looking for a beefcake multitool, leathermans keep breaking...

[buffalobill]

ive been a pretty good customer of leathermans, and have carried a surge, a crunch, and now a skeletool. the skeletool just chipped the tip of the knife point, and they wont cut wire anymore as they are too loose at the joint. the surge has suffered a similar fate, with the saw blade breaking while sawing thru a branch, the knife blade is severely bent at the tip, and the wire cutters wont work.

do any of you have these problems? ive already warrantied them both twice, is it just normal to keep sending them in? is there a company that makes a multitool that doesnt **** out? i have a victorinox, and it doesnt inspire any confidence over a surge. the skeletool has broken its jaws on me before, as well.

 

[moclan]

Have you tried Gerber? I did, though, brake the tip off the knife blade trying to open a jar of fruit (please no flames, I know "a tool for each purpose")

 

[PureLeaf]

Leatherman has certain tools they consider "heavy duty". The Surge that you already own is one of them. As is the Super tool 300, MUT, OHT, etc.

The newer models of the Surge, OHT, and 300 (not sure what others have it) do have replaceable 154cm cutting blades for the wire cutters. So you just replace them as they wear. The surge as I'm sure you know also has a replaceable saw, so just buy a new saw blade. The latest Surge model even allows for reciprocating (tiger) saw blades to be used which is pretty nice.

You mention one blade chipping, and another bending. Were you using it to pry? Or to cut? I'm sure it doesn't need to be mentioned that blades are for cutting only.

 

[T45]

Try using the right tool for the job.

Leathermans are heavy and expensive.

You might get by with "proper tools" at little to no wieght or cost penalty.

What are you using this thing for?

 

[geojag]

Leatherman Wave is much heavier duty than the ones you mentioned. Maybe not the surge. SOG also makes some heavy duty multitools.
To be honest it sounds like you may be abusing the tools. Multitools really aren't the right tool for any job, they are sufficient to accomplish many tasks but they are light duty tools.

 

[sac02]

I agree you are almost certainly abusing the tool beyond what it was designed for.

The purpose for multitools is occasional use when you are without regular tools, and need to do some minor job in a pinch. You can't press them into regular or severe service and expect them to last.

If you try to use them in place of a real tool, that's your mistake, not a defect or shortcoming of the tool. My Leatherman Juice has been carried daily (and used nearly every day for something small) for four years and is still in excellent shape (other than the fact that the paint is completely rubbed off) - because I take care of it and don't ask too much of it.

 

[T45]

Real Tools: midget pliers

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675113&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Real. Tools: Lightweight knife

http://www.gerbergear.com/Survival/Knives/Bear-Grylls-Paracord-Fixed-Blade_31-001683

To compare, a leatherman wave is $90 or so and more expensive than these two items, combined.
It would be an interesting exercise to put a small kit together. The rest of the stuff you could get by with less durable solutions, like a supplemental swiss knife.

 

[FreeTenthsDiag]

Not one problem with any of my Leathermans.

 

[buffalobill]

Try using the right tool for the job.
no room, im a truck driver in a semi slip seat position, i cant carry a toolbox around with me...
Leathermans are heavy and expensive.
no arguement there, thats why im suprised they broke...

You might get by with "proper tools" at little to no wieght or cost penalty.

What are you using this thing for?

removing nails, screws, bolts, etc. from tires, keeping dash from rattling with hardware pillaged from another part of the interior, tightening and loosening nuts and bolts from various mounts (cb, antenna mounts for amfm and cb.) prying glad hand seals. misc. other stuff, as it pops up.

the bolt removal from tires is the thing its used for most, not a night goes by when im pretripping a trailer and have to yank a bolt thats firmly embedded in a trailer tire....

 

[PureLeaf]

In reading your uses, I didn't see a single thing that mentioned cutting. Don't use a knife as a pry bar, and they won't bend or break.

 

[sac02]

You said yourself that removing bolts from tires is a nightly affair - so why not get a real pair of pliers or a short pry bar? (not sure how you prefer to get those bolts out). if you need to do a task so frequently, and you know in advance that you are going to need to do it, shouldn't you have the right tool for it?

 

[onemore]

I have had Gerber and leathermans, they serve a purpose, but are limited to the quality. For everyday, or hard use a dedicated pair of pliers is a must.

 

[buffalobill]

In reading your uses, I didn't see a single thing that mentioned cutting. Don't use a knife as a pry bar, and they won't bend or break.

the cutting edges are fine, its the joint of the plier that loosens up, so the edges arent in close contact...

 

[buffalobill]

You said yourself that removing bolts from tires is a nightly affair - so why not get a real pair of pliers or a short pry bar? (not sure how you prefer to get those bolts out). if you need to do a task so frequently, and you know in advance that you are going to need to do it, shouldn't you have the right tool for it?

because so far the leatherman has worked ok, and it saves me space. it just takes a beating. i am interested though, in what type of pliers one would recommend for nail or bolt removal, because ive had quite a few bolts that wont come out, because of the threads engaging the rubber.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to get right tool for job . . . should NOT be consistently breaking L/M.

Get the following for ALL your vehicles . . . .
. . . Knipex pliers, Crescent, screwdrivers, and fold-open knife

Also, sounds like you need Tire Repair kit for every vehicle !!

 

[buffalobill]

suprisingly, the tires are usually fine, thats why i pull whatever is stuck in it, otherwise it would push thru and cause a leak...

 

[T45]

Also may look at mini-vice grips in 125mm model.

They are great for bolt removal.

And consider the tiny VIM bit ratchet (for loose fasteners).

Good luck OP

 

[ex-x-fire]

They need to put a pry bar in these multitools, I think it would be a great addition.

 

[kctyphoon]

The king a mutitools is probably the Leatherman supertool 300.. If that's not strong enough for you then it's time to get real tools...

 

[texascrane]

While I always carry a leatherman skeletool as an "always there" knife and pliers. If I need something heavier duty, I carry a Victorinox Swisstool: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004YVB1/?tag=atomicindus08-20