Asahi brand tools?

[n8n]

anyone have any experience? Found three Asahi branded combo wrenches at my local ReStore today, of course they were 12, 14, 15 (you saw that coming right?) but they looked decent and were in good condition. I would have bought them had I found anything else to take home but I didn't. Should I get them if they're still there next time I go back? (they're next to Costco so I tend to stick my head in whenever I get gas)

 

[signcrafter]

I just googled "asahi wrenches" and says they're a japanese tool maker for the last 90 years. No clue if they are any good or not but guessing if you google it you should find more info about them.

 

[ronkz650]

I have a lot of Asahi. They are top quality as most Japanese tools are. Some of the ratchets are Taiwan made, but all or most of the other tools are Japan made. For the price they are excellent.

 

[bwringer]

Yeah, they're an excellent quality Japanese brand.

Were they regular ol' combo wrenches?

Asahi is known for their "Lightool" wrenches, sort of a skeletonized version good for situations like motorcycle tool kits where weight matters. But they also make "normal" tools.

 

[KnurledNut]

I come across their older wrenches occasionally and always pass.
Regardless of brand, if it doesn't have rounded points on the box end I pass 99% of the time.
If I came across modern Asahi second-hand, I would grab it in a heartbeat.

 

[cherrybomb]

Yeah, they're an excellent quality Japanese brand.

Were they regular ol' combo wrenches?

Asahi is known for their "Lightool" wrenches, sort of a skeletonized version good for situations like motorcycle tool kits where weight matters. But they also make "normal" tools.

I was intrigued by the 'Lighttool design also.From Palmac I ordered a 11-13 and a 12-14 both the double open end combo.We go a couple of times a year to N.Z to see the Grandkids and family.They are fine wrenches,strong and pass a Japanese strength test.I have a 4 wheeler I check over.The S.I.L has some less than ideal Stanley tools in the plastic case,if you know what I mean.
N.Z. uses sizes 10-13-16-18 so that's my experiment for next time.The bad thing they don't at this time show a 16-18.
The 11mm. opening is .434 and so as we all know 7/16 and 11mm are only .003 different.MyAsahi 11mm. fits every 1/4 fastener I have,so it does double duty.
I don't have any of their normal wrenches,but I highly recommend and am real happy with this purchase.The Japanese strength test and the reputation of the quality from Japan gave me confidence to purchase at a very reasonable price.I also figured 90 years making tools,they must know a little bit.

 

[Dave455]

They’re a good quality, slightly niche, manufacturer.

Their best quality tools are probably their “Revowave“ wrenches - very nice indeed.

They offer socket wrenches and accessories in the same line too.

Their hex keys are among the best out there. Very high quality, and some unique designs.


And they also offer a lot of specialised wrenches, such as these single box end obstruction wrenches.


I’ve seen some of their older wrenches which, although very nicely finished, were a sort of “raised panel” design, something like the old Craftsman, and they didn’t really do it for me.

 

[yatg]

good beer too

 

[Phang]

very high quality tyre gauge/inflator too

 

[Hakeem]

very high quality tyre gauge/inflator too

Looks similar if not identical to my Flexzilla:



It is a great inflator, I will agree.

 

[Phang]

Looks similar if not identical to my Flexzilla:


It is a great inflator, I will agree.

I think Asahi tyre inflator and beer may not related to the Asahi tools of this thread

Asahi (morning sun) is a common name/brand in Japan

just like you can find more than a dozen of unrelated products and companies bearing the name "Solis"

 

[cherrybomb]

I bought my Asahi wrenches from Palmac, is their any where else to purchase them?

 

[Steel_Rain]

Huge fan, these have been excellent:

 

[NFT5]

Almost exactly 50 years ago I bought a set of Asahi (aka ASH) 3/8" sockets. In the early years they had a serious workout, doing stuff that should have been the task of 1/2" drive, but never complained nor failed. These days the only thing wrong is that a roll pin in a handle is a bit loose and I need to replace......one day. Not that long after I bought a set of R&OE spanners of the same brand and they also have come through unscathed.

When I bought them they were mid-range priced and I'd say mid-range quality, but they've held up very well. I do like that the stylists seem to have waved their magic wand over some of Asahi's newer stuff. It looks good enough to last another 50 years.

 

[n8n]

Yeah, they're an excellent quality Japanese brand.

Were they regular ol' combo wrenches?

Asahi is known for their "Lightool" wrenches, sort of a skeletonized version good for situations like motorcycle tool kits where weight matters. But they also make "normal" tools.

Yes, looking in the bin of loose tools I originally thought they were S-Ks, they are 100% normal looking raised panel wrenches, like Craftsman but with shinier chrome.

Only thing I associate with the Asahi name is beer, but I guess they are diversified

 

[n8n]

Well they were still there so I bought them. Also bought a TON of Xcelite stuff, a set of little mini nut drivers and a "99" set of tools and a handle sadly missing the roll however. Had I found this a while back I could have saved some money as it looks like the nut drivers for the 99 are hollow shaft so I wouldn't have had to buy a lot of tools that I did for work.

I didn't need any of this stuff I am just a sucker I guess.

