Tools of Japan

[Steve_P]

I have the 21 only and love how it has the extension included so you're ready to go. Unfortunately the plastic sleeve on the OD has chipped on mine with little use at home. And I'm in no rush and little use. Dunno if it's a fluke but it wouldn't last a week if not a day used commercially based on my usage. It'd be nice if they sold the sleeves separately but I doubt they do. I understand its plastic and it's not like Koken plastic will outlast HF but they should sell the sleeves separately to justify the price

 

[MetricTech]

As long as the sidewall doesn’t bust I’m good to go. These are supposed to be some of the most durable thin wall wheel sockets you can buy. I’m sure the plastic will look horrible after using them on one wheel with tight clearance, they always do. I have a nice metric/sae flip socket set but the extra 3” extension will rob that extra torque that you sometimes need.


Metric Tech

 

[scubadoober]

I am looking at the KTC and Asahi low offset wrenches. Does any one have experience with either? Or any general opinons of the lighttool vs KTC wrenches.

 

[theamcguy]

I contacted Straight Tools in Japan they will not ship to the US. Oh well.

 

[MetricTech]

I am looking at the KTC and Asahi low offset wrenches. Does any one have experience with either? Or any general opinons of the lighttool vs KTC wrenches.

I have a couple sets of the Asahi lightool and KTC. The KTC wrenches have a nicer fit and finish. The Asahi look cool with their weird designs but will also skip more sizes then KTC will. That’s my opinion


Metric Tech

 

[FlaGman]

I dabbed my toe into the world of Amazon.jp last Sunday and received everything yesterday on Wednesday, very happy with the speed of shipping. It was easy to set up an account and thanks to this thread I was able to find lots of options. I started out with a Koken 3/8” Zeal socket set, as well as some deep sockets and the 1/4” wobble extensions. I also got some Tsunload cable cutters at the same time off the regular USA Amazon site. I am still waiting on the Koken double universals that I ordered from Frank’s a week earlier, so I think on future purchases I will use the .jp website. In my case, the savings of 7% sales tax makes the shipping a little easier to swallow.

 

[Project 2501]

Do these count as being Japanese tools?
��

 

[mr.lemons]

KTC M27-10H + M27-12H. These had been kindly recommended to me when I've enquired about six point wrenches. Probably known to most here, they have the same size hex on each end but set at different rotational angles to circumvent access issues often associated with six point wrenches.









There are some minor inconsistencies in the tooling on the 10mm which has wobbly edges. The textured satin chrome on both is impeccably finished.



Some notes on the buying experience from Japan to UK. The only place I could find these wrenches shipped to the UK was Rakuten. I was a little concerned that the postage cost was not available until you have commited to buying items so I contacted Ninja-Tools via UK Ebay who replied and created a new listing for me in about an hour. They were ordered on the 4th March and received on the 19th March. I had to pay customs charges to Royal Mail (about $18). Ninja-Tools was amazingly helpful and quick with replies.

 

[mercucho]

KTC M27-10H + M27-12H. ...

Very good tools.

 

[zarbat007]

Ordered a couple of miscellaneous Koken sockets from Japan. They are well built and have a beautiful consistent satin chrome finish on them.






Double universal joints 1/4 and 3/8 drive



21 mm in both 3/8 and 1/2 Drive, deep 14 mm 1/2 drive, all 12-point from Koken's standard line



14 mm 12 point magnetic Zeal spark plug socket




10 mm Koken Zeal short socket on left, Snap-on on right



10 mm deep Koken Zeal and Snap on

 

[MetricTech]

I thought this was kinda cool.
Utica gas burner pliers USA circa 1930
Fujiya screw remover pliers Japan 2018


Metric Tech

 

[Gnfantic]

Bought this from a guy off CL. Very cool tool , have not had the opportunity to use it yet. You guys seen this tool before??

 

[superautobacs]

As long as the sidewall doesn’t bust I’m good to go. These are supposed to be some of the most durable thin wall wheel sockets you can buy. I’m sure the plastic will look horrible after using them on one wheel with tight clearance, they always do. I have a nice metric/sae flip socket set but the extra 3” extension will rob that extra torque that you sometimes need.


Metric Tech

Hey, Metric Tech, take a look at this post for some user feedback:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4362000&postcount=148



Something that everyone should keep in mind with those Ko-ken lug nut/bolt impact socket is the outer diameter. The specs below is for a 17mm socket:

Standard chrome: 24mm

thin-walled impact: 24.2mm

standard impact: 25.7mm

protective impact with sleeve: 25.2mm

protective impact w/out sleeve: 23.7mm


That should provide a better perspective as to how thin they are.


If you come across aftermarket wheels that have small bore sizes that most protective wheel nut sockets can't fit, you can be sure that these Ko-ken ones will fit (without having to remove the sleeve)!




