Koken Reviews and Photos!
- Thread starter Globy
- Start date
Autoguy
Well-known member
Great tool but !!!! you won,t compare them with american tools like Snaps Proto Bonney....etc
They are better than Craftsman and Cinees taiwan....etc
They are better than Craftsman and Cinees taiwan....etc
Ya thats my point....
I thinks that Koken tools have a great quality/cost comparing with brands like Hazet, Stahlwille, Matco, Koken ofers quality at low costs.
Clear that comparing with Snap-on, snap-on is much better but it costs 3x more!!
I think that Koken is destined to those who don't work intensively hard and don't have deep pockets, because with Koken we can have a great tools that are not made in China or Taiwan,etc, and have a great tool at a low price, and that difference to snap-on,matco,etc.. I think It's not to big.
Please correct me If I'm wrong, note that I haven't Koken tools, just talking from what i've been reading.
I thinks that Koken tools have a great quality/cost comparing with brands like Hazet, Stahlwille, Matco, Koken ofers quality at low costs.
Clear that comparing with Snap-on, snap-on is much better but it costs 3x more!!
I think that Koken is destined to those who don't work intensively hard and don't have deep pockets, because with Koken we can have a great tools that are not made in China or Taiwan,etc, and have a great tool at a low price, and that difference to snap-on,matco,etc.. I think It's not to big.
Please correct me If I'm wrong, note that I haven't Koken tools, just talking from what i've been reading.
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why ?
I would put Koken tools on par with Snap-On and other tool truck brands in terms of quality and finish. I think Koken's best products are their sockets, hex/torx/triple square bits etc. , breaker bars and new speed handles.They just aren't full polished and quadruple chrome plated.
I'll post some of my pics later tonight. I worked in the early 90's with mechanics that had Koken sockets from the 70's and 80's and they held their tolerances just fine, definitely quality steel and forgings.
I'll post some of my pics later tonight. I worked in the early 90's with mechanics that had Koken sockets from the 70's and 80's and they held their tolerances just fine, definitely quality steel and forgings.
lauver
Well-known member
+1
I would agree that Snap on tools are very good and have a loyal following, but they are not "all that" or the "the last word in tools". There are many good brands out there (from many countries) that should be explored with an open mind.
I can certainly understand the interest in the dealer/OEM warranty for those who depend on their tools to make a living, but for the rest of us, probably the majority of us, the dealer/OEM warranty, is a non-issue for all practical purposes.
So, if this is going to be a KoKen thread, and the reviews are objective, I see no reason to start off with any assumptions about Kokens relative "goodness" vs. other brands/OEMS. Post up and let the chips fall where they will.
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I might be wrong, but I thing that Koken doesn't give corrosion treatment.
I read the process from http://www.koken-tool.co.jp/en/product/process1.html, and snap on process
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
What do you think the nickel and chrome plating is for?
I thought it was for strenghten,
,always learning
Here is a little bit more info about Koken. The founder actually lived in the US and worked for Ford and GM before he started his tool company ! http://www.koken.co.nz/
I'm in the process of replacing my old craftsman 12 pts with Koken 6 pts. Just ordered some 3/8" and 1/4" sockets. I like the "surface drive" design. Hopefully it'll make it easier to deal with worn nuts and bolts. Quality should be more than sufficient for my needs (home use). If I like them, I'm planning to rotate out all my old 12 pt sockets.
woody 73
Well-known member
Is there a good web-site to buy Koken tools ?
If you are in the USA www.levelchrome.com , talk to Alan.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
welcome aboard
oohhhhhhhhhhhh JK47 very,very sweeeeet
How Z-series behaves?
thanks
The Z-series ratchet is a 36 tooth, it has very little resistance when ratcheting. Reminds me of a well broken in Proto 5249, but with a much smaller head. The ratchet has a hard grip that has a very light rubber like grip to it. The Z-series sockets are very shallow, and the universal adapter is very compact. A nice example of modern design.
Thanks jk47,
"36 tooth, it has a very little resistance when ratching" It has or it seems?something has happened?
I don't know why Koken doesn't make any 45 tooth or more ratchet?
can you tell how much Z-series cost?
more pics and more reviews
Thanks jk47,
"36 tooth, it has a very little resistance when ratching" It has or it seems?something has happened?
I don't know why Koken doesn't make any 45 tooth or more ratchet?
can you tell how much Z-series cost?
more pics and more reviews
The ratchet has very little resistance when you engage the ratcheting mechanism. If it was a bicycle it would be called freewheeling. It is very smooth...
Koken does make a 45 tooth ratchet.
http://www.kokentool.jp/SHOP/KK3752N.html
http://masuyama-tool.com/blog/?p=5647
The Z-series set cost me $130 USD
Yes they has, but the head doesn't seems like a "heavy duty", like they have the 4750J for example.
