hans109h
Well-known member
I can think of so many times that it is exactly the ratchet I should of had. Lovely.Small Koken score for Father's Day.
My eyes couldn't compute how small that rachet actually is.
Hans
Tools of Japan
- Thread starter Frankstools
- Start date
Hans
I
this had been brought up before. Items that previously could be purchased on AZ Jp and effectively combined shipping, are now marked as out of stock if you have a US address. The only way to purchase these items is to use a separate shipping service like Rakuten or to pay the per item shipping through US Amazon. Lame!If you buy direct from Amazon Japan, you at least can have a number of items shipped together, which makes shipping somewhat less expensive.
The box I recently ordered came from another source, and was shipped directly from Amazon. I ordered it Saturday and it arrived Sunday morning.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Though Toyo makes Trusco tool boxes, for some reason Trusco-branded boxes are generally cheaper than Toyo-branded boxes. And it seems like every time I dig around on the web I find more cool oddball tool box sizes.
I've bought a bunch of Japanese tools etc from Amazon and Amazon Prime. Many times the orders are fulfilled via Amazon Japan.
I've bought a bunch of Japanese tools etc from Amazon and Amazon Prime. Many times the orders are fulfilled via Amazon Japan.
ladea
Member
Hey Dave, I have 30 cm Minemura from Axminster. I was looking for 60 cm and 1 m rules but Minemura are no longer available at Axminster.Shinwa are one of the better known Japanese rule brands. The bigger / better quality rules are made in Japan, but the cheaper ones are made in China.
I have some rules by Minemura, which are all made in Japan, and one by Fisher, which also is.
A local woodworking specialist always keeps a selection of these rules in stock. The actual makers seem to vary, but the quality (and style) does not. All are made in Japan.
How is the Fischer one compared to Minemura?
My options are either Fischer or Niigata Seiki as Shinwa is no longer made in Japan for every model that I've checked on amz.jp
Pinemarten
Well-known member
I do the same. I watch the Japanese tools I want, and when the price drops low enough (or the shipping is free) I order it. This means it isn't a "tool haul" just a single item, but it has been working for me.
AceofSpad3s
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2014
- Messages
- 1,808
How often does Palmac run sales? I heard there was a 25% 4th of July sale two weeks after it happened when I was looking at some bit sockets. Do they have a retail front, they are close enough I could go there.
Get signed up at kokenusa, appears to be the same outfit with better sales.
Better "sales" because the base prices are marked up.
True, but no added shipping costs. Palmac is only free shipping on larger orders.
Yeah, but shipping doesn't cost that much if you buy more than just a single item. Whenever I have priced things out, "Koken USA" generally comes out with the worst. YMMV
Best US-based prices I have seen are ordering from Zoro with a 20% coupon and having them drop ship for free (over $50) from the Palmac/Koken USA warehouse. Only limitation is that Zoro doesn't have the full selection on their website but they do have a lot. DRPD can also have some nice deals.
Spongebob89
Well-known member
Hello,
do you know if there is any vessel long bits set like the below but with more different bits?
Something like this below:
do you know if there is any vessel long bits set like the below but with more different bits?
Something like this below:
I haven't seen any big sets like that second one but they certainly do offer long bits in many types. See the industrial bits and construction bits pages:
VESSEL CO., INC
full range of information on product groups ranging from tightening tools such as drivers, bit sockets and air tools to anti-static products in the factory
Dave455
Well-known member
The Fischer is very similar.
It lacks the red markings at 10cm intervals, but in other respects similar. Pearl Chrome finish, which is important. Might even be a bit heavier, but I can’t do a direct comparison as I only have the Fisher in 60cm and the Minimura in 30cm
Shinwa are available from www.workshopheaven.com and you can generally see from the photo’s which rules are made in Japan and which in China.
Spongebob89
Well-known member
I haven't seen any big sets like that second one but they certainly do offer long bits in many types. See the industrial bits and construction bits pages:
VESSEL CO., INC
full range of information on product groups ranging from tightening tools such as drivers, bit sockets and air tools to anti-static products in the factoryvessel.co.jp
Do you know if there is any other brand (maybe from taiwan) where have bits (90cm MAX long) set? I found the below but no ship to Greece.
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You didn't make me uncomfortable at all. If you know more than ratchet manufacturers, then there's a business opportunity for you to make a better ratchet. There's no sense debating "what if....?" in a thread like this when all the quality ones fail by the same method. Any change to reduce a stress riser on the anvil is going to increase the height, and that's going to be a negative since low clearance is the name of the game, and the fact that most of the 3/8 ratchets fail at 200+ lb-ft. For sure, materials and heat treat vary, some of the ratchets were quick release, etc; so they aren't going to fail at the same level.
