I'm looking for a store that sells a set of Kimony awls, other than GSS, which I think are a bit high. I'm looking for the complete set similar to the picture below but without the wooded box (though it would be nice).
I was on the Kimony site, and the suggested retail price is 2000 Yen each. With the US dollar being so weak, I'm realizing $20 each, though pretty high for one awl, is a fair price. They are high quality. I have a similar set of the regular awls I got with a Prince tool set. They used to sell the set in the wooden box (pictured in my first post), but that included a set of pathfinder awls.
I finally got the Kimony Awls I ordered from GSS. $80 plus shipping. I'm just missing the Grommet awl.
The two long awls can be use for badminton, because they are quite narrow at the tip. The bent one is for clearing a block grommet from the inside of the frame out. The short one is a regular awl, and the fat one is an off setting tool, or sometimes called a blunt awl. There is also a pathfinder set that I hear works real good.
damn. GSS have raised the price to $25. and according to them they are exclusive so unless we find supplier outside the country if we want it cheaper.
ok. so i found an outside supplier (MBS, actually). i am trying to get the pricing of them and see if it is worth getting through MBS. let me know if you are interested in a group buy. obviously only make sense if you are close to me. or just post here so MBS knows there is a demand for them so they can carry it.
the only place that i know of that sells the Kimony awl is GSS which sells them at $25 a piece. it really depends on what MBS quotes us for them and if it is worth the savings. i suspect it would be but we still have to take into account the shipping. so let's see what MBS say first!
MBS is going to import them from Japan and they will go for US$29.95 with free shipping. they will be up and available on their website. MBS also told me they will have the whole set (5 awls) for $145 with free shipping.
i'm using the fat one to expand the shared grommets. i make it a little bit hot over a flame and press it on the shared grommets inside...
at this point i don't think it is worth the effort. by the time i get it and shipped to you it is around the same cost as getting it directly from MBS.
Kimony sent me their tools from Japan, and I was expecting them to be a lot better than they were. From my perspective, the points are not the right shape for enlarging grommets or passing strings. The bent awl seems to have no purpose whatsoever (it's way too long and the bend is not in the right place). The handles are too light and not a good shape (proper awls have a traditional shape for a reason). I spoke to Mr Kimoto about this, and he still thinks his tools are the best. Sorry to put a downer on Kimony tools. Maybe others have a different point of view, but I string racquets day in day out and I found these tools no use.