I have purchased a good amount of Engineer pliers and Koken sockets, extensions etc. from various vendors in Japan. I have yet to be disappointed with the quality of any tool that I have received. I am sure that the files will not disappoint.
Tools of Japan
- Thread starter Frankstools
- Start date
I have purchased a good amount of Engineer pliers and Koken sockets, extensions etc. from various vendors in Japan. I have yet to be disappointed with the quality of any tool that I have received. I am sure that the files will not disappoint.
Please also post after you have used them and how they would compare with the proper old world files like Sanvik/Oberg from Sweden, Vallorbe SWISS, Old Nicholson made in USA or English made STUBS.
THANK YOU!
superautobacs
Well-known member
My instinct from seeing those Engineer files is that it must be made by Tsubosan. Here's a look my Tsubosan's...note the style of grip:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15451764798/in/photolist-pxqkkU-pxnDsc-qiqaam-qiwqBk-qzY8g6-dezP4R" title="J2014 Tsubosan"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15451764798_ce23974cfe_b.jpg" width="1024" height="588" alt="J2014 Tsubosan"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The surface coating is also a specialty that they've offered for some years now. They can apply the coating in various colours. They offer theirs in silver colour (Bright-900 series).
Engineer's is well packaged. Fancy looking for sure.
edit:
A bit more information about Tsubosan....
Just one of the many file makers based in Hiroshima, Japan.
Been around making files for over 80 years.
They have over a 1000 products.
They hover around 50% of Japanese market share.
They are good at offering innovation to an otherwise mundane segment of the tool industry.
They are the most famous name in Japan, and perhaps the most well known abroad.
website: http://www.tsubosan.co.jp/index.html
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/15451764798/in/photolist-pxqkkU-pxnDsc-qiqaam-qiwqBk-qzY8g6-dezP4R" title="J2014 Tsubosan"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15451764798_ce23974cfe_b.jpg" width="1024" height="588" alt="J2014 Tsubosan"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The surface coating is also a specialty that they've offered for some years now. They can apply the coating in various colours. They offer theirs in silver colour (Bright-900 series).
Engineer's is well packaged. Fancy looking for sure.
edit:
A bit more information about Tsubosan....
Just one of the many file makers based in Hiroshima, Japan.
Been around making files for over 80 years.
They have over a 1000 products.
They hover around 50% of Japanese market share.
They are good at offering innovation to an otherwise mundane segment of the tool industry.
They are the most famous name in Japan, and perhaps the most well known abroad.
website: http://www.tsubosan.co.jp/index.html
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nbpt100
Well-known member
What does "Tang-Thru" mean? anyone?
paulsomlo
Well-known member
If you're referring to the screwdriver set above, it refers to the blade extending all the way through the handle to the end.
superautobacs
Well-known member
Made a video for the latest Ko-ken items:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKM_s_6m6oQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKM_s_6m6oQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
hautpot
Well-known member
nice koken
dutchgray
Well-known member
24 according to the catalogue.
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
That's a nice looking set. Would you mind sharing where you got them? I see them on Rakuten but it won't provide a shipping estimate (never used Rakuten before).
Kasal
Well-known member
Here is my new set of screwdrivers Vessel Woody...
Hi, you could say where you bought them and the price.
I looked at them a couple of times but the price was over € 160.
I drool over just looking at them.
A greeting.
Are you referring to the ratchets or Koken in general? any example? thanks
Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk
dutchgray
Well-known member
Koken ratchets are actually really nice, though of the standard ones I only have a 3/4" and the Ferret ratchet, they are probably not the best suited to modern automotive work being such low tooth count, but they are really smooth with really low back drag and are just nice to use. I have a few of the Zeal ratchets which are tiny but still only 36 tooth and those are really some of the nicest ratchets I have.
For what I do they are fine and I will get some more standard ratchets in time, problem is I already have more than I really need and there is other things I could do with.
