Vampire screw extractor

[nbpt100]

I saw this Vamplier tool on JB Tool. Somewhat unique design to remove stripped screws.

Does anyone have any experience with it and if so how well does it work?

https://www.jbtoolsales.com/vamplie...c_cid=a329af3348&mc_eid=2ddf815479#oid=1002_1

 

[pstemari]

Those are the Engineer Neko-saurus pliers, as rebranded by the new importer. They're pretty good for grabbing things, but they aren't a screw extractor per session.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[pelletman]

I bet they don't work as well as small vise grips.

 

[shadowen]

I've got several versions of those from Engineer (the company who makes them for Vamplier?) in a few sizes. They've worked exceptionally well for me when I've needed them.

Additional plug: I've bought a few different things from Engineer now (smaller pliers for electronics work, a solder sucker, wire stripper...) and all of their stuff has been fantastic in general in terms of overall quality. Highly recommended.

 

[SweetD]

As the saying goes..."right tool for the job when you need it..." - I reach for mine every now and then and they definitely work well. I have a pair of their scissors as well, very nice.

 

[pawnworld007]

Have a set based on Stuart's recommendation. Love them!!!

http://toolguyd.com/vampliers-screw-pliers-review/

 

[Danglerb]

Vise grips and most other pliers have grooves that go side to side on the jaw, great for pulling, ***** for twisting unless you have space to grab from the side.

Screw removal pliers have grooves tip to joint, and bite over the head of screws like teeth, perfect to grab and twist.

 

[nbpt100]

Vise grips and most other pliers have grooves that go side to side on the jaw, great for pulling, ***** for twisting unless you have space to grab from the side.

Screw removal pliers have grooves tip to joint, and bite over the head of screws like teeth, perfect to grab and twist.

That is exactly what got my attention when I saw them.... along with the concave profile on the tip.
I am thinking they may be good for one way screws as well as any small stripped screw.
I never had luck with one of those small screw removal tools from Sears. The kind that is like a left hand drill bit. It just seems to wear the head down even more.

Thanks to all for the input.

 

[braidmeister]

Look like a nice pair for those times when you really need them.

Looking at the 90 deg to 'normal' serrations got me thinking...You could grind your own that way out of a cheap set of Horrible Freight grips if you needed them with a Dremel etc.

 

[kblee27]

Works for me, when I needed it.

 

[M_George]

Wouldn't bother making them out of cheep junk pliers. You'll still have low grade metal.

 

[braidmeister]

Wouldn't bother making them out of cheep junk pliers. You'll still have low grade metal.

I would in a heartbeat. If you don't have those pliars and need something like them on a Sunday...or the hay baler is jacked up and it's going to rain soon.

Yeah...no question about it.

 

[Danglerb]

Quick and dirty I have a dremel diamond blade that cuts a slot in the screwhead, then use a good fit blade screwdriver with a dab of grinding compound on the tip for bite. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[nbpt100]

Quick and dirty I have a dremel diamond blade that cuts a slot in the screwhead, then use a good fit blade screwdriver with a dab of grinding compound on the tip for bite. Hasn't failed me yet.

That is great feedback but it is not always quick and dirty if you are not working in your own shop or at home.
I use a Dremel all the time. But Sometimes you can not physically get the Dremel tool into the place you need.

 

[Strouty]

I have several versions of the engineer pliers, they are hands down the best method to grab any exposed screw or small bolt. For recessed or countersunk screws these tools work well, but they will destroy the screw.

 

[4xdog]

I have two pair of Vampire pliers. They work *perfectly* for their intended use. Highly recommended.

 

[RCsGarage]

A lot of reviews complain about the steel being weak.

 

[PeterT]

I had just this problem the other day, drilled a 1/8 deep hole with a small 1/8 bit or so,, then pulled out my handy dandy left hand drill bit (next size up from the 1/8), backs the screw right out.
These pliers might work well, but on flat head screws I use the left hand drill bit

 

[Loscaldazar]

I had just this problem the other day, drilled a 1/8 deep hole with a small 1/8 bit or so,, then pulled out my handy dandy left hand drill bit (next size up from the 1/8), backs the screw right out.
These pliers might work well, but on flat head screws I use the left hand drill bit

Yeah, I've always just pulled out the left hand drill bits.

These pliers have come up over the years. They are made by Engineer in Japan and a lot of people like them as pliers. I've never had a pair because as I said above, I just use left hand drill bits. Usually catches the screw and spins it out.

 

[Strouty]

A lot of reviews complain about the steel being weak.

The ones I own are great, where are all those reviews coming from?

