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Tools of Japan

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Frankstools

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Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
239
Skin said:
Frank, any word on the new Nepros ratchets? Saw a release pdf back at the start of the year but the ratchets seem nearly non-existent. Its the new long flex (NBR390FL) and stubby flex (NBR390FS).
Click to expand...

The 1/2dr. line will be released early 2016..
 
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Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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Boston
Not 1/2, those are model numbers for long flex 3/8 and a stubby flex 3/8. Guessing the release time is still the same though.
 
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superautobacs

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Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
3,997
Location
Vancouver, BC
Those particular models have been out since February of this year.

imgrc0063440825.gif




The latest is a super stubby, multi-purpose 3/8 that came out in June. It's to commemorate Nepros' 20th year since inception.

ehimemachine_ntbr390h20th_4
 
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BK13

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Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
2,692
Location
PDX, OR
Is there any way to get my grubby hands on a Koken printed catalog? Preferably in English? The only on-line catalog I can find is a 2013 version?
 
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Dave455

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Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,831
Location
Sussex, England
mrborohachi said:
my father came back from Taiwan and he brought me back this Pentel mechanical pencil. The tube retracts along with the wear of the lead. It;s really hard to explain the new mechanism.

61kZz2C5zbL._SL1000_.jpg



http://pentel-orenz.com/
Click to expand...

Nothing new I'm afraid - they were offering models with sliding sleeves as far back as the 1980's!

In fact Rotring, in the same era, offerred models with fixed sleeves, sliding sleeves for freehand drawing or writing, and half sliding sleeves for use with stencils!
 
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tupms1018

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2013
Messages
11
Location
Mississippi
Ko-ken released the English version of the August 2015 catalog this week. I'm currently attempting to download (slow). Nice to have the update... There are several new articles on the Japanese website that are not available in English yet (1/2" z-eal etc).

http://www.koken-tool.co.jp/en/support.html#catalog

Edit:

ENGLISH VERSION IS ACTUALLY MORE CURRENT THAN THE JAPANESE VERSION.

It does include the new 1/2" Z-eal line. The layout of the two catalogs is not identical.
 
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introvertedtraveler

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
18
superautobacs said:
To compliment my lone 12mm that I got many years ago....got these. These are unique in that it's a 12/6pt double box:

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15729708742" title="J2014 Kowa by autobacs, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7474/15729708742_be863b3497_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="J2014 Kowa"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15729716652" title="J2014 Kowa 3 by autobacs, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15729716652_4b3dc49ff1_b.jpg" width="1024" height="509" alt="J2014 Kowa 3"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15543310240" title="J2014 Kowa 2 by autobacs, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7578/15543310240_244ea72c52_b.jpg" width="1024" height="701" alt="J2014 Kowa 2"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15543306450" title="J2014 Kowa4 by autobacs, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15543306450_59283847de_b.jpg" width="1024" height="776" alt="J2014 Kowa4"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15704442326" title="J2014 Kowa5 by autobacs, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15704442326_a1a95256bc_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="J2014 Kowa5"></a>
Click to expand...


can you still buy these?
 
N

Negen

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Joined
Jul 15, 2015
Messages
1,909
Location
Seatltle WA
tupms1018 said:
Ko-ken released the English version of the August 2015 catalog this week. I'm currently attempting to download (slow). Nice to have the update... There are several new articles on the Japanese website that are not available in English yet (1/2" z-eal etc).

http://www.koken-tool.co.jp/en/support.html#catalog

Edit:

ENGLISH VERSION IS ACTUALLY MORE CURRENT THAN THE JAPANESE VERSION.

It does include the new 1/2" Z-eal line. The layout of the two catalogs is not identical.
Click to expand...

The Japanese version that was mailed to me in August of the zeal line had the 1/2" zeal as well as the 3/8th mid depth zeal. I think this is equally as current.
 
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ImportTuner

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Jan 9, 2007
Messages
5,855
Location
SF Bay Area
Negen said:
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/4991644219339/

$73 here. iTools is where I have bought all my koken tools I have had success with each order and delivery to USA within 1 weeks time frame.
Click to expand...

Has anybody been able to order from global.rakuten.com lately for Japanese tools or anything at all. The add to cart icon is greyed out for me and I've tried multiple browsers (IE 11, Chrome, Mozilla), different computers and no luck.
 
R

rice rocket

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Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
3,175
Is there much a price difference ordering off Rakuten than from ordering from Frankstools or Levelchrome?
 
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Negen

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Jul 15, 2015
Messages
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Location
Seatltle WA
ImportTuner said:
Has anybody been able to order from global.rakuten.com lately for Japanese tools or anything at all. The add to cart icon is greyed out for me and I've tried multiple browsers (IE 11, Chrome, Mozilla), different computers and no luck.
Click to expand...

Add cart works for me.
 
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dede2897234

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Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
1,716
Location
Northern, Ohio
rice rocket said:
Is there much a price difference ordering off Rakuten than from ordering from Frankstools or Levelchrome?
Click to expand...


rice rocket,

There is a big price difference between ordering from Rakuten than ordering from Frankstools.