For what I do they are fine and I will get some more standard ratchets in time, problem is I already have more than I really need and there is other things I could do with.
As I said, I bought them in Rakuten, specifically in this website: https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/mutsuura/item/10495967/?l-id=rgm_item_en_rvp_widget
Mikhail
Well-known member
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6834603&postcount=2487
By the way, they have raised the price.
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Maybe only 24t count but I love my Ko-ken ratchets. The 3/8" flex is my go to in that drive size. beautiful smooth action. I have other, higher tooth count ratchets in 3/8", but I always reach for the Koken first. Very rarely do I need to reach for anything else
I am opposite... I never reach for them... my dual 80s work great... I have about 10 or so koken... I think they are great and top notch, just don't grab them for some reason... but I do like the ratchet adapters, they are small and nice.
Koken = way less back drag and much smoother than my dual 80's. Also the knurled handles are so much better than the S-O handles. Again, IMO...
superautobacs
Well-known member
Have a look at ARS as they might have something you're looking for: http://arscorporation.jp/product/list.html?id=13
bcradio
Well-known member
How you liking the Tone wrenches?
superautobacs
Well-known member
Ko-ken has definitely gone against the grain, and the mainstream. Since the 2000's, with the majority of manufacturers on a race/competition to produce high-tooth count ratchets, one would think Ko-ken would've produced their own, fine-tooth pear head ratchet, especially with the introduction of their Zeal lineup, but NO, they decided to still stick with a coarse-tooth ratchet.
What they did do with the Zeal series ratchets is that they decided to make their first floating, single pawl mechanism based on Snap-on's 36-tooth mechanism. One of their key requirements was to maintain the low resistance backdrag that users have come to favour from their orthodox mechanism (based on Proto's design). To do so, they modified the standard 36-tooth floating pawl mechanism so that it still operated with the same backdrag resistance as their Proto type mechanism.
This illustrates the torque figure between Zeal's mechanism (1.9 cNm), against their standard line (1.9 cNm), and contrasts it against the 36-tooth, single-pawl mechanism from two competitors (6.5 cNm and 8.5 cNm).
Ko-ken is clearly passionate about producing rachets that perform with low resistance backdrag. In that category alone, I don't think any other ratchet manufacturer currently produces a mechanism as smooth as Ko-ken's.
Imo, Ko-ken takes ratcheting feel much more seriously than the mainstream push for the highest tooth count.
I'm not saying they are entirely right, but I certainly respect their decision to stick to their core philosophy/principle, despite the industry trending on fine-tooth ratchets. They aren't jumping on the bandwagon.
.....at least not yet
Latest upload:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iquhtyC68c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
What they did do with the Zeal series ratchets is that they decided to make their first floating, single pawl mechanism based on Snap-on's 36-tooth mechanism. One of their key requirements was to maintain the low resistance backdrag that users have come to favour from their orthodox mechanism (based on Proto's design). To do so, they modified the standard 36-tooth floating pawl mechanism so that it still operated with the same backdrag resistance as their Proto type mechanism.
This illustrates the torque figure between Zeal's mechanism (1.9 cNm), against their standard line (1.9 cNm), and contrasts it against the 36-tooth, single-pawl mechanism from two competitors (6.5 cNm and 8.5 cNm).
Ko-ken is clearly passionate about producing rachets that perform with low resistance backdrag. In that category alone, I don't think any other ratchet manufacturer currently produces a mechanism as smooth as Ko-ken's.
Imo, Ko-ken takes ratcheting feel much more seriously than the mainstream push for the highest tooth count.
I'm not saying they are entirely right, but I certainly respect their decision to stick to their core philosophy/principle, despite the industry trending on fine-tooth ratchets. They aren't jumping on the bandwagon.
.....at least not yet
Latest upload:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iquhtyC68c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Mikhail
Well-known member
I just got them on Tuesday evening, haven't had chance to used them yet. But they definitely seems nicer than my box end wrench from Costco
paulsomlo
Well-known member
Wondering who you bought the Tone wrenches from, and where they're made?
