ENGINEER Tools from Japan: Neji-Saurus, Screw Extractors, Smart Monkey Wrenches and More Explained

If you searched for "ENGINEER tools", you probably saw the name on a pair of screw-removal pliers or an unusually thin adjustable wrench. This guide explains who ENGINEER is, what each of its main product lines is for, and which model in our store fits which job. Specs come from our product pages, the maker's own website and a Japanese distributor's product listings. Where we could not confirm something, we say so.

Who is ENGINEER?

ENGINEER Inc. is based in Higashinari-ku, Osaka. According to its own corporate history, the company started in 1948 in Toyonaka, Osaka, as Futaba Kogu Seisakusho, a maker and seller of work tools. It took the name ENGINEER Inc. in 2002.

ENGINEER's website says it offers more than 1,000 items. It groups them by task: turning, gripping, cutting, stripping, crimping, soldering, inspection, storage, ESD and more. The company calls Neji-Saurus its "original" screw-removal tool. The Neji-Saurus GT (PZ-58) received a Good Design Award in 2009 and an iF product design award in 2011, according to the same history page.

You can browse everything we stock in our ENGINEER collection.

ENGINEER at a glance

Find your problem in the middle column, then tap a model to see its specs.

ENGINEER PZ-55 Neji-Saurus Screw Removal Pliers, 150 mm ENGINEER PZ-58 Neji-Saurus GT Screw Removal Pliers, 160 mm

Neji-Saurus: pliers for stripped screw heads

The problem

A screwdriver needs an intact recess. Once the cross recess is stripped, the driver just slips. If the head still sticks up from the surface, you can grip the outside of the head instead.

ENGINEER PZ-57 Neji-Saurus M2 Mini Screw Removal Pliers, 120 mm ENGINEER PZ-64 Neji-Saurus VP-1 Locking Screw Removal Pliers, 150 mm

How the design addresses it

Neji-Saurus pliers have vertical grooves cut into the jaw tip. MISUMI's listing for the PZ-57 explains that these grooves stop the jaw slipping on the screw head and let it grip firmly. You grip the head with the tip and turn the whole pliers.

Which model for which job

There are many Neji-Saurus models, so we wrote a separate guide: Neji-Saurus: how to choose the right model. In short:

• General use: PZ-55 (150 mm). Its product page lists a tip grip range of φ3–φ8 mm pan-head screws.
• Spring-loaded, with wire cutter: PZ-58 GT (160 mm, tip grip φ3–φ9.5 mm).
• Small screws: PZ-57 M2 mini (120 mm, tip grip φ2–φ3.5 mm).
• Locking-plier versions: PZ-64 VP-1, PZ-65 VP-2, PZ-66 VP-3, PZ-67 VP-4, PZ-87 VP-7.
• Trade-specific: PZ-63 WP for plumbing, PZ-78 EL for electricians, and PZ-82 WP-3 water pump pliers.
• Other models: PZ-61 Z Plus, PZ-59 RX, PZ-77 GTV, PZ-75 VAX, PZ-22 SE, PZ-33 DF, PZ-54 CP.

Neji-Bazooka and Neji-Mogura: when there is no head to grip

The problem

Pliers cannot help if the stripped screw is flush with the surface. You need a bit that bites into the damaged recess itself.

ENGINEER DBZ-21 Neji-Bazooka Stripped Screw Extractor Bit Set, 4 pcs ENGINEER DBZ-22 Neji-Bazooka Stripped Screw Extractor Bit Set, #0-#2, 4 pcs

Neji-Bazooka (cross-recess screws)

MISUMI's listing for the ENGINEER DBZ-01 set describes these bits as tools for removing stripped screws whose heads do not stick out. The instructions split the job by damage level:

• Light damage: the first bit. Press it straight in with your body weight and turn. No hammer is needed.
• Heavy damage: the second bit. Tap it in firmly with a hammer, then turn while pushing down. A rubber cap protects your fingers and should always be fitted.

Models: DBZ-21 (4 pcs, for #1 and #2 cross-recess screws plus 2.5–3 mm hex sockets), DBZ-22 (#0–#2, 4 pcs), DBZ-55B (bits plus grip, 4 pcs) and DZ-76 (with the GT Drive handle, 5 pcs).

