Tools of Japan

[rick carpenter]

"Japan" and "Made in Japan' are completely different things. Not sure if I consider it dishonest.

Showing something possibly different found online at Amazon Japan, whom one might assume would be careful to be accurate in COO matters, but note that parent company Hirota Tools has mfr'ing facilities in the Philippines and Thailand. Derby 1020-150 Radio Pliers are marked [Japan] only and described by the AmJp website as [Country of Origin: Japan] and [Other: A simple and reliable hand tool made in Japan. "MADE IN NIPPON"]. I have used brackets because at the bottom of the package...

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Derby-Radio-Pliers-Standard-1020-150/dp/B00GWBRBCG/ref=sr_1_16?crid=3NSIB31PWGIUW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UOfabKFmhjLzLLoEGsV-R-d8BDkbR1u-lbsf05Zn4uacV6N9ZqZ88oNh1Zeu_NN_TjvuIZNGAIJYtO2DjwvcpP22kt57t9q48YUT8u_n7Q7qjXcI7Q9iYdQW_LocdydQnRXmxbkyjiaQ0Q6tA8MgBBVoFb1PjaxHINp5dV-_H1r6swhjqwUMd_i7vTWtEjp8HU2DvWinrn_QGEIu21DAUy0vXR32iNmGXpk0b_a09KQ.XCRpcAwazhdk6EWwzJDtKi-gS48eUUvsArrcF6FyWT8&dib_tag=se&keywords=tools+made+in+japan&qid=1705421139&sprefix=tools+made+in+japan%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-16

...you see ["Made in Nippon"] with quotation marks.



ADD: Just noticed the package has Made in Japan in kanji as well. Derby's line seems to follow in these footsteps, as their 20S-125 Long Nose Pliers are marked and packaged the same way.

 

[HannibalLecter]

The 25 mm is also 0.2 mm thicker and much stiffer. I used mine recently to cut some foam.

Nice. I see you have the exclusive to Japan one. Which do you prefer?

 

[Reed Prince]

Nice. I see you have the exclusive to Japan one. Which do you prefer?

I haven't needed the unlimited positions of the wheel locking mechanism, so I like the auto-lock's convenience.

 

[Jeff]

 

[C4RBON]

Does this count? Zojirushi Rice Cooker. We eat a lot of rice, especially my 17-year-old and we were tired of the gluey, gummy rice that came out of my Instant Pot. Used it for the first time last night made shrimp, gumbo and garlic chicken so two different entree’s. He ate all the garlic chicken. I had the gumbo used this for the rice and it came out perfect.

James

I have the same one. I've had it for ~6 months now and it makes great rice. One thing I don't like, is it doesn't have a "slow cooker" mode like my old one. It seems that feature is only available on lower-end Zojirushi cookers for some reason.

 

[snowblindb]

I was helping a friend wire some DIN rail panels over the weekend and a Vessel driver with a Wera 0.6 x 3.5 x 50 mm worked great.

Who makes that bit adaptor so you can use regular bits in Vessel?

 

[Reed Prince]

Who makes that bit adaptor so you can use regular bits in Vessel?

I've got a bunch of adaptors, and none of them work perfectly with that tool and that bit. The one I chose doesn't have any identifying marks.

 

[C4RBON]

Can anyone recommend a tool store in or around Nagoya? I'm going to be there in April for the F1 race. I'm primarily interested in hand tools, like KTC/Ko-ken/Tone/etc. Thanks!

 

[DekNgo]

Can anyone recommend a tool store in or around Nagoya? I'm going to be there in April for the F1 race. I'm primarily interested in hand tools, like KTC/Ko-ken/Tone/etc. Thanks!

There's a Tokyu Hands inside the Takashimaya department store (6th or 7th floor if I remember correctly) inside the Nagoya Station that has some tools. They don't have a ton of tools, but it's easy to get to if you're using the train system to get around Nagoya.

 

[ETJ]

There is Astro products in Nagoya. It's mostly their own China and Taiwan products, but they sell somw KTC, Ko-Ken/Tone. https://www.astro-p.co.jp/
I have only been to their Nerima shop in Tokyo and it wasn't much. If you happen to stay close by then you could check it out. I wouldn't spend an hour in a train to go there.

Also Hodaka might have KTC, Nepros and Tone. Below picture is from Hodaka Moriyama store google maps images.

