Tools of Japan

[gbh]

Picked this up yesterday for ¥500.

 

[Cwalter]

<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/1-FUJIYA.JPG">

<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/6357.JPG">

<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/6358.JPG">
Fujiya 3000Z.





<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/ARM.JPG">

<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/ARM%20RC-8.JPG">
ARM RC-8


<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/DSC05786.JPG">
Taiyo Picus locking pliers.


<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/1-set.JPG">

<img border=0 src="http://matchbox.persiangig.com/2-set.JPG">
Flag & Koken adapter ratchet.

 

[Cf mtn]

drove past a garage sale yesterday and picked these up. looked online and couldn't find anything. tried to search this tread and not sure how to do it? so i'm goin to go ahead and ask, does anybody have any info on these? "sanyo", look like ignition wrenches? missing a couple.

 

[mercucho]

Tenyo mini pliers TMT-02.

 

[BigEarn86]

Bosch ixo 5

Picked this up from the local equivalent to Home Depot here in Okinawa for ($45 USD). I am finally back from my four month trip to Australia.

And this was from a larger store that is similar to a Walmart with at least a couple 100 thousand sku's ($17 USD).

Hope everyone is doing well. I am getting excited about GJSS!

 

[superautobacs]

Where are you bacs? I'm pretty sure Superautobacs says in a video on his YouTube channel that Tone ratchets are Taiwanese. I think Tone ratchets just say "Japan" and not "Made in Japan"

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Yup, mentioned many moons ago. First time here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4954277&postcount=1149

 

[superautobacs]

Some tools in action that I never posted:


Here's a scenario where a low profile bit ratchet really shined. To remove this one T-30 torx screw, there's a heat shield that's in the way, preventing the use of a regular 1/4 drive bit socket, or even a standard Torx L-key (a stubby type that PB-Swiss offers would probably work).

This first photo illustrates the use of perhaps the most common bit ratchet made in Taiwan, which is sold around the world under different name brands. In my case, it's a SBD brand: MAC
It's mated with standard MAC/Facom 1" length T-30 bit.
It works, but clearance is still pretty tight as you can see:





Next is the same bit ratchet, but with a Anex stubby T-30 bit. With this combination, I can engage the screw squarely.





The best combination was with the Anex super low-profile bit ratchet with their own stubby bits. The benefit is two-fold: more clearance equates to ratcheting the fastener for longer during removal; being able to start the ratcheting of the fastener sooner during install.:







Looking down into the engine bay, I'm accessing a high-pressure fuel line fitting located in a severely confined location using a Tone flex flare-nut socket with Ko-ken Zeal universal socket:







The combo:
Here again, the sprung design of the Ko-ken universal socket is hugely beneficial as it doesn't flop around loose, making it more difficult to engage the flare fitting.






Here, the KTC ProFit, angle head spanner was better suited than a standard
spanner/combi wrench as it gave me better knuckle clearance from the two fuel lines:








Using the Tone 1/2 drive in 3/8 body stubby ratchet to drive out/in a crankshaft radial seal. No need for a large ratchet, but requires a 27mm socket to work the SST tool:

 

[Fedwrench]

You have got to be the master of difficult repair situations using obscure (at least to me) Asian made tools. That short 1/2 drive in a 3/8 body ratchet is pretty sweet.

Thanks for sharing

 

[gbh]

Today's purchase. A beefy little kindling splitter, a 300mm hand saw and a variable size hole saw.

 

[rhandwor]

What Happened to Frank I'm still waiting one tool ordered in February and one in March I emailed him twice following up he replies but still no tools. I think Koken is still in business. Did Frank leave Koken?

 

[ricleh]

What Happened to Frank I'm still waiting one tool ordered in February and one in March I emailed him twice following up he replies but still no tools. I think Koken is still in business. Did Frank leave Koken?

He was having a lot of trouble with Koken not shipping his orders.

 

[Reed Prince]

Looks like Engineer just came out with a Vice-Grip style Neji-saurus.

 

[Fedwrench]

What Happened to Frank I'm still waiting one tool ordered in February and one in March I emailed him twice following up he replies but still no tools. I think Koken is still in business. Did Frank leave Koken?

i just emailed Frank's Tools about Tone ratchet pricing and availability after seeing the action shots above. He replied quickly that he's relocated to New Hampshire and no longer carries Tone ratchets.
I think my source for Japanese tools may be drying up

 

[losvre]

Some tools in action that I never posted:


Here's a scenario where a low profile bit ratchet really shined. To remove this one T-30 torx screw, there's a heat shield that's in the way, preventing the use of a regular 1/4 drive bit socket, or even a standard Torx L-key (a stubby type that PB-Swiss offers would probably work).

