Straight answers about cleaning anchor holes, which vacuum our nozzles fit and how delivery works. Each answer comes first, with the detail under it. Cannot find yours? Email us.
The problem
What is the easiest way to vacuum out dust from deep anchor holes in concrete?
Fit a nozzle sized to the drilled hole onto your vacuum hose, push it to the bottom of the hole and let the vacuum pull the dust out. Then brush the hole and vacuum again, as your anchor's data sheet describes.
Our nozzles are made for 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm holes and reach 140 mm into the hole. Each one is printed for one hose fitment: Milwaukee M18, DeWalt 35mm, Bosch GAS 35 and Ryobi RVC. The compatibility page shows which size comes in which fitment.
Why do standard vacuum nozzles fail to clean out masonry anchor holes?
A standard floor or crevice tool cannot enter an 8 to 16 mm hole, so it only pulls dust from the mouth. A nozzle sized to the hole reaches about 140 mm down and pulls the dust from the bottom.
Drilling leaves fine dust in the bottom of the hole and on the wall. Resin injected onto that dust bonds to the dust, not the concrete. A screw-in or sleeve anchor driven onto it can stop short of full embedment. More in Why standard vacuum nozzles fail at cleaning anchor holes.
How can I ensure an anchor hole is completely clear of debris before inserting a bolt?
Follow the cleaning method in your anchor's data sheet. For most anchors that is vacuum, brush, vacuum, repeated as many times as the data sheet says.
Vacuum the loose dust out with a nozzle that matches the hole. Use a stiff wire or nylon brush sized to the hole to lift compacted dust off the wall. Then vacuum again to remove what the brush loosened. Where the data sheet specifies compressed air or a hollow drill bit, a vacuum nozzle does not replace that. The hole cleaning guide links each manufacturer's data sheet.
Do I need to clean the hole for a chemical anchor?
Yes. Every adhesive anchor data sheet we link to includes a hole cleaning step, because resin bonds to whatever is on the hole wall.
The Ramset chemical anchoring instructions call for blow twice, brush twice, blow twice, brush twice, blow twice, with a dustless drilling system listed as an alternative. The Hilti HIT-HY 200 data sheet says a hammer drilled hole is to be cleaned with compressed air unless a hollow dust removal drill bit was used. Follow the method for your product. More in Chemical vs mechanical anchors: how hole cleaning differs.
Do I need to clean the hole for a mechanical anchor like a DynaBolt or TruBolt?
Yes. The Ramset TruBolt, AnkaScrew and DynaBolt Plus instructions we link to all call for brushing the hole and then removing the debris, and each names a vacuum as one way to do it.
Dust left in the hole can stop a screw-in or sleeve anchor reaching full embedment. TruBolt: clean the hole thoroughly with a hole brush, then remove debris with a hand pump, compressed air or a vacuum. AnkaScrew and DynaBolt Plus: brush, then remove debris by vacuum, hand pump or compressed air. The mechanical anchor kit has the 8, 10 and 12 mm nozzles for the common sizes.
Compatibility
Do you have vacuum nozzles that fit Milwaukee M18 or M12 dust extractors?
Milwaukee M18, yes. We do not list an M12 fitment, so email us the model and we will tell you whether we can print one.
The M18 nozzles fit Milwaukee M18 wet/dry vacuums, including the 35mm hose connection. They come in 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm, plus the chemical anchor kit, mechanical anchor kit and dust extractor set. See Milwaukee M18 compatibility or email us about other Milwaukee models.
Will these vacuum nozzles work with DeWalt or Bosch industrial vacs?
Yes, if your vacuum has the hose end we print for. We make a DeWalt fitment for DeWalt wet/dry vacuums with a 35mm hose fitting and a Bosch fitment for Bosch GAS 35 wet/dry vacuums with the 35mm hose end.
DeWalt comes in 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm and Bosch in 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm, each with the three kits. If your DeWalt or Bosch vacuum has a different hose, email the model. See DeWalt and Bosch compatibility.
