With regard to the wrenches and assuming you are referring to box/combination/open-end style wrenches – that's certainly something we need to work on now that we are no longer carrying KTC and nepros! Our current portfolio of brands does not offer those products so it would require selecting a new brand to fill that current gap. You all have any opinions here? Tone, Hazet, Stahlwille?
I’ve always been a bit wary of Tone.
They’ve produced some nice stuff for sure, but an awful lot of their line seems to be made in Taiwan now. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s no better, or worse, than any other reasonable Taiwan tool.
I think much of it sells in Japan, predominantly on price, but with shipping costs being related to weight / bulk, that price advantage will largely be negated by the time the tools hit the U.S.
Edit - there’s a discussion on the “Tools of Japan” forum re Tone’s ratchets. Tone claim they are made in Japan but how much is questioned!
For me, the stand out items from Tone are the unique tools. They produce an entire line of stainless steel tools, for example.
A friend has these plated impact sockets. They are electroless nickel if memory serves (so they don’t chip) and are superb in every respect.
The sets are geared to Japanese sizes though, and don’t include popular ISO sizes.
But you asked about wrenches and I can’t help much with those.
With regard to Asahi I have no doubts there.
Asahi produce some distinct lines. Their “Lightool” range are well known, and reasonably unique, but I think a lot of vendors stock them because they are inexpensive, and that shouldn’t be the main motivation. The Lightool ratchets are also made in Taiwan now.
The “Revowave” wrenches are lovely. Very rugged, uniquely styled, good value, and hard to find outside Japan. I would have no hesitation about keeping these.
I would also consider the hex keys. I’ve been intending posting about hex keys for a while, and although not well known, I think that the Asahi probably compete with PB Swiss for the very best available anywhere.
This isn’t apparent at first glance though. You have to look closely to see the quality, also some of the special / unique designs such as the retaining ball style
The short offset
Or the unique “Daxkey” which not only have each end offset at 90 degrees, but also the hex offset, so you can use them like a 4 way wrench when nothing else will fit.
The coloured keys are nice too, but much like PB Swiss it’s important to understand that these are not novelty items that sell because they are coloured, but rather that their “unique selling point” is their overall quality.
I’ll write you something about Hazet and Stahlwille later, when I’m at the shop and have them in front of me.
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