This first photo illustrates the use of perhaps the most common bit ratchet made in Taiwan, which is sold around the world under different name brands. In my case, it's a SBD brand: MAC
It's mated with standard MAC/Facom 1" length T-30 bit.
It works, but clearance is still pretty tight as you can see:


The best combination was with the Anex super low-profile bit ratchet with their own stubby bits. The benefit is two-fold: more clearance equates to ratcheting the fastener for longer during removal; being able to start the ratcheting of the fastener sooner during install.:

Hi superautobacs,

You look like a surgeon rather than a mechanic

What car(s) do you mostly work on?

How is the ANEX compares to the Facom clone ratchet? e.g. drag, feeling and slopiness when engaging the teeth?

Thank you

 

[losvre]

Draper made in Japan?


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[dutchgray]

Lots of Japan Draper out there, its probably 80's to mid 90's and wasn't the total rubbish draper is today, but isn't anything special, bar a few good items, such as Japanese auger bits, I have a single one and its the best auger I own. Draper is just a branding company but there was a time when they were branded decent stuff.

 

[SantaAna12]

Thanks!

Love this thread.

 

[losvre]

Lots of Japan Draper out there, its probably 80's to mid 90's and wasn't the total rubbish draper is today, but isn't anything special, bar a few good items, such as Japanese auger bits, I have a single one and its the best auger I own. Draper is just a branding company but there was a time when they were branded decent stuff.

Thanks for the input. Since I joined GJ I don't buy anything I don't know where is made in.

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[Strouty]

If anyone finds a good source for that tone 1/2 - 3/8 ratchet post the link here. I would like one, I keep bugging the Snap On rep to make one.

 

[zktk01]

Koken
3/8 12pt Metric Sockets
3/8 Zeal set
1/4 zeal set
1/4 surface drive set
3/8 Ratchet

 

[dutchgray]

If anyone finds a good source for that tone 1/2 - 3/8 ratchet post the link here. I would like one, I keep bugging the Snap On rep to make one.

https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/mutsuura/item/10338350/

Obviously shipping is not going to be cheap, but its small so it shouldn't be to bad.

 

[beefcake]

If anyone finds a good source for that tone 1/2 - 3/8 ratchet post the link here. I would like one, I keep bugging the Snap On rep to make one.

There is one on ebay, pretty expensive though http://www.ebay.com/itm/TONE-1-2-inch-SHORT-RATCHET-HANDLE-RH4CHS-MADE-IN-JAPAN-/172893353310?hash=item28413f355e:g:tVcAAOSw7GRZAYgG

 

[Strouty]

Thanks guys, the one on eBay doesn’t seem ridiculously priced.

 

[losvre]

Thanks guys, the one on eBay doesn’t seem ridiculously priced.

It is advertised "made in Japan"; from what people have said in here I believe they are made in Taiwan!



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[Joweebananas]

my paint gun is from japan. anest iwata ls400 entech with a 1.4 tip. sprays base & clear very well.

 

[Moto77]

Hey Strouty,

I usually buy from this seller on Rakuten

https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/mutsuura/item/10338350/

 

[theoldwizard1]

Losvre, I've gotten years of use out of my saws. Most people here would replace rather than try to sharpen because the blades are cheap.

Finding someplace that can properly sharpen and "set" a standard hand saw is difficult these days. Finding someone who know how to deal with the Japanese "pull cut" blade may be impossible.

As mentioned, the blades last a long time and are not overly expensive.

 

[superautobacs]

You have got to be the master of difficult repair situations using obscure (at least to me) Asian made tools. That short 1/2 drive in a 3/8 body ratchet is pretty sweet.

Thanks for sharing

I sometimes feel a little bit of guilt when I show these obscure tools and realize that there's going to be people out there who really want it, but may get dejected by the fact that they can't source them online like they could do with many other familiar brands.

Hi superautobacs,

You look like a surgeon rather than a mechanic

What car(s) do you mostly work on?

How is the ANEX compares to the Facom clone ratchet? e.g. drag, feeling and slopiness when engaging the teeth?

Thank you

Things tend to be so cramped in the engine bays of current BMW's, you have to work like a surgeon sometimes.

The Anex bit ratchet and the Reverse Gear/Hi-Five bit ratchets are essentially the same type of mechanism so they feel very similar out of the box. The difference will come from the tolerance range within the spring.....the spring that pushes the floating pawl against the gear, which directly correlates with the amount of backdrag.

