Tools of Japan

[AceofSpad3s]

My main draw to the vessels are the ball ends, I prefer my drivers to have non proprietary bits too since hate to lose one and can't replace it easily. I think I might pick up that facom and get myself a 6" impact extension and use it in one of the craftsman vessel handles.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E55DL4I/?tag=atomicindus08-20
This one seems a bit different than the craftsmans, is that a metal collar the bit goes into? The craftsman ones is solid plastic, which I why I wanted a dedicated fixed shank one, but if that is metal I think one of those would be good for what I'm looking for.

Those vessel impact screwdrivers look interesting too, I might try getting a old UJM so those look like it'll be handy. Surprised at the selection of the vessel stuff on regular amazon, sure beats google translating pages.

 

[outdated]

Last of my recent tool splurge

Well, not the last, but the last Japanese... Koken 157H-4, 5 & 6 hex tee-bars.

I have had a set of Motion Pro (made in Taiwan I think) tee bars in 8 thru 14mm for quite some time but they've been in their pouch in a drawer of my box and I never seemed to reach for them.
Recently they made it out and onto a couple of pegs on my newly established pegboard over the bench. Now I find I use them quite a lot and really like them, so I figured on getting some inhex ones as well and figured Koken would be a good choice.
When I was looking online I sort of recognised they looked a bit more lightweight than the Motion Pro, but when they arrived I saw they were much more lightweight - longer and more slender. Quality is still excellent, but they are not really stiff enough to break a really tight screw free, nor do they have sufficient weight/inertia to spin things in or out with a flick of the wrist.
So a bit different to what I was expecting, but I'm already thinking of things that their long length and very slim shank will be great for, such as the typical carb clamps buried deep in a multi-cylinder bike engine, for example. Hard to reach stuff that needs to be tighter than a screwdriver handle type tool (eg Bondhus balldriver), but not "seeing stars" tight.

View media item 84035
Nice markings:
View media item 84036
Sizes are also stamped (must be rolled, as the diameter is so small?) into the top and bottom of the handle:
View media item 84037
Nicely formed hex ends as you'd expect. Not hex-plus, but once again they do not seem to be built for heavy use:
View media item 84038
Here is a comparison with the Motion Pro, 6mm Koken with 13mm M-P (both typical M8 sizing) and 5mm Koken with 10mm M-P (typical M6). The difference in geometry and thus intended use is quite significant:
View media item 84039

 

[M6erfan]

Interesting @outdated, thanks for the comparo

 

[tanukiboy]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E55DL4I/?tag=atomicindus08-20
This one seems a bit different than the craftsmans, is that a metal collar the bit goes into?

According to the reviews at Amazon Japan, the collar is metal.

 

[Negen]

Last of my recent tool splurge

Well, not the last, but the last Japanese... Koken 157H-4, 5 & 6 hex tee-bars.

I have had a set of Motion Pro (made in Taiwan I think) tee bars in 8 thru 14mm for quite some time but they've been in their pouch in a drawer of my box and I never seemed to reach for them.
Recently they made it out and onto a couple of pegs on my newly established pegboard over the bench. Now I find I use them quite a lot and really like them, so I figured on getting some inhex ones as well and figured Koken would be a good choice.
When I was looking online I sort of recognised they looked a bit more lightweight than the Motion Pro, but when they arrived I saw they were much more lightweight - longer and more slender. Quality is still excellent, but they are not really stiff enough to break a really tight screw free, nor do they have sufficient weight/inertia to spin things in or out with a flick of the wrist.
So a bit different to what I was expecting, but I'm already thinking of things that their long length and very slim shank will be great for, such as the typical carb clamps buried deep in a multi-cylinder bike engine, for example. Hard to reach stuff that needs to be tighter than a screwdriver handle type tool (eg Bondhus balldriver), but not "seeing stars" tight.

View media item 84035
Nice markings:
View media item 84036
Sizes are also stamped (must be rolled, as the diameter is so small?) into the top and bottom of the handle:
View media item 84037
Nicely formed hex ends as you'd expect. Not hex-plus, but once again they do not seem to be built for heavy use:
View media item 84038
Here is a comparison with the Motion Pro, 6mm Koken with 13mm M-P (both typical M8 sizing) and 5mm Koken with 10mm M-P (typical M6). The difference in geometry and thus intended use is quite significant:
View media item 84039

If you need more versitle t-handle you could get a square drive with something like a 4135 or 4138 should give you a bit more range and cheaper to replace broken bits.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[JBH]

Well if you can live without ball end, you can still keep in Japan and ratcheting...