 

[four.cycle]

Asahi / Asahi Tool / https://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/ / http://alloy-artifacts.org/japanese-tool-makers.html#asahi /

 

[tak1313]

My dad had an Asahi Pentax camera that he handed down to me, which eventually became Honeywell Pentax, which I believe was bought by Ricoh and just marketed as "Pentax" cameras. I believe Asahi was one of those big conglomerates in its day, getting their hands into everything.

 

[jayemm]

My dad had an Asahi Pentax camera that he handed down to me, which eventually became Honeywell Pentax, which I believe was bought by Ricoh and just marketed as "Pentax" cameras. I believe Asahi was one of those big conglomerates in its day, getting their hands into everything.

I bought my Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SLR in Japan at the Navy Exchange in the early '70's. My recollection is that Honeywell only marketed it in the USA but didn't own Asahi Optical Company. At the time some Pioneer electronics was sold in the USA under the Roberts name. And Japanese Victor Company (RCA of Japan) electronics was sold as Nivico (Nippon Victor Co.) in Japan and as JVC in the USA. I don't recall any Ricoh and AOC relationship but that was a long time ago.

 

[tak1313]

I bought my Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SLR in Japan at the Navy Exchange in the early '70's. My recollection is that Honeywell only marketed it in the USA but didn't own Asahi Optical Company. At the time some Pioneer electronics was sold in the USA under the Roberts name. And Japanese Victor Company (RCA of Japan) electronics was sold as Nivico (Nippon Victor Co.) in Japan and as JVC in the USA. I don't recall any Ricoh and AOC relationship but that was a long time ago.

Possibly - it was so long ago, I just remember a name change. The one my dad handed down to me was pre-spotmatic. I used to use a handheld exposure meter for settings plus guestimating most times (because of how cumbersome it was to use a meter THEN set the exposure THEN take the shot). It's pretty heavy, being all metal - nothing like the mostly plastic stuff these days. It still works great and even the exposure curtain is intact. I only had one lens for it - a 50mm, so everything was framed by moving closer or further away (I was the "zoom lens").

 

[n8n]

My dad had an Asahi Pentax camera that he handed down to me, which eventually became Honeywell Pentax, which I believe was bought by Ricoh and just marketed as "Pentax" cameras. I believe Asahi was one of those big conglomerates in its day, getting their hands into everything.

Funny you should mention that. My dad had (I think he probably sadly donated it to Goodwill or something) a 35mm SLR branded "Ricoh" and it was the only one I'd ever seen. Possibly was really a Pentax design?

 

[tak1313]

Funny you should mention that. My dad had (I think he probably sadly donated it to Goodwill or something) a 35mm SLR branded "Ricoh" and it was the only one I'd ever seen. Possibly was really a Pentax design?

Hard to say - my recollection was that when Ricoh marketed Pentax cameras, the cameras were just labeled "Pentax," but that was so long ago. I also recall Ricoh having their own line of cameras under the Ricoh name - but don't remember the timeline. I only remember one model - the XR7. It was a pretty good camera at the time (though Nikon/Canon were the kings for 35mm...then there was Hasselblad which has become even crazier expensive since they went digital).



And I believe those prices are WITHOUT lens.

 

[n8n]

Hard to say - my recollection was that when Ricoh marketed Pentax cameras, the cameras were just labeled "Pentax," but that was so long ago. I also recall Ricoh having their own line of cameras under the Ricoh name - but don't remember the timeline. I only remember one model - the XR7. It was a pretty good camera at the time (though Nikon/Canon were the kings for 35mm...then there was Hasselblad which has become even crazier expensive since they went digital).



And I believe those prices are WITHOUT lens.

yeah I don't think it would command those prices

I just wondered why when he went to buy a "nice" camera he bought Ricoh because even as a kid, I'd recognize probably Nikon (thanks to Paul Simon), Canon, Pentax, not sure if I'd have recognized any others. Obviously I knew Ricoh made copiers but didn't really think of them as a camera manufacturer. I have no idea if the lenses interchanged with Pentax or not and as I say I think he probably sadly got rid of it. I want to say he had a Nikkor zoom lens but I would never actually swear to that in a court of law.

This would have been late 70s, early 80s if my memory is correct. Definitely pre-AF era, so I got to learn how to use the light meters, focus, etc. A completely useless skill today...

 

[tak1313]

yeah I don't think it would command those prices

I just wondered why when he went to buy a "nice" camera he bought Ricoh because even as a kid, I'd recognize probably Nikon (thanks to Paul Simon), Canon, Pentax, not sure if I'd have recognized any others. Obviously I knew Ricoh made copiers but didn't really think of them as a camera manufacturer. I have no idea if the lenses interchanged with Pentax or not and as I say I think he probably sadly got rid of it. I want to say he had a Nikkor zoom lens but I would never actually swear to that in a court of law.

This would have been late 70s, early 80s if my memory is correct. Definitely pre-AF era, so I got to learn how to use the light meters, focus, etc. A completely useless skill today...

Even the Zone System (ala Ansel Adams) no longer applies because of the different dynamic ranges of image chips compared to film - though I read a few weeks ago that film is making a comeback.

 

[cherrybomb]

Are we sure that the cameras are coming from the same company that the wrenches come from or did they expand their product lines?

 

[n8n]

I'm honestly not sure. What does seem to be clear is that the brewing company has nothing to do with tools or cameras.

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/2b6xfz