Mikhail
Well-known member
I got them from amazon.jp. Also you can get them
from rakuten global. They are made in Japan
Attachments
Ko-ken has definitely gone against the grain, and the mainstream. Since the 2000's, with the majority of manufacturers on a race/competition to produce high-tooth count ratchets, one would think Ko-ken would've produced their own, fine-tooth pear head ratchet, especially with the introduction of their Zeal lineup, but NO, they decided to still stick with a coarse-tooth ratchet.
What they did do with the Zeal series ratchets is that they decided to make their first floating, single pawl mechanism based on Snap-on's 36-tooth mechanism. One of their key requirements was to maintain the low resistance backdrag that users have come to favour from their orthodox mechanism (based on Proto's design). To do so, they modified the standard 36-tooth floating pawl mechanism so that it still operated with the same backdrag resistance as their Proto type mechanism.
This illustrates the torque figure between Zeal's mechanism (1.9 cNm), against their standard line (1.9 cNm), and contrasts it against the 36-tooth, single-pawl mechanism from two competitors (6.5 cNm and 8.5 cNm).
Ko-ken is clearly passionate about producing rachets that perform with low resistance backdrag. In that category alone, I don't think any other ratchet manufacturer currently produces a mechanism as smooth as Ko-ken's.
Imo, Ko-ken takes ratcheting feel much more seriously than the mainstream push for the highest tooth count.
I'm not saying they are entirely right, but I certainly respect their decision to stick to their core philosophy/principle, despite the industry trending on fine-tooth ratchets. They aren't jumping on the bandwagon.
.....at least not yet
I don't have any Koken ratchets to compare however, I own the Gedore 1/4 with 40t and 1/2 ratchets with 60t and it seems to have zero backdrag as well.
I have the 3/8 Stahlwille 80t which is also very smooth with little backdrag but feels more precise/ no play similar to Facom round head which I also have in 1/4 and 3/8.
Reading my post I may have to buy a Koken to compare[emoji6]
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paulsomlo
Well-known member
Thank you, Mikhail - I ask because I just bought these from Franks Tools, but KTC doesn't appear to make an 11mm in the same extra long pattern, and 11mm fasteners are common on my '96 BMW.
I bought the set of three, 8x10, 12x14, 17x19, and filled in with a 13x15.
I recently changed a belt on an Acura TSX. Prior, I just couldn't understand why anyone would need a dedicated serpentine belt tool. I'm embarrassed to say how long that belt change took. Although these are not as fit for the purpose as the serpentine belt tool, I'll get more utility out of them, and if I need more leverage for a belt tensioner, I can easily get a pipe over the double box end.
Attachments
superautobacs
Well-known member
I wouldn't say most. Just a small number of Tone tools are sourced from Taiwan (Hi-Five) ie. their "new generation" fine-tooth ratchets, bit ratchets, ratcheting screwdrivers, and ratcheting wrenches. They have some Facom tools, LockJaw locking pliers, some of their electronic torque wrenches are sourced from Eclatorq. But they have hundreds of other tools they actually produce.
Here's the company promo video in English:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9i7SfuC3__s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Here's the company promo video in English:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9i7SfuC3__s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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The extra long keys of Tone are made in Japan and they do have the measures that you are interested in: https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/mutsuura/item/10007121/
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
I missed that in the first post, thank you for clarifying and thank you for posting such a good find - I wouldn't have known to look for a set like that without this forum.
I ordered a set through rakuten as a Christmas gift for my BIL but the shipping came in at $61 -ouch - that pushes the set a little over my budget and to around $125 to PA. I think I am going to cancel the order and look for a wera master set.
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Interesting video. Thanks for sharing.
redvalkyrie
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2006
- Messages
- 423
What Tone does produce in Japan they produce to a high standard. Their grip ring style sockets are really nice. I also some odds and ends for them and all are top notch. You can even email Tone directly and get a response...in very very good English.