To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Tools of Japan

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Browens

Active member
Joined
Jun 3, 2017
Messages
27
Location
NW Arkansas
No need for black Friday in amazon japan. If they have the item you want, it will have the best price.
The problem with Amazon.jp these days is that their assortment is pretty limited For US shoppers. DRPD will generally have the best discounted price (retail - % off) with a good assortment. Koken USA will have the best assortment and good discount but their retail prices generally start off a little higher.
 

HannibalLecter

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2023
Messages
405
The problem with Amazon.jp these days is that their assortment is pretty limited For US shoppers. DRPD will generally have the best discounted price (retail - % off) with a good assortment. Koken USA will have the best assortment and good discount but their retail prices generally start off a little higher.
I see. I'm in Europe, so I don't have that problem
 

rick carpenter

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
3,788
Location
Huntsville, East Texas
Looking for a pair of small pointy-tip garage scissors. Anyone have experience with either the 5" Olfa SCS-4 or 135mm/5.31" Kai 5135? Sometimes stated scissors measurements are not OAL. ...
After @HannibalLecter showed his Kai 5165 scissors that were not made in Japan, I decided to go with the SCS-1 Olfas (I mistakenly called them SCS-4 at first). I got these in today and they make just the loveliest snip! sound when cutting. I have 7" Olfas at work which I've liked so well that I bought my boss a pair for her birthday yesterday.

One thing I guess I don't understand is why they are "5 inch" scissors yet the OAL is ~5-1/2".

image_50443265 (1).JPG
 
Last edited:

GeoBruin

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
3,750
After @HannibalLecter showed his Kai 5165 scissors that were not made in Japan, I decided to go with the SCS-1 Olfas (I mistakenly called them SCS-4 at first). I got these in today and they make just the loveliest snip! sound when cutting. I have 7" Olfas at work which I've liked so well that I bought my boss a pair for her birthday yesterday.

One thing I guess I don't understand is why they are "5 inch" scissors yet the OAL is ~5-1/2".

image_50443265 (1).JPG

They're made in Japan. Those are metric inches!
 

kyrbz

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2012
Messages
1,323
Location
midwest US
Maybe not quite a tool, but I love my "Power Ace" work boots with safety toe. They almost remind me of a climbing shoe. Really great traction and feel. Great for climbing on scaffolding and ladders or working on slick surfaces like metal roofs. Velcro tabs for easy on and off. Some might call these "Tabi" boots, but a traditional Tabi boot has the split toe design. The one criticism someone might have, is they're very flat footed.

boots.JPG
 

teagueo

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 7, 2017
Messages
464
Maybe not quite a tool, but I love my "Power Ace" work boots with safety toe. They almost remind me of a climbing shoe. Really great traction and feel. Great for climbing on scaffolding and ladders or working on slick surfaces like metal roofs. Velcro tabs for easy on and off. Some might call these "Tabi" boots, but a traditional Tabi boot has the split toe design. The one criticism someone might have, is they're very flat footed.

boots.JPG
Looks like Ninja boots!
 

CGarage

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2018
Messages
3,053
Location
United States/Switzerland
Maybe not quite a tool, but I love my "Power Ace" work boots with safety toe. They almost remind me of a climbing shoe. Really great traction and feel. Great for climbing on scaffolding and ladders or working on slick surfaces like metal roofs. Velcro tabs for easy on and off. Some might call these "Tabi" boots, but a traditional Tabi boot has the split toe design. The one criticism someone might have, is they're very flat footed.

boots.JPG



You shoulda shaved them stems for us before your foot selfie! Didn’t know I’d have to scroll down through the Amazon before seein’ those footsies!
 

mobiledynamics

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
5,052
Location
Gotham City
I need strength to just say NO. I have a shopping cart of way too many various KTC trim pry clip bars , some in a neat offset, and since I had the dang cart, I added the KTC plastic pliers
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

HannibalLecter

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2023
Messages
405
I need strength to just say NO. I have a shopping cart of way too many various KTC trim pry clip bars , some in a neat offset, and since I had the dang cart, I added the KTC plastic pliers
The ktc pry clip bars, pliers and levers are freaking expensive. Try some anex
 

Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,832
Location
Sussex, England
The ktc pry clip bars, pliers and levers are freaking expensive. Try some anex
They are!

But, I think they are about the best out there - certainly the most suited to the vehicles I work on, and (where I’m located) they are a fraction of the cost of Snap On.

Some of the KTC are unique patterns that I don’t see elsewhere.

I’ve even got used to the pink handles! (Actually, I totally understand this - on a bench full of tools the last thing you want is every handle the same colour).
33B97567-6FB1-47E7-BEA5-17BFFDA9E179.jpeg
 

HannibalLecter

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2023
Messages
405
They are!

But, I think they are about the best out there - certainly the most suited to the vehicles I work on, and (where I’m located) they are a fraction of the cost of Snap On.

