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johnson_n

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2013
Messages
24
Location
Kansas City
I got the packages from Amazon Japan and Palmac today. My immediate impressions of the tools are that they're good quality but not Snap-on level quality. I'm just going by heft and how they actually feel when picking it up. With my dry hands I can feel the micro burrs in the metal of the sockets from the brushing/tumbling process if that makes sense. Like running your hands over a microfiber towel and getting caught. I don't know what they would compare to at similar price points.


KTC
  • NBR390L Nepros 3/8" 90-Tooth Gear Long Ratchet
  • NBE38 Nepros 3/8" Quick Spinner

Ko-ken
  • PK3760/6 3/8" Sq. Drive, Extension Bar Set (32, 50, 75, 125, 150, 250mm / ~1.25, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10")
  • 2771Z Z-Series 1/4" Sq. Drive Universal Joint
  • 2772Z Z-Series 1/4" Sq. Drive Universal Double Joint
  • 3772Z Z-Series 3/8" Sq. Drive Universal Double Joint
  • RS3400M/12 3/8" Sq. Drive, 6-point Socket Set (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)

OLFA
  • 227B Speed Hyper AL
  • 157EC DESIGN KNIFE PRO
  • 141BS Workmanship Cutter
  • 133k Disposal Can

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johnson_n

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2013
Messages
24
Location
Kansas City
I'll try to compare them to NT Cutter blades. I use them for very detailed work and they are very sharp out of the box/package. This is the distal end of an endoscope. There's normally a plastic cap that goes over the end, and an epoxy seal that goes around the camera (the bigger glass in the center) and light lenses (the three smaller glass lenses forming a triangle). The blades are used to remove those seals (among other things) which are less than .5mm thick.
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20220118_070449.jpg
 

Vicks

Well-known member
Joined
May 23, 2019
Messages
178
Location
Dubai
Are the Koken impact sockets laser etched AND engraved with the sizes?
Yes, Laser etched and roll-stamped. In my picture above, it shows the etching, on the opposite side is the roll stamping of the size but the roll stamped letters are covered in black coating and hence are less visible than the etched lettering.
 

Vicks

Well-known member
Joined
May 23, 2019
Messages
178
Location
Dubai
I'll try to compare them to NT Cutter blades. I use them for very detailed work and they are very sharp out of the box/package. This is the distal end of an endoscope. There's normally a plastic cap that goes over the end, and an epoxy seal that goes around the camera (the bigger glass in the center) and light lenses (the three smaller glass lenses forming a triangle). The blades are used to remove those seals (among other things) which are less than .5mm thick.

20220118_070449.jpg

holy **** ! thats stockpiling !!
 

corn chip

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Messages
672
added some more commonly used tools to the garage. trying to phase out some of the older inherited stuff i have like ratchet extensions as well as add new stuff i dont have like medium length sockets. and add extra ratchets just because you can never have to many of them. although ive never seen first hand any nepros tools ,i couldnt find one reason not to give them a shot. they didnt seem any more expensive than some other brands and qaulity was top notch by all accounts. the only feed back i can give as of today ( since they just showed up today) is the fit and finish is superb. miles better than some other brands ive seen. unfortunatly im not a mechanic by trade so i wont have a chance to work them daily but rest assured ill be using them every chance i get. only thing i could still use is the 90t 3/8 long handle ratchet which ill order next time around ,which might be today haha

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silkman

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 23, 2021
Messages
367
Location
Athens
Went for some various tools to my favourite pro tool shop and saw this for 7eur, couldn't ignore at this price as I didn't have anything similar.

Impact long 35cm Champion screwdriver made in Japan.
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As I have said a few pages back, this Champion brand is very common in pro tool stores, very cheap and very highly regarded as they are very strong for impact jobs. Chinese fakes exist too in the local market, labeled "green type screwdrivers".

A 7 piece set goes for about 20-25 eur and its the most usual thing to buy. Phillips 1 2 3, stubby slotted and 3 slotted sizes. People say the Philips are close to the old JIS, too.

Their website doesn't even have English.
 
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Qualitytools

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Messages
2,853
Location
SOCAL
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DHL dropped off another package before work, best day ever when that happens! Haha. Mostly Tone with the one Ko-Ken quick spinner. The last photo showing the sliding t-handle with the ratcheting adapter connected to a Ko-Ken wobble fix extension and a Ko-Ken nut grip socket just cause!
What is the 4th photo in hand? It is kind of bulbous in shape and who made it please? Thanks
 

Vicks

Well-known member
Joined
May 23, 2019
Messages
178
Location
Dubai
Ratcheting adapter to be used with breaker bar/spinner handle or T-handle. I think this one is made by Tone.