I'm pretty sure that Snap On knows how to design a ratchet after 100 years.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Make sure you search for "vessel imapct" as well as "vessel impact" at Amazon. There are several 90mm bits available, +/-/SQ. Try looking at the catalog at the Vessel Japan website. Anex has a nice selection too. Dunno anything about RW brand, listed as JIS and some specified made in Japan and not inexpensive.
I never said they don't. But there are clearly lots of differences and I tried to discuss those. The geometry is at least as important as the material and the heat treat, if not more.
ladea
Member
Thanks Dave.
For anyone interested in Shinwa from what I could gather going through the catalog and looking at the photos at workshopheaven.com if a rule has a product model starting with H (hard/pearl chrome finish) or S (polish finish) (e.g. H-101C; S-101C) it's made in Japan.
If it only has a product code (e.g. 13013) it's most likely made in China.
Dave455
Well-known member
Thanks, that’s very interesting. That makes perfect sense.
For what it’s worth, I checked my Fisher and Minemura rules this morning, and both have markings that are engraved/etched, and then printed. Even if the printing wore off the rule is still useable (could be re inked easily) and I don’t think the markings would wear anyway.
The Chinese Shinwa ”Pickup” rule I have has printed markings only. If they wear off, it’s game over.
It’s only really the cheaper “Pickup” rules that are made in China then. The “flexible” and the “hard chrome” are Japanese.
Definitely worth paying the premium for “Made in Japan”.
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the Palmac sale was 10% off
esben57
Well-known member
Late to this and CBA to trawl through 200plus pages.
Koken 1/4" square and female hex ratchet, both ends switch reverse. £30 and don't use the hex end.
Koken 1/4" bit socket £2.
Sykes Pickavant. British firm but these are Japanese made. Sykes P were never makers of hand tools as such, more workshop equipment.
Once owned by Facom or Stanley I think. These wrenches are identical to some S.K. 83-- spanners I had, same feel, very solid.
(bought a Sykes P ratchet along with these about 1986, ratchet cost £25 then. Left a job in 1999 and missed it and some sockets when
collecting my things)
ETC Industrial AF spanner. Had a few of these and again similar to the SP's.
Koken 1/4" square and female hex ratchet, both ends switch reverse. £30 and don't use the hex end.
Koken 1/4" bit socket £2.
Sykes Pickavant. British firm but these are Japanese made. Sykes P were never makers of hand tools as such, more workshop equipment.
Once owned by Facom or Stanley I think. These wrenches are identical to some S.K. 83-- spanners I had, same feel, very solid.
(bought a Sykes P ratchet along with these about 1986, ratchet cost £25 then. Left a job in 1999 and missed it and some sockets when
collecting my things)
ETC Industrial AF spanner. Had a few of these and again similar to the SP's.
Carried out a small test purchase from Nepros to the UK, and same as with my experience dealing with Amazon Japan, the delivery via DHL took 3 working days to arrive in my hand. And again no value shown on the outside of the box and no import/vat fees to pay.
Purchased the 8/10 12/14 & 17/19 metric low offset box-end standard size wrenches, very nicely made indeed. Strictly for the home toolbox and my personal use, way too nice to be lent out.
Purchased the 8/10 12/14 & 17/19 metric low offset box-end standard size wrenches, very nicely made indeed. Strictly for the home toolbox and my personal use, way too nice to be lent out.
That's interesting, thank you.
I have a Japanese made Shinwa and the quality is excellent, as Dave notes.
As another Made in Japan alternative perhaps look into Matsui Precision Manufacturing, which are currently being imported into the UK by Niwaki (and branded as such). The price is higher than one would expect, probably due to Niwaki's "lifestyle" premium, but the Niwaki sourced items I have bought and used have been excellent quality, so I see no reason why their choice in straight edge / rule manufacturer would be anything different.
https://www.niwaki.com/matsui-ruler/#P00687-3
ladea
Member
Thanks, that Niwaki looks identical to my Minemura and some of the Shinwa models. I would be very surprised if they are not all coming from the same factory.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
I bought my 15cm Shinwa ruler with silly-*** me assuming it was made in Japan. Email from Shinwa later confirmed it was made in PRC. It's mfr'd to JIS B 7516 Grade 1 standards so I'm not worried about it, but I wish I had taken the extra effort/$$ beforehand for one made in Japan. Oh well. It has etched and inked lines and numbers for what it's worth.
esben57
Well-known member
Reed Prince
Well-known member
Maybe it's Top?This 1/2" ratchet, 7up.
Fine tooth smooth action. Mechanism similar to Facom.
Yes, its "Top". Here's some more info on the company from Alloy Artifacts:
Japanese Tool Makers [Page 2]
Page 2 of an article on Japanese tool companies and brands.
alloy-artifacts.org
esben57
Well-known member
I thought I'd give a brief review of my hip roof Trusco toolbox. It is model Y-410 and cost about $45 from Amazon. I'll compare it to model ST-350, which is a cantilever box that costs about $65 from Amazon.