Regarding your screw extraction plier discovery.....pretty cool huh.
British/American gas fitting pliers became the model for Engineer, but they tweeked them to market it for screw extraction.

 

[superautobacs]

I am looking at the KTC and Asahi low offset wrenches. Does any one have experience with either? Or any general opinons of the lighttool vs KTC wrenches.

I got a pretty comprehensive set of Asahi Lightool offset DBE wrenches from 8mm to 24mm. Like Metric Tech mentioned, it does skip some sizes. IIRC, no 9mm and 15mm. No 15mm is weird, IMO.
The way the wrenches are ground by hand along the ring ends and beams remind me of Hazet....ie. not perfectly ground. That's because they are ground by a person's hand and not by a robotic arm.
The chrome on them has been fine...no chipping.

I have some KTC offset wrenches (like the ones that Mr. Lemons showed above) and as you can see from those photos, the grinding is done by a robotic arm of sort, so you do get a more cleaner, uniform finish. The surface finish is a bit different between Asahi and KTC. Asahi has a more matt chrome finish while KTC has a satin matt chrome finish. The satin finish will wear off with use though.

In my eyes Asahi tends to cater towards the heavy industries. They don't have a huge brand recognition when compared to KTC, which is a household name, just like Craftman has been for North Americans. KTC is meant for a wide array of people, from the small DIY'er to professional tradespeople.


These are photos I took when they were new:
Asahi DBE. by ChrisCas aka Superautobacs, on Flickr

Asahi DBE by ChrisCas aka Superautobacs, on Flickr

 

[superautobacs]

Bought this from a guy off CL. Very cool tool , have not had the opportunity to use it yet. You guys seen this tool before??

Yes! Nice find!

I believe Daido contracted SEK (Suekage Tool Co.) to produce them.

 

[eschoendorff]

Bought this from a guy off CL. Very cool tool , have not had the opportunity to use it yet. You guys seen this tool before??

Never seen that tool before but I do have some sockets from the same brand.

 

[Sliding T-Handle]

Wise super ball wrench sets

Cool acrylic block levels


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[scubadoober]

Thanks a ton superautobacs! I will pick up some Asahi DBE wrenches on my next order.

 

[ngk22r]

I thought this was kinda cool.
Utica gas burner pliers USA circa 1930
Fujiya screw remover pliers Japan 2018


Metric Tech

I have the similar vampliers

 

[Brand X]

Guess this counts,, Tool holder.. Amazon price of $46.81..
Finish is outstanding compared to most of these things.. I was just looking for some collets, in smaller sizes, and decided to just get this holder, and a few Lyndex collets for about the same price as stand alone TG-100 collets. The Japan stuff just so refined, hard to buy other stuff. Still do, but the machining is a work of art. I will certainly be watching for more from this brand.

https://www.zoro.com/lyndex-nikken-collet-chuck-nmtb40-300da-250-project-n4007-0300-250/i/G0538216/

 

[Reed Prince]

Just watched a short documentary about Joyful Honda, a store that was featured here in a few posts last year (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7495907&postcount=3694). The show was not hand tool oriented, but perhaps some here would still find it interesting.

 

[superautobacs]

Thanks a ton superautobacs! I will pick up some Asahi DBE wrenches on my next order.

I'd be curious to hear your opinion on them.











Reed Prince,

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check it out.

 

[MetricTech]

Hey, Metric Tech, take a look at this post for some user feedback:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4362000&postcount=148



Something that everyone should keep in mind with those Ko-ken lug nut/bolt impact socket is the outer diameter. The specs below is for a 17mm socket:

Standard chrome: 24mm

thin-walled impact: 24.2mm

standard impact: 25.7mm

protective impact with sleeve: 25.2mm

protective impact w/out sleeve: 23.7mm


That should provide a better perspective as to how thin they are.


If you come across aftermarket wheels that have small bore sizes that most protective wheel nut sockets can't fit, you can be sure that these Ko-ken ones will fit (without having to remove the sleeve)!




Regarding your screw extraction plier discovery.....pretty cool huh.
British/American gas fitting pliers became the model for Engineer, but they tweeked them to market it for screw extraction.

I’m really surprised at the lack of deformation on your old 17mm koken wheel socket. I have many different USA made impact sockets that will look like that after one day of hard use. I would like to try the new Sk tools torsion impact sockets. I’m also curious about Tone impact sockets and their durability. The sunex molybdenum sockets are strong but I don’t like the look of them. I wish I owned my koken lug nut socket set 10 years ago.

