EX-1/10 DIP/IC Extractor Tools (8-24 Pins), Pack of 10

I bought this tool because I used a cheap switch puller that came with a keyboard and ended up getting an infected fingernail because of the force needed to pull, it ended up going up underneath my nail bed! This is SO much better and I don't think I'll be getting any more infections :)

Just to clear up any uncertainty about what this thing does: you place it over the wide DIP chip you want to pull from its socket, and while holding it down against the socket, you squeeze the black handles so that the grabber tightens around the chip and pulls it from the socket, the socket held down by the chrome-colored arms that you're keeping held down against the sides of the socket.I haven't come across anything else that does that; the other devices here on Amazons are ones that you attach to the chip, and then pull the whole ensemble out together. I've had lots of problems with those bending pins as one side pulls out before the other, but the whole virtue of this one is that that won't happen.As to the criticisms: I've read other reviews saying they've bent pins with this. I imagine that if you're pulling it out like one of the other tools, whole ensemble together, then yes, you can bend pins. But you'd be using it wrong. Sometimes the chip will be so tight in its socket that you won't have the strength to squeeze the handle (and there's no leverage amplifying your force), in which case I've had success with using a flat screwdriver to provide the initial un-sticking, and finishing it off with this tool. Its value is really in the last stage of the extraction, guaranteeing that when it comes out it'll be vertical. But most of the time, I haven't needed to provide it additional support.As for the thing needing lots of space to function: this has not been my experience at all. I've used it to successfully pull EPROMs out of a CPS1 B-board, which are packed right next to each other (left-to-right). I can imagine that if there's zero space top-to-bottom between chips, this might be a problem, but I've never seen a board like that, and you can pre-squeeze the grabbers to be the distance you want before lowering.Some have questioned how the grounding pin can operate when the body it's connected to is plastic. Had they taken the time to measure it and used an ohmmeter on it, they'll see it nevertheless is conductive. Holding one probe to the grounding pin and the other to the base where the extractor would press against the socket, the resistance I measured was 0.2 ohms, holding it loosely to take the photo.Lastly, for 'plastic junk'. That's unfair — this *is* plastic (they're not claiming it's not. It looks like metal because of the conductive surface needed for the grounding), but it's fairly well made, and does the job better than anything else I've ever used or seen.I'll admit, it's not perfect. I'd love it if the grabbers were more substantial (they're somewhat thin metal, and can bend), and some kind of leverage system to amplify my pulling force would be great. Maybe I'll wear this one out in time, but on balance I really can't recommend it highly enough. Just make sure you understand how to use it.

Does the job, although it slips kind of easily from high tension on the tines when gripping an IC, moderate risk of slipping and bending pins on delicate work.

My old extractor was lost in a move and had to be replaced. I had it since the late 80's and it worked fine. It was a heave bit of hard plastic for the main body, but it's insides were pretty much the same as this new one. This new one works just as well as the old one. It's only possible down side is the main body is made of rather thin plastic. As long as you don't throw it around, or leave it floating in a toolbag, it should be fine for years to come.The vast majority of bad reviews for this seem to be from people who assumed the body of the tool was made of metal and we're angry to discover it was made of plastic.Trust me, you don't want a big, heavy, chunk of metal to slap on a delicate PCB and yank chips out. There is nothing wrong with the main body being made of plastic, and infact it has advantages.Wether or not the plastic will stand up to heavy use and time is something I'll find out in the next 10 to 20 years. If it breaks in that time period , then I'll update this review. Until then, I consider this extractor to be worth it's price.***Update 03/12/25***Well I managed to break it. My fault entirely. I went to grab it and it slipped from my hand. I did one of those attempts at quickly trying to grab it while it was falling and ended up forcefully slamming it into the edge of my workbench, where it bounced into the had floor and busted the body.So today I'm here to buy a new one. I still think they are worth it considering the older, better original version of these things rarely show up on ebay and sell for $80+ dollars. This cost reduced version isn't as tough as the original model but if you aren't slamming into 90 degree edges or hard floor, it will work fine.My biggest complaint from the past 5 to 6 years of use is the gripping fingers are kinda thin and flex enough to slip free some times. Just keep trying and it will work. Better than bent pins from prizing up one end to high.

I sort of laughed at this product at first -- it seemed very overengineered for a product category dominated by bent pieces of steel with a prong on either end that you need to buy in bulk to even warrant the cost of shipping. But I had a really stubborn DIP that needed pulling, so I gave it a try...and it popped out easily! Not sure if it's strictly worth it over your standard chip pullers, but I'll certainly be keeping mine on hand in the future.

40 pin and below dips no prob, works great. use it on my YT channel every day.

EPROMS Pull Out With Ease

It's a tiny bit on the flimsy side, but it seems to work fine. I don't have a lot of experience removing proms, but I think this tool makes it much less likely to bend the pins. Prying them up with a screwdriver never seemed like a good idea to me anyway.