Tools of Japan

[davethorik]

Here is a vintage dial caliper I thought I'd add to the thread. I'd guess 70's era Mitutoyo #505-629 4" dial caliper w/ case. I like these because they are all steel, no plastic here (except the bezel).

Mitutoyo's dial calipers are very good. I prefer their Japan-made units to U.S. made Starretts. I have another 12" set with matching .200" sweep, unfortunately no pics of that one.

 

[Van Steele]

I don't own too many Japanese tools, but the few I do have, I like a lot. First is a set of Lobster-brand combination wrenches, 6-22 mm. Not sure if they're super high quality or not, but I've never had any issues with rounding, bending, or chrome chipping, etc.

Next is a weird set of KBS Kobayashi metric flare nuts. Not sure why they're numbered the way the are: 19-17, 14-12, 13-11, 12-10, 11-10, 10-8. Anyone have any insight? Maybe I just have a very mixed set?

I love my Lobster SS combination spanners, It's a constant struggle between them and the Stahlwille 14's for a spot in my little service cart. That may change when a set of Asahi Revowaves arrives.

The Kobayashi FNW's seem like a mix of sizes for DIN-type fasteners and for JIS-type fasteners. BTW, are you're missing the 16x18 to complete the series?

 

[Applesauce]

I love my Lobster SS combination spanners, It's a constant struggle between them and the Stahlwille 14's for a spot in my little service cart.

Wow. Comparing them to Stahlwilles? Really?! That's cool! I really had no idea whether these were "good quality" or budget or what... I generally don't work tools hard enough - and I work on LOTS of aluminum fittings - to know if they're actually nice tools... Sad to say, I generally have to look at the price!

The Kobayashi FNW's seem like a mix of sizes for DIN-type fasteners and for JIS-type fasteners. BTW, are you're missing the 16x18 to complete the series?

Huh. I figured it was something like that. Now, where the hell am I going to get one of those...?

 

[porschedude996TT]

It is funny how times have changed. I recall the little "Made in Japan" stickers everything came with that was made in Japan when I was a kid. In those days that meant "Junk". Now so many years later, I would love to buy stuff made in Japan rather than "Made in China" But that too has changed to some degree. It seems that after the COO sells more they find a market for a higher quality "Widget" and I must admit that I have seen some pretty good work out of China. In the future we will be saying "I wish the US still made things..."

 

[NorthCountry]

Don't we already say it? Lol


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[Lexus]

The Koken Zeal 1/4 ratchet arrived today, it is SWEET!

The action is smooth like butter! Love this ratchet, now I just wish it was easier to get my hands on Koken tools!!

 

[dede2897234]

Lexus,

Can you please post a link to the seller's website and the price (including shipping) you paid for the Ko-ken Zeal ratchet?


Thanks.

Dave

 

[Stokes_]

Everything I have said is 100% fact. I'm not sure how you expect people to feel when you ignore them and you owe them a product or money. Send my wrench and when I receive it I will gladly post here that I received it.

Hope you're telling the truth, because I just ordered a ratchet and am now cancelling payment because of this.

 

[Lexus]

Lexus,

Can you please post a link to the seller's website and the price (including shipping) you paid for the Ko-ken Zeal ratchet?


Thanks.

Dave

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/4991644010189/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_en

$29.50

But since you have to pay for shipping from Japan (which is really not bad about $10) you may want to pick up a few items to get your shipping worth. The ratchet came fast too! Even though the ratchet is "36" tooth it doesnt feel like one, smooth like a fine tooth ratchet.

 

[dede2897234]

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/4991644010189/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_en

$29.50

But since you have to pay for shipping from Japan (which is really not bad about $10) you may want to pick up a few items to get your shipping worth. The ratchet came fast too! Even though the ratchet is "36" tooth it doesnt feel like one, smooth like a fine tooth ratchet.

Lexus,

Was the company representative's English skills on par with the representative from Nepros when communicating via e-mail?

Did your purchase from this company go smoothly? Would you buy from them again?


Thanks.


Dave

 

[Lexus]

Very smooth, email was in English (though there was Japanese text as well) and I will be buying again. Item took two days to process and three days after to reach my hands (would have been only two but the package missed its flight in Ohio and sayed an extra day there on its way direct from Japan).

Takes a week to get tools from the tool truck if you have to order so I must say shipping is very fast. I have also ordered tools from Nepros.net without a flaw as well. The Japanese in my opinion know what customer service is and have earned my future tool purchases!

The Koken ratchet came through DHL, tools ordered from Nepros.net came through Fedex.

 

[dede2897234]

Lexus,

Thanks for sharing your experience with a Rakuten store.