Neji-Mogura (hex socket bolts)

Neji-Mogura bits are for rounded-out hex socket bolts. The same MISUMI page says to use the HEX bit as long as even a small part of the socket's inner corners remains. The DBZ-20 product page lists hex sizes of 2.0, 2.5–3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 mm across flats.

Other options: single bits DBZ-410 (0.89 mm), DBZ-415 (1.5 mm), DBZ-420 (2 mm) and DBZ-425 (2.5 mm); sets DBZ-403 (2.5–5 mm), DBZ-401 (0.89–5 mm) and DZ-74 (with handle); and the DWZ-302 socket set for a 3/8" drive ratchet.

Need both types? The DBZ-01 set combines Neji-Bazooka and Neji-Mogura (11 pcs). The DZ-70 GT Drive is a screwdriver-style handle for 1/4" hex bits.

Adjustable wrenches: Smart Monkey, Monkey@Pocket and Hybrid Monkey

The problem

An adjustable wrench with a thick jaw tip will not fit a thin nut, a locknut on top of another nut, or a narrow gap.

ENGINEER TWM-03 Smart Monkey Adjustable Wrench, 150 mm, 20 mm Jaw ENGINEER TWM-07 Smart Monkey Adjustable Wrench, 164 mm, 24 mm Jaw

How the designs address it

• Smart Monkey (TWM-03, TWM-07): MISUMI's listing for the Smart Monkey series describes an ultra-thin tip that fits into a 2 mm gap, made for thin nuts and double nuts and for tight spaces with obstacles. Our TWM-07 page lists a 2 mm tip thickness, a 24 mm maximum jaw opening and bolts up to M16. Our TWM-03 page lists a 13 mm tip thickness, a 20 mm maximum jaw opening and bolts up to M12, so choose the TWM-07 if you need the 2 mm tip.
• Monkey@Pocket (TWM-06, TWM-08): a compact 110 mm wrench with a 20 mm (TWM-06) or 24 mm (TWM-08) maximum jaw opening.
• Hybrid Monkey (TWM-13, TWM-13P): works as both an adjustable wrench and a pipe wrench. Its product page lists a 38.5 mm jaw as an adjustable wrench, 45 mm as a pipe wrench, and pipes from φ6 to 45 mm.
• Standard models: TWM-04 (100 mm), TWM-01 (150 mm), TWM-02 (200 mm), TWM-05 (250 mm).

Electronics and ESD tools

The problem

Static electricity can damage sensitive components. Small parts are also hard to hold, and soldered joints and connectors are hard to undo without damaging the board.

ENGINEER PTZ-41 ESD Anti-Static Tweezers, Straight Fine Tip ENGINEER PTZ-42 ESD Anti-Static Tweezers, Round Tip

What ENGINEER offers

• ESD tweezers: PTZ-41 (straight fine tip), PTZ-42 (round), PTZ-43 (curved), PTZ-45 (tapered), PTZ-46 (flat). The PTZ-41 page lists a surface resistance of 1 × 10⁵ to 10⁷ Ω and a PPS resin tip.
• Grounding: ZC-50 wrist strap with a 1 MΩ ground cord, and the ZC-80 work mat kit (900 × 600 mm).
• Micro nippers and pliers: NS-03, NS-04 ESD, NP-05 ESD, PS-01 ESD mini pliers.
• Desoldering and connectors: SS-01 and SS-03 desoldering pumps, and the SS-10 PCB connector removal tool.
• Storage: KP-52 anti-static IC case and KP-02 / KP-03 parts cases.

Crimping and wire stripping

Small terminals need the right die size, and fine wire is easy to nick when stripping. ENGINEER makes tools for both.

ENGINEER PA-09 Precision Crimping Pliers for Open Barrel Terminals ENGINEER PA-24 Precision Crimping Pliers, 160 mm

• PA-09: precision crimper for open-barrel terminals. Its page lists 0.03–0.52 mm² terminals and die widths of 1.0, 1.4, 1.6 and 1.9 mm.
• PA-24: precision crimping pliers, 160 mm.
• PAW-42 (AWG 30–10) and PAW-01 (0.05–8 mm²): automatic strippers.
• PAW-32: wire stripper for AWG 26–14.