When I feel that the backdrag is too heavy (the spring being too stiff for my liking), I tend to modify the spring to fine tune the amount of backdrag. I did that with the Anex bit ratchets and the Tone ratchet as they came with too much backdrag for my liking.

Today's purchase. A beefy little kindling splitter, a 300mm hand saw and a variable size hole saw.

The photo attachments are nice and large now!
Have you used the hole saw yet? If yes, any opinions? Is it made by Kanzawa?

Finding someplace that can properly sharpen and "set" a standard hand saw is difficult these days. Finding someone who know how to deal with the Japanese "pull cut" blade may be impossible.

As mentioned, the blades last a long time and are not overly expensive.

Gone are those days when saw blades were fully hand set by many skilled craftsman and there was a equal need for many skilled craftsmen to re-set the blades. The number of people who do it today are probably doing it to keep the tradition afloat, and to fulfill the requirements for when restorations are needed for certain national treasures, like Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, castles, pagodas, and other historically important wooden structures and monuments. Such restorations may stipulate that all work performed for the restoration be done my traditional methods and tools, including handsaws which must be fully handcrafted.


Speaking of fully handcrafted handsaws and setting the teeth:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WPvJwvqAOJs?rel=0&start=58" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Tuc04]

Thanks guys, the one on eBay doesn’t seem ridiculously priced.

Amazon has it. Free shipping as well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIDFQLK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Strouty]

I don’t know why that didn’t pop up in my search. Thanks!

 

[SantaAna12]

T.One equals Tone on that Amazon link?

 

[Fedwrench]

I don’t know why that didn’t pop up in my search. Thanks!

Instead of Tone, Amazon has it as T.one

 

[Strouty]

I guess that would explain it.

 

[Tuc04]

Instead of Tone, Amazon has it as T.one

I've noticed that with Amazon. I've bought some Koken and Asahi from them and the brands were wrong, but the part numbers and description were correct.

 

[General Geoff]

Does anyone know what kind of mechanism the Koken ZEAL universal joints use (specifically in 3/8" and 1/4")? Are they pinned or do they have lugs like the Armstrong/GearWrench U-joints?

 

[mercucho]

Speaking of fully handcrafted handsaws and setting the teeth:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WPvJwvqAOJs?rel=0&start=58" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Awesome this video.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[texchappy]

Finding someplace that can properly sharpen and "set" a standard hand saw is difficult these days. Finding someone who know how to deal with the Japanese "pull cut" blade may be impossible.

As mentioned, the blades last a long time and are not overly expensive.

Western saws are dead simple and require minimal/inexpensive sharpening gear. Japanese saws are more complex but doable with the right gear and research. However, if you've spent the money on a non-hardened ryoba that can be sharpened it might be best to have it professionally done. The vast majority of pull saws from Japan have electrically hardened teeth and cannot be sharpened but the replacement blades are cheap.

 

[losvre]

it is possibly best to have both! I actually have "Western" style pull sawa from my grand father that can be re-sharpened very quick.

They were mostly used for pruning trees as they are a bit rough compared to the latest Japanese, I think.

I will post some fotos later


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[noid]

Some pictures from a recent trip to Japan.

The attached pictures are from Megaweb Toyota in Tokyo. Was interesting to find that KTC/Nepros was the racing tool partner of Toyota.

I also had the chance to check out World Import tools (where I bought some koken tools) and some other local tool stores.


I gained a huge respect for Japanese tools after that trip; very high quality. Japan in general is very orderly, clean, and dependable. Its actually difficult to find cheap tools, most everything you readily find is high quality. The philosophy I get is that its better to buy the individual size of socket, driver, or wrench you need if you cant afford it, rather than buying a full set of cheap tools.

I got some Koken wobble extensions and I dont think any other tool maker has anything close to how nice these are. My preferred brand now for socket related tools.

 

[Qualitytools]

Some pictures from a recent trip to Japan.

The attached pictures are from Megaweb Toyota in Tokyo. Was interesting to find that KTC/Nepros was the racing tool partner of Toyota.

I also had the chance to check out World Import tools (where I bought some koken tools) and some other local tool stores.


I gained a huge respect for Japanese tools after that trip; very high quality. Japan in general is very orderly, clean, and dependable. Its actually difficult to find cheap tools, most everything you readily find is high quality. The philosophy I get is that its better to buy the individual size of socket, driver, or wrench you need if you cant afford it, rather than buying a full set of cheap tools.

I got some Koken wobble extensions and I dont think any other tool maker has anything close to how nice these are. My preferred brand now for socket related tools.

Thanks for Sharing, that's awesome!