 

[C4RBON]

There's a Tokyu Hands inside the Takashimaya department store (6th or 7th floor if I remember correctly) inside the Nagoya Station that has some tools. They don't have a ton of tools, but it's easy to get to if you're using the train system to get around Nagoya.

I'm staying right by the train station, so anything in the department store there would be an easy walk.

There is Astro products in Nagoya. It's mostly their own China and Taiwan products, but they sell somw KTC, Ko-Ken/Tone. https://www.astro-p.co.jp/
I have only been to their Nerima shop in Tokyo and it wasn't much. If you happen to stay close by then you could check it out. I wouldn't spend an hour in a train to go there.

Also Hodaka might have KTC, Nepros and Tone. Below picture is from Hodaka Moriyama store google maps images.

Thanks, I'll look into it!

 

[razirafi]

Hello guys, I have been following this GJ thread for some time but it is only today that I have registered. I am an electronics technician but have since transitioned as an automotive electrician here in the land down under. I am natively from another country but am living and working here in Australia for the last 9 years. Back home I mostly have Japanese made tools but I did not take them with me here. I currently have cheap China/Taiwan made tools (Repco) which have served me well for the past 9 years since purchasing them. I am contemplating on upgrading to Japanese made tools. I know about Koken, KTC, Vessel, Engineer, Tsunoda, Lobtex, Goot, and a lot more. I have started to purchase some of the Tone ratchets as they are not very expensive but they are of good quality, although they are not made in Japan. I am currently eyeing a Japanese-made Tone torque wrench, the T3MN100H. May I know if anyone here would be able to give me some feedback about this particular torque wrench from Tone?

 

[mobiledynamics]

Order these bits stateside or from overseas.
And or how did you sleuth that COO was JP
I honestly would have presumed like Bosch, Big Red , Yellow, etc....it's Taiwan or PRC bits...or Viet

I've been buying Vessel PH bits primarily for my cordless tools and it's mainly Wiha/Wera in Torx and unfortunately Robertson's Squares (which are not impact rated but Real Robbie bits is the only squares I will use.

 

[Qualitytools]

Hello guys, I have been following this GJ thread for some time but it is only today that I have registered. I am an electronics technician but have since transitioned as an automotive electrician here in the land down under. I am natively from another country but am living and working here in Australia for the last 9 years. Back home I mostly have Japanese made tools but I did not take them with me here. I currently have cheap China/Taiwan made tools (Repco) which have served me well for the past 9 years since purchasing them. I am contemplating on upgrading to Japanese made tools. I know about Koken, KTC, Vessel, Engineer, Tsunoda, Lobtex, Goot, and a lot more. I have started to purchase some of the Tone ratchets as they are not very expensive but they are of good quality, although they are not made in Japan. I am currently eyeing a Japanese-made Tone torque wrench, the T3MN100H. May I know if anyone here would be able to give me some feedback about this particular torque wrench from Tone?

Welcome to GJ! Have you considered TOHNICHI brand torque wrenches made in Japan?

 

[Etchase]

Order these bits stateside or from overseas.
And or how did you sleuth that COO was JP
I honestly would have presumed like Bosch, Big Red , Yellow, etc....it's Taiwan or PRC bits...or Viet

I've been buying Vessel PH bits primarily for my cordless tools and it's mainly Wiha/Wera in Torx and unfortunately Robertson's Squares (which are not impact rated but Real Robbie bits is the only squares I will use.

Home Depot has them with free shipping for $12 plus sales tax.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Yeah, I googled them. Was just curious how OP knew they were JP made bits....
Would have never guessed/expected

 

[rick carpenter]

Yeah, I googled them. Was just curious how OP knew they were JP made bits....
Would have never guessed/expected

Are they made to Phillips spec or ISO/DIN (aka "JIS") spec?

 

[Stubby1743]

ISO/DIN and JIS specs are not quite the same. See this for a good explanation.

JIS vs Phillips screwdrivers and Where to buy a JIS screwdriver. | Helping you work smarter not harder

Most people don't know that there are multiple screw types that look like the traditional Phillips. The most popular of which is the JIS (Japanese industrial standard), to which the JIS screwdriver is made to the JIS B 4633 specification. The other is a pozidrive, but those are more commonly...

rtstools.com

 

[four.cycle]

Vessel P2 x 200 and a set of ratcheting ball-grips

The shank on the P2 is amazingly stout - far better than I had anticipated.
Really liking these handles.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Apologies that this is kind of Tools Of Japan adjacent, but for anyone who wanted to try the SEK Pro Auto Smart Ratchet but didn’t want to pay shipping from Japan, I found what seems to be the same ratchet under a different name with free shipping: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JRD1QJK?tag=atomicindus08-20

1/4” drive is $30.61, 3/8” drive is $31.12

I ordered the 3/8” version and measured the head size and it matches SEK’s documentation.