Iron Arm scissors

Iron Arm is ENGINEER's line of heavy-duty scissors. The PH-55 GT has a built-in wire cutter. Its page lists copper wire up to 1.6 mm, and a serrated blade for vinyl cabtyre cable, rope, leather belt and 0.5 mm copper or aluminum sheet. Other Iron Arm models: PH-50 (170 mm), PH-57 DP (210 mm) and the PH-55 GT Giga in black, red or white. ENGINEER also makes the PH-97 Clever multipurpose scissors (207 mm).

ENGINEER PH-55 Iron Arm GT Heavy-Duty Scissors with Wire Cutter ENGINEER PH-50 Iron Arm Heavy-Duty Scissors, 170 mm

Precision and ultra-thin screwdrivers

• DR-27: a ratchet screwdriver only 11 mm thick, for screws with very little space above them. It takes 1/4" hex bits.
• DM-20 (Phillips #0000 to #1), DM-30 (slotted), DM-60 (Phillips and slotted): 6-piece precision sets.
• DK-13: precision set with replaceable blades.

For full-size screwdrivers by job, see Japanese Screwdrivers by Job.

ENGINEER DR-27 Ultra-Thin Ratchet Screwdriver, 11 mm Thick, 1/4" Hex ENGINEER DM-20 Precision Screwdriver Set, Phillips #0000 to #1, 6 pcs

Other useful ENGINEER tools

• TZ-14 automatic center punch and TZ-13 carbide scriber, for marking metal before drilling.
• TZ-20 hand nibbler for cutting sheet metal (listed for 1 mm steel).
• TT-01 and TT-02 tap handles, and the TT-03 M2–M5 tap set, for cutting or repairing small threads.
• TS-04 and TS-05 mini open-end wrench sets; TWS-02 (metric), TWS-01 (SAE) and TWS-04 1/4" drive socket sets.
• SL-15 telescoping inspection mirror (200–550 mm), for seeing behind and under parts.
• Pliers and nippers such as PR-15, PR-46 and NK-36.

How to choose an ENGINEER tool

• Screw head sticks out? Use Neji-Saurus pliers and grip the head from the outside.
• Screw head flush and recess stripped? Use Neji-Bazooka for cross-recess screws or Neji-Mogura for hex socket bolts.
• Match the size. Check the screw head diameter or hex size on each product page before you order.
• Thin nut or narrow gap? Choose the TWM-07 Smart Monkey (2 mm tip). For pipe and nut work in one tool, choose the Hybrid Monkey.
• Working on electronics? Use ESD-rated tweezers and nippers together with a grounded wrist strap and mat.
• Not sure? Start with a set, or message us with a photo of the fastener.

FAQ

Related guides

• Neji-Saurus: the complete guide to choosing the right model
• Japanese Screwdrivers by Job: VESSEL, ANEX and ENGINEER picks
• Stop stripping screws: JIS vs Phillips explained
• Japanese alternatives to KNIPEX
• Japanese electrician tools: 8 brands to know
• Japanese hand tools guide: where to start

Sources

• ENGINEER INC. official site (company name, head office, product categories, "over 1,000 items")
• ENGINEER INC.: company profile (head office address)
• ENGINEER INC.: corporate history (1948 start, 2002 name change, design awards)
• MISUMI (Japanese industrial supplier) product listing: ENGINEER Neji-Saurus M2 PZ-57 (vertical grooves on the jaw tip)
• MISUMI product listing: ENGINEER Neji-Bazooka & Neji-Mogura set DBZ-01 / DBZ-55B (usage by damage level)
• MISUMI product listing: ENGINEER Smart Monkey TWM-03 / TWM-07 (ultra-thin tip, thin and double nuts)
• Model specs and country of origin: the linked yourtoolboxjp.com product pages.

KNIPEX, VESSEL and ANEX are trademarks of their respective owners and are named only for reference. Specifications may change; always check the product page before ordering. Last reviewed: October 2026.