Tools of Japan

knobby · Dec 25, 2015

Davefr said:
Fujikawa Yasaku oire-nomi:

Nice

superautobacs · Dec 25, 2015

redvalkyrie said:
Maybe you guys can help me out? I'm looking for some Japanese made larger sized flex head ratcheting wrenches. 24mm, 27mm, 32mm. I've never needed one that large before but yesterday I did--and of course, did not have it. What would have been a ten minute job turned into two hours as I couldn't get not flex head wrench nor a ratchet and socket into the space available.

Thanks
JP

You will not find any ratcheting wrenches that are made in Japan.

Van Steele said:
Anex mini impact driver and bits, and MTC pliers. Not the smoothest I must say.

Sorry to hear that. I have a pair of those spring-loaded MTC-22 myself and they have worked smoothly from first use. Pretty happy when considering the low price when compared with other well known brands (namely, European)

Got a couple things recently.

I've found the 3/8 version handy from my years of use, so I decided to get this Vessel 1/2 drive wobble driver on sale:

Another purchase based on good user experience....the Iwasaki, half-round mill file. An good example of fine craftsmanship, which delivers amazing results:

The concave shape allows for good stroke/pressure control:

Jarhead0408 · Dec 26, 2015

Wow...Both the wobble driver and the file look amazing. You've got to hand it to the Japanese...They don't mind being innovative. Though I do wonder, is it so much that they are inovative? Or that they are just making their tools as they should be made...intuitive?

SantaAna12 · Dec 26, 2015

Two nice additions Superautobacs!

Champo · Dec 26, 2015

Very nice stuff in this thread, pity a lot of the good tools are so hard/expensive to get to Australia

Can anyone recommend a good pair of industrial snips/shears? I know that fujiya and marvel make some but there may be a gem I've missed.

superautobacs · Dec 27, 2015

BTW, happy holidays to the followers of ToJ thread :thumbup:

Champo,

It is a pity that the major Japanese firms don't spend a lot of effort/budget into generating more overseas presence.

From "ARS": model 526H

Or this kind of shear?

My Tesky-C shears:

Or compound action shear?

From "Satto" brand: model T110

Ford Farmer · Dec 30, 2015

Well, another day in Narita is almost over and I was nearly skunked on my tool outing. A late flight and the always standing dinner plans here in town left me with too little time to find the stores superautobac recommended a while back. I did find another home center near by but the pickings were slim tool wise...
Besides some parts to make an adapter fitting for my US bbq to work with HKG LPG tanks, all I found was the stubbiest stubby I've ever seen. As soon as I saw it I instantly recalled at least 3 or 4 times where my other stubbies were too big. So I'm pretty happy about finding it.

dede2897234 · Dec 30, 2015

Ford Farmer said:
Well, another day in Narita is almost over and I was nearly skunked on my tool outing. A late flight and the always standing dinner plans here in town left me with too little time to find the stores superautobac recommended a while back. I did find another home center near by but the pickings were slim tool wise...
Besides some parts to make an adapter fitting for my US bbq to work with HKG LPG tanks, all I found was the stubbiest stubby I've ever seen. As soon as I saw it I instantly recalled at least 3 or 4 times where my other stubbies were too big. So I'm pretty happy about finding it.

Ford Farmer,

You purchased a very nice Anex stubby driver! I own 2 of the Anex model 62 drivers (with the stubby bits). If you would like to read about the eBay dealer where I purchased them (which currently stocks the model 62 driver), click here: LINK.

By the way, I looked at the packaging of the Anex model 60. From the screwdriver tip to the back of the handle, it is 33mm deep. The same measurement for the Anex model 62 is 29mm.

Dave

dutchgray · Dec 30, 2015

I have the Engineer stubby drivers that are like the Anex ones, but they are deeper at 42mm verses 33. Might have to get the Anex ones as well.

mercucho · Dec 31, 2015

Engineer Twin Wrech Driver:

superautobacs · Dec 31, 2015

Kanzawa "PeLa" craft scraper:

mercucho · Jan 15, 2016

Soft Touch Plier IPS model WH-250 complement the model WL-270S.

dutchgray · Jan 16, 2016

My first order from Frank, a few nice tools
View media item 57028Top wrenches, Koken ratchet and sliding bar and the Asahi stubby wrenches.

Peeb · Jan 17, 2016

Peeb · Jan 17, 2016

Peeb · Jan 17, 2016

redvalkyrie · Jan 21, 2016

I have few different Japan made tools.

In the back my most often used wrenches--Nepros extra long box ends 12-14, 14-17, 17-19. I also have the Nepros six point box ends back there too.

A mix of ratchets but you can see the extra long Nepros 1/2" and the 3/8" plus some 1/4" drivers.

That's a blue Lobster rivet tool.

Various Vessel, Anex, and Sun Flag screwdrivers with a Nepros 3/8" breaker bar among PB Swiss and Toptul items.

dutchgray · Jan 23, 2016

An order from Rakuten came in this week
View media item 57288Just don't ask how much it cost to get it, and this lot,
View media item 57287Eight TLLB-S9N ridiculously long hex keys
Top Stubby adjustable and the ratchet.

losvre · Jan 23, 2016

Wow,

What amazing tools!!!

Is it easy to buy from Rakuten?

dutchgray · Jan 23, 2016

losvre said:
Wow,

What amazing tools!!!

Is it easy to buy from Rakuten?

It is from Rakuten Global, I already had an account though from years back when they bought out Play.com over here, had to add some info before I could shop internationally.
You do need to translate the emails you get from individual retailers on there though usually.

losvre · Jan 24, 2016

dutchgray said:
It is from Rakuten Global, I already had an account though from years back when they bought out Play.com over here, had to add some info before I could shop internationally.
You do need to translate the emails you get from individual retailers on there though usually.