KTC has several different models depending on what bits you want

I bet that’s the same business end as the Ideal multibit screwdriver.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

According to the reviews at Amazon Japan, the collar is metal.

Interesting, sears probably told them to simplify and reduce costs on the ones we had over here by making it all plastic. I was pretty happy with them so if these are even better made I can't complain

 

[M6erfan]

I bet that’s the same business end as the Ideal multibit screwdriver.

Wow, you're right. They look identical from what I can tell. If they are, the KTC is made in Taiwan then.

 

[Reed Prince]

I have the 2200 with all three shanks. One of my favorite drivers.



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[1foxracing]

If you like T-handles check out Kowa models, all made in Japan.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

How does the Koken 3756Z compare to other quick spinners? I'm thinking either the Koken or the Williams B-70.

 

[Negen]

How does the Koken 3756Z compare to other quick spinners? I'm thinking either the Koken or the Williams B-70.

If you want I can send you one and you can judge for your self. I have a 3/8th you can have if you need it.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[outdated]

If you like T-handles check out Kowa models, all made in Japan.

Thanks, they look very nice.

 

[tanukiboy]

Thanks to M6erfan and Reed Prince for recommending the Vessel 2200 series ratcheting screwdrivers. They're great!

Putting the ratchet at the ball end is simply brilliant. It makes the screwdriver feel like a real screwdriver, but with ratcheting at the heel of your hand. And the narrow front end is even better for finger spinning than knurling on the shaft. The ratchet is nice and smooth and backdrag is quite low.

The tips are magnetic, but not JawsFit (which as M6erfan pointed out in an earlier post, may be advantageous when you don't want to mar the fastener).

When you pop the ball off, you have a nice little ratcheting stubby driver with a magnetic chuck. I tried it with one of my Tone bits, and it held it nice and tight (I had to use pliers to pull it out). Excellent!

Amazon Japan just dropped off a phillips P2 driver in red, a flat blade driver in orange, and a replacement P3 shaft in red. Thinking about it a bit, the flat blade driver was kind of a questionable purchase. How often do you use a ratcheting flat blade driver?

(Oddly, the packaging shows COO of the drivers as Thailand, but COO of the replacement shaft as Japan. I guess the ratchet is made in Thailand.)

View media item 84083
View media item 84084
View media item 84085

 

[colinb]

Bottle openers with screwdriver handles have been really popular with western toolmakers (Wera, Snap-on, Stanley, Matco, etc.)

Does Vessel make one?

 

[ChevyEFI]

How does the Koken 3756Z compare to other quick spinners? I'm thinking either the Koken or the Williams B-70.

The newer Ko-ken with the space between the ratchet and the knurl are ergonomically better than the old ones with flat backface. Definitely try one out!

 

[Reed Prince]

Came across these today at amazon.jp

 

[kn51]

Bottle openers with screwdriver handles have been really popular with western toolmakers (Wera, Snap-on, Stanley, Matco, etc.)

Does Vessel make one?

Only for JIS bottle caps.

 

[outdated]

Got my replacement Koken 3715SLK from Amazon - great service!

View media item 84170
Held it in front of me... closed one eye and squinted hard.... this one looked better but also not square. Confirmed on the lathe:

View media item 84171
The difference in readings between one end of the handle and the other:
Old 2.9mm
New 2.1mm

So... ?? Let me state that the handle fits beautifully, detents perfectly into place and both tools work perfectly. You don't notice the small out of square when using the t-handle.
But when something like this is visibly out of whack then something has gone astray at the factory. This hole is presumably broached, so the shaft part is being allowed to move somewhat during the broaching process, or the broaching head has some movement. Very strange.

 

[gbh]

Just curious, are the Koken 3715SLK top slider oval in shape and removable from the main shaft? Can it be used as an extension and without the top bar?

