Multi-Tool Research

[Youngguns]

Hey guys and gals, I'm looking to do a little research on multi-tools, and I've got a few questions for the community of GarageJournal:

What multi-tool do you have?
What is your most used tool?
If you answered, "pliers," please answer:
What is your second most used tool?

Also,
Is there a tool you wish your multi-tool had, but doesn't?

I don't need long answers (but I don't mind them either), simple answers will suffice. I appreciate all the help this community has given me thus far, and I hope to see continued support in this thread. Thank you all for the time and effort you give to help others.

 

[1950mercury]

I have the an old leatherman wave. And i never use it. Had a gerber and gave it away after it pinched my hand 1 two many times

 

[Wanna Ride]

Love my Gerbers. Durable and dependable. Pliers and screw driver tips, in that order. They have a locking mechanism that seems to easily separate those that can use tools, and those that shouldn't.

 

[zkling]

My favorite is a leatherman skeletool followed by the freestyle. The one hand blade opening and compact size, while still retaining pliers is a great package.

To answer your questions
Knife
Screwdriver
Pliers
Hence why I prefer the skeletool over the freestyle.

 

[Kracin]

right now i have a gerber multi-plier, its a flick open so it's super easy to open up. only downside is that you have to flick the pliers open to get to the tools.

i HAD a leatherman OHT which i loved also. had all the standard tools you needed and they were on the outside of the body, so you could access all the tools or the pliers with one hand which was awesome. great multi-tool. more expensive but worth it.

i won it from a giveaway from a generous vendor here, and unfortunately some low-life stole it from my truck while i was pumping gas at a gas station. pumping gas and checking air on my tires, so i was bent down near the pump. saw a guy walk right by my truck on his way out of the station, didn't even really notice him except that he walked right by my truck to get to the opposite end of the parking lot.... and after i got back in my truck and drove away, i noticed it was missing from my center console area..... WTF, can't believe it...



all that aside though, it was an awesome tool, i'd buy another just like it. but most multi-tools will do you good as long as you have the right tool loadout... i would take a knife, saw, screwdrivers, and file over any other tool combination you can get... also, needle nose over snub nose is better imho

 

[rjohnson]

I have the Gerber Legend 800, as well as a Leatherman Wave. I would say I use the knife most, followed by the screwdrivers. Real love the ability to get out the tools without unfolding the pliers on the Gerber.

 

[kctyphoon]

I have the gerber diesel that I keep in a carry bag. It's "good" for little things and it's not expensive. I like the black finish also. As far as an everyday day carry tool, or something that I planned on relying on more, my first choice would be the Leatherman wave. The knife is much easier to access since, and you can access the tools without having to unfold the handles. They come in black too, getting one for Christmas. I have cheap $10 Home Depot ones in my cars just for pulling fuses or the occasional crisis like having to open a plastic package.

 

[CarsonConcepts]

Leathermans for me. Owned many over the last 15 years or so. Currently have a Skeletool, Surge, Wave(new version), Juice X6 & Wingman. Have also owned the Charge TTI, Crunch and SuperTool300 (those three got stolen from my car). Put them all through hell and they have held up great.

Only one I broke was my own fault (used a hammer to "assist" the pliers while removing a stuck pin). Customer service is great, sent them an email honestly explaining how I broke it, not expecting them to warranty it, and they had me send it in for a replacement anyways.

I normally carry the Wave daily. Skeletool for when I'm traveling light(or going to a party since the Bottle Opener carabiner is great), and the Surge for when I'm spending the day working on things. My favorite was the Charge TTI. Really want to pick up another one to replace the one that got stolen.

~ Carson

 

[BK13]

Leatherman Supertool 300. Far and away I use the knife blade the most, a very distant second the Phillips driver, then the pliers (actually, the cutter on the pliers).

 

[BirdMobile]

Swisstool X.
I use the pliers the most, thr scissors second, and the flat and philips bits third. The file is real useful too.
I love everything about that tool but the weight... but I doubt it would be as sturdy and reliable if they lightened it up.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Hey guys and gals, I'm looking to do a little research on multi-tools, and I've got a few questions for the community of GarageJournal:

What multi-tool do you have?
What is your most used tool?
If you answered, "pliers," please answer:
What is your second most used tool?

Also,
Is there a tool you wish your multi-tool had, but doesn't?

I don't need long answers (but I don't mind them either), simple answers will suffice. I appreciate all the help this community has given me thus far, and I hope to see continued support in this thread. Thank you all for the time and effort you give to help others.

Sog s44, leatherman fuse, bear mgc bear jaws, various other generic and swiss army type "mts".