They Y-410 is a very basic box with internal dimensions of 16.5" x 6" x 3" With a little extra height because of the hip roof top. There are no internal compartments or trays. The ST-350 cantilever has two levels and the top level is made up of two trays that can be subdivided for better organization. The dividers are removable and store neatly in slots at the ends of the trays so you don't lose them if you want them later.
The handle is extremely comfortable in the hand, much more so than the ST-350's double wire-style handles. However the ST-350 has twice the handles with twice the number of spot-welds(?), 12 points vs 6.
I really like that the Y-410 has two latches on it, each with three spot welds(?). I looked at some Proto versions of this style but they were more costly and only had one latch on boxes this size. The tabs that the latches hook onto are the same piece of metal as the top, and have little corrugated ridges for added stiffness. Trusco (Toyo) does a good job with the little features.
I bought the Y-410 so that I could load up job-specific tools, like a long ratchet plus some socket rails, and go to my car or my wife's car. Something like a cheap tool bag or a bucket would suffice, but I wanted to get something a little nicer. Unfortunately, it arrived very well packed but still somehow dented. It's barely noticeable and not an issue. Overall, I like the box, the handle is great, so are the latches and paint job. But for another $20, the ST-350 is definitely the better value. Unless you need your box to hold something longer than 13.25" or fits in a space that is less than 7" tall, I'd tell you to buy the cantilever. Also the cantilever box is better looking with those checkered stamps on the front and back. There's a version of this box that was featured in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
They Y-410 is a very basic box with internal dimensions of 16.5" x 6" x 3" With a little extra height because of the hip roof top. There are no internal compartments or trays. The ST-350 cantilever has two levels and the top level is made up of two trays that can be subdivided for better organization. The dividers are removable and store neatly in slots at the ends of the trays so you don't lose them if you want them later.
The handle is extremely comfortable in the hand, much more so than the ST-350's double wire-style handles. However the ST-350 has twice the handles with twice the number of spot-welds(?), 12 points vs 6.
I really like that the Y-410 has two latches on it, each with three spot welds(?). I looked at some Proto versions of this style but they were more costly and only had one latch on boxes this size. The tabs that the latches hook onto are the same piece of metal as the top, and have little corrugated ridges for added stiffness. Trusco (Toyo) does a good job with the little features.
I bought the Y-410 so that I could load up job-specific tools, like a long ratchet plus some socket rails, and go to my car or my wife's car. Something like a cheap tool bag or a bucket would suffice, but I wanted to get something a little nicer. Unfortunately, it arrived very well packed but still somehow dented. It's barely noticeable and not an issue. Overall, I like the box, the handle is great, so are the latches and paint job. But for another $20, the ST-350 is definitely the better value. Unless you need your box to hold something longer than 13.25" or fits in a space that is less than 7" tall, I'd tell you to buy the cantilever. Also the cantilever box is better looking with those checkered stamps on the front and back. There's a version of this box that was featured in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
Attachments
I have one of those and a few other styles of Trusco boxes. I love them all. I really love that color.If you buy direct from Amazon Japan, you at least can have a number of items shipped together, which makes shipping somewhat less expensive.
The box I recently ordered came from another source, and was shipped directly from Amazon. I ordered it Saturday and it arrived Sunday morning.
I also have that little silver box you have there. T-190SV. I used it for a first-aid kit for awhile but a HyFin mini chest seal is a little too big to lay flat in it, so now I use it to hold backup hard drives. It's basically EMP-proof...probably. I like that it's just two pieces of carefully bent steel. No welds, no rivets, nothing to break or rust apart. And nicely painted like every box from Trusco/Toyo.
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rick carpenter
Well-known member
Truscos! Perhaps not the best use of the T-320 but I don't like all my sensor/meter wires wound too tightly or just flopping loose. The T-190 has all of my Anex bit driver handles plus one Vessel.
kitdoctor
Well-known member
Jack, who are you purchasing through? Thanks NoelLatest Koken purchase, there was a 22% off ebay sale so I "had" to buy them. I had wanted a Koken sticker but hadn't realised that the metal cased sets were the way.
It is interesting that the cases are a totally different design, the impact one being a cheap design with paint already rubbing off.
The extra space should be able to hold my minimax 3/8 drive metric impact sockets.
This company:
https://housetradesupplies.com.au or https://www.ebay.com.au/str/tradetoolsupplies depending on which is cheaper at the time.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Got this little Tsunoda CN-130 today. It's only rated for 12 ga solid copper but it's for automotive and marine stranded so the size and capacity are just what I need. Feels good in hand and doesn't seem to want to migrate down & pinch the meat at the base of my pointy finger like Knipex does. I was supposed to get an Engineer DR-22 extension as well but Amazon cancelled it.
I have both in addition to a lunch box style 360. They’re great boxes! Highly recommended. The 350
Comes in two variations, one with tall handle which don’t fold down. Kind of a deal breaker for me so I got the one with the small handles