Busted Skeletool- worth a look.

[Rarified27]

A jaw on my 4mo old Leatherman Skeletool snapped with relative ease today performing such a tremendously low stress task that I thought it was worth sharing.

I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't own a Leatherman tool- everything from Squirt and Micra to Blast and Surge. They've all performed under substantial abuse and the worst battle damage they've endured were chipped blades and a stripped driver.

The catastrophic failure I experienced to day when attempting to remove the handle from a 5gal bucket (I save handles for when others break) was stunning.

While I'm confident in Leatherman's warranty, I'm curious if anyone else had had a similar experience with the thinner type jaws on the Skeletool?

I'm not savvy enough in metallurgy to know if the broken areas provide any evidence to explain what compromised the structural integrity of the plier jaw.

 

[Farmall 1066]

While I've never broken a jaw on one, they seem to be weak when subjected to lateral strain, like twisting or prying sideways. I've got a Surge, Wave, Sidekick, Wingman, Juice S2, Micra and Crunch.
Only the Surge has needed warranty...fell out of its sheath while I was dropping a deuce...broke the latch button right off the side!
Think jaws on the lower priced ones (or maybe all) are cast instead of forged.
No worries...Leatherman will take care of you.

 

[JonnyMac]

The skeletool is my least favorite of the leatherman range.. i like the design of it but a buddy of mine uses the serated blade exclusively for opening cardboard boxes. Over a period of 6 months or so the serations wore away almost completely. I filed him some new ones but the hardness of the blade steel was not great.

 

[Burgerkong]

While I've never broken a jaw on one, they seem to be weak when subjected to lateral strain, like twisting or prying sideways. I've got a Surge, Wave, Sidekick, Wingman, Juice S2, Micra and Crunch.
Only the Surge has needed warranty...fell out of its sheath while I was dropping a deuce...broke the latch button right off the side!
Think jaws on the lower priced ones (or maybe all) are cast instead of forged.
No worries...Leatherman will take care of you.

Probably powdered metal.

 

[anndel]

A jaw on my 4mo old Leatherman Skeletool snapped with relative ease today performing such a tremendously low stress task that I thought it was worth sharing.

I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't own a Leatherman tool- everything from Squirt and Micra to Blast and Surge. They've all performed under substantial abuse and the worst battle damage they've endured were chipped blades and a stripped driver.

The catastrophic failure I experienced to day when attempting to remove the handle from a 5gal bucket (I save handles for when others break) was stunning.

While I'm confident in Leatherman's warranty, I'm curious if anyone else had had a similar experience with the thinner type jaws on the Skeletool?

I'm not savvy enough in metallurgy to know if the broken areas provide any evidence to explain what compromised the structural integrity of the plier jaw.

My Leatherman Crunch busted the pin that holds the multitools in the handle. Completed their online warranty form, followed the instructions and mailed it to Leatherman. They repaired it and sent it back to me. Here's the link:

http://www.leatherman.com/support-warranty.html

Good Luck

 

[DemoFly]

The forward/reverse selector broke in two today on my FLF80. Much the same way.

Very low pressure, just popped right off like a piece of chalk. Rebuilt kit on the way.

I owned a Leatherman Rebar for a short while, I liked it but it after about the 25th time it pinched my hand I bought a Gerber 600.

I've had this Gerber for 3 years now.

 

[NKlamerus]

Right up my alley

The skeletool has been known to break there. It is common with certain batches. There should be a date code within the handles?

Do i have your permission to share this thread on Multitool.org?

 

[PureLeaf]

Got a super tool 300, 2 surges, and an OHT. None of them have ever broken, but I have used their sharpening service, and once warranted a Super tool on my dad's behalf that had gotten very loose and to utilize their sharpening service for him. Great service and quick turn around. Their warranty is a stand out part of that company.

 

[D. Patina]

My Leatherman jaw broke as well. Not the entire jaw, just about 1/2 of the end. Leatherman send me another one so no problem with the warranty.

Overall they are not very strong and not suited for heavy mechanical work. It's now in my desk at work, perfect for opening boxed, pulling staples etc.

 

[DieselDent]

I had mine break in the exact same spot trying to remove a small cotter pin. Still haven't sent it in but from what I've heard shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Rarified27]

Right up my alley

The skeletool has been known to break there. It is common with certain batches. There should be a date code within the handles?

Do i have your permission to share this thread on Multitool.org?

Absolutely- especially if it contributes to a better product in someone's hands!

 

[NKlamerus]

Absolutely- especially if it contributes to a better product in someone's hands!

They are great products, every run has issues though.

Even the Surge and the Charge can break, the biggest and the nicest.

We see the same thing from Gerber, SOG, and Ganzo.

Best Quality control by far is in the Victorionox Spirit line.

 

[Yost]

Its a little tough to tell from pictures, but it looks like there was a large thumbnail shaped crack present in the jaw for a while before it broke. I am talking about the discolored portion of the fracture surface in the upper left part of picture 3. It is possible that this was a crack that had oxidized, leaving the original crack a different color than the clean fracture surface.

 

[Rarified27]

Its a little tough to tell from pictures, but it looks like there was a large thumbnail shaped crack present in the jaw for a while before it broke. I am talking about the discolored portion of the fracture surface in the upper left part of picture 3. It is possible that this was a crack that had oxidized, leaving the original crack a different color than the clean fracture surface.

That's very possible, since the location of the potential crack would have prevented me from seeing it during normal use.