Engineer Brand Hand Tools

[Dawn]

I'm seeing these pop up on e-bay from the UK. No distributor in the states. They look very good and about the same build as high end Whiha and half the price in ergo designs. Build is much like old school Diamond and Hunter with a coiled spring instead of welded springs and the newer CK like designs and knockoffs. Any of you across the pond have any experience with this brand. Old school style cutters in newer, ESD/Anti RSI handles that are selling for around 18 UK pounds plus shipping~ $30usd delivered .

 My Hunters and Diamonds are over 35 y/o and still have perfect cutting surfaces that I keep hand sharpened. Going nowhere, but replacement is going to be a pain at the lowest other brands from $60-120USD or higher if I want to go Swiss.

[notsob]

"Engineer" brand are from japan
http://www.engineer.jp/en/products/pa21e.html

you can get them direct from japan
i.e.  http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/tuzukiya/item/e01-0999/

[wraper]

I bought some Engineer tools. Some are good but some not. I "modified" PA-09 crimper with a file so it closes tighter. Originally smallest crimps were loose, and yet 1,6 mm crimp still remains loose because I grind the end and there is no way to make other side to close tighter. Also connector stuck in it after crimping (even before mod). NZ-12 side cutter is junk but I like PS-01 pliers which are very nice.

[Dawn]

Thanks for the information. The ones that caught my attention were the NZ-05 oblique cutters. Dimensionally, they are near identical except the jaws aren't tapered and wouldn't probably be able to get into tiny places as well as the old ones. The newer style oblique flush cutters are very difficult to work with at all. About the next similar ones are the Wiha 3278 at double. Only others in this style I can find are an off-brand I've never heard of in an old style latex dipped handle like the ones I have called Pro's Kit that's carried by another Japanese importer. It's a shame that Cooper/Apex did away with Diamond's vast brass pivot line after they took them over and I don't know what happened to Hunter who vanished sometime during the late 70's or 80's. This style wasn't cheap even 40 years ago if you adjust for inflation. Standard miniture cutters of production quality were about $5-$8 and this type IIRC was about $17 from Hunter in the early 70's. The newer styles that look like stamped steel are too large and cumbersome and even the better names show visible bites missing from the cutting edge after cutting anything but soft wire and don't take a file sharpening very well. I don't mind paying double or a good price, but I'd sure like to get high carbon, blued steel quality like I had for all these years that you can sharpen and don't knick like many of the ones now.

[nanofrog]

Might want to take a look at Schmitz (http://www.schmitz-zangen.de/shop.php?lang=engl) as another alternative to consider. Schmitz review (by precisiontools, another member). I can concur on their pliers & ergonomic grips.

FWIW, they happen to be the ODM for CK's pliers & cutters, as well as others. Less expensive buying directly (they have an online store), and certainly not as expensive as Lindstrom or Erem for example (~16 - 17EUR for most pliers, ~20 - 21EUR for most common cutters).

[Dawn]

 I tried their cart. It's a bit confusing if the price is in Euros or USD and you're limited to just what they consider popular. Choosing the states, I don't know if the cutters are 25+ euros or usd and then they want to add 29+ shipping, I still don't know if it's Euro or USD. The forged Wihas are starting to look good for around $50 in an oblique, long nose ~45 degree head.

Apex/Cooper distributes Erem in the states and the prices are way out of kilter with international prices. They look like nice forged tools, but I really dislike working with that coarse foam style grips that are not quite ergonomic, yet not like the old latex dipped.

I've got 40+ years of RSI damage and arthritis from benchwork and the thicker, anti RSI designs while difficult to store in pallets or bench holders sure feel better to work with. I now get a very painful burning sensation above the wrist and under the knuckles after a short while from all the years of benchwork and production and sure wish these type were around years ago. If you're young, keep this in mind as it's going to haunt you later if you do this daily.

[nanofrog]

I tried their cart. It's a bit confusing if the price is in Euros or USD and you're limited to just what they consider popular. Choosing the states, I don't know if the cutters are 25+ euros or usd and then they want to add 29+ shipping, I still don't know if it's Euro or USD. The forged Wihas are starting to look good for around $50 in an oblique, long nose ~45 degree head.

Apex/Cooper distributes Erem in the states and the prices are way out of kilter with international prices. They look like nice forged tools, but I really dislike working with that coarse foam style grips that are not quite ergonomic, yet not like the old latex dipped.

I've got 40+ years of RSI damage and arthritis from benchwork and the thicker, anti RSI designs while difficult to store in pallets or bench holders sure feel better to work with. I now get a very painful burning sensation above the wrist and under the knuckles after a short while from all the years of benchwork and production and sure wish these type were around years ago. If you're young, keep this in mind as it's going to haunt you later if you do this daily.

Prices are in Euros. Conversion is handled by PayPal, and there's a % fee (check their site for values <not all that specific when I ordered mine>, but it's not bad at all; 4% at most via a credit card; cheaper by using your checking account, which came to ~2% when I placed my order).

When you enter in US as the country, the 19% VAT amount will vanish (changes to 0,00). Shipping is a flat rate, so getting everything you can in one order will be less expensive per pair. They were sent in an envelope, each pair individually bagged (all undamaged). It took ~11 days from order placement to my door.

