Multitool abuse

[pozidriv]

I've been meaning to get one of these victorinox swisstools: http://www.victorinox.com/ch/produc...15-mm/SwissTool-III-in-leather-pouch/3.0327.L
and started looking at some reviews. I normally hate these youtube unboxings and videos made by collectors who've never actually put the tool through its paces. You get the same kind of information from looking at a picture, but then I found this gem:

Talk about a 300 pound gorilla with a hammer

I actually cringed at around 14 minutes

Now that's what I call a review, even though I only understood about two words from it.
I'm definitely getting one of those!

 

[Dave455]

I'm generally fairly disappointed with the quality of the tools in those multitools, but I have a victorinox as well, and can vouch for it's quality!

Many times though, you're better off carrying a decent bit driver, snipe nose pliers and a separate pocket knife!

 

[Ainsley]

I carry a victorinox spirit multitool when I'm fishing, hiking, camping etc and it has been great. I always carry a separate fixed blade beside it on my belt so I don't miss the one hand opening plain blade on my leather man wave.

 

[jd_1138]

Yeah they're pretty crappy but better than nothing in a pinch. You can buy the Victorinox/Wenger genuine ones used on ebay for like $5 each shipped. People buy them at TSA auctions. Usually they are the simpler ones with just 3 or 4 tools on them.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I have that tool.....and its saved my *** a few times along the road. No where near as good as half that money spent on basic tools in a small box or bag - but you cant carry a small box of tools in your pocket so.......the tools you have are always better than the tools you dont.

 

[kctyphoon]

leatherman wave guy... youll never regret it.

 

[CJM8515]

leatherman wave guy... youll never regret it.

Yep. I love mine!

 

[hifi_hokie]

I'm generally fairly disappointed with the quality of the tools in those multitools, but I have a victorinox as well, and can vouch for it's quality!

Many times though, you're better off carrying a decent bit driver, snipe nose pliers and a separate pocket knife!

I was looking at buying a huge multitool a few months back, but I came to the same conclusion - more often than not, I'm going to be near my vehicle where I can just get a real screwdriver, Vice Grips or needlenose pliers if I need to. All I need in my pocket is a straight blade and maybe a small screwdriver. Went with this guy in silver Alox:

 

[valentine]

Swiss army knife, multi-bit screwdriver and small vice grips take up a bit more room than a multi-tool but perform most tasks much better.

-Valentine

 

[Exceller8]

I really love my standard SwissTool. I don't expect it to do what a regular tool can do but it has saved my **** a few times. Really well made.

 

[Zelatore]

leatherman wave guy... youll never regret it.

The Wave is the answer. I've carried one daily for years. I hate it when I fly somewhere and can't have it on my belt; I've nearly lost it to TSA a few times but remembered to take it off at the last minute.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I got a swiss champ that I belt carry some of the time and I like it. But most of the time I am too lazy and just carry my streamlight micro stream an od2. 3-4 years ago I was going to buy a wave but I don't like that they bumped the price up from $60 to $90. I would rather get the swiss tool since victornox fit and finish is nicer and it is the same price. I got a bunch of leatherman tools and like them same with vic

 

[kctyphoon]

The Wave is the answer. I've carried one daily for years. I hate it when I fly somewhere and can't have it on my belt; I've nearly lost it to TSA a few times but remembered to take it off at the last minute.

i started off carrying cheap utility knives, and just replacing them when they fell apart.. i must have bought about a dozen different brands to compare them all, and was planning on a video.. ( i do this alot, then never make videos).. then the Milwaukee fastbacks came out.. search over, its hands down the best one you can buy.. then i bought 2 of the fastback knives, and carried those in my pocket, and a gerber diesel in my bag.. i liked the wave, but couldnt justify to myself spending the money on it after having the gerber and other knives to carry, so i put it on my amazon wishlist.. someone bought it for me along with the belt clip accessory. it really is like the first time you used a nail gun and felt stupid for not buying one earlier.. i carry mine in my front pocket, clip facing out, everyday no matter where i go and honestly i dont even know its there. its the same size as a reg pocketknife and you would never know it, but i can do 90% -95% of my small daily tasks w/o having to go further than my pocket. the scissors is a great thing to have, esp for me since i have to wear pain patches and they will neatly open them for me. ive even cut thick copper ground wire off telephone poles with these. i try not to make a habbit of it, but they work when i dont walk half a block to get real cutters.

