Tools of Japan

[Fedwrench]

Ah damnit! No wonder I couldn't find it!

Guess I'll just have to wait longer then. Thanks

The last I heard from Ko-Ken is that it would be at least a year before the 72 tooth 1/4 versions are available.

 

[darkzero]

The last I heard from Ko-Ken is that it would be at least a year before the 72 tooth 1/4 versions are available.

Ah man. I've held off buying the fluted handle ratchets for so long I pretty much decided I was never going to buy them. Until the 72T came out & gave me hope.

That's ok though, I just finally ordered me my first Nepros ratchets in 1/4" & 3/8" last week but aren't expected to ship until late next month. I'm sure those will make me forget about the Ko-Kens for a while. I just really like things that has that fluted design.

 

[E.T.]

You can’t get the fluted handle in Zeal anyway. 72t is only on the Zeal line at the moment.

 

[Ralf11]

if I order from Palmac, how do I make sure I get the 72 tooth version?

P/n's are the same, right?

 

[GrantCee]

if I order from Palmac, how do I make sure I get the 72 tooth version?

P/n's are the same, right?

The 72-tooth version part numbers are all appended with "-72T", as in 3725Z-72T:

https://palmac.net/koken-z-series-3725z-t72-reversible-ratchet-3-8-sq-dr/

You'll note they also have the little 72-tooth logo on the product page.

 

[Jeff]

Nifty little stubby

 

[toddmorr]

I thought Ko-Ken said they didn't recommend putting the 72 tooth kit in a 36 tooth ratchet? Something about the 72 tooth ratchet head being machined slightly different. Perhaps they just wanted to sell more ratchets

well, "somebody" said Koken said that, but i wasn't able to find anything coming from Koken. There are sellers in Japan clearly positioning the 72t repair kit as a way to upgrade your 36t ratchet, albeit without warranty support from Koken. But they are also clear the repair kit 3725rk-2 isn't shipping until April. Anyway, I intend to order 2 kits as soon as they're shipping and will certainly post on how it works in a 36t ratchet, good or bad.

 

[16again]

Nifty little stubby

Love mine. Bet you will as well.

 

[measuredtwice]

I just really like things that has that fluted design.

The knurling/fluting makes a big difference compared to knurling alone. It's a matter of personal preference but I like the knurling/fluting on the extensions but not so much on the ratchet handle. The fluting adds a lot of edges. If you like a super grippy handle, then you'll like it.

 

[crashmtb]

FYI, I ordered a Ko-ken attack driver(and some Land Rover specific sockets)from uktools.com as it was cheaper than palMac, and even Amazon Japan. £20 for two day shipping to middle of Canada.

 

[Jeff]

Found a nifty inexpensive chisel on Amazon

 

[macgee]

Went to my local flea markets this weekend for the first time in a year and amazingly found this for $2; an exact twin of my Japanese "Fan Out" grozer pliers. Had to take it home.

These are great pliers and useful. They show some wear but the machining is so good that they still passed (painful) test of pulling an individual thin hair out of the forearm like a good tweezer, did it several times at different spots on the jaw to check consistency. My other pliers wont necessarily do that.

 

[Brando_Damo]

Went to my local flea markets this weekend for the first time in a year and amazingly found this for $2; an exact twin of my Japanese "Fan Out" grozer pliers. Had to take it home.

These are great pliers and useful. They show some wear but the machining is so good that they still passed (painful) test of pulling an individual thin hair out of the forearm like a good tweezer, did it several times at different spots on the jaw to check consistency. My other pliers wont necessarily do that.

What are the odds of that?! Awesome.

-Brando

 

[darkzero]

Went to my local flea markets this weekend for the first time in a year and amazingly found this for $2; an exact twin of my Japanese "Fan Out" grozer pliers. Had to take it home.

These are great pliers and useful. They show some wear but the machining is so good that they still passed (painful) test of pulling an individual thin hair out of the forearm like a good tweezer, did it several times at different spots on the jaw to check consistency. My other pliers wont necessarily do that.

Awesome score, macgee!

 

[E.T.]

Those fan outs look nice! I can’t seem to find any online. Nice score!