If your interested, you can read about my experience from a few years ago about my purchase experience with a Rakuten store called GoodLuck Japan (with pictures) here:
GoodLuck Japan.


Dave

 

[Lexus]

Thank you Dave for the link!

The seller I got the Koken ratchet from is Mutsuura Honten Co Ltd (Mutsuura is what they go by). They packaged the stuff I ordered in individual bags inside a sturdy box, also sent me a flier for Nepros tools, and sent me a Koken decal!!

I will be honest in that I was biting the bullet due to not being familiar with the website but am can say that is a very excellent site with excellent sellers.

 

[cosmik binturong]

got two order from Mutsuura and cannot recommend them enough for the quality of their packaging and the shipping time.

if you don't want to get stiffed with an abusive fee (21.00€ more in the pocket of EMS for doing what they're already paid to do: presenting your parcel to customs ) do not use EMS and ask by mail *before* placing your order for SAL shipping. you'll still pay the taxes and all but not get gouged by those EMS bastards.

regarding buying japanese tools from american sources, i'm still waiting for an answer from Frankstools(maybe too busy for a couple wrenches) as for Levelchrome, i received a parcel missing some parts on my first order and am still waiting for their reply (well, not really anymore, but who knows, they might still get back to me one day) and a pricing offer on some stuff direct from Japan to compensate for the missing tools.

good thing is that i should thnak them for that since i ordered what i didn't receive and then more from the kind folks at Mutsuura instead.

 

[Lexus]

Mitutoyo goods:

 

[Stokes_]

Who makes the better ratchets, Koken or KTC? Looking at the Koken Z-EAL.

 

[Applesauce]

Very smooth, email was in English (though there was Japanese text as well) and I will be buying again. Item took two days to process and three days after to reach my hands (would have been only two but the package missed its flight in Ohio and sayed an extra day there on its way direct from Japan).

Takes a week to get tools from the tool truck if you have to order so I must say shipping is very fast. I have also ordered tools from Nepros.net without a flaw as well. The Japanese in my opinion know what customer service is and have earned my future tool purchases!

The Koken ratchet came through DHL, tools ordered from Nepros.net came through Fedex.

I'm thinking pretty hard about ordering some bits and pieces from this vendor, but Rakuten is one of the dodgiest looking sites I've seen in a while. Starting at the root, I can't actually find those Koken Zeal ratchets: I have to follow your link! I'm impressed you managed, and then went out on the limb ordering from them! I guess that's why our credit cards are insured... Thanks for posting your experiences.

 

[cosmik binturong]

what's so hard? *click!* 'n *click!*

do you, perchance, know of a small site devoted to online search called Google?

methinks it is quite nifty for that kind of endeavour...

really.

 

[Lexus]

Ko-ken zeal all the way, much smoother action on it.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

Sent from my HTC Rezound using Tapatalk

 

[Lexus]

Another Ko-ken arrival today, 1/4 Zeal set... This stuff is AWESOME!! Same seller, included more decals! Top notch service!

 

[dede2897234]

Lexus,

What was the total cost (including shipping) for the 1/4" drive Zeal set?


Thanks.


Dave

 

[Lexus]

There are two different sets, this is the smaller one, with shipping cost: $101.18 (the set was about $87 which includes the low profile sockets, ratchet, spinner, and magnetic socket holder (which is a really strong magnet)).

Now remember that a new Snap-on T72 ratchet currently costs $74.95 just for that ratchet alone....

Again for international shipping that is insured its not too shabby. I will try to get a picture of a comparison of the ratchet/socket combo of the Ko-ken vs the Snap-on T72 with a Snap-on socket of 10mm side by side.

 

[Van Steele]

3 and 5 mm Toyota branded pin punches.

They don't half look familiar.

 

[Lexus]

Im jealous!!!!

 

[Stokes_]

My Koken ratchet just arrived in the mail! Came home from work during lunch just to pick it up so I can use it at work today!

 

[RCStocker]

Japan makes great tools. Even the old $3 socket sets did their job in the day. If they fell off the boat you really did not loose anything. LOL
Now they make great tools.

 

[CanUK]

3 and 5 mm Toyota branded pin punches.

They don't half look familiar.

Those are interesting. I don't watch this thread terribly closely -what make are they re-brands of? Did you order direct from Toyota?

Edit: Found a pic of them as KTC. Still curious about ordering from Toyota though

 

[Van Steele]

Those are interesting. I don't watch this thread terribly closely -what make are they re-brands of? Did you order direct from Toyota?

