Does anyone know of a rather comphrensive hardware store in Tokyo? I need to buy a bolt with a hex key (allen) head. I've got a nut that I need to match with the threads on the bolt. I looked at the Web page for Tokyu Hands. I have a feeling this is the kind of thing they are not going to have.

Online any good?

http://www.abit-tools.com/

What do you want it for?

Mulboyne wrote:Online any good?

http://www.abit-tools.com/

What do you want it for?

Somehow the bolt that connects my bicycle seat to my seat post broke. It was quite a shock to be going down 246 and have the whole assembly disintegrate into about 5 pieces on the road.

Online will be tough since I have to match the threads. But that looks like a nice place to look for tools. Bike stores want me to buy an entire seat post. I just need a single bolt. I'll give homepro a shot. Thank you.

Captain Japan wrote:Does anyone know of a rather comphrensive hardware store in Tokyo?

:rofl:

Oh, sorry.. In Japan, they're known as 'Hardly-anyWhere Stores'.

Actually, I used to have a Diao nearby, which was part of Laox; had almost everything at expensive prices, but has since gone out of business. I don't think it was a chain; searches came up with nothing..

You might try on of one of those mom-n-pop, yakuza-tax-write-off shops that specialize in vacuum cleaners and lights; they might have an extra bolt loose somewhere.

There's a small 'hardware store' along the small street in Azabu-juban, but I think it's mostly wood tools..

I'd still try Tokyu Hands if Homepro doesn't have what you're looking for..

GJ

Captain Japan wrote:Somehow the bolt that connects my bicycle seat to my seat post broke. It was quite a shock to be going down 246 and have the whole assembly disintegrate into about 5 pieces on the road.

Online will be tough since I have to match the threads. But that looks like a nice place to look for tools. Bike stores want me to buy an entire seat post. I just need a single bolt. I'll give homepro a shot. Thank you.

That would probably available at any of the little bike shops you see around. There's hundreds of them anywhere, no bigger that a ramenya, they fix bikes, have parts, etc.

No luck there, Doito and Caines Home are all over Tokyo if you do a search for the closest and they have all the bolts you need. All the nuts hang out at Roppongi Hills!

gboothe wrote:That would probably available at any of the little bike shops you see around. There's hundreds of them anywhere, no bigger that a ramenya, they fix bikes, have parts, etc.

Yes, those all those dumpy little bike shops will fix stuff like that for 100 yen using a salvaged part. Don't forget that if it's a normal hi-test bolt, all those little 50cc motorcycle/scooter shops will have the bolt too. ALSO, I normally steal hardware and bolts I need off totally wrecked abandoned bikes---Consider it one-stop-shopping.

Taro Toporific wrote:I normally steal hardware and bolts I need off totally wrecked abandoned bikes---Consider it one-stop-shopping.

That's exactly what I did last night. But I ran into the issue of matching the threads.

[quote="GuyJean"]:rofl:

Oh, sorry.. In Japan, they're known as 'Hardly-anyWhere Stores'. ]

I don't know, down in the country we have at least 6 of 7 Home Depot sized hardware stores that sell just about any conceivable tool. I guess we are just better with our hands down here.

dimwit wrote:I don't know, down in the country we have at least 6 of 7 Home Depot sized hardware stores that sell just about any conceivable tool. I guess we are just better with our hands down here.

You're making me jealous.. Of having real hardware stores! I should've specified 'Tokyo' being short of hardware stores..

Captain, it seems like you could fined that part at some friendly bike shop, as suggested earlier..

GJ

Having just looked over the Mob Hit thread
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16787
I noticed that a number of these recent dismemberment stories seem to be coming out of Tokyo. So where did those people get the hack saws, axes, sledge hammers, no-leak garbage bags, duct tape and rubber gloves that they would need to carry out their deeds?

Captain Japan wrote:Somehow the bolt that connects my bicycle seat to my seat post broke. It was quite a shock to be going down 246 and have the whole assembly disintegrate into about 5 pieces on the road.

Online will be tough since I have to match the threads. But that looks like a nice place to look for tools. Bike stores want me to buy an entire seat post. I just need a single bolt. I'll give homepro a shot. Thank you.