 

[macgee]

Thanks guys,

You can find them on Amazon but the price is pretty dear:
https://www.amazon.com/Fan-Out-Breaker-Grozer-Pliers/dp/B00HHCT4ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fan+out+grozer&qid=1617254412&sr=8-1

If you google for: Fan Out Grozer. You'll find US glass/stain glass suppliers selling them or search for: "Fan Out Pliers" or **** on eBay and you'll find some cheap ones. Also looks like Fan Out Japan made some other interesting pliers and Nippers/Dykes that are on eBay right now or have sold. I've never seen those before.

 

[E.T.]

Thanks Macgee. I was searching Amazon JP for Fan Out/ Fan Out pliers. Lots of results, not many pliers lol

 

[TjoFrasse]

Got an order from Amazon Japan a couple of days ago. This time again the packaging was ok, but not more. My orders from Amazon JP has been packaged amazingly previously. Wrapped together and secured into the box. But this one and the one before that has just been thrown in a box with some of those plastic pillows. They've tightened the time for packing even more probably...

Here's everything:

And everything unpacked:

The main item was the Tone bit ratchet set. I wanted this type of bit ratchet, but found the Facom one a bit expensive. So this seems like a good alternative, perhaps even made in the same factory.

Then the TOP die holder, I got the one for 25mm dies previously and got the 38mm one now. Don't know if I'll ever use it, but it wasn't expensive and I liked the 25mm one so.

Then the Tone screw extractor pliers. Got them to compare to the Engineer/Vampliers ones.

Then lots of small screwdrivers, as has become the norm for my Japanese tool orders... These are mostly for fun/collecting, except for the Gisuke coin driver. That one will be used.

The super mini ones in close-up:

 

[E.T.]

If anyone’s interested I ordered some Zeal 72t repair kits and have a few extra. PM me for details. For 3/8” drive Zeal ratchets only. Converts the 36 tooth to 72.

 

[Ralf11]

how much did that Tone bit ratchet set cost?

 

[TjoFrasse]

how much did that Tone bit ratchet set cost?

I paid around 4000 yen + shipping and import fees. It seems to be somewhat more expensive now.

 

[E.T.]

Haven’t found these outside of Rakuten. Ordered via Global Expre$$. Have 2-3 extra

 

[macgee]

What are the odds on this? Now there's three Far Out pliers from Japan; just found another pair this morning at a garage sale. These seems to be pretty uncommon but found three in my area, two in the same week.

Certainly don't need three but what do you do when you come across one out in the wild waiting for a new home?

 

[Ralf11]

you send it to me

 

[beelsr]

funny, i have the same answer...

(but i already have one)

 

[mercifiknow]

I could use one....

And I don’t have one either! [emoji13]


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[mercifiknow]

My new stuff arrived from Palmac...


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[ChefRex]

My first Koken, the Zeal is tiny!

 

[9eight7]

My wife asked me the other day if she could buy a multiple bit tool set from the MOMA store to do things around the house. She wanted her own tool set to avoid going through my tool box. I happened to be drinking at the time and just started laughing, opened my big mouth, said that I read Koken is quality stuff and that she shouldn’t buy junk. Quality was enough for her to say, “okay show me what it looks like” and the red box was enough for her to 1-click buy. She even urged me to get a new ratchet/socket set as I’ve been eying a few things, which we ordered later that night.

The Attack Driver arrived today and boy were we shocked! We didn’t read the description and thought it was much smaller judging by the picture. “Dang its heavy duty. The quality is insane” were first to come out of her mouth. We talked about returning it until she tightened a few of her pot/pan handles. It’s a keeper (the wife too).

 

[RoundedNut]

...
The Attack Driver arrived today...

Lol, gotta love the auto translation from Japanese. I was just looking at "penetration drivers" this evening.

