Tools of Japan

[shibertus]

Picked up a set of Tone punches and a Top HyperMonki Zero adjustable wrench from Amazon Japan. The Top wrench is unlike any I've had in the past. Virtually zero slop in the movable jaw. Really impressive.

 

[Hohn]

I have to say, that the 6 point Nepros I own really impressed me. They were the first Nepros wrenches I bought.

They are incredibly close fitting, so if you have a fastener you are struggling with, and maybe only have one chance, they’re the wrenches to go for.

The chrome plating is very durable too, far more so than you might reasonably expect from the “mirror” finish.

Thanks for that.
I'm proliferating heavily in DBE and in particular a couple sizes that are 90% of what I use underhood. It's amazing how far a 10x12 and a 14x17 will take you underhood of any Japanese car. Since I'm not buying huge sets of tools, I think I can justify a couple premium options in those key sizes.

 

[Dave455]

Thanks for that.
I'm proliferating heavily in DBE and in particular a couple sizes that are 90% of what I use underhood. It's amazing how far a 10x12 and a 14x17 will take you underhood of any Japanese car. Since I'm not buying huge sets of tools, I think I can justify a couple premium options in those key sizes.

This is very sensible.

Out of a “set” of wrenches, there are some sizes I never use, and some I seldom use. Nice to have one complete set, but after that I primarily buy the sizes I use.

It makes more sense to have all the options (Box end, open end, flare nut, extra long, extra short etc) in the sizes you use, rather than big sets of sizes you don’t.

It’s sometimes useful to have different “grades” of tool too. I have some cheaper / older wrenches that are fine for doing up a bolt on a fence post, so then I’ve got mint condition wrenches when I’m faced with a brake caliper bolt that won’t move, or a valuable fastener on a machine tool.

 

[Dave455]

Picked up a set of Tone punches and a Top HyperMonki Zero adjustable wrench from Amazon Japan. The Top wrench is unlike any I've had in the past. Virtually zero slop in the movable jaw. Really impressive.

View attachment 1978805

Those TOP adjustables get consistently good reviews here.

I don’t own one yet but I think I will probably add one at some point.

One of the things I like about Japanese tools is that there is so much choice. I don’t think there is any company actually making adjustable wrenches in the U.S. or the U.K. at present, yet in Japan I can think of 6 or 7 makers easily.

 

[F-22]

Those TOP adjustables get consistently good reviews here.

I don’t own one yet but I think I will probably add one at some point.

One of the things I like about Japanese tools is that there is so much choice. I don’t think there is any company actually making adjustable wrenches in the U.S. or the U.K. at present, yet in Japan I can think of 6 or 7 makers easily.

Is Top actually made in Japan? Not sure, I thought they import most stuff (or was it Tone?).

I have the Lobtex Lobster and am also quite happy with it. Keep it in the car for emergencies. My Go-to is still a pliers wrench from Knipex...

 

[Dave455]

Is Top actually made in Japan? Not sure, I thought they import most stuff (or was it Tone?).

I have the Lobtex Lobster and am also quite happy with it. Keep it in the car for emergencies. My Go-to is still a pliers wrench from Knipex...

Yes, I think Top are all made in Japan.

Tone used to be, but seem to have outsourced to Taiwan.

 

[1foxracing]

Thanks for that.
I'm proliferating heavily in DBE and in particular a couple sizes that are 90% of what I use underhood. It's amazing how far a 10x12 and a 14x17 will take you underhood of any Japanese car. Since I'm not buying huge sets of tools, I think I can justify a couple premium options in those key sizes.

You might find this set useful as well, they are Kowa Seiki double box with a 6 point on one end and 12 point on the opposite.

 

[shibertus]

Is Top actually made in Japan? Not sure, I thought they import most stuff (or was it Tone?).

I have the Lobtex Lobster and am also quite happy with it. Keep it in the car for emergencies. My Go-to is still a pliers wrench from Knipex...

Yes, the Top is made in Japan. I am a big fan of the pliers wrench but there are still times where I reach for a regular adjustable. For jam nuts or other situations where two wrenches are required, I find two pliers wrenches a little cumbersome because both need to be squeezed closed. In that scenario it is nice to have an adjustable for the stationary nut.

 

[m6z]

You might find this set useful as well, they are Kowa Seiki double box with a 6 point on one end and 12 point on the opposite.

Those are pretty neat, mind sharing where you ordered them from?

 

[tamaraw]

Those are pretty neat, mind sharing where you ordered them from?