Most if not all Tone tools are made in Taiwan and elsewhere. They have very few tools that are actually made in Japan.
 

genog

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2021
Messages
2,014
Location
Silicon Valley
Here are my 1980's Truecraft Pliers of the Rising Sun
Got them at the local Auto Parts Store and immediately went into the Backup/Truck Tool Box
I also have a Giant pair of Slip Joint Pliers not pictured
Truecraft1.jpg
 

knucks

Active member
Joined
May 18, 2015
Messages
41
Pardon if I missed it in this thread, but looking for an opinion/comparison between the Nepros 3/8 (NRB390) for instance and the same but compact (NBRC390). I understand it's the "body" of the 1/4" .. smaller in diameter. How's it feel in hand? I found a NBRC390 on eBay unused for a good price, it will be en route soon..

My use case is currently a portable toolbox that will house a 1/4" nepros for mostly 1/4" use and either a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter (a couple bicycle tool that takes a 3/8" drive) or two ratchets in both sizes.

I am considering picking up a 3/8" in the regular size, or the long as well..
 
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corn chip

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Messages
672
ive only recently started buying nepro but everything has been done to perfection. you can tell they take great care in making the tools. the plating has zero blemishes. the gear teeth sound very precise. the machining inside the sockets is fantastic with no burs or tool marks left behind. how they'll be holding up in 20yrs i cant say but based on first impressions i see no reason they shouldnt be at the top of the hill with some of the other big players.
 

midorix

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
169
I have some Victor diagonal cutters that have a similar shape to your new Tsunoda cable tie cutters. I wasn't able to figure out any particular advantage to this Japanese design.

IMG_3940.jpg
Nice Victor pliers. I played around with the Tsunoda and I do like it. It cuts off the excess really flush and the gripper to pull the cable tie works really well. I can do the same with the combination of regular diagonal cutter (slightly less flush) and needle nose plier but nice to just use one plier. Definitely more want tool than need tool but worth it for me since it costs less than $20.
 

midorix

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
169
How much where the Koken lug sockets?
I paid about $40 for the 3pcs set and $15 for the 22mm. I also paid about $27 in shipping for this whole order so depending on how you want to allocate the cost by item will change your price by item. Amazon Japan charges minimum shipping cost to US so small $ order won’t make sense but if you consolidate the order, the pricing got really attractive.
 
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gjusername

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2018
Messages
78
Location
Uranus
What have Palmac shipping speeds been like on Koken items, lately?

I ordered several Koken items, including some that show a 2-week lead time meaning they are not in stock. How long should I expect it to actually take to arrive? I'm in Arizona
 

Bmxkelowna

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2022
Messages
113
Location
Kelowna BC Canada
So I know Tone doesn't make their ratchets in Japan even though they are a Japanese company and mark their tools with Japan, but I still have 6 different ones and really like them.
But today I was walking through princess auto (Canada's harbour freight) and the powerfist ratchets caught my eye.
They are clearly the exact same ratchet.
The Tone was $90.44 cad shipped from Japan and the princess auto one was $44.79 cad after tax.

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Bmxkelowna

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2022
Messages
113
Location
Kelowna BC Canada
We must have different understanding of the meaning of the word “exact”.
Figured most people would look past the locking vs non for the flex head as clearly that's an option from the manufacturer as well as the handle. But the 72 tooth ratchet mechanism, the quick release button and a few other things show they are the same.
 

midorix

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
169
What have Palmac shipping speeds been like on Koken items, lately?

I ordered several Koken items, including some that show a 2-week lead time meaning they are not in stock. How long should I expect it to actually take to arrive? I'm in Arizona

For the items that were in stock, it took about 1.5 weeks from placing the order to receive it in San Diego.
For "2+ weeks lead time item", Palmac actually reached out to me in advance to let me know that one item is estimated to ship in late February (spark plug socket) and the other would likely be in March (1/4 nutgrip socket set). So to answer your question, it varies based on what you ordered. Palmac have been very communicative on the status so I was ok with the delay. The issue appears to be manufacturing/shipping from Japan side of things as many are experiencing. I suggest you ask Palmac and they can give you a best estimate.
 
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