Some of the KTC are unique patterns that I don’t see elsewhere.

I’ve even got used to the pink handles! (Actually, I totally understand this - on a bench full of tools the last thing you want is every handle the same colour).
33B97567-6FB1-47E7-BEA5-17BFFDA9E179.jpeg
Id consider them far better and quirkier than snap on. Also I dig the handles. However, anex are maybe half the price, even more styles and also they are shrink wrapped in the stem, to not marr the plastic. Also, made in Japan41ut8ZiaeiL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpganex-9136-s-02.jpg
 

tamaraw

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 6, 2022
Messages
843
Yes, the KTC clip tools can be a bit pricy. That said, I much prefer their handles over Anex, YMMV.

I really like my Sunflag, but the other two brands offer a much larger assortment of lengths and shapes if you need that.

 

Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,832
Location
Sussex, England
Id consider them far better and quirkier than snap on. Also I dig the handles. However, anex are maybe half the price, even more styles and also they are shrink wrapped in the stem, to not marr the plastic. Also, made in Japan41ut8ZiaeiL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpganex-9136-s-02.jpg
Yes, the Snap On tool is nicely made, and very strong, but I find the tip a little blunt. The KTC are about right.

I do like the look of the Anex, but I think I would need to buy direct from Japan, which might negate the cost savings.

Trim clip tools are a bit like screwdrivers though, in that I don’t think you can have too many options!
 

Fedwrench

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,961
Location
Valley of the sun
Koken also makes some nice clip tools. Part # 169-6 and 169-10.

DSC_6791.jpg
Talk to me about the Ko-Ken handle, is it mushy? are all of those dots soft? have you gotten brake clean on it?
My favorite trim tools are these PB Swiss versions: https://drpd.cc/tool-shop/miscellan...m_term=4586681478833330&utm_content=Catch All

In keeping with the tools of Japan thread i also like these Vessels. I wish they made a long one though.
 

HannibalLecter

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2023
Messages
405
The Koken handle is really nice to the touch, soft, but not too soft, except for the bubble like bits. Also, has thumb rests. It is definitely on the large side I would say. I decided to go with anex regarding the trim tools because they have the biggest variety. I will eventually try the trim removal pliers from KTC though. Too interesting to pass.
 

bongkar_YES_pasang_NO

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2017
Messages
53
Location
Indonesia
is there any japanese non ratcheting t handle bit holder like on this picture by Reed Prince?
1700453746382.png
somehow I don't really like ratcheting mechanism on screwdriver, as screw have less grip than bolt or nut on initial tightening.
t-handle feels to offer more torque on final tightening also free turn on loosening.

there are t-handle with its bit, but I'd like one without , so I can interchange bits
 

mobiledynamics

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
5,052
Location
Gotham City
While I should be spending top dollar on picks as they often get trashed and replaced....so tell me, while I'm JP shopping, which picks to look it.
 

Pexto

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
640
is there any japanese non ratcheting t handle bit holder like on this picture by Reed Prince?
1700453746382.png
somehow I don't really like ratcheting mechanism on screwdriver, as screw have less grip than bolt or nut on initial tightening.
t-handle feels to offer more torque on final tightening also free turn on loosening.

there are t-handle with its bit, but I'd like one without , so I can interchange bits

I don't know of one Made in Japan, but if Made in Germany is OK you might consider the Wiha: https://www.wihatools.com/products/t-hndle-1-4x150mm-bitholders
It's a well-made tool, and I like being able to store a second bit in the handle, or get extra leverage.
 

shibertus

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Messages
278
Talk to me about the Ko-Ken handle, is it mushy? are all of those dots soft? have you gotten brake clean on it?
The handles are soft touch but not mushy. The dots are soft and seem to help with grip. It's a funky looking design but they feel great in the hand. Although if you plan to get them really grimy I would probably recommend a hard handle.
 

mobiledynamics

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
5,052
Location
Gotham City
I was just looking at that and vessell equivalent. Was leaning on the Vessel.

Both I wanted just all metal as I find that those rubber'ish types on the handles get dry rot over time.....
 

Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,832
Location
Sussex, England
I was just looking at that and vessell equivalent. Was leaning on the Vessel.

Both I wanted just all metal as I find that those rubber'ish types on the handles get dry rot over time.....
I have the KoKen and the Vessel. Admittedly the Vessel is an older tool, but I don’t think they have changed much. The KoKen is the superior tool by far.

The rubber handle is optional on the Attack Driver. I have the 4122N without the rubber.
5FF35DB8-1449-4093-8C2E-B702849A2925.jpeg
 

mobiledynamics

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
5,052
Location
Gotham City
What are some must HAVE Koken.

The only Koken I have is a full suite of Zeal sockets including their sparks.
I liked the Zeals rails so much that came with my sockets , I did order a bunch as well to replace my existing rails
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom