Dremel 568 Electric Wall and Floor Grout Removal Kit, Grout Remover Attachment for Rotary Tool with Angled Cutting Guide and 1.6 mm Grout Removal Bit

Product Information

The attachment includes two blades: one 1/16-inch blade and one 3/16-inch blade. Both are made from carbon steel with a carbide grit edge for maximum ability to chew through even tough epoxy or urethane grout. Use the tool carefully, though, as otherwise, you might scratch nearby tiles. While this isn’t the tool for major projects, such as removing all the grout from a large counter in preparation for laying new tile, it’s perfect when you just want to scrape away some old grout around a few tiles, or even remove all the grout on a small counter. You could also use it to scrape and lift away old caulk around tubs, sinks, or toilets. Depending on your proficiency with various tools, one method may be easier than another, but typically one of the easiest ways is to use a reciprocating saw equipped with a grout rake. Grinders and electric grout removal tools are also highly effective, but reciprocating saws are commonly used in DIYer workshops, so it's likely that the average DIYer would be more familiar with a reciprocating saw than a grinder or electric grout removal tool. Although admittedly your arms and hands are going to get a workout, the QEP Grout Removal Tool’s rubber grip, with its comfortable, ergonomic design, helps to reduce hand fatigue as much as possible. But it’s the business end of the tool that gets the job done quite effectively. This ultra-thin blade is especially good for removing grout when you don’t want to damage the tile. That can be an issue with many grout removal tools, especially when working in tight spaces. Use the attachment to remove grout on countertops, walls, or floors–wherever you need grout gone, the attachment will remove it right up to the wall or corner, meaning no sloppy edges you’ll need to remove by hand.

The sawing motion of the blade makes it a little easier to use than an oscillating tool when removing grout from tiles that aren’t rectangular or square. Plus, as a general rule, reciprocating blades produce much less dust than most other types of grout-removing tools, although, of course, you should still wear eye protection and a dust mask when using the saw. The two most common designs are a jagged-edged blade attached to a handle—we recommend the M-D Building Products Grout Saw for this design—or a screwdriver-shaped device with a triangular or pointed tip, such as the QEP Grout Removal Tool. Whatever you choose, be prepared for a workout, as manual grout removal is a tedious, dusty, and slow job. Still, these tools are typically quite inexpensive, and if you only need to remove a small area of unsanded grout, this may well be all you need to get the job done. This isn’t the right choice for large projects, but if you just want to scrape away the grout from between a few broken tiles slated for replacement or remove chipped grout from a small counter or wall before regrouting the space, the M-D Building Products Heavy-Duty Grout Saw gets the job done, albeit with some effort on your part.The metal hook is seated in a plastic handle that is shaped to fit nicely into your grip, and there's a little bit of cushioning to help ward off fatigue and hand pain. A hole at the handle's base lets you slip the tool over a hanging hook when you're finished. You could also use the tool to scrape out old caulk around a bathtub, toilet, or sink. While this isn't the tool for a big grout job, it's adequate for those small repair projects that crop up occasionally, and it's certainly reasonably priced. There are a variety of manual tools designed to chip, scrape, or saw through grout. “A grout saw is a hand instrument that has a narrow, toothed blade that is designed to fit inside grout lines. It is best suited for small to medium-sized regions and precision work. Other types of manual grout scrapers are available in a variety of forms and sizes, but these hand tools are best suited only for tiny areas or touch-up work," according to Matthew DiBara, CEO of DiBara Masonry.

There are a wide variety of tools used to remove grout. The right one for you depends on the size of your job, the amount of time and energy you want to spend, and whether or not you already have suitable power tools on hand. The type of grout is also important; any of the following tools can handle regular unsanded grout, but sanded or epoxy-based grouts are much harder and require equally strong removal tools.

Customer reviews

Deane Biermeier, a licensed contractor and contractor as well as member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.