I also have RSI issues (CTS), and the ergo grips they offer are some of the best I've used.

FWIW, I own Schmitz, Erem, Lindstrom, and Tronex (rebranded as Excelta 5 star). Schmitz makes the best pliers I've used (don't have any of their cutters though, which is why I linked the review). I'd say Tronex makes the best cutters out of everything I have, and they also have excellent ergonomic grips (extended handles, thick foam grips that don't slip and are comfortable). Schmitz's are a hard plastic with a rubberized section that grips where your fingers/hands grip, and they're quite comfortable to use as well (real toss-up between Schmitz & Tronex for comfort, Tronex has just a little more "grab" in my hands).

Hope this helps. 

[Co6aka]

you can get them direct from japan

Sometimes a little cheaper via Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_hi?ie=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=Engineer&node=228013

[notsob]

you can get them direct from japan

Sometimes a little cheaper via Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_hi?ie=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=Engineer&node=228013

Depends where you live - Amazon generally won't ship to oz

[Dawn]

Unless I'm seeing different prices then others, $47 USD for the NZ-05 plus shipping isn't such a good deal compared to the one off e-bay that works out a lot less shipped. There are other sellers, but the composite prices are still much higher.

[notsob]

howabout this one NZ-05 $US21.90 - free international shipping

http://global.rakuten.com/en/search/?k=NZ-05&sid=monju


forget the free shipping - it's after a certain price point.

[casinada]

 I need this one
http://www.engineer.jp/en/products/twm03e.html

Is anybody else make anything similar?

[Dawn]

Try checking a bicycle tool dealer and look under "Cone Wrench". Typically, they're sold as standard open and box end wrenches, but very thin and an import set can be inexpensive.

 I've seen an adjustable one similar to this as part of a field emergency kit where you can't have a bunch of cone wrenches and you get an adjustable stubby like this and a multi tool that contains everything from screw drivers,Torx,chain breaker, spoke wrenches, and some other tools in a single fold up package like a swiss army knife, and then another multitool that looks like a pair of fold-up pliers that is also full of fold out tools. These multi tools usually come in a gusseted pouch that will fit a seat bag. Check out bike places for these mini repair kits. If you know the exact size you need, you can buy single cone wrenches.


Don't dismiss bike tool sources for inexpensive tool solutions for electronics. Instead of paying big bucks for JIS crosspoint drivers from Japanese precision tool sources, you can find commonly used sizes as part of multi tools,bit sets,or the drivers themselves under bicycle names. They generally don't list as being JIS as it's no longer a standard, but ISO. Many of those crosspoints sold for bike repair will not cam out like a regular phillips and bite JIS heads perfectly if you work on anything Japanese. Some companies like Hozan rebrand as bike and motorcycle repair screw drivers.

[casinada]

I own a couple of fancy bicycles and skates and never found such a tool for the sizes I usually need for electronics. Probably a bench grinder is the tool I need to make adjustable wrenches and tube sockets the right size for electronics 

[Dawn]

I just seen this posting and I'll have to check the brand that I specifically recall selling a pouch set, but they featured Park clone tools with yellow latex handles instead of the Park blue for low prices as part of their product line. They had such an adjustable cone wrench as part of a set with two multifunction tools. I used to get their catalog and almost daily spam. Did you search for an adjustable cone wrench? Also, if you're in the states, there's a bicycle parts importer/wholesaler called JB or JB Sales that may have a searchable catalog online but you have to buy from a dealer.

[casinada]

The Yellow tools are probably Pedro's. They used to be cheaper than Park Tools but now cost about the same, no luck there. I'm also familiar with JBImporters.com, no luck there either.
The only thing I can find are The Engineer brand (japanese) or the Bahco (swedish).

[neslekkim]

I bought a couple of their scissors, very good stuff, PH-51 and PH-55
Going to buy their solder-sucker to see if it is any good, the video is atleast very promising.

But I was wondering, do anyone have experience with their screwdriver-sets? like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251380591440 (and the one with slot tips)
I have tried various types that are available here, and they do not last long at all, either soft of very brittle material, so I wonder if these are ok

I found this seller on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/precisehandtools seem to sell only stuff from Engineer.

[neslekkim]

I browsed a lot of Engineer tools the other day in a shop and they mostly looked good. They are a mid range brand. If you want high end try Hozan.

Ah!, good tip, need to check that out.

[nukie]

I have both Engineer and Hozan tools I think they are slightly above the DIY level suitable for professional use.

Regarding the Engineer solder sucker, it has powerful suction for its size but the weak silicon tube tip don't last very long it needs replacement every once a while it gets annoying. Also, the ergonomics is terrible, the body is too short to hold and fire the switch with your thumb. You get finger cramp soon. However, its build quality is very solid, robust and no loosey here and there.

I think as long as a tool is made fit for its purpose then it will be a good tool. I don't think its a need to spend huge on EU big brands. Yes its quality is good but price is many fold more. Most of my tools are custom made or modified for my own preference so I prefer to spend on other stuff like test equipments.

[nanofrog]

Most of my tools are custom made or modified for my own preference so I prefer to spend on other stuff like test equipments.

I find stuff like this interesting. Can you elaborate, or better yet, post some pics?

Thanks.