recommendations?

[Tony McC]

Probst have a range of "suction pads" specifically developed for paving. One model we use when training is a two-man affair, as most of the flags that are laid tend to be heavier than 20kg, but there are counterbalanced, mounted one-man jobbies that are more suited to full-time contractors.



Although some riven flags can be lifted with a vacuum aid, the degree of riven-ness will determine whether or not it's possible. The vacuum 'pads' are surprisingly effective with gently riven surfaces.

For the smaller flags, such as most imported sandstones and patio flags up to around 600x600, a simple 'scissor-action' lifting aid is a real boon.



We use both of these tools during the flag-laying course I run for the HLTG, and the actual kit is supplied, as I said, by Probst UK and if you give them a call and speak to Neil Jones, he'll make sure you get the info you require.

Probst kit is often viewed as expensive, but it is superb quality stuff that is quite likely to last you through a full career, if not longer. It's a bit like Marshallstown trowels: yes, you can get a bricklaying trowel from B&Q for 3 quid, but how long will it last? For a professional job, you need professional-quality tools.

[lutonlagerlout]

i 've gone through 6 marshalltown trowels!
lol
they are the best same with estwing claw hammers
top tip for yankee tools is buy them in the states and post them home, a £30 trowel here costs about $20 there
cheers LLL

[Ted]

Or just scuff the tools up so they look used and you don't get busted at the airport, assuming you have space in your luggage. Post the receipts back before you head to the airport, so they can't prove they are new - say you were helping a friend with some DIY if asked and explain you only ever use your own tools.

[lutonlagerlout]

i just bought one of those jazzy us mailboxs ,filled it with trowels etc. and a towel to stop the rattle then posted
job done
LLL

[Ted]

I was just trying to save a few quid assuming you can fit the tools in your checked luggage and aren't overweight. It is cheaper to send the receipts by post and take the tools (or at least a few) with you on the plane if you can. But I doubt they let you take a hammer or a trowel etc in your hand luggage these days.

I did this with my laptop - sent the receipts by post and left the US with a nice new laptop which I had used a few times whilst on hols. I guess tools are heavy so not so suited to taking on a plane and they are much stronger than laptops so the US postal service should not break them. If you buy a good few, I guess the postage isn't very prohibitive when you look at the cost savings.