If I'm using one it's emergency related and typically I'd use the pliers and drivers the most (carry a knife usually). The thing most mts (except swiss army knives) are missing is an awl; very important tool I don't necessarily use it for sewing. Honestly, "survival" tools should have thin awls and some sort of line/thread storage. They don't do it because field suturing is a rare occurrence and probably redundant with a pack kit but not everyone plans for that.

I consider an mt to be a "survival tool" because they don't really do anything else better than the individual tools besides the sog geared pliers which are pretty good. I use them but if I have access to full sized tools I'd rather use those.

 

[Farmall 1066]

I've had several. My favorite was/is the Kershaw A100C, but they are discontinued, and getting to be worth some coin, so I switched to a Leatherman Wave.
No complaints, and I have used all the tools, at one time or another.
Only real gripe would be that the Wave doesn't have a 1/4" hex bit holder.
An awl would be nice too, but since I also carry a Swisschamp, I have pretty much all bases covered!

 

[BikerDad]

I try to have a Leatherman on me at all times, except when sleeping, showering, etc. The one I carry on my belt now is an OHT, although I have others. I keep a Micra and a little Skele something or other on my key rings, those get a LOT of use, between the scissors and nail files. I use the pliers most on the OHT, used the seat belt cutter today, it's a beast on clamshell packaging.

 

[wild cowboy]

I have the old Squirt P4 - at 2 oz. - you can't get much more lightweight than that and still have a good usable set of pliers that are well made, and I hate carrying anything heavier.

THIS IS THE ONE I HAVE:

 

[aaronrkelly]

Victorinox Swiss Tool.

Ive had plenty of multitools - these things are so finely made and solid......far better then the SOG and Leathermans Ive had in the past.

http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product...elf/SwissTool-Spirit-with-Leather-Pouch/53800

 

[kctyphoon]

I think the most used tools are usually, knife, pliers, scissors, screwdrivers.. Anything else is just a bonus IMO.

 

[colin39]

I have 2 leatherman waves one titanium xt and a chrome both used extensively over the last few years. Plyiers an screwdrvers always used, and of course bottle opener is getting worn out. Lol

 

[ajchien]

I have the leatherman wave. It sits in my car. I use the regular knife the most.
I used to have a leatherman style cs. I used the scissors the most. Hated the knife.
I have a leatherman micra. I use the scissors the most. This is an EDC option.
I have a victorinox classic. I use the knife/screwdriver equally. My other EDC option.
I have a victorinox climber. It was a gift from a friend. I dont use it.
I have a victorinox alox pioneer. I use the awl/knife equally.

In general, I carry either the Micra or the Classic - and I combine one of those two with either a Case mini copperhead, and Buck medium stockman, or the Alox pioneer.

Something I wish the multi tools had .... It would have to be a tough tool - like a scraper, or a prybar.

 

[transplant_wi]

Leatherman Wave; I use the pointy knife blade the most (generally for digging-out slivers!). It really holds a sharp edge well.

 

[Galvonzo]

I have the Leatherman Sidekick and love it. Hell it even removed a wart on my thumb.

Most used tool: Knife, which is conveniently placed on the outside of the tool so you don't have to open it up just to get to it. As quick as opening a regular knife.
2nd most used: Philips driver. Which I first saw it I was almost positive it would strip out every single screw every single time since it looks like someone just ground down a flat blade into a Philips. Haven't actually stripped one yet. And if a screw is really tight you can position the handles into a right angle to get more force into it.

As for the thumb wart? No I didn't cut it off. I used the file during down time at work to smooth it over since it would get real rough. After doing that once every one or two weeks for about 2-3 months it just didn't come back one day. Had that wart frozen two times by the doctor and it still didn't kill that beast.

quick edit: bottle opener *****.

 

[SK-Mike]

I chose the Leatherman Blast, a little more compact but yet still has all the functions I want.

 

[RedRabbit]

I like my Leatherman Juice s2, or my Leatherman Wave. Though SOG has some that are nice, but I can't remember which one my friend has and loves.

 

[Dave455]

Victorinox Swisstool Spirit! Sometimes I carry that, sometimes I just carry a couple of Screwdrivers and a proper pair of pliers!

Some of these Multitools are so cumbersome that it's lighter (and cheaper) to carry the proper tools!

Mostly seem to need the screwdrivers!

 

[Youngguns]

Thanks for all the replies! Keep it up, I know there are more GJ members than this!

 

[Rarified27]

I have a surge, blast and a few HD **** ones in the car tool bags.

The knives are used constantly (blast one held a sharper edge than the wave, but the wave blade is stronger).