Not sure where OP purchased, but you can order them from webike.net

There are a few other Kowa Seiki tools listed there as well, both Honda branded and otherwise. Most of the Kowa wrenches are modeled off of the Belzer Streamline series.

 

[IRQVET]

I just ordered two sets of each of these off Amazon, looking forward to playing with them, I have no experience with Engineer Brand Tools.

 

[four.cycle]

^ you will love them.

** don't forget VAMPIRE pliers are on sale right now through Nov. 1st !!! **

 

[1foxracing]

Those are pretty neat, mind sharing where you ordered them from?

Motorcycle Hand tools - Webike

 

[rick carpenter]

I just ordered two sets of each of these off Amazon, looking forward to playing with them, I have no experience with Engineer Brand Tools.

I've got a pair of the PZ-57 screw removal pliers. The handles are a good, 'dry' kind of grip.

 

[JWC86]

I've tried a few electric screw drivers over the years, didn't care for them. This one seems ok.

I thought the orange handled Vessels were flat bladed screw driver but turns out they are like a chisel tip? Kinda weird, I guess I'll use the as pry bars..

 

[Monte]

Shinano air saw

 

[Dave455]

I've tried a few electric screw drivers over the years, didn't care for them. This one seems ok.

I thought the orange handled Vessels were flat bladed screw driver but turns out they are like a chisel tip? Kinda weird, I guess I'll use the as pry bars..

Vessel colour code their Megadora handles

Blue for screwdrivers
Red for striking cap screwdrivers
Silver for Impacta drivers
Orange for everything else - i.e. trim tools, hose picks and these chisel tip drivers.

I think the logic was that so many people were abusing their screwdrivers by using them as chisels / scrapers they thought they’d make a specific tool for the job.

They’re actually an incredibly useful tool, and one that’s almost unique to Vessel I think. I use mine on probably a weekly basis.

 

[4xdog]

Vessel colour code their Megadora handles

Blue for screwdrivers
Red for striking cap screwdrivers
Silver for Impacta drivers
Orange for everything else - i.e. trim tools, hose picks and these chisel tip drivers.

I think the logic was that so many people were abusing their screwdrivers by using them as chisels / scrapers they thought they’d make a specific tool for the job.

They’re actually an incredibly useful tool, and one that’s almost unique to Vessel I think. I use mine on probably a weekly basis.

Green for nut drivers.

 

[gmt]

Green for nut drivers.

Green is also used for their Torx screwdrivers.

 

[Dave455]

Green for nut drivers.

That’s interesting, I’ve never seen the Megadora nut drivers. They look fairly solid!

 

[4xdog]

That’s interesting, I’ve never seen the Megadora nut drivers. They look fairly solid!

Indeed. They're the biggest honkin' handles on any of the Vessel stuff I have -- equivalent to their largest driver handles.

 

[Madjik Man]

Green for nut drivers.

I’ve only seen the nut drivers in the wood composite handle.

 

[bpwoodworking]

Forgive me, I fell into Nepros screwdriver temptation.

 

[Dave455]

Green for nut drivers.

I actually had a look, but can’t find these for sale.

I can find this style

And also some with the “Powergrip” handle (although they seem rare outside Japan), but I can’t find Megadora’s.

I wonder if these were something produced for Toyota?

 

[4xdog]

I actually had a look, but can’t find these for sale..

...I wonder if these were something produced for Toyota?

They're definitely Toyota Japan-domestic-market tools, @Dave455. I ordered them through the Toyota part numbers (discussed upthread a year or two ago).

I'm a bit surprised that the Vessel Megadora 8mm and 10mm nut drivers might be exclusive to Toyota, but it's not impossible.

 

[IRQVET]

Got my Engineer hand tools today, first impression, "where have these things been all my life." Appreciate this forum for turning me onto this brand, absolutely fantastic! Appreciate ya’ll.

 

[Browens]

Just saw that the new Nepros neXT ratchet is in stock at DRPD. Anyone planning on picking one up? With 10+ 3/8 ratchets already, I don’t “need” it but…I kinda want to check it out.

 

[JWC86]

Vessel colour code their Megadora handles

Blue for screwdrivers
Red for striking cap screwdrivers
Silver for Impacta drivers
Orange for everything else - i.e. trim tools, hose picks and these chisel tip drivers.

I think the logic was that so many people were abusing their screwdrivers by using them as chisels / scrapers they thought they’d make a specific tool for the job.

They’re actually an incredibly useful tool, and one that’s almost unique to Vessel I think. I use mine on probably a weekly basis.

