Tools of Japan

[Monte]

NT Cutter circle cutter

 

[Jeff]

 

[IRQVET]

The NOS Japanese Raised Panel Craftsman metric spanner set from the 1970's/1980's.

7mm to 18mm with no skips!

 

[rick carpenter]

The NOS Japanese Raised Panel Craftsman metric spanner set from the 1970's/1980's.

7mm to 18mm with no skips!

Just think how maligned Craftsman RP wrenches are on other boards! Nevermind that BS, I like these.... so congrats.

 

[Caa311]

The NOS Japanese Raised Panel Craftsman metric spanner set from the 1970's/1980's.

7mm to 18mm with no skips!

Those were the best raised panel wrenches craftsman ever sold.

 

[IRQVET]

Those were the best raised panel wrenches craftsman ever sold.

Hopefully so. I like tools from Japan, and I like old Craftsman. Had no idea these two paths crossed at one time between 1969- 1987, had to pick some up! Kinda cool to pick up a brand new set of 37-55 year old Japanese wrenches.

 

[IRQVET]

Picked up the Japanese Craftsman SAE set, minus the 7/8, and not NOS, but it incredible condition never the less.

Need to hunt down the 7/8 to complete the set.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Picked up the JapaneseSAE set, minus the 7/8, and not NOS, but it incredible condition never the less.

Need to hunt down the 7/8 to complete the set.

Beautiful set, that was good find.

 

[IRQVET]

Beautiful set, that was good find.

Pretty inexpensive too. Some people on eBay are asking an arm and leg, but others are way more reasonably priced if you hunt around.

 

[four.cycle]

@IRCVET -
assume they are all marked "BF" ?

from Lauver's list:

BF = probably Daido, possibly KTC, some USA made but predominantly Japanese made, ca. 1969 - 1987

Daido was making product for Truecraft during that era, and it's top-shelf stuff.

 

[IRQVET]

@IRCVET -
assume they are all marked "BF" ?

from Lauver's list:

BF = probably Daido, possibly KTC, some USA made but predominantly Japanese made, ca. 1969 - 1987

Daido was making product for Truecraft during that era, and it's top-shelf stuff.

Still learning in this space of vintage tools, Alloy-Artifacts.org has been a recent resource I've discovered for research. I've recently been told there are other resources out there as well that I'm just learning about.

Just amazes me how overlooked these are on a cost v. quality standpoint.

Seems like there in this weird inbetween space. Not as collectable in the Made in US Craftsman crowd, yet Craftsman is not exactly the first tool brand that comes to mind when discussing Japanese made tools . . .

 

[Etchase]

Bernie Fuller, founder of Fuller Tools is my thinking. Fuller sold molybdenum combination wrenches with the KTC trademark that seem similar. They could make anything anyone wanted by the 70’s.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Send help:

 

[four.cycle]

@IRCVET -
Daido Corp. acquired Truecraft in 1962

Various Hand Tool Makers [Page 5]

Page 4 of a collection of tools from various hand tool makers.

alloy-artifacts.org

by which time, they were a major player in the tool industry.

There's a good amount of Japanese-made tools from the 1960s and 1970s that are of surprisingly good quality.
K-Mart's Japan-made stuff from that era is fairly respectable product, if not cosmetically perfect.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Truecraft

+1 for Truecraft, I was able to find these used on FBM for crazy cheap. A little soak in AFT and a buffing wheel and they are like new:

 

[IRQVET]

Condition was almost perfect, I had to get it. Japanese Craftsman 8 inch adjustable.

 

[IRQVET]

+1 for Truecraft, I was able to find these used on FBM for crazy cheap. A little soak in AFT and a buffing wheel and they are like new:

Nice find! Look fantastic!

 

[BlitzcrankJapan]

Panasonic EY7410:





A good paring with the rest of my Japanese (but not made in Japan) electric screwdrivers (impact driver in the case of the Makita):



I've always been fascinated with Panasonic's power tool line. I feel like it's vastly outdated and with few updates over the last 10+ years, even in the home market, but these are still apparently very popular overseas and Panasonic continues to sell them. I will say that this unit is very well built and heavy duty. Nothing can top the impact power of the Makita, but the Panasonic feels strong and solid along with being the most quiet of the bunch.