 

[RCsGarage]

The ones I own are great, where are all those reviews coming from?

Amazon, other website reviews, youtube comments.

I was about to buy a few the other day (The engineer brand) but changed my mind after reading the negatives about both having soft metal and the teeth flattening out after a few uses, some on the first use.

 

[M_George]

You would have to go and show me that... I just ordered one from Walmart on-line.
Good price though, $19.98 with free shipping.

 

[RCsGarage]

Show you what?

Multiple people have said the same thing over the years about the steel being soft and they're all verified purchases, so they're not just random reviews. I doubt they all got together and conspired against Vampliers or the Engineer brand. Some use them harder than others.

Just like some people will crack / break a Craftsman or some other china brand socket while others have been using the same brand sockets for years without any issues.

 

[Strouty]

You must be cherry picking bad reviews, the ones I see are all in line with my personal experience with the pliers.

If you have not used them, maybe you should back off the bad reviews a bit and concentrate on the good ones.

 

[nbpt100]

I just received my Vamplier today and the packaging says the jaws are hardened to Rc 60. That is pretty darn hard.
These are made in Japan. I am not sure where the Engineer brand is made.
There may be a quality issue with some in the past. Probably Not a design issue.


I just looked up the jaw hardness spec on the Engineer brand and its hardness is Rc 56 +/- 2.

Odd they are not the same or perhaps one may be a legacy specification. they may have increased it after some complaints. hard to say.

 

[Strouty]

Engineer makes the vampliers, the vampliers are rebranded and usually more expensive.

 

[M_George]

When the ones I ordered come in. I'll torque down a few screws and remove them with the Vampire pliers. I'll let everyone know how they work out and include a few pic's.

 

[Strouty]

25% of the amazon reviews are critical, take out the fluff and stupid reviews from idiots and you probably have 15% saying they are soft, junk, didn't work.

When I use mine, I squeeze so hard that I am more worried that I will break the handles than anything. The handles have held up well and the jaws don't seem soft at all. Now I feel obligated to post some pictures, you know, since I actually own the pliers.

 

[Strouty]

I am pretty sure the people with the bad reviews don't understand how to use the pliers. They need to be used with the appropriate sized screws, if you use them with screws that are too large, they won't have enough contact area. The standard pair of pliers is for smaller screws, maybe a bit larger than 1/4" heads. My pliers are well used, probably even abused.

 

[nbpt100]

I bought the largest size available. The VT-001-8. According to the packaging they can handle screw sizes from .12- to .59" or 1.6 to 15mm. That is the head size. I figured that was a good wide range and so I bought the larger size for another 2 dollars. I am not sure if having all 3 sizes is needed for what my needs are.
This is a unique specialty tool with no other similar choices. Someone above just said the Engineer is the same as the Vamplier. i.e. Unlike a screw driver where you have hundreds of options.
All I can say is we will see how it holds up and functions. I am optimistic it will be just fine. If I find otherwise I will let you all know.

 

[Alchymist]

Have had this pair of Diamond pliers for many years which appear to be the same style as those above. Made by Utica I believe, don't know if they are still available, but are a mighty handy pair of pliers.

 

[SweetD]

Have had this pair of Diamond pliers for many years which appear to be the same style as those above. Made by Utica I believe, don't know if they are still available, but are a mighty handy pair of pliers.

Those are cool.



Dave

 

[JimDon]

Those are old old pliers. Called gas pliers or gas burner pliers for adjusting gas burners on old lights and appliances. Utica was a great company that made top notch pliers and such. They work great as stuck screw extractors. They are also the nicest hose clamp pliers for those smaller clamps on lawn mowers and weed eaters , etc. There are some companies that still make that type of plier but I don't know if the quality is going to be up to par with those Utes.
Cheers,
JimDon

 

[anndel]

It's awesome and works great regardless if it's Engineer or Vampliers. As others mentioned, Vampliers are re-branded Engineer. My stupid friend sheared the head off the cylinder head bolt by doing 2 stupid things: 1) Used an impact wrench to loosen the head bolts on his wife's Honda Civic, 2) Didn't check if the gun was in forward or reverse (it was in tighten mode). I used my Vampliers and was able to remove the bolt without using a extractor.

 

[Danglerb]

Those gas burner pliers are cool, if I EVER see one in the real world at a reasonable price I will buy them, but while similar they are not the best choice for removing screws.

Prime problem with all fasteners, STOP when you feel it starting to slip. Once its slipping you mess up the fastener and tool. Second problem, don't keep using a tool you messed up without fixing the damage. Screwdrivers with the slightest amount of slope in the biting portion of the tip will cam out, fix it with a file or replace it.