 

[outdated]

Yes, there are detent balls in the end of the cross bar, which is oval in shape. The cross bar also has a detent notch in the centre, and there is a detent ball in the shaft. So the cross bar is very securely positionable at the centre position, or anywhere up to either end, and a firm pressure can remove the cross bar and then use the shaft as an extension (with free spinner). Nice tool. As I said, the slight misalignment that I have noted does not detract from the function at all.

 

[outdated]

Factory gear vid, in Japanese but tools speak one language...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KNN8n_zcEKQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[SRSemenza]

I wasn't really interested in T handle until I saw this one ^

Anyone tried the Koken flexible extension?

Seth

 

[48548]

I wasn't really interested in T handle until I saw this one ^

Anyone tried the Koken flexible extension?

Seth

Yes, they work well.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[48548]

Like these?

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[SRSemenza]

Like these?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Yes those. I was thinking that a 1/4" could really good at getting into places. Does the "handle" spin / turn separate from the shaft?

Seth

 

[Ralf99]

Yes those. I was thinking that a 1/4" could really good at getting into places. Does the "handle" spin / turn separate from the shaft?

Seth

No, the handle is fixed to the shaft.

 

[48548]

No, the handle is fixed to the shaft.

Correct, so you turn with your handle if you wanted.

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[AceofSpad3s]

Which do people like better 24T metal handled koken 3/8, or the Zeal plastic handle 32 tooth?

 

[Negen]

Original zeal is too short next time I order from Japan the zeal 280 is going in the cart maybe even. The zeal 280 flex head. But waiting for a big enough order to save on shipping. The zeal is not plastic it is a soft foam type rubber grip. Not a hard plastic. I do prefer metal ratchets but I have SK and Armstrong too.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Negen]

Edit sorry for double post mobile seems to lack edit option.

I only own zeal 3/8 ratchet I been using it for five years I think.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[gbh]

Which do people like better 24T metal handled koken 3/8, or the Zeal plastic handle 32 tooth?

That's a good question and I'm interested in hearing opinions of those who have experience. When I picked up a Koken some years ago I thought they were sloppy...BUT, I didn't know what I was looking at and wasn't paying real attention as to what its forte is, backdrag is incredibly light!
I would now like to add a low back drag ratchet to my tool box.

 

[BenG76]

New here but I came to this forum due to a link to this thread. Got this in from Amazon today. Feels nice. Can't wait to try it out.

[/IMG]

 

[AceofSpad3s]

New here but I came to this forum due to a link to this thread. Got this in from Amazon today. Feels nice. Can't wait to try it out.

[/IMG]

you have to remove the s from https for imgur links to work

[/IMG]

 

[BenG76]

you have to remove the s from https for imgur links to work




Will do in the future. Thanks

 

[1foxracing]

My latest haul from https://www.vesseltools.com/ Fathers day sale.

 

[Reed Prince]

Added some Tsunoda 8" cable cutters to my Amazon.com order today while getting some AWG 4 wire for a car amp install. The 6" version did well in a comparison with German cutters, and these were only 41¢ more ($16.91).

Thought that price was hard to beat until a quick search for the name on the tool itself, King TTC, revealed this bargain.
Dirt cheap.

 

[scubadoober]

I stumbled across an old thread with reference to NKC tools. Superautobacs provided this link, but I can't seem to find a retailer for any of their products. I found a couple wrenches on ebay.uk, but that is it. Can any one provide any feedback on these or where they could be bought? They have a super slick looking bit driver, and it seems all of their stuff is gearless.

EDIT: It looks like they stopped making tools in 2013. Well poop.

 

[jallyn]

My latest haul from https://www.vesseltools.com/ Fathers day sale.

Love those drivers. I have a Japanese Hozan cross-point #2 with identical geometry. Wonder if these are re-labeled for Vessel? Or maybe the same parent company??

 

[cleeny]

I also got a 400mm long -6 flat blade. Check out the difference in the handle between it and a previously purchased megadora. The black is quite washed out in colour and does not have the textured finish. Counterfeit, or just how they make the longer series ones?

As per JDV's site:
VESSEL Co. has refreshed the 900/900JF and 930/930JF series with a new look and design. The handle’s cushioned hexagonal cross-section corners are now black, an improved “Non-Slip” mesh surface has been added, and the shank now features a chrome plate finish.

So unless I'm misunderstanding something, Vessel has updated their 900 and 930 series drivers FYI. Or you got an older (probably just left over) version?