SMKS
Well-known member
I've been getting some new things, so I'll update this first post with the new pics.
I’ve recently been buying Truecraft tools. For those who don’t know, these were tools sold by Daido Corporation, a Japanese company. The tools were mostly made in Japan, with some made in the USA or Spain. According to Alloy Artifacts, Daido closed down the brand around 2000. Most of the tools you’ll see will be NOS that are being sold by liquidators.
Alloy Artifacts has a little info on the company.
Link to Truecraft article.
Wrenches
I saw this Japanese-made metric wrench set at a swap meet, but didn’t buy it. I regretted not picking it up, so I bought it about a month later when I went back and the seller still had it. It goes from 8mm - 22mm. It didn’t have the 20mm or 18mm. I’ve since found an 18mm, but it’s not polished like the rest. I replaced the 20mm with a KD full polish, which is just about the right length and fits the set very well.
These wrenches have a nicely polished finish. They are NOS, so they have some storage wear. They are made in Japan. They have a box end that appears very similar to the Bonney Loc-Rite design. I believe this wrench set was produced in the brand’s later years, as older Truecraft wrenches don’t have a Flank-Drive style box end.
Also, Truecraft sold some wrenches that were made by the Spanish tool company Palmera, which is now owned by Snap-On. These wrenches are an older design and don't have off-corner engagement on the box end.
Ratchets
Truecraft offered several styles of ratchets. All the ones I’ve seen in person were made in Japan, but I’ve seen a couple Spanish ratchets on ebay.
This is the course-tooth round head model. These have about 43 teeth. They are a simple design, but appear well made.
The ratchets are also quite long. My Wright 3490 was my longest ⅜” drive ratchet, but the Truecraft is just as long. They are just over 7-3/4” long.
I recently got a really cool Truecraft 1/2" drive ratchet. It's a fine-tooth design with around 72 clicks per revolution.
It appears this ratchet was made for Daido by TOP, a Japanese tool company. TOP still makes tools. In fact, Level Chrome sells this exact ratchet for $39. http://www.levelchrome.com/TOP-RH4-12-Drive-Ratchet-_p_241.html
Anyway, here are pics of the Truecraft 40133 ratchet. It has a FACOM-style single-pawl design.
Sockets
I bought two socket sets from a company called Satco Supply. The sockets turned out to be USA made.
All the Truecraft sockets I’ve found were either made in the USA or made in Japan. Some of the older Japanese sockets don’t have off-corner engagement. The newer, USA-made sockets appear to have been made by Danaher. These sockets appear to be the same as the Craftsman/KD/Allen/NAPA sockets that Danaher produced.
Left to right:
Truecraft Japan
Truecraft USA
Craftsman
The last two pics compare the Truecraft USA to the Craftsman socket.
I also like Truecraft extension. They're simple but appear well made. All the extensions I've seen are made in Japan.
I’ve recently been buying Truecraft tools. For those who don’t know, these were tools sold by Daido Corporation, a Japanese company. The tools were mostly made in Japan, with some made in the USA or Spain. According to Alloy Artifacts, Daido closed down the brand around 2000. Most of the tools you’ll see will be NOS that are being sold by liquidators.
Alloy Artifacts has a little info on the company.
Link to Truecraft article.
Wrenches
I saw this Japanese-made metric wrench set at a swap meet, but didn’t buy it. I regretted not picking it up, so I bought it about a month later when I went back and the seller still had it. It goes from 8mm - 22mm. It didn’t have the 20mm or 18mm. I’ve since found an 18mm, but it’s not polished like the rest. I replaced the 20mm with a KD full polish, which is just about the right length and fits the set very well.
These wrenches have a nicely polished finish. They are NOS, so they have some storage wear. They are made in Japan. They have a box end that appears very similar to the Bonney Loc-Rite design. I believe this wrench set was produced in the brand’s later years, as older Truecraft wrenches don’t have a Flank-Drive style box end.
Also, Truecraft sold some wrenches that were made by the Spanish tool company Palmera, which is now owned by Snap-On. These wrenches are an older design and don't have off-corner engagement on the box end.
Ratchets
Truecraft offered several styles of ratchets. All the ones I’ve seen in person were made in Japan, but I’ve seen a couple Spanish ratchets on ebay.
This is the course-tooth round head model. These have about 43 teeth. They are a simple design, but appear well made.
The ratchets are also quite long. My Wright 3490 was my longest ⅜” drive ratchet, but the Truecraft is just as long. They are just over 7-3/4” long.
I recently got a really cool Truecraft 1/2" drive ratchet. It's a fine-tooth design with around 72 clicks per revolution.
It appears this ratchet was made for Daido by TOP, a Japanese tool company. TOP still makes tools. In fact, Level Chrome sells this exact ratchet for $39. http://www.levelchrome.com/TOP-RH4-12-Drive-Ratchet-_p_241.html
Anyway, here are pics of the Truecraft 40133 ratchet. It has a FACOM-style single-pawl design.
Sockets
I bought two socket sets from a company called Satco Supply. The sockets turned out to be USA made.
All the Truecraft sockets I’ve found were either made in the USA or made in Japan. Some of the older Japanese sockets don’t have off-corner engagement. The newer, USA-made sockets appear to have been made by Danaher. These sockets appear to be the same as the Craftsman/KD/Allen/NAPA sockets that Danaher produced.
Left to right:
Truecraft Japan
Truecraft USA
Craftsman
The last two pics compare the Truecraft USA to the Craftsman socket.
I also like Truecraft extension. They're simple but appear well made. All the extensions I've seen are made in Japan.
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