Are there specific vacuum attachments for Ryobi vacs designed for cleaning holes?
Yes. Our Ryobi RVC fitment is printed for Ryobi wet/dry vacuums with a 35mm hose connection, including the RVC-1220L-G.
It comes in 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm and in the three kits. See Ryobi RVC compatibility or shop Ryobi RVC nozzles.
Can I use these nozzles with a standard shop vac, or only professional extractors?
They are made for four hose fitments: Milwaukee M18, DeWalt 35mm, Bosch GAS 35 and Ryobi RVC. If your shop vacuum has a different hose, email us the model and we will tell you whether we can print one.
Each nozzle is printed for one hose fitment, so the hose connection is what decides the fit. We print to order, so other fitments can be quoted. See custom and bulk orders or send us the model and a photo of the hose end.
Which nozzle size do I need for an M10 chemical anchor?
A 12 mm nozzle. Ramset and Hilti both specify a 12 mm hole for an M10 chemical anchor stud. Confirm against your product's data sheet.
An M8 stud goes in a 10 mm hole and an M12 stud in a 14 mm hole. The 12 mm nozzle is $9.99. The chemical anchor kit has the 10, 12 and 14 mm nozzles for $24.99, for example the Milwaukee M18 chemical anchor kit. The anchor to hole size table covers the other anchors.
Usage and quality
How do these vacuum nozzles differ from blow-out bulbs or compressed air?
A blow pump or compressed air pushes the dust out of the hole and into the air around you. A vacuum nozzle pulls it into the vacuum drum instead.
Blowing pushes silica dust into your breathing zone and can leave compacted dust behind. Some data sheets specify blowing, with a hand pump or compressed air, paired with brushing. Where the data sheet lists a vacuum as an option, vacuum extraction removes the dust rather than redistributing it. Where it specifies compressed air or a hollow drill bit, a vacuum nozzle does not replace that.
Are these vacuum nozzles durable enough for daily use on a construction site?
They are 3D printed to order in Australia in 64D TPU, a hard-wearing flexible polyurethane, for cleaning drilled holes on site. We do not publish wear or test figures.
Each fitment is test fitted on the vacuum it is for before it goes into the print queue. If a nozzle arrives faulty or damaged, send a photo and we replace it or refund you. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law also apply. See shipping and returns.
How do I attach the Industrial Printworks nozzle to my existing vacuum hose?
Clip the nozzle onto the end of your vacuum hose, then seat the tip in the drilled hole. Each nozzle is printed for one hose fitment, so buy the one that matches your vacuum.
The four fitments are printed for Milwaukee M18 wet/dry vacuums, including the 35mm hose connection, DeWalt wet/dry vacuums with a 35mm hose fitting, Bosch GAS 35 wet/dry vacuums with the 35mm hose end and Ryobi wet/dry vacuums with a 35mm hose connection, including the RVC-1220L-G. Not sure which you have? Ask first, because every part is printed for your order.
How long does delivery take in Australia?
Catalogue parts are dispatched within 1 to 3 business days of payment. Australia Post quotes 2 to 5 business days for Standard in metro areas and 5 to 10 regional.
Express is usually next business day between capitals. These are estimates, not guarantees, and peak periods can add time. Orders over $24.00 get free Australia Post Standard and you get tracking by email when the parcel leaves. Custom and bulk orders ship to the lead time on the quote. See shipping and returns.
Do you ship nozzles outside Australia?
Yes. We post to New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and most of Europe by Australia Post International Standard.
Postage zones: New Zealand, United States and Canada and United Kingdom and Europe. The rate shows in the cart once you pick the country. Import duties and taxes in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility. For another country, email us and we will quote it.
The anchor manufacturer's data sheet governs the cleaning method and the number of cycles. Where it specifies compressed air or a hollow drill bit, a vacuum nozzle does not replace that. Where an engineer's specification applies, follow it.