This has me curious about the other power tools in the Panasonic lineup on Amazon Japan...hmmm.

I always thought the Hitachi and Panasonic cordless drivers were the same. Are they both made by Matsushita Electric Works?

Something to note is that Panasonic has two lines of tools. One for cheaper for home users, and another more expensive for commercial use. It is not always easy to distinguish the two from each other.
Panasonic's impact driver was used by Hilti until about 5 years ago as well. Some other Panasonic cordless tools were also used by Hilti in the past.
Panasonic was also the number one power tool brand in Japan at one stage.

 

[terrific]

Send help

Does engineer make hemostats? I can't find any on their website.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Does engineer make hemostats? I can't find any on their website.

Yes:



As far as I know, these are made in Japan. I’ll unpacked them tomorrow to verify. They appear to be very high quality.

 

[terrific]

As far as I know, these are made in Japan. I’ll unpacked them tomorrow to verify. They appear to be very high quality.

Ahh. Listed under crimping on their website. I guess that makes sense.
I was hoping they made some longer ones! Looks like 150mm is the max.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Ahh. Listed under crimping on their website. I guess that makes sense.
I was hoping they made some longer ones! Looks like 150mm is the max.

Right, I do wish these were a little longer, but for crimping fuel lines for small repairs or other holding functions, I think they will work good. Amazon Japan had a sale last month and a few Engineer products were on closeout/marked down. I think they were $3ea, so I got a few.

 

[Steel_Rain]

3peaks (3P) KW-100 and KW-300:




Anex 1903-NS1:

 

[Steel_Rain]

Vessel 400ER3:








Scale comparison of a "normal" size electric ratchet:



There is much controversy around this tool already and I can understand why. It's considered underpowered and missing a key feature, a reversing lever. Instead, to change direction, you need to flip it over, requiring you to exchange sides of the adapter each time. I can see that being a pain for work flow.

That being said, I like it. Well built, albeit heavier then I would like, but solid and perfect for nut running and small enough to access areas you need to quickly unbolt/reinstall something. Despite the packaging saying "Made in Japan", I'm doubtful the sockets and other extensions/adapters are Japanese made...they seem like standard Taiwan "speckle chrome" if I had to guess (good quality though). The bits are labeled as "Made in Japan". I used this last night for an older Honda generator I'm restoring and having a small 10mm nut driver like this was actually very useful.

Simply put, this is a light duty, compact powered ratchet. If your buying this to replace (or even augment) a standard, full size electric ratchet for mild/heavy daily work, you will be sorry. I didn't buy for that, so it works for what I need it to work for in light applications.

I really hope there comes a day that Vessel releases more products like this, but targeted for automotive or other mild/heavy work. I would love for them to make a full size ratchet or a higher power, heavy duty electric screwdriver (cordless).

 

[four.cycle]

no 15 mm.

guess they don't drive Fords in Japan, right?

 

[IRQVET]

Vessel 400ER3:








Scale comparison of a "normal" size electric ratchet:



There is much controversy around this tool already and I can understand why. It's considered underpowered and missing a key feature, a reversing lever. Instead, to change direction, you need to flip it over, requiring you to exchange sides of the adapter each time. I can see that being a pain for work flow.

That being said, I like it. Well built, albeit heavier then I would like, but solid and perfect for nut running and small enough to access areas you need to quickly unbolt/reinstall something. Despite the packaging saying "Made in Japan", I'm doubtful the sockets and other extensions/adapters are Japanese made...they seem like standard Taiwan "speckle chrome" if I had to guess (good quality though). The bits are labeled as "Made in Japan". I used this last night for an older Honda generator I'm restoring and having a small 10mm nut driver like this was actually very useful.

