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Andres26tnt

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Joined
May 11, 2018
Messages
994
Their website does not show location. They are a house brand of Factory Gear since 2000. Every Deen I've seen has been Taiwan or Vietnam. With the majority being Vietnam.

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Its mostly Taiwan, with some Japanese/German sprinkled in there. Their Vietnam offering is very small. I've been to both the Tokyo and Osaka store. I would say Deen is like Tekton and VIM, where they actually go to the manufacturer and test the tools. I would say prices are meh, kind of expensive for a mostly Taiwan offerings. Its mostly a lifestyle brand, the Japanese are weird that way. I'll give and update in November/December as I'm moving back to Japan for a second tour(4 years). So looking forward to try some more of the offerings and checking out the newest store/bar. Side note, Japan is the only place I've seen bars/cafes in small retail shops. Not talking giftshops, like full on retail, super cool.
 

tamaraw

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Joined
Jun 6, 2022
Messages
843
Found another Honda wrench, interesting comparison between two different OEMs/vendors.

Dimensions are identical but the Kowa (top) is raw steel and has the edges ground while the RK (bottom) was just chromed over the raw forging after the broaches were cut.

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Also cleaned up an old pair of Igarashi pliers. They are marked YK but I think this may be the same company that goes by IPS these days?

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midorix

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Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
169
Went to Japan. Traveling with family so didn’t get to go to Factory Gear due to scheduling. Also didn’t have anything I needed for tools since I stocked up from Amazon Japan prior to this trip. So just bought few minor things from Hands department store.IMG_3836.jpeg
 

dukefx

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Joined
Aug 24, 2022
Messages
391
So many nice tools and I still can't find anything of interest. I thought of buying those Igarashi long nose slip joint pliers multiple times, but always end up being like.... I have more than enough long nose pliers (2 of them deep reach) and one of those small ones with the nylon jaws is already on its way.

I see they have PB Swiss as well.
 

terrific

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Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
329
Is Tohnichi the big manufacturer for torque wrenches in Japan? Are there others? It looks like amazon.jp only has the click-style wrenches for sale, while I was looking for a dial-style.

While the Yen is low, is there any chance of getting a discount on a microscope? Nikon and Olympus are both Japanese companies, but I don't think they even sell their scopes online.
 
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F-22

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Joined
Jan 23, 2022
Messages
1,830
IMG_0896.jpeg

LOVE the big markings. This should be the defacto standard. Really nice wrench.

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Got these for my set in the motorcycle. Also got the stubby set. These are very nice and different to the stubby set in a few ways - are the stubbies maybe imports from taiwan or china? Subtly different feel and finish as if they aren't from the same company.

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F-84W, the japan only version of the legendary casio.

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mobiledynamics

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Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
5,045
Location
Gotham City
I must be getting old....Wrapping up redoing a room in the house. I got tired of hand screwing back the outlets and wall plates (which I've generally preferred as there is a certain amount of how much or or how little outlets or plates get tighter to sit perfectly flush) and I ended up chucking a flathead bit on my drill and used my drill to install these....

And at that very moment (as I never understood the use case), was when I realized how the Vessel powered screwdriver would be perfect for something like this
 
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rick carpenter

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Jan 20, 2011
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Huntsville, East Texas

Madjik Man

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Dec 3, 2015
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The Vessel USB screwdriver is the master of small tedious and long screws. Looks like Amazon dropped the price to $34.

I remember there being a good discussing on GJ about the differences between the blue switch and red switch units.

Can’t remember what the consensus was for which unit to go with.
 

ricleh

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Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
1,447
Location
Sacramento, CA
Which one of these locking pliers for a couple of toolkits I'm assembling for my grandkids?

The 3.Peaks are screw removal type, but would they be good for all-around vice grip pliers duties also? On the other hand, I can't find a COO for the more traditional KTC pliers.
I have both of the 3 Peaks pliers and I have been very satisfied with their performance. I use them primarily to hold screws when modifying them with a bench grinder. I really like the quality of all my 3 Peaks pliers.
 

Odd-job

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Joined
Aug 13, 2017
Messages
2,299
Location
SF Bay Area
I remember there being a good discussing on GJ about the differences between the blue switch and red switch units.

Can’t remember what the consensus was for which unit to go with.
I think most folks preferred the high speed one/blue switch one, but I personally prefer the red/regular/slow speed one. There's apparently a variable speed one (with a blue switch?) that I haven't tried yet.
 

HenryAZ

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Joined
Sep 18, 2012
Messages
1,054
Location
South Congress AZ
I remember there being a good discussing on GJ about the differences between the blue switch and red switch units.

Can’t remember what the consensus was for which unit to go with.
I have two different red switch models. One is single speed (and too fast for my liking). It also charges with the older micro or mini USB plug, forget which, which is a pain to insert even if you have it right side up. The newer red switch model I have has 3 speeds, all 3 of which are slower than that single speed model, and it charges with a USB-C plug, much easier to insert.
 

Madjik Man

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Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,534
The newer red switch model I have has 3 speeds, all 3 of which are slower than that single speed model, and it charges with a USB-C plug, much easier to insert.

Do you have that model# by chance? Thank you in advance.
 

mattstevens

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Joined
Jun 3, 2023
Messages
45
The 3-speed USB-C model with the chuck for Japanese bits is 220USB-P1. They also make "premium" versions in flashy colors and bit sets to match.




Then there is the USA model of the same tool with a blue switch and chuck for US/rest-of-world bits, 220USB-P5U.

220USB-S1 and S1U are the high speed micro-USB models.

Just plain 220USB and 220USB-1U are the single low speed micro-USB models.
 

F-22

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Jan 23, 2022
Messages
1,830
Which one of these locking pliers for a couple of toolkits I'm assembling for my grandkids?

KTC 100R


or 3.Peaks DS-130T


or 3.Peaks DS-200T


The 3.Peaks are screw removal type, but would they be good for all-around vice grip pliers duties also? On the other hand, I can't find a COO for the more traditional KTC pliers.
The KTC stuff I have is top quality. I don't know about those pliers, but they're probably good. Would be good to know if they're made in Japan.

I'd still probably get the 3 peaks cause I think they can do the same things and more, and are quite unique.
 

voodooaw

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Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
75
Got a Mac Tools Penta grip screwdriver from fleet market, the pentagonal shape looks gorgeous.
From what I've found on the internet, seems like there's some relation between Penta grip and Rick Tools. I can only find sellers from Japan and they are all super expensive. Does anyone know the history here? Who's the manufacturer?Weixin Image_20240814103313.jpgWeixin Image_20240814103320.jpgWeixin Image_20240814103326.jpg
 

Ohio Andy

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Joined
Jul 31, 2024
Messages
2,348
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Deen is kind of their house brand private label stuff. Most of it is made in Japan but not all of it. The last time ( December 2023) I was in the Tokyo store, Deen tools were probably what they had the most of fol

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"I like tools"
My wife would die if I showed up with the shirt, she would love it.
 

dukefx

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2022
Messages
391
Igarashi soft jaw pliers and Engineer screw pliers, the smallest of the bunch.
The IPS pliers seem to be painted, not quite happy about that as it'll get scratched easily. I assume it's an additional layer of protection for the item being handled. Can't say much about the Engineer pliers. I bought them for small screws and tight spaces where the original Vampliers (the typical combination plier type) nor the Twin Grips would fit.

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