Make sure you get a high-grade steel one that was made for bicycle seats or face having to get a new one every two weeks. Those cheap ones from home depots tend to shear very quickly indeed under dynamic loads.

I guess you could also try a garage or one of those car customization stores.

Tsuru wrote:Make sure you get a high-grade steel one that was made for bicycle seats or face having to get a new one every two weeks. Those cheap ones from home depots tend to shear very quickly indeed under dynamic loads.

I guess you could also try a garage or one of those car customization stores.

Tsuru, do Dutch people actually repair bicycles? The last time I was there the philosophy seemed to be if it is broke steal another one.

[quote="dimwit"]Tsuru, do Dutch people actually repair bicycles? The last time I was there the philosophy seemed to be if it is broke steal another one.]That depends if the person in question has the tools at home and he or she received the proper education from his or her parents.

I have

But if one of my bikes gets stolen (thankfully it rarely happens, even though they're parked on the street in a Dutch city full of students) I just go out and steal another one back. It's the way it works, I guess... the circle of life, if you will Besides, if you go to the police in a city like this to call it in there is not really much they can do... it's kind of like having your car stolen in LA and asking the police if they have any "promising leads"

[quote="dimwit"]So where did those people get the hack saws, axes, sledge hammers, no-leak garbage bags, duct tape and rubber gloves that they would need to carry out their deeds? ]The wife who killed her husband with the wine bottle says she bought everything to cut him up from Tokyu Hands in Shibuya.

Now THERE is a store endorsement for you.

Mulboyne wrote:The wife who killed her husband with the wine bottle says she bought everything to cut him up from Tokyu Hands in Shibuya.

It's never the cheapest place, but Tokyu Hands is often the only one-stop place to get the goods.

Taro Toporific wrote:It's never the cheapest place, but Tokyu Hands is often the only one-stop place to get the goods.

So Taro, you've become a cleaner now? You must feel bad about all these amateurs going about and doing all this half assed work.

So I went to my local bike store. As I knew the guy there said I'd have to buy an entire seat post. 2,600 yen. So with that figure in mind I went on over to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya. They have quite a selection of nuts and bolts. But not the one I needed. The guy said that my threads are FG threads, or something like that. This morning I went back to the bike store and bought the whole seat post assembly. Lame, considering I just needed one bolt.

Glad to see this thread has made a turn toward murder.

Captain Japan wrote:So I went to my local bike store. As I knew the guy there said I'd have to buy an entire seat post. 2,600 yen. So with that figure in mind I went on over to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya. They have quite a selection of nuts and bolts. But not the one I needed. The guy said that my threads are FG threads, or something like that. This morning I went back to the bike store and bought the whole seat post assembly. Lame, considering I just needed one bolt.

Glad to see this thread has made a turn toward murder.

Usually we would just go to SUNDAY. That's the name of the hardware store chain that was in Hachinohe. Canman knows.

Taro Toporific wrote:It's never the cheapest place, but Tokyu Hands is often the only one-stop place to get the goods.

Totally agree.. have just done many trips there recently during the bar renovations and it is possible to get just about anything - in every size/colour and material.

Captain Japan wrote:So I went to my local bike store. As I knew the guy there said I'd have to buy an entire seat post. 2,600 yen. So with that figure in mind I went on over to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya. They have quite a selection of nuts and bolts. But not the one I needed. The guy said that my threads are FG threads, or something like that. This morning I went back to the bike store and bought the whole seat post assembly. Lame, considering I just needed one bolt.

I should have posted earlier. My suggestion would have been just to buy the replacement assembly. By the time you spend a half day+ running around looking for a bolt it's cost you as much in transport+food as the assembly, plus you've spent all that time...

FG Lurker wrote:I should have posted earlier. My suggestion would have been just to buy the replacement assembly. By the time you spend a half day+ running around looking for a bolt it's cost you as much in transport+food as the assembly, plus you've spent all that time...

You are right. But since Tokyu Hands is about a 15-minute walk from where I live and I was headed that way anyway on Saturday, I figured I was wasting at most 10 minutes.