Simply put, this is a light duty, compact powered ratchet. If your buying this to replace (or even augment) a standard, full size electric ratchet for mild/heavy daily work, you will be sorry. I didn't buy for that, so it works for what I need it to work for in light applications.

I really hope there comes a day that Vessel releases more products like this, but targeted for automotive or other mild/heavy work. I would love for them to make a full size ratchet or a higher power, heavy duty electric screwdriver (cordless).

After recently upgrading the braking system on my Toyota SUV, I could totally see the value of something like this when working in tight spaces behind a wheel caliper.

 

[Jeff]

I ordered 6 pairs for Xmas presents.

 

[Steel_Rain]

After recently upgrading the braking system on my Toyota SUV, I could totally see the value of something like this when working in tight spaces behind a wheel caliper.

Agreed, I'll be using it for a brake job, valve cover(s) and a rear tail light shortly. Again, light work. Don't bring it to work on a D6.

 

[rick carpenter]

I ordered 6 pairs for Xmas presents.

I've got the 7" SCS-2 and 5" SCS-4 scissors and use them on twist ties and zip ties a lot. Such a satisfying "snip" sound when you use them. Bought another 5" pair as a birthday present. Whoever you give these to will really like them.

 

[Reed Prince]

I've bought many Japanese scissors over the years and the ones that have ended up staying on my bench are 170mm Kais. I've found Inexpensive SK-11s to be great for heavy duty tasks, and for comfort and precision nothing else I've found equal the Kai 7000 series.

 

[Jeff]

I've bought many Japanese scissors over the years and the ones that have ended up staying on my bench are 170mm Kais. I've found Inexpensive SK-11s to be great for heavy duty tasks, and for comfort and precision nothing else I've found equal the Kai 7000 series

Thanks for your input. I was not familiar with Kai scissors. I have returned the Olfa's.

 

[rick carpenter]

I can find MTC-22 nippers (made by Tsunoda) on Amzn...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GV2392/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If anyone has these, how have they held up and what are they rated to cut? If they rate good, I'll get a couple of them for my grandkids' toolboxes and a pair for me.

 

[Steve_P]

I can find MTC-22 nippers (made by Tsunoda) on Amzn...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GV2392/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If anyone has these, how have they held up and what are they rated to cut? If they rate good, I'll get a couple of them for my grandkids' toolboxes and a pair for me.

For flush cuts, I love the below Tsunodas. I have a similar Knipex, but like the Tsunoda. I use them almost exclusively for wire ties.

https://www.amazon.com/Tsunoda-KBN-150-Cable-Cutter-6-Inch/dp/B0756YR7XX/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[FigN⋅m]

I've bought many Japanese scissors over the years and the ones that have ended up staying on my bench are 170mm Kais. I've found Inexpensive SK-11s to be great for heavy duty tasks, and for comfort and precision nothing else I've found equal the Kai 7000 series.

Excellent choice!
I finally rationalized getting a pair and kick myself for not getting them sooner

 

[Jeff]

Now that the OLFA scissors aren't all their cracked up to be, which Japanese brands should I consider replacing? I don't like having inferior tools.

I currently have Olfa, Engineer, Vessel, Tsunoda, Merry, KTC, Ko-Ken, Nepros, and Lobster tools. What alternatives to these should I consider?

 

[Qualitytools]

Try looking at KAI as mentioned above

 

[Jeff]

Try looking at KAI as mentioned above

Yup, I just returned my latest OLFA order and went with Kai. Sadly, at those prices I won't be giving them away as Xmas presents. They better be good, my order was $400 to replace all my Olfa's.

 

[Reed Prince]

Kai scissors are favored by people who work with heavy fabrics.

 

[Meursault74]

I may have slipped into starting a Japanese Pliers Collection. I just purchased the Engineer Screw pliers, the rest I already had. Some may have been in the family going back decades.

I added another Japanese pliers. Curved long nose, slip joint.

 

[kitdoctor]

Send help:

As punishment for posting this, I think you should provide a list detailing all of these including manufacturer, description and part number.

Out of curiosity was this one order, from where?