It looks like Engineer has significantly improved its screw removal pliers by making a locking pliers version. (I believe these are marketed as Vampliers in the US.)
I haven’t tried the locking version yet, but they’ve got to be a massive improvement. I’ve struggled with Vampliers on many occasions, where locking pliers would have been far better.
All my Engineer tools are excellent quality, so I’ve high hopes for these new pliers. Like any locking pliers, a key question will be how tough the jaws are.
Engineer makes other high quality tools a well. This is a welcome addition - similar to a tool called “Claw Jaws 7GR” made by a company called Xtricator - in the 1980’s - and no longer available.
GripOn also makes locking pliers with a lateral grove cut in the jaws:
I wonder what it would be like to turn these pliers axially to bring the screw out. I have used Vise-Grips that way. The grip was fine, even without the clever central tooth these Engineers have. But it was awkward to turn the Vise-Grips, because they didn’t line up with the screw. Not even close. But maybe there is nothing they can do about that.
Albeit a year or two after my original post, I bought Engineer’s screw removal locking pliers. It turns out these pliers are awesome, and I highly recommend them.