It has a comfort grip which to me isn’t ideal but with the ~$20 saved on shipping it could be worth it.

 

[four.cycle]

^ turn it into a hard-handle! another member started a thread on that!

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

That's what I will most likely do!

 

[rick carpenter]

ISO/DIN and JIS specs are not quite the same. See this for a good explanation.

JIS vs Phillips screwdrivers and Where to buy a JIS screwdriver. | Helping you work smarter not harder

Most people don't know that there are multiple screw types that look like the traditional Phillips. The most popular of which is the JIS (Japanese industrial standard), to which the JIS screwdriver is made to the JIS B 4633 specification. The other is a pozidrive, but those are more commonly...

rtstools.com

Yes, I'm aware of that. Sometimes people still call Japanese screwdrivers and crosspoint bits made to DIN 5260-PH/ISO 8763-1 spec "JIS" though.

 

[HannibalLecter]

The design is flawless

 

[Madjik Man]

The design is flawless

Is that the PL-1?

 

[1foxracing]

Apologies that this is kind of Tools Of Japan adjacent, but for anyone who wanted to try the SEK Pro Auto Smart Ratchet but didn’t want to pay shipping from Japan, I found what seems to be the same ratchet under a different name with free shipping: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JRD1QJK?tag=atomicindus08-20

1/4” drive is $30.61, 3/8” drive is $31.12

I ordered the 3/8” version and measured the head size and it matches SEK’s documentation.


It has a comfort grip which to me isn’t ideal but with the ~$20 saved on shipping it could be worth it.

You can order the SEK Pro Auto models from a US seller following the info in this video from Chris Cas.

I own all 3 sizes and they were about $10 cheaper each then what you paid for those BGS models.

 

[BTJHP]

Mark, did you order from Idaka via email?

 

[HannibalLecter]

Is that the PL-1?

Yep

 

[HannibalLecter]

Another interesting offer from olfa is the SK 12. You push the blade out to cut and then it springs back. All steel construction

 

[Qualitytools]

You can order the SEK Pro Auto models from a US seller following the info in this video from Chris Cas.

I own all 3 sizes and they were about $10 cheaper each then what you paid for those BGS models.

I do too and Love them.

 

[1foxracing]

Mark, did you order from Idaka via email?

I called them on the phone, it was a easy transaction.

 

[BTJHP]

I called them on the phone, it was a easy transaction.

I was thinking I'd use the 1/4 and 3/8 but probably not 1/2. Do you recommend all 3?

 

[1foxracing]

I was thinking I'd use the 1/4 and 3/8 but probably not 1/2. Do you recommend all 3?

They gave me a deal when I purchased all 3, I've never used the 1/2" but I have it in case I would ever need it.

 

[M6erfan]

 

[Qualitytools]

Thanks for sharing, what is it?

 

[M6erfan]

Thanks for sharing, what is it?

3mm nail setter

 

[M6erfan]

 

[kngelv]

I have the same one. I've had it for ~6 months now and it makes great rice. One thing I don't like, is it doesn't have a "slow cooker" mode like my old one. It seems that feature is only available on lower-end Zojirushi cookers for some reason.

If your Zojirushi uses pressure cooking then it can't be used as a slow cooker. The more expensive ones are have the pressure cooking. I love mine.

James

 

[Dave455]

Don’t know if folks have noticed already, but KoKen have recently added Nut Grip Universal Sockets to their Z Series / Zeal range. Available in 3/8” and 1/4” drive.

I saw a fair bit of publicity surrounding their new Z Series / Zeal ratchets, but they seemed to sneak these into the catalogue unannounced!


Not to be confused, of course, with their regular nut grip universal sockets, which I show for comparison.



Edit - The Z Series sockets use the same mechanism as their 3771 universal joint, so these are quite the tools!

 

[Caa311]

Those have their new hexadecimal joint. I believe they have universals like that also, very nice design.