Edit: Found a pic of them as KTC. Still curious about ordering from Toyota though

Yep, you can get them from their parts department. These are the "new part number" ones and they're slightly different from the "old" ones - the tip on the 3 mm is now longer.
They are different again compared against the KTC ones - their 3 mm has a shorter tip whilst the 5 mm has a longer body.

Im jealous!!!!

Somehow I was under the impression you worked at Lexus/Toyota. If so it should be a doddle for you to get your mitts on them.

 

[Lexus]

Somehow I was under the impression you worked at Lexus/Toyota. If so it should be a doddle for you to get your mitts on them.

I used to work for a Toyota dealer but still have the brand running through my veins.

 

[Lexus]

My Koken ratchet just arrived in the mail! Came home from work during lunch just to pick it up so I can use it at work today!

Pics when you get it!!

 

[Nocturnal-G]

I just got all my Koken stuff too. I'm impressed... this stuff is like gold! Pictures coming soon.

 

[CanUK]

Yep, you can get them from their parts department. These are the "new part number" ones and they're slightly different from the "old" ones - the tip on the 3 mm is now longer.
They are different again compared against the KTC ones - their 3 mm has a shorter tip whilst the 5 mm has a longer body.

Brilliant thanks. Care to share the part numbers, or where to find the part numbers for their tools?

 

[Lexus]

I have attached a photo of the Ko-ken Zeal 1/4 ratchet with the Zeal 10mm socket (on the right) next to the Snap-on T72 with a short length 10mm socket (left)

^_^

 

[Van Steele]

Brilliant thanks. Care to share the part numbers, or where to find the part numbers for their tools?

It's 09051-1C400 for the 3mm and 09051-1C410 for the 5mm.
You can find the part numbers for their tools in their SST-list booklets. You can download the latest one from toyota-tech.eu (I think it's in the free section).

I have attached a photo of the Ko-ken Zeal 1/4 ratchet with the Zeal 10mm socket (on the right) next to the Snap-on T72 with a short length 10mm socket (right)

^_^

Is it just for it's smoothness you prefer the Z-EAL over the Nepros? Or is there anything else that sets it apart? I have a 36-tooth Nepros and it's by far the nicest 1/4" I own but wouldn't mind adding a Z-EAL if it's worth it.

 

[Lexus]

It's 09051-1C400 for the 3mm and 09051-1C410 for the 5mm.
You can find the part numbers for their tools in their SST-list booklets. You can download the latest one from toyota-tech.eu (I think it's in the free section).



Is it just for it's smoothness you prefer the Z-EAL over the Nepros? Or is there anything else that sets it apart? I have a 36-tooth Nepros and it's by far the nicest 1/4" I own but wouldn't mind adding a Z-EAL if it's worth it.

The regular Ko-ken ratchets spin with less effort than the Nepros ratchet, the Ko-ken zeal ratchet spins with almost no effort. By far the zeal ratchet is the best feeling ratchet I own and that is compared to the older style Ko-ken, Nepros, Snap-on.

So the main things I like about the ratchet is obviously the action on it, the comfort handle, and it looks good doing the job!

 

[Van Steele]

The regular Ko-ken ratchets spin with less effort than the Nepros ratchet, the Ko-ken zeal ratchet spins with almost no effort. By far the zeal ratchet is the best feeling ratchet I own and that is compared to the older style Ko-ken, Nepros, Snap-on.

So the main things I like about the ratchet is obviously the action on it, the comfort handle, and it looks good doing the job!

Thanks for that. If they're that much better than the 'regular' Ko-ken ratchets then I'd better get on the blower to Consolidated Tools and see if they can get me one.

 

[Stokes_]

I have attached a photo of the Ko-ken Zeal 1/4 ratchet with the Zeal 10mm socket (on the right) next to the Snap-on T72 with a short length 10mm socket (right)

^_^

LOL, funny you should mention SO. I showed it off at work yesterday and compared it to a SO ratchet, it was like an infomercial being shot in my hangar. After some of the SO fanatics tried it out they walked away without saying a word.

 

[Lexus]

LOL, funny you should mention SO. I showed it off at work yesterday and compared it to a SO ratchet, it was like an infomercial being shot in my hangar. After some of the SO fanatics tried it out they walked away without saying a word.

Now you just need to show the ratchet with some Zeal sockets getting in those hard to reach areas!

Dont get me wrong, my Snap-on tools have served me well but I just wish I would have known about Ko-ken long ago.... Well currently working on a Ko-ken-collection.

Just placed an order on some Vessel JIS screwdrivers:

 

[CanUK]

It's 09051-1C400 for the 3mm and 09051-1C410 for the 5mm.
You can find the part numbers for their tools in their SST-list booklets. You can download the latest one from toyota-tech.eu (I think it's in the free section).

Thanks!