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Reed Prince

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2017
Messages
592
Location
Northern Virginia USA
Finally,after much awaiting, the Kai scissors are here, and without defects
I've had a pair of 7250s for a while and they are really nice, but I reserve them for fabrics. I've gone through a few daily use scissors for my bench, never really satisfied, and finally replaced the Henckels I was using with Kais. I've found the finger holes to be much nicer.

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mercifiknow

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2014
Messages
545
Location
Somewhere I should be
New arrivals.

KTC TB210E 1/4" socket set. Some of the shortest "regular" sockets available. Same dimensions as their premium Nepros offering, but satin finish and a much lower price. Incredible value for excellent quality.
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Wise extra long hex keys SBL-1000 with "Super Ball" end, and extra leverage handle. Ball end is supposed to be more robust and able to handle full fastener torque requirements.
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1000000176.jpgDo you know if Wise has SAE version? Tried looking online (Amazon Jp) hard to search.
 

Outahere

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2021
Messages
874
Location
Idaho
6" long Keiba pliers, purchased from DRPD ($26). They have smooth jaws, and a flat 4mm wide nose. The pivot joint was a little rough and stiff at first, but a 45sec break in procedure smoothed it out nicely.


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kyrbz

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2012
Messages
1,319
Location
midwest US
NOS Truecraft metric Saltus wrenches. $38 on eBay. Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these were manufactured by AIGO Kogyo and distributed in the US by Daido Corporation which had acquired the Truecraft brand

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bongkar_YES_pasang_NO

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2017
Messages
53
Location
Indonesia
NOS Truecraft metric Saltus wrenches. $38 on eBay. Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these were manufactured by AIGO Kogyo and distributed in the US by Daido Corporation which had acquired the Truecraft brand

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AIGO metric
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Jack_K

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 7, 2021
Messages
342
Location
Australia
NOS Truecraft metric Saltus wrenches. $38 on eBay. Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these were manufactured by AIGO Kogyo and distributed in the US by Daido Corporation which had acquired the Truecraft brand

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AIGO metric
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I have the Minimax version in SAE, it has the Black roll. AIGO was who made a lot of Minimax products.
 

MarcSeattle

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2010
Messages
575
Location
Seattle
I apologize in advance for damaging your bank accounts. I happened to hear on the radio today that the currency exchange rate with Japan is up to ¥150 per dollar. I checked prices on tools at Amazon Japan. Looks like it may be time to go on a shopping spree.

Yeah, the shipping cost is high but that just encourages buying more stuff because the shipping rate doesn't go up much as long as they can put more tools in the same box. Check out prices on the Keiba Pro-Hobby Pliers as a personal stocking stuffer.
 

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dclark2171

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 19, 2024
Messages
186
I apologize in advance for damaging your bank accounts. I happened to hear on the radio today that the currency exchange rate with Japan is up to ¥150 per dollar. I checked prices on tools at Amazon Japan. Looks like it may be time to go on a shopping spree.

Yeah, the shipping cost is high but that just encourages buying more stuff because the shipping rate doesn't go up much as long as they can put more tools in the same box. Check out prices on the Keiba Pro-Hobby Pliers as a personal stocking stuffer.

I just purchased a Koken Zeal Ratchet, A complete set of Nepros metric Sockets, A Tone Ratchet and another Lobster/Lobtex wrench. Japanese tools are addicting. I just with there were more cordless power tools MIJ. I Makita has a couple of MIJ items I can buy on Japanese sites, outside that...there is not much that I am aware of
 

Souldrop

Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2022
Messages
17
Location
Tennessee
ETA: OOS ~ an hour after posting. Fingers crossed a couple people were able to add to their Japanese tool collection!
 
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Stubby1743

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2023
Messages
732
Location
UK
I bought this hex key set in unused condition at a car boot sale back in the 1990s and have used it a lot since, mainly and bikes and motorbikes. They are made in Japan and of high quality.