For instance, here are a couple retailers that sell the complete Ko-ken RS3400MZ set:

- Frankstools

- i-Tools on Rakuten

i-Tools on Rakuten is $45 cheaper (without shipping) than Frankstools. Frankstools has the set in stock. Unfortunately, i-Tools on Rakuten is sold out of that Ko-ken set.

GJ member "RXtacy" received his Ko-ken shipment from i-Tools on Rakuten and posted his pictures here (post# 1153): LINK.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is another price comparison between Frankstools and a different Rakuten reseller that sells the complete Ko-ken RS3400MZ set:

- Frankstools

- Mutsuura on Rakuten

Mutsuura on Rakuten is about $37 cheaper (without shipping) than Frankstools. Frankstools has the set in stock. You will have to contact Mutsuura on Rakuten to find out if they have the Ko-ken set in stock.


Dave
 
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C

cbracer

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Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
643
Location
Costa Mesa, CA
rice rocket said:
Is there much a price difference ordering off Rakuten than from ordering from Frankstools or Levelchrome?
Click to expand...

On most items yes, they can be 15-20% cheaper and sometimes more. But you have to check because sometimes the most common items might not be much difference. You do have to figure in shipping but even with that it's often cheaper because you'll have shipping and maybe tax with the others. Shipping time is about a week on all of the orders I've done. Keep it under $300 and you likely won't get hit with duty taxes.
 
A

AA/FC

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Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
I found this Japanese adjustable wrench a while back. Is this a decent wrench, or just a just a "cheapie"?

attachment.php


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BK13

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Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
2,692
Location
PDX, OR
superautobacs said:
Ko-ken's Japanese website included the 1/2" Zeal lineup in this pamphlet from early August:

http://www.koken-tool.co.jp/imgs/panflets/KOKEN201508_ZEAL4.pdf
imgrc0064418108.jpg
Click to expand...

Strangely, the one thing I saw that I wanted (at a cursory glance) was the 1/2" universal joint... and I can't remember the last time I used a universal...

I'm sure I'll find something I can't live without...

Question for those of you who have experience with the Z-EAL stuff: where would you start? 1/4"? 3/8"? I do find myself using more 1/4" drive stuff lately, but probably because it's handier to get to...
 
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RXtacy

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Joined
Mar 26, 2015
Messages
292
Location
Rockville, MD
BK13 said:
Question for those of you who have experience with the Z-EAL stuff: where would you start? 1/4"? 3/8"? I do find myself using more 1/4" drive stuff lately, but probably because it's handier to get to...
Click to expand...

I would say it really depends on what you use more, and what size fasteners you deal with.

1/4 set goes from 4 - 14 mm with the exception of 9mm.
3/8 set goes from 7 - 19 mm again without 9mm.

I don't know if it matters but the 1/4" set comes on a 200mm rail, while the 3/8" set comes on a 300mm rail.

Or you could just get both :thumbup:
 
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winlinmac

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Aug 17, 2015
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Location
USA
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Negen

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Joined
Jul 15, 2015
Messages
1,909
Location
Seatltle WA
winlinmac said:
Not sure if this was mentioned, but for $2.50 each, not bad
Craftsman Made in Japan Ball Grip Screwdrivers
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-ball...0050830x000545&aff=Y&PID=1225267&AID=11034749
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-ball...0050830x000545&aff=Y&PID=1225267&AID=11034749
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-ball...0050830x000545&aff=Y&PID=1225267&AID=11034749
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-ball...0050830x000545&aff=Y&PID=1225267&AID=11034749
Click to expand...


Look like Vessel screwdrivers re-branded

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VESSEL-PROK...ver-set-No-220W-3-Made-in-JAPAN-/161794098510
 
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Negen

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Joined
Jul 15, 2015
Messages
1,909
Location
Seatltle WA
BK13 said:
Strangely, the one thing I saw that I wanted (at a cursory glance) was the 1/2" universal joint... and I can't remember the last time I used a universal...

I'm sure I'll find something I can't live without...

Question for those of you who have experience with the Z-EAL stuff: where would you start? 1/4"? 3/8"? I do find myself using more 1/4" drive stuff lately, but probably because it's handier to get to...
Click to expand...

Z-eal drops down to 5mm in 3/8th drive I Been reaching for it more than my 1/4 drive. I think mainly because it gives me a reason to use the zeal. But 1/4 drive z-eal will be in my mail soon enough. Just have to be nice to the wife for a while.
 
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BK13

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Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
2,692
Location
PDX, OR
Negen said:
Z-eal drops down to 5mm in 3/8th drive I Been reaching for it more than my 1/4 drive. I think mainly because it gives me a reason to use the zeal. But 1/4 drive z-eal will be in my mail soon enough. Just have to be nice to the wife for a while.
Click to expand...


Thanks! I'm sure either will be a joy to use.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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