You think it is possible compare the koken ratchet 4750J, to other like the new Bahco 8150-1/2 ( which looks like Snap-on sealed head), or Hazet , etcc??
Because when choosing ratchets I really don't know what matters
( I Know that there is a lot of threads, but I'd like to post here )
It is a little dificult when Koken has 36 or 45 teeth max, while others have more.
Anyone who has a koken ratchet, please review it
You think it is possible compare the koken ratchet 4750J, to other like the new Bahco 8150-1/2 ( which looks like Snap-on sealed head), or Hazet , etcc??
Because when choosing ratchets I really don't know what matters
( I Know that there is a lot of threads, but I'd like to post here )It is a little dificult when Koken has 36 or 45 teeth max, while others have more.
Anyone who has a koken ratchet, please review it
Yes they has, but the head doesn't seems like a "heavy duty", like they have the 4750J for example.
You think it is possible compare the koken ratchet 4750J, to other like the new Bahco 8150-1/2 ( which looks like Snap-on sealed head), or Hazet , etcc??
Because when choosing ratchets I really don't know what matters
It is a little dificult when Koken has 36 or 45 teeth max, while others have more.
Anyone who has a koken ratchet, please review it
From my experience most ratchets with more than 36 teeth have a larger head, almost taking away the advantage of having a smaller swing arc.
Will do, fedex just dropped them off yesterday. Anything in particular you want to see...or just like the feeling of
morning? Question for those that use these sockets, I guess it's normal that they don't fit the nut with a "tight fit". Any issues with these in actual use? I grabbed a 10mm and put it on my snowblower (metric) and there is probably twice as much rotation as my c'man 12 pts. I dug up a 6 pt impact (COO taiwan) that I forgot I had...same amount of play as the c'man.
Will do, fedex just dropped them off yesterday. Anything in particular you want to see...or just like the feeling of
Question for those that use these sockets, I guess it's normal that they don't fit the nut with a "tight fit". Any issues with these in actual use? I grabbed a 10mm and put it on my snowblower (metric) and there is probably twice as much rotation as my c'man 12 pts. I dug up a 6 pt impact (COO taiwan) that I forgot I had...same amount of play as the c'man.
because of the "surface drive" i guess
shampoop
Well-known member
Not snapons. Smallest head and 80 teeth.
My Koken Zeal , and KTC Nepros 3/8" drive ratchets are smaller than a Snap On F80 heads. Next time I have one for a comparison, I'll post pics.
shampoop
Well-known member
Wow, that would be great I've never seen any quality tools with a smaller head than a SO. How many teeth do they have?
They have 36 teeth. A F80 has more of a rectangular head where as the Zeal and Nepros are more of a teardrop/pear shape. A bit slimmer at the base of the head where the handle attaches.
superautobacs
Well-known member
Bingo! Just like the Metrinch-style profile.
RKA, I've noticed no problems with using the hand sockets, especially when combined with high-tooth count ratchets. I can picture a potential problem if you are typically using low-tooth count ratchets and you happen to be working in a very cramped area, where there's very little swing room to move the ratchet. That extra "slop" you get at the socket end could reduce your useable swing on the ratchet. In other words, it'll take more swings on the ratchet to remove that fastener. I think the primary purpose for using this type of socket is to remove marred fasteners--that's where they really shine.
JK47, Nice collection!!
The T60 and T70 are for Subaru applications?
Thanks! I'm thinking just like the Metrinch, these can be used with SAE hardware as long as you're careful to check the fitment. I have very limited SAE tools since my cars all use metric...but around the house SAE abounds. This might work out well! 
I was planning on getting a 2004-2006 forester XT this winter
good eye superautobacs 
It doesn't really go with my Harley, but I have company F-250 that does I thought that you with surface drive socket, would not notice difference using with low tooth ratchets, because Koken have 36 or 45 max.
And I was hoping that they will do job like socket 6pt or 12pt.
Would you post some photos?
superautobacs
Well-known member
Thanks! I'm thinking just like the Metrinch, these can be used with SAE hardware as long as you're careful to check the fitment. I have very limited SAE tools since my cars all use metric...but around the house SAE abounds. This might work out well!
Unfortunately you can't treat them like the Metrinch. Metrinch's profile is designed to be used on both SAE and metric fasteners, hence there's inherently going to be more slop. At a glance, the profiles look the same, but there are definite differences. Koken fits fasteners with less slop than a Metrinch socket/wrench does in general. I say generally, because it'll depend on what size of fastener you're using with a Metrinch socket/wrench (a 1/2" or a 13mm (M12) head). Hope that makes sense.
I was planning on getting a 2004-2006 forester XT this winter
Ahh, that's why the abundance of standard sockets.
Where do you purchase your Ko-ken stuff from?
Well, you may not notice too much of a difference between a low/high toothed ratchet in a stubby, but you'll notice a difference the longer the ratchet becomes.
They'll still do the job of a 6pt/12pt socket; I never said that they won't.