 

[gorskikotar]

Just ordered this one
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vessel-121570-830-MG4-Ratchet-Screwdriver-with-4-Bits-NEW-from-Japan/164127801559?epid=1400214658&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item2636c780d7:g:bDEAAOSwuDVecJN2&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkfOCvCjTOBWK8pwriaolq5gVEWkgf29%252BXG8fCT9o0SdBiafqKHC3dPO%252BuccWvGRmbtt98b25EPLqGvLfZ0GnT3twJhkpTgkCduINBpKAK2D%252FmmNdFRfNPpOjZ9Tx08bVaZ7CFdWIvWzYlOoxn4OczWGU7HRsxBYzcDQrrlarYojmZYbgmwHRlVuiS1acCfw%252BPXS6m86mwVeJ2pdgt%252BTFAM5afoYUyIlLq8YLodW1dOrFuGigrWGnAzzced1KWJ9nVlQnSxejEnhsRpJ7HtAmSN%252FHbu21aIUvabHNFBwfpXz937a%252FgTiGD2vzGGWrzYF63TXihKCOo8Q%252B%252BaOO7nFTcTcmucolayulcYx%252FLnsuWccQIXUmXEpl8QOJumeU8P79nglvJk2tSHZ1y2AhavpKTopX%252BbE5kplCRO6Bmiguz20wi5LhxQQAlqUZ5iTnyG%252F7r83P5CxWjmx28FTeHi50FUcunESaTBP3mYYOPecFSV4nDkn9uTJk2DYD99kM9eqdQzTBpDk%252BJ%252FlcsI6u7fAUFVCCSJ8we9Z9ClYXvNjIdgz9aVFkT%252BV76ES1890vbwjJ8HUsSXU7439LYmU4V6nMO31TIPiBK3zmWFNpWnIX3OqNPd8Uf7kDGJDW0sMUU0%252F30wdZTspgsyuMI%252BgYwtGpJyL57O7RF4F5MtfMYFonO64UD2a%252FoqbPXti2r0te8HRkn3RdJOSRKOGsEygBMRjhswmf35lyw9e7S0ZOcIUJXx%252Bmbj0jb9XHTdQFBDPV6qVVx%252BsGm3hFvqSe9Gvr7eWr3T8Kv1I3VGZlzF5GMW%252F38878%253D%7Ccksum%3A16412780155966ee95725970403cba17f724d039d20a%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524

Anyone has it already?

Got it yesterday, they really are not so good quality, didn't expect that from Vessel.

 

[HenryAZ]

Got it yesterday, they really are not so good quality, didn't expect that from Vessel.

I bought this Vessel model, and am quite pleased with it. The cross point bits are JIS or JIS-like, definitely not Phillips.

 

[Qualitytools]

I bought this Vessel model, and am quite pleased with it. The cross point bits are JIS or JIS-like, definitely not Phillips.

That's because it's a better model.

 

[measuredtwice]

My first Koken, the Zeal is tiny!

Is that the 72 tooth ratchet?

 

[DEEBO]

Haven’t found these outside of Rakuten. Ordered via Global Expre$$. Have 2-3 extra

Has anyone tried the 72T repair kit into a 36T head? Just became available in the UK but the UK distributor said Ko-Ken Japan had said they weren’t suitable to be put in a 36T head.. guessing they would say that but wondering if anyone has successfully tried it?


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[E.T.]

Installed 2 and both working great. Machining on ratchet body looks the same to me. Makes sense from a production standpoint. Less tooling to replace and can convert existing stock to 72t

 

[pizza]

never done it myself, but that's the word on the street. the bodies are unchanged.

also, none of the 1/4"-body 72 tooth stuff is here yet.

 

[DEEBO]

Installed 2 and both working great. Machining on ratchet body looks the same to me. Makes sense from a production standpoint. Less tooling to replace and can convert existing stock to 72t

Thanks guys! I’ll give it a go..


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[TjoFrasse]

How do the Tone compare to the Engineer....better?

Here they are side by side, with the Tone one still being unused while the Engineer is a couple of years old. It's not a high use tool for me though so not that many screws extracted.

Both seems well made and I can see no defects. I can't say I'm that fond of the Engineers handles, but it's not an issue in use just that I find the design stupid.

 

[measuredtwice]

Those Tone pliers look similar to the Engineer PZ-55.

https://www.engineertools-jp.com/pz55

Here they are side by side, with the Tone one still being unused while the Engineer is a couple of years old. It's not a high use tool for me though so not that many screws extracted.

Both seems well made and I can see no defects. I can't say I'm that fond of the Engineers handles, but it's not an issue in use just that I find the design stupid.