Eight as a brand seems to be little known in the UK and USA but they are a very big manufacturer of high quality hex and Torx tools.

Their current extensive catalogue in English is here:-


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Dave455

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Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,823
Location
Sussex, England
I bought this hex key set in unused condition at a car boot sale back in the 1990s and have used it a lot since, mainly and bikes and motorbikes. They are made in Japan and of high quality.

Eight as a brand seems to be little known in the UK and USA but they are a very big manufacturer of high quality hex and Torx tools.

Their current extensive catalogue in English is here:-


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You’re right on both counts.

Generally, when a company only does one thing, it tends to do them well. I know one guy (Japanese bike enthusiast) who uses these.

Unfortunately, the only Eight hex keys I’ve ever seen were priced up with PB Swiss or Asahi, and those are tough acts to follow!
 

rick carpenter

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
3,784
Location
Huntsville, East Texas
But wait - there's more! :p
My IPS HLB-300s arrived today and I threw in the Lisle bashy bar for good measure
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I have the same pliers. The Amazon prices for IPS pliers fluctuated so much when I was looking the Christmas before last, I waited til they got down to what I wanted to pay for them. One day I'll probably get their normal-size cousins, the LPL-165 or -200 pliers.
 

FigN⋅m

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2024
Messages
524
I have the same pliers. The Amazon prices for IPS pliers fluctuated so much when I was looking the Christmas before last, I waited til they got down to what I wanted to pay for them. One day I'll probably get their normal-size cousins, the LPL-165 or -200 pliers.
Tell me about it! I ordered both these and the HLS-300s off of amazon.jp at about $15 ea., but shipping was $25 so...
and to top it off, they split the order and the other pliers won't be here for like another month :LOL:
 

Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,823
Location
Sussex, England
IPS SF-165 "Toji" pliers with baby **** brown grips, and inner and outer spring-loaded jaw positions with an unsprung center jaw position. I use them quite a bit.

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Though I love many Japanese tools, they do sometimes make odd decisions, especially on colours.

There must have been a meeting, when someone asked “What colour for the grips”?

Someone else must have said “How about turd brown”?

And everyone must have gone, “Hmm, yes, turd brown, that’ll look awesome”!
 

Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,533
Though I love many Japanese tools, they do sometimes make odd decisions, especially on colours.

There must have been a meeting, when someone asked “What colour for the grips”?

Someone else must have said “How about turd brown”?

And everyone must have gone, “Hmm, yes, turd brown, that’ll look awesome”!

I have and like these pliers a lot. Use them and their cousins all the time.

I also like the grip color. Not for aesthetics but for easily identifying my IPSs in the drawer. lol
 
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F-22

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2022
Messages
1,830
But wait - there's more! :p
My IPS HLB-300s arrived today and I threw in the Lisle bashy bar for good measure
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How do you like these? Probably tight and precise as most IPS stuff? They look quite strong.
 

FigN⋅m

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2024
Messages
524
How do you like these? Probably tight and precise as most IPS stuff? They look quite strong.
So far, so good. I gave the pivot a tiny snug and there's essentially no play.
They naturally have slight flex when squeezing, but way less than typical round framed handles.
The slip joint is awesome for tough-to-reach hose clamps etc. since you don't need such a wide grip
and I think if one is realistic about what they can handle, they will be a very worthwhile addition.
 

Steve_P

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,185
I also have the long IPS pliers in both the straight and angled tips. I don't use them a lot since they're a specialty design, but they do come in handy on occasion. They're definitely nicely constructed and high quality. I bought mine 5-10 years ago and considered them a bargain at that time, so I got both styles.
 

guitarbutt

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2017
Messages
237
To those with Tajima tape measures: I want to get one (with imperial markings). I'd like a class 1, but the Sigma Stop is one I'm also interested in. What are your personal experiences with Tajima tapes? Are the clips durable? I'll be using it for woodworking
 
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