Vampliers
Moderator: Harold_V
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm
- Location: Florida
Vampliers
I'm here to recommend a TV tool that really works: Vampliers.
I needed to get into an electrical box, and the screws were rusted very badly. Carbon steel screws on an outdoor box. Chalk up another brilliant achievement for engineers.
I couldn't get anywhere with screwdrivers. I thought about using a screw extractor, but then I remembered Vampliers. They are Japanese pliers with a very weird design. You've probably seen the commercial. As long as there is some kind of nub available, Vampliers will supposedly bite into it and allow you to turn your screw. The jaws are designed to reach in and grab screw heads that barely exist.
I ordered a pair, and I tried them on the crumbling screw. It took me a couple of tries to get a grip, but once I did, there was no getting those pliers to let go. I backed the screw out, and now I can replace it with a proper stainless screw.
Vampliers are made by a Japanese company called Engineer, and if you buy them under the Engineer label, they're cheaper. That's what I did. They have a whole line of weird pliers.
They look like they're made very well. I guess the jaws have to be hardened properly in order for them to do what they do. The handles are insulated.
I needed to get into an electrical box, and the screws were rusted very badly. Carbon steel screws on an outdoor box. Chalk up another brilliant achievement for engineers.
I couldn't get anywhere with screwdrivers. I thought about using a screw extractor, but then I remembered Vampliers. They are Japanese pliers with a very weird design. You've probably seen the commercial. As long as there is some kind of nub available, Vampliers will supposedly bite into it and allow you to turn your screw. The jaws are designed to reach in and grab screw heads that barely exist.
I ordered a pair, and I tried them on the crumbling screw. It took me a couple of tries to get a grip, but once I did, there was no getting those pliers to let go. I backed the screw out, and now I can replace it with a proper stainless screw.
Vampliers are made by a Japanese company called Engineer, and if you buy them under the Engineer label, they're cheaper. That's what I did. They have a whole line of weird pliers.
They look like they're made very well. I guess the jaws have to be hardened properly in order for them to do what they do. The handles are insulated.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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- Posts: 2366
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:33 pm
- Location: Phoenix ,AZ
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Vampliers
I got these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NB ... UTF8&psc=1
I'm a sucker for good pliers. I have had plenty of bad ones, and some were from companies with good reputations. People brag about Klein Tools, and I used to be one of the faithful, but the other day chunks started coming out of the handles on my water pump pliers. You have to ship them if you want a warranty repair, so you can't win.
The Vampliers look really good.
They may even be nice enough to put next to my Knipex tools.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NB ... UTF8&psc=1
I'm a sucker for good pliers. I have had plenty of bad ones, and some were from companies with good reputations. People brag about Klein Tools, and I used to be one of the faithful, but the other day chunks started coming out of the handles on my water pump pliers. You have to ship them if you want a warranty repair, so you can't win.
The Vampliers look really good.
They may even be nice enough to put next to my Knipex tools.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Vampliers
While I'm beating up engineers again, I want to thank whoever put carbon steel screws in my toilet seats. I hope he weighs 350 pounds and sits on one of his own seats a little too fast one day.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
Re: Vampliers
There's a visual I wasn't expecting!
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- Posts: 1955
- Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 pm
- Location: Farmington, NM
Re: Vampliers
The engineers specified stainless, marketing changed it to carbon steel - saved a few cents each.
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Vampliers
Marketing is like global warming. Name a problem; marketing is responsible.
I hope when the engineer breaks the toilet, the marketing guy is on his lap.
I hope when the engineer breaks the toilet, the marketing guy is on his lap.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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- Posts: 1852
- Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 4:05 pm
- Location: Elmwood, Wisconsin
Re: Vampliers
Right. It wasn't marketing at all. It was the bean counters in accounting (or purchasing: I had them substitute "money saving alternatives" without informing me on several occasions).
Re: Vampliers
Sometimes its purchasing. This capacitor is cheaper than the safety cap that the engineer wants; lets buy that!
Jim B
Jim B
- SteveHGraham
- Posts: 7788
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Vampliers
We can put all three of them on adjoining seats wired up to a 15kW generator.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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- Posts: 368
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:36 am
- Location: Bohemia, NY
Re: Vampliers
Your assuming the 15kw generator is going to work.....purchasing got a great deal on some copper for the windings. It works on the 5kw generator, should be good on the 15kw as well......
- tornitore45
- Posts: 2078
- Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:24 am
- Location: USA Texas, Austin
Re: Vampliers
When I saw an ad for Vampliers years back it was near Christmas. Knowing how difficult is to shop for a dad "that has everything" I sent a link to all three of my children that said: "I like one of these for Christmas but do not need 3, figure it out among yourselves"
I got two, one engraved with my name.
What we have here, is a failure to communicate. (Cool hand Luke)
Vampire are not needed to often but on the right job they are the cats miao.
I use them to grind down screw is need to be shortened a tad without resorting to the lathe.
I got two, one engraved with my name.
What we have here, is a failure to communicate. (Cool hand Luke)
Vampire are not needed to often but on the right job they are the cats miao.
I use them to grind down screw is need to be shortened a tad without resorting to the lathe.
Mauro Gaetano
in Austin TX
in Austin TX