 

[kctyphoon]

 

[bushmechanic]

The military pretty much ran on Gerber before specialist models hit the market.

I still carry one when I travel, because the one-handed operation is nice in a pinch, given that if you're using one of these things, odds are you've only got two hands to work with, and one is busy.

They are more durable now. The wire cutters weren't the best in the past, but they took the feedback well.

http://www.gerbergear.com/Military/Tools/Diesel-Tool_22-01545

If you want to see a torture test, though, you've got to type Zombie:

These guys are phenomenal blade-smiths. They just happen to have a silly name and brash brand identity. Their products are the real deal; trim, elegant, light, and not at all clunky.

Edit: Same blade used for all tests. You're going to cringe like hell during the flexibility demonstration.

Too bad they don't make a multi-tool.

 

[kctyphoon]

sorry but that $100 price tag for the diesel on the gerber site is nothing more than a pipe dream.. $46 w/ free shipping on amazon - Gerber 22-41545 Black Diesel Multi-Plier with Sheath https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDVU2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDVU2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

honestly you cant compare the quality of the wave to the diesel, and i only say that because i have both.. its a project everytime you want to deploy the knife in the gerber, which is why i carried a seperate knife when i had the diesel. the gerber is a good cheap alternative, but if you actually plan on using these, the wave is leaps and bounds above the gerber.. i would never want to admit that, unitl i actually owned a wave a saw how so many other people were correct.

 

[bushmechanic]

sorry but that $100 price tag for the diesel on the gerber site is nothing more than a pipe dream.. $46 w/ free shipping on amazon - Gerber 22-41545 Black Diesel Multi-Plier with Sheath https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDVU2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDVU2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

honestly you cant compare the quality of the wave to the diesel, and i only say that because i have both.. its a project everytime you want to deploy the knife in the gerber, which is why i carried a seperate knife when i had the diesel. the gerber is a good cheap alternative, but if you actually plan on using these, the wave is leaps and bounds above the gerber.. i would never want to admit that, unitl i actually owned a wave a saw how so many other people were correct.

The Gerber is simply a solution for quick, single handed operation. The focus is on the pliers, naturally.

It's not the best by a country mile, but it was very popular in the armed forces, and still is in the overland crowd. They do last a long time, but the knife is indeed an afterthought.

The idea there is that you'll have a proper knife to use any time you've got reason to carry a multi-tool. That's why it never really bothered anyone. You're not extending it very often.

If you really get the hang of them, though, they are quite fast. People used to get in there and mod them to work even better. I've still got mine, but the crappy wire cutters the used to feature show that they've been used.

You'll never be snapping nails off with the old models, but the new ones are better. Gerber took the feedback seriously.

I would like to buy a Wave someday. I'd never say they aren't at the top shelf of multi-tools. Leatherman rode their success for a while, and didn't innovate. They've come back with a vengeance, though.

 

[Dave455]

I was looking at buying a huge multitool a few months back, but I came to the same conclusion - more often than not, I'm going to be near my vehicle where I can just get a real screwdriver, Vice Grips or needlenose pliers if I need to. All I need in my pocket is a straight blade and maybe a small screwdriver. Went with this guy in silver Alox:

Yes, if you have a bag with you, you're better off with separate tools!

I fly for a living, and keep pliers (Stahlwille chrome plated) and a bit driver (Snap On) in my flight bag, together with a few small Allen keys and basic stuff like a couple of feet of locking wire! You can do a lot with relatively little!

If I'm staying downroute, I generally carry a multitool in my suitcase, which goes in my jacket if I'm out and about! That, and the tools in my flight bag, have seen a lot of use over the years. I wouldn't travel without them, and I don't know how some people do! Leaving aside aeroplane problems, I'm always fixing **** for the rest of the crew!

Those Alox handled SAK's are my favourites too! Max strength for minimum bulk!

 

[bushmechanic]

Bags and multi-tools are not mutually exclusive. If I have tools with me, I still have a multi-tool.

When I'm out in the middle of nowhere, I have enough tools carefully chosen to maintain the vehicle, all organized in a Pelican case. On my belt, I have that Gerber.

In the glove box is one of those small Gearwrench micro-ratchet kit things, because it's a quick compromise. One only wishes to stand in the elements so long.