Thanks for the colour code info, that will be useful moving forward.

I actually bought these with the intention to use them as "hard use" pry drivers anyways so I'm not upset at all. I have a heavy duty Klein flatheaad and bought and keep handy exactly for this use and it's super handy. I'm happy to have a couple Vessels now for the same use.

 

[Dave455]

Got my Engineer hand tools today, first impression, "where have these things been all my life." Appreciate this forum for turning me onto this brand, absolutely fantastic! Appreciate ya’ll.

You will love the “Tetsuwan” scissors?

For those not familiar with them, they’re basically heavy duty scissors - almost snips - and great for cutting repair materials.

I use mine so much I’ve just bought a second pair for my road box!

 

[M6erfan]

You will love the “Tetsuwan” scissors?

For those not familiar with them, they’re basically heavy duty scissors - almost snips - and great for cutting repair materials.

I use mine so much I’ve just bought a second pair for my road box!

The only criticism I have about mine is the handle. The finger holes are small so a bit uncomfortable.

 

[Steve_P]

I also have the Engineer scissors above. I wear a large glove, and for me, the finger holes are too small: one for the thumb is ok, but the other will only fit two fingers. They're currently $18 on Amazon, and I know I paid $25+ for them years ago, maybe $30+. I don't use mine very often as they stay in the truck, so they are fine for occasional use. They are excellent quality, but there might be other similar options with bigger finger holes for something you'll use often.

 

[Madjik Man]

This is the same complaint I have with the Olsa scissors I bought for my home use/junk drawer. The hole with two fingers in it is a bit small making it uncomfortable to use.

For light duty home use, no biggie. But I couldn’t imagine trying to use these while trying to cut something substantial.

If anyone has suggestions for larger holed scissors it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jeff]

The only criticism I have about mine is the handle. The finger holes are small so a bit uncomfortable.

Same issue here. I have size 9 gorilla mitts. Excellent for the wife!

 

[Jeff]

 

[Hohn]

These are not actually Nepros wrenches, although the regular KTC are fine tools.

Nepros offer a slightly different solution in these hex / 6 point wrenches. The hex is slightly offset, so as the wrench is flat, you can simply turn it over if you can’t turn the fastener 60 degrees.


I own a few of these wrenches, and they are superb.

With credit/blame to @Dave455 I have a couple of these on order now to test them out. I figure a 10x12 and 14x17 are good starters. With Nepros pricing, I can't get carried away on such a specialized tool.

 

[IRQVET]

Got two sets of the Engineer PZ-65 vise grip pliers, first impression- they feel kinda cheap and not up to the same quality of the other Engineer tools I’ve purchased. At the connection points there seems to be a termendous amount of flex. They do not feel sturdy at all. Being new to Engineer, are they sort of hit and miss brand?

 

[Jeff]

Got two sets of the Engineer PZ-65 vise grip pliers, first impression- they feel kinda cheap and not up to the same quality of the other Engineer tools I’ve purchased. At the connection points there seems to be a termendous amount of flex. They do not feel sturdy at all. Being new to Engineer, are they sort of hit and miss brand?

Were you able to test them in a real world application?

 

[Kaffeetanne]

Got two sets of the Engineer PZ-65 vise grip pliers, first impression- they feel kinda cheap and not up to the same quality of the other Engineer tools I’ve purchased. At the connection points there seems to be a termendous amount of flex. They do not feel sturdy at all. Being new to Engineer, are they sort of hit and miss brand?

Are these even made in Japan? One thing i learned quickly about japanese is, that they are pretty proud of their domestic production and let you definitely know when something is made there. If they got no stamping, nor everything stating Japan on the packaging, they might source them somwhere else and just slap their name on it.
Also they look just like the same generic locking pliers everyone sells, just with an additional rubber sleeve.

 

[rick carpenter]

Y'all may be asking too much of the Vessel and Olfa (as I assume Madjik Man meant) heavy-duty craft/office scissors. I like and use my Olfas in the library and warehouse, but only for what they're designed for. Canary, SK11, and (maybe) Allex have Japanese offerings in shears that are perhaps sized more to your liking.

 

[IRQVET]

Upon further investigation, noticed there was no stamp “Made in Japan” anywhere on the tool itself. Closer look at the package and it says made in Taiwan. What a bummer, thought all Engineer stuff was made in Japan. I thought something was off, as I have Harbor Freight specials that feel better built. I’m going to have to scrutinize Engineer Tool purchases more in the future.