Last month I broke down and placed my first amazon.co.jp order. I don’t like relying on machine translation, but worst case I did not buy anything very expensive. (I speak German so never had similar concerns with amazon.de.) Also no Koken/Zeal, Nepros etc. simply because I have no further need for standard socketry.
First, Tone’s version of the Reverse Gear 11mm outer hex+1/4” drive socket set.
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Honestly I bought this set for two pieces: the 1/4” drive square adapter and the locking 11mm outer hex extension. These amplify the usefulness of an ultraportable (L-BOXX mini) tool kit with the USAG locking flex ratchet. I have not seen extensions or a decent* 11mm outer hex to 1/4” square adapter anywhere else, and could not find them sold separately either.
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*Astro Pneumatic’s 7441 set has one, sort of. Their system is different enough that it doesn’t play well with the Reverse Gear stuff (Facom/USAG/Wera/Würth/Matco/Tone/Deen/etc.), is a little thicker, and is poorly made. AP's extensions do not inspire very confidence either. The Snapon 11mm to 1/4” hex adapter and then a 1/4” square bit also works to convert the 11mm Reverse Gear ratchets to 1/4” drive. That’s what I had in the kit previously.
Sockets are the same as Facom/USAG/Wera (Würth and Matco have a different pattern in the smaller sizes), and even the size stamping font is the same as Facom/USAG. One nice distinction: sizes are stamped on 3 of the 6 11mm hex faces. (Wera, stupidly, have no size stamping on their 11mm outer hex sockets.) Satin finish looks identical to Facom/USAG/Wera/Würth. Case is plastic, and notably bulkier than the Facom/USAG Pico or Würth metal cases.
Engineer PH-55 scissors. Not much to say about these. Pretty much everyone knows them. Good, versatile small scissors.
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Vessel ratcheting screwdriver, Anex 1/4” drive impact driver, Anex 4mm handle with Y-bit, SK11 and Anex shallow bitgasm, PB Swiss glasses screwdriver.
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After having used it a few times, I’m no fan of the Vessel ratcheting screwdriver. High tooth count adds no utility to a ratcheting screwdriver, and I’d rank the feel of the mechanism well below PB Swiss or Williams/Snapon and below Reverse Gear as well. There is more play in the nose than I would prefer. The handle shape is uncomfortable to me, too.
Anex 4mm blade collet handle is not at the same level of refinement as Engineer, Felo, or the old Wiha version. The cap has a lot of friction. But it was also just a couple bucks, so whatever. Blade looks nicely machined, though I can't think of any Y fasteners around me to test fit.
SK11 half length (12mm) bits just seemed like a useful thing to have on hand. I’ve never seen bits that short before. Even the Würth and Matco “short” bits are 19mm.
PB Swiss from Japan? What can I say, it popped up on a “you might like” type list. It was only about 7 USD, and will make a fine glasses screwdriver to keep in my nightstand: big enough and colorful enough to find easily with glasses off, but not so big as to promote over-torquing. The 3.5mm hex double-sided blade is shorter than 51-series blades.
I bought the Anex impact driver instead of a more expensive one because an impact driver is a tool I’ve lived without and only discovered here on GJ. The only rubber grip Koken Attack Drivers I could find on Amazon were hulking 1/2” drive models. I’ve only tested this one out, but I think the compact size and standard 1/4” bits was the right way to go for my potential future needs. The bitholder is covered in plastic. I’ve not sure why.
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The included PH2 impact bit has global standard detent placement.
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I picked up the Anex 19mm security Torx bits to replace the standard Torx bits in the Würth close quarters sets. TR20 is the only one I really use, but I guess it is good to have the whole set.
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3.Peaks mini bolt cutter and stainless steel thin precision pliers
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The mini bolt cutter isn’t a Cobolt substitute. It doesn’t open as wide and it takes more effort to use. The handles are stamped metal, like a Gripon.
I saw Reed Prince’s post on the thin Keibas,
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8197649&postcount=4727
but I couldn’t find both of these styles from Keiba when searching by model number. Both thin pliers have already proved useful. For an idea of just how thin they are, compare to equivalent Knipex (older, possibly Schmitz-made) models:
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Despite the thin jaws they have proven plenty rigid and strong for precision tasks so far. They may not be as refined in the hand as box-joint Schmitzpex, but they are less than half the price. I wish I had discovered these pliers years ago. Highly recommended if you have a use for them.