The phillips on the blast is fixed and full size, way better than the bit on the surge.

I also have a small squirt-sized leatherman (maybe a micra?) with a blue plastic outside that I can't remember the name of, but works great for a back up.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Something I wish the multi tools had .... It would have to be a tough tool - like a scraper, or a prybar.

Gerber artifact has one. Not that it's much of an option because it's like 3 inches long. Better than nothing though. That thing is a deadly weapon though probably not legal where you live if you keep the x-acto clone blade in there; they sell one without it (gerber shard) but probably just as deadly because of the weight of the tool.

 

[Thumper68]

I'm a Leatherman fanboy. Have had most every model over the years from my first one back in early 90's, edc now is the Surge and the Micra. I have the complete bit set in the truck so I always have the right bit for the job, the only thing I don't care for is the saw/file holder I would prefer to have both a saw and a file without having to switch.

 

[pbv301]

My first post, here goes...

I own several; Letherman Charge TTI (excellent quality), Leatherman Crunch (portable Vise Grip), SOG Tooclip (my first multitool), Gerber MP600 (love the one-hand eject of the pliers)...

BUT from a pocket-carry and usability perspective they are all second to the Victorinox Spartan that has been in my pocket everyday for the last 28 years. What quality! Still sharp blades despite almost everyday use. I use the knife the most and appreciate the choice between small or larger blade. Second most used is the screwdriver. I could write a book on all the things that we have been through together.

/Erik

 

[TexasK5]

I have a Leatherman Squirt PS4 that is in my pocket almost all the time. Very handy for the size. Most used tool is the pliers followed by the scissors and file. I normally have a larger knife with me as well, so the small blade in the Leatherman doesn't get much use, but it is really sharp!

Also have an original Leatherman PST that normally lives in the camper. For that one, the knife and phillips screwdriver get the most use.

 

[JBradley500]

http://www.swissarmy.com/us/app/pro...egory/Do-It-Yourself/SwissTool-Spirit-X/53814

 

[pozidriv]

I've got a Leatherman Wave and a Victorinox Ranger. Love 'em both to pieces. I've got one of them with me almost all the time, sometimes even both. Used them on so many things, yet they are in great shape and still completely functional.
Lately I've been eyeing those Victorinox Swisstools though. I'm sure I will buy one eventually, I'm scanning the secondhand market, but it seems noone wants to sell theirs
Most used: regular knife, philips, pliers, file (really like the diamond coated file on the wave!)

 

[orca8589]

I have a Gerber 400 and a Gerber 600, and both pinch if not used carefully. The 600 is adequate for almost everything I use it for.

I also have a Leatherman Supertool (not the newer ST300, just the regular old first generation ST), and I've had and sold almost all of the Leatherman tools. I've kept the old Supertool, simply because it does everything any of the other tools could do. Opening the blades isn't as convenient as the newer models (the blades on the ST aren't on the outside, so you have to open the tool to use the knife blades) but I don't mind it that much.

~Chris

 

[Ainsley]

another swisstool user here. I have multiple leathermans and still carry the swiss.
That said, when I'm carrying it I usually have a fixed blade on me as well so I don't have any need for the one hand opening knife on say the leatherman wave.
If my friends are asking for a suggestion I'll usually steer them towards a leatherman, the wave or charge, as the one hand opening blade is handy and their warranty is great!

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Leatherman Skeletool CX. The knife is used the most often, is very sharp, and holds the edge very well. The pliers also get frequent use as well as the wire cutters. The one thing I wish it had was a terminal screwdriver, but to be fair, I've never seen any multitool with that.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I use a leatherman rebar. Doesn't have scissors so thats a deal breaker for some. It is basically a smaller version of the leatherman super tool. I would like to get a super tool 300.

Most used: Pliers. Second most used:File

 

[Danglerb]

Gerber Sportster, scissors used most, tweezers maybe most essential but rarely needed. Blade gets used a lot, but plenty of things will substitute for a blade. Screwdriver is handy too.

 

[Banjorear]

Schrade Tool. US-made.

I use:

Needle nose pliers
Screwdriver
knife
punch
saw

 

[orca8589]

Schrade Tool. US-made.

I use:

Needle nose pliers
Screwdriver
knife
punch
saw

Which one do you have? I have a ToughTool from the late 90's, and it's a great tool, just bulky.

~Chris

 

[Banjorear]

Which one do you have? I have a ToughTool from the late 90's, and it's a great tool, just bulky.

~Chris

Yes, I have the Tough Tool as well. It is a little bulky, but works great.

 

[Michael Bryce Winnick]

My Victorynox is indestructible. Great tool.