Japanese hex keys with a neat twist

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Batmanacw

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I found an interesting booth at the AWFS woodworking show in Vegas this year.

Eight tools is a Japanese company that specializes in hex keys and hex sockets. I immediately noticed their ball ends were different. They call them taper ends instead of ball ends. They are definitely not a standard ball end hex key.

The salesman steered me to the website after I had already bought a set of SAE hex keys off Ebay. Cheaper on the website.

https://tbgarizona.com/

The interesting difference is that a standard ball end pulls out of the hole at the greatest angle they work at. The Eight brand taper end grips inside the fastener tighter. I did not expect that.

Bondhus has been very good for me for decades.

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Bondhus next to Eight

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Full angle. The Eight grips harder at full angle. Very interesting design. The Eight set actually comes with pipes to put on the short end.

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I dug my favorite metric Wera Hex Plus set out of my travel toolbox and looked at the difference.

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It seems that the taper results in much more contact inside the socket. I'm extremely impressed with the design so I thought I would share a really neat product.

I ordered a metric set off the website today after testing the new set I bought on Ebay.
 

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That design might be stronger than the traditional version. I've broken off more than one of the ball-end allen keys over the years. Like usual, the ones that break seem to be the most-often used ones so that really affects the usability of the set.

Thanks for the info!
 
homebrewed said:
That design might be stronger than the traditional version. I've broken off more than one of the ball-end allen keys over the years. Like usual, the ones that break seem to be the most-often used ones so that really affects the usability of the set.

Thanks for the info!
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It is notable that the manufacturer provides a pipe to use on the short end. It doesn't seem to worry them much.
 
I'm dying to try out the metric set that just came in. They are the only ball type that you can insert and torque sideways and they not only do not come out, but they don't cam out at all. Crazy.

I included a Vessel JIS no2 Phillips I bought to play with.

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I have the #1 and #2 Vessel JIS screwdrivers. They are worth their weight in gold. They don't cam out of JIS screws. Most Chinese screws that look like Philips are actually JIS. Use the Vessel screwdrivers on them, and you will be surprised. The steel still stinks on the (cheap Chinese) screws, but the Vessel screw drivers work on them. (Up until the steel yields...)

Those hex wrenches look mighty nice.
 
Mauzinette said:
I’m a huge fan of Eight tools. Their marketing is on par with their craftsmanship.


This video is an audiovisual masterpiece :chunky:
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I am definitely becoming a big fan. Japan makes some really excellent tools. My Nepros ratchets are almost too beautiful to use. The Koken ratchets have extremely low backdrag. The Koken Zeal sockets are very low profile and very thin. Extremely handy. I've got two Vessel screwdrivers and a Lobster brand adjustable wrench. Great stuff.
 
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