Thanks!!!

The Toolest Guy · Jan 24, 2016

Just received some Minimax wrenches. They were an Australian company that designed tools and had them made in Japan. All the wrenches are stamped JAPAN. As far as I know they no longer exist as the old company. But I believe they were bought and there is a website which seems to suggest that the name is re-emerging.
http://minimax-precision-tools.myshopify.com/password

I bought a 16 piece combination set from 8mm-23mm, a 6 piece double open end set from 1/4" - 1", and a 4 piece double box end set from 14mm-22mm (no 21mm).

You can see the full set of pictures here. http://s1065.photobucket.com/user/lukepatrickkelly/library/Minimax Spanners

mercucho · Jan 27, 2016

Tohnichi Torque Driver, range 20-120 cNm.

DSM_PWR · Feb 3, 2016

My first Japanese hand tools.. with more on the way. :beer:

IMG_9434cropResize_zps1zsg7xie.jpg~original

RRmech · Feb 3, 2016

I have Fuller/Japan metric wrenches and socket sets, made by KTC.
VERY good quality, in my humble opinion.

Steve

RXtacy · Feb 3, 2016

DSM_PWR said:
My first Japanese hand tools.. with more on the way.

Very nice! Are those nut grip sockets part of the zeal line now?

DSM_PWR · Feb 3, 2016

RXtacy said:
Very nice! Are those nut grip sockets part of the zeal line now?

No, still a different line from Ko-ken. I just bought a Z-EAL socket rail to put them on.

honcho · Feb 3, 2016

Today's Made in Japan find on clearance at Sears

Went to Sears to try to get a warranty replacement for a cracked 21mm socket but they didn't have it in stock. I hadn't been in Sears in ages and figured I would wander the aisles to see if anything was worth buying. Found the clearance items and these Ball Grip Screwdrivers caught my eye. Only $2.47 each. The red handle came with a reversible bit with 1/8" and 1/4" tips. The blue one came with a phillips reversible claiming a dual #1/#3 on one end and #2 on the other end. The profile of the dual #1/#3 end is interesting.

Any idea on which company in Japan made these items?

DSM_PWR · Feb 3, 2016

Vessel.

honcho · Feb 3, 2016

DSM_PWR said:
Vessel.

I knew one of you experts would have the answer. Kind of surprising that they're already on clearance since they apparently were only introduced in spring 2015. the ToolGuyd site had a writeup and much discussion about them.

http://toolguyd.com/craftsman-ball-grip-screwdrivers/

Mr. Tool · Feb 3, 2016

Has anyone purchased one of these cross handle wheel torque wrench or know of someone else who has?

http://www.frankstools.com/kuktwhcrhato.html

I would like to hear your thoughts, reviews, opinions and or comments on this particular torque wrench? :headscrat

Thanks.

EDIT: Update, already purchased one of these!

Qualitytools · Feb 3, 2016

Mr. Tool said:
Has anyone purchased one of these cross handle wheel torque wrench or know of someone else who has?

http://www.frankstools.com/kuktwhcrhato.html

I would like to hear your thoughts, reviews, opinions and or comments on this particular torque wrench?

Thanks.

Very interesting, I did not know they existed. Wonder what their % of error is or if they come with different settings besides what's listed on Franks site.

garthg · Feb 4, 2016

I also recognized that ball screwdriver as the Vessel. Very nice quality and price. Since I went to Japan in November 2014, I now recognize "Made in Japan" as a good thing.

On a side note, I'm very tired of hearing about guys going into Sears for the sole purpose of "warrantying" some broken, abused tool for a new one. Sears is now going into tool history, and that's unfortunate. Sears used to sell some decent, Made In Japan tools, including the Craftsman vises that show up on ebay. That socket was probably cracked only because a chrome 21mm socket (i.e. lug nut size) was incorrectly used as an impact socket. That's tool abuse. I still have all of my Craftsman original "Mechanic's Tool Kit" I got in 1975 when I was 16 and not a single tool has ever broken. I'm still using the Craftsman/Western Forge screwdrivers today.

Ms6peters · Feb 4, 2016

mercucho said:
Tohnichi Torque Driver, range 20-120 cNm.

Mercucho, where did you purchase this ?

mercucho · Feb 5, 2016

Ms6peters said:
Mercucho, where did you purchase this ?

I bought on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W9C3LS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

DSM_PWR · Feb 10, 2016

Ko-ken Z-EAL Torx Bit Socket set arrived yesterday!

IMG_9488cropampsize_zpsqswn83ai.jpg~original

DSM_PWR · Feb 10, 2016

forgot to add this little guy too. Z-EAL 3/8" female to 1/4" male extension adapter.

yowzer · Feb 10, 2016

DSM_PWR said:
forgot to add this little guy too. Z-EAL 3/8" female to 1/4" male extension adapter.

I like that. It'd go well with 1/4 nut grip sockets when I don't want to keep track of a second ratchet. Where'd you pick it up at? (Or I could break down and get the 3/8 nut grips, but I like the smaller ones for tight spaces).

DSM_PWR · Feb 11, 2016

yowzer said:
I like that. It'd go well with 1/4 nut grip sockets when I don't want to keep track of a second ratchet. Where'd you pick it up at? (Or I could break down and get the 3/8 nut grips, but I like the smaller ones for tight spaces).

I'm with you man.. I only have the 1/4" nut grip socket set as it is perfect for tight spaces and retaining fasteners. Anyway, I got this extension from i-Tools on Rakuten.

Ko-ken Z-EAL 3" Extension Adapter (3/8" to 1/4")

gbh · Feb 14, 2016

Pic from a tool store I found in Japan today.
Nepros.

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