For many years I've been using a motley assortment of mini- and needle-nose pliers and cutters to do my hobby-level electronics work.

I have a few that were manufactured by Xcelite and they were OK when I bought them years ago, but they're showing their age.

Others, mostly from Harbor Freight but some from other sources, are pretty much disposable garbage (although the $3.00 Pittsburgh mini flush cutters are surprisingly good https://www.harborfreight.com/micro-flush-cutter-90708.html).

I've seen some info about Vampire Tools "Vampliers", and I'm considering buying some of those, but I have not seen them in person or handled them - they're made in Japan, which is a plus, and while they're not cheap at around $25 to $30 each, they're not a fortune either.

Specifically, I'm thinking about the VT-001-5MN cutters https://www.vampiretools.com/shop/products/pliers/vampliers-mini-4-75%e2%80%b3-precision-nippers/, the VT-001-5NN needle-nose pliers with smooth jaws  https://www.vampiretools.com/shop/products/pliers/vampliers-mini-5-25-needle-nose-pliers/, and the VT-001-5LN mini pliers with serrated jaws https://www.vampiretools.com/shop/products/pliers/vampliers-mini-5-5-long-nose-pliers/ (yeah, I know that using serrated jaw pliers on component leads may cause reliability problems over time).

The other ones that I have considered are from Engineer tools, such as the PS-01 and PS-03 https://www.engineertools-jp.com/pliers, however I have not seen or handled those either. In fact, the photos of the Vampliers VT-001-5LN grips have an embossed ENGINEER label visible on the left side, and they appear to be similar or identical in most aspects to the PS-01 photos that I see on amazon (see below), but the Engineer pliers are less expensive. Are the Vampliers just rebranded Engineer tools?

Has anyone used either the Vampliers or Engineer tools, and if so, what was your opinion of their fit and finish and quality and 'feel'? Did you use them in a professional setting or for hobby work?

Are there other, better alternatives, in the same price range or less expensive that you'd recommend?

I have used Klien tools for several decades in the telecom field and have been very well satisfied with them. In fact everybody I have known in this industry uses Klien. Their 5 inch flush or semi-flush cutters are excellent. I also use a 5 or 6 inch needle nose plier with a small cutter near the tip and their coax cutter. Everybody has a pair of Klien snips (electricians scissors) on their belt.

I will be using these for wiring up circuit boards and other electronics prototyping tasks, which may be different from typical telecom electronics tasks.

You’re not gonna get that best tool they offer?

https://www.vampiretools.com/shop/products/pliers/vampliers-mini-5-screw-extraction-pliers-2/

Nope - don’t have any screws that need any more extraction than what I can achieve by using a screwdriver.

I agree with this post 100%.

Just get decent quality needle-nose pliers and separate side-cutters. Precision side-cutters for electronics are a must if you homebrew.

Techni Tool has everything you need.

I'm working on upgrading my home electronics lab, improving some of my tools, making it easier to find electronics and mechanical parts, and adding to my test equipment.

As part of that plan I ended up buying the Engineer NS-04 mini cutters, the Engineer PS-01 mini long-nose pliers, and the Vampliers VT-001-5NN mini needle-nose pliers (manufactured by Engineer - but they were less expensive at Amazon than the Engineer equivalent).

I like the feel of the tools, including the handles as well as the 'business end', and they appear to be well made.

Here are a couple of photos - my lab desk is never that clean, but I had to move stuff out of the way when I added the anti-static mat. It will start reverting to its normal messy state later this afternoon as I have some prototyping work that I need to get done.

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And a closer shot of the tools:

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"A clean, neat, and orderly desk is a sure sign of a sick mind" - someone famous once said. LOL.

I am reminded of the legendary Jim Williams and his lab bench: https://www.edn.com/jim-williams-engineering-bench-comes-home/

and:

https://www.edn.com/remembering-jim-williams-5-years-later/

(I met Jim many many years ago at MIT - I could only wish that I could ever have such a messy bench and the inspiration that went along with it.)

+1

KLIEN flush cuts are the best

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I resemble that remark

I'm exactly the opposite. I can't get anything done unless everything is super-organized. When starting a work project in the work lab, I have to spend a half a day cleaning up a bench or two and getting everything totally organized. Everyone knows not to mess with my benches when I'm in the middle of something

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ALL of my cutting and driving hand tools these days are Wiha or Knipex.  No regrets with any of them.

https://www.wihatools.com/pliers-cutters-crimpers/precision-electronic

Knipex has a bigger selection of sizes and jaw styles.

https://www.knipex.com/products/electronics

Knipex is the answer