As for the gas burner and screw remover pliers. About a year ago I was given a crate full of USA made tools all from the 1920’s and 30’s. I got them all out to clean up and when I finished restoring that pair of Utica pliers I pushed some old snap on grips on them. I knew I wasn’t the only person to make the connection between them and the Japanese screw extraction design.



Metric Tech

 

[MetricTech]

Wise super ball wrench sets

Cool acrylic block levels


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sweet find! I’ve always used a 1/4” drive socket and locking extension to do the same job as that wise power up handle. I’ve never seen a brand offer an extension handle to put leverage on the short arm of hex keys. Also those are some sweet levels


Metric Tech

 

[Sliding T-Handle]

Sweet find! I’ve always used a 1/4” drive socket and locking extension to do the same job as that wise power up handle. I’ve never seen a brand offer an extension handle to put leverage on the short arm of hex keys. Also those are some sweet levels


Metric Tech

Thanks, I actually bought these in Japan and took them back with me in my luggage. I went on two trips for a total of six weeks back to back only coming home for two weeks during Christmas. On the first trip I bought the only set in stock and it happened to be the long set. I bought 2 but my dad talked me out of one. Here is the long set next to a standard set. I am already using one of the standard sets in my job I deal with grade 8 metric cap socket screws. Tons of them.



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[Two Speed]

I thought this was kinda cool.
Utica gas burner pliers USA circa 1930
Fujiya screw remover pliers Japan 2018

Yes, definately cool.

Alex.

 

[tanukiboy]

Sweet find! I’ve always used a 1/4” drive socket and locking extension to do the same job as that wise power up handle. I’ve never seen a brand offer an extension handle to put leverage on the short arm of hex keys.


Metric Tech

Here's a similar product from the Japanese company SK11 (COO Taiwan, though)...

View media item 91478
View media item 91479
View media item 91480
View media item 91481

 

[theamcguy]

SK11 SWR-3Set great another tool to look for. Can't seem to find a US seller. Anybody have one?

 

[Qualitytools]

I have had to do some work on my BMW's Suspension and was in need of a thin wrench for those areas where a slim/thin wrench is what's needed due to confined space to hold against a counter nut. Thanks to GJ I learned of some very interesting tools available that will suit my needs besides purchasing Park thin bicycle wrenches.

Mentioned here in this section was an adjustable wrench made by Engineer, this was a better choice for me to have an adjustable wrench vs. having to purchase several sizes to accommodate my need, sort of one wrench to fit many sizes.

I just received my wrench form Japan and could not find any markings on the tool itself that would say "Japan" or "Made in Japan". Anyhow, I have it and it will come very handy during my suspension work as I am sure I will find other uses for it. Sorry about the upside down images as I was not sure how to rotate them

 

[BigBoreFan]

My first Frankstools order. Fast shipping, good communications, no issues at all. KTC Combo wrenches.

 

[M6erfan]

My first Frankstools order. Fast shipping, good communications, no issues at all. KTC Combo wrenches.

Very nice. I love my KTC wrenches, and Frank is a good guy to do business with.

 

[tanukiboy]

SK11 SWR-3Set great another tool to look for. Can't seem to find a US seller. Anybody have one?

Amazon Japan will ship this item to the US. If you toss a couple of other items into your shopping cart, the shipping charge should be quite reasonable.

 

[M6erfan]

I have had to do some work on my BMW's Suspension and was in need of a thin wrench for those areas where a slim/thin wrench is what's needed due to confined space to hold against a counter nut. Thanks to GJ I learned of some very interesting tools available that will suit my needs besides purchasing Park thin bicycle wrenches.

Yep, those swaybar links are a b*tch. Let us know how they work.

 

[Qualitytools]

Yep, those swaybar links are a b*tch. Let us know how they work.

You knew exactly what I was talking about Will do!

 

[Sliding T-Handle]

Amazon $20 each. Why have one when you can have two?


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[Sliding T-Handle]

3/8 drive spinner. Made by KTC Japan


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[JiminAZ]

Picked up a set of those Mitutoyo brass punches. Thank you Sliding-T

 

[ngk22r]

Placed the order on this kit, will see how well it does!

 

[losvre]

No coo but it should be from Japan given that it is very old and coo was probably not so important at that time?






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[bwringer]

I seem to acquired a deep thirst for a set of Asahi Lightool wrenches

Is Rakuten legit? I've seen a few references here:

Oooh, puuuurrrrrdy:
https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/359267/
$38.70 for the set seems decent, but the $20-25-ish shipping gives me pause. But they also have other sizes available; I might tack on 8mm, perhaps 22 and 24mm.

I also found this set on fleaBay from "hinomaru2012" for $56.96 shipped, about the same total.https://www.ebay.com/itm/ASAHI-Ultr...rentrq:c146ae381690ac88dad238d6fff8fe76|iid:1

Thoughts? Anyone got a set of these?