I have to believe the smaller models exist because there is a market for them. Esp just to offer something at a certain price point to compete with Gerber and SOG. If nothing else it's something to lure people in. Once they realize how handy they are are, I'm sure a percentage upgrades after a little while.
New Leatherman Multi tools coming
- Thread starter kctyphoon
- Start date
Locker537
Well-known member
Unless I can flip the pocket clips so it can ride properly in my left front pocket, I won't even carry one of these daily.
No parts from Leatherman - here’s the response i got:
Thank you for contacting Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. We are very sorry to hear about your tool. While it is covered under our 25-year warranty, we are unable to sell or send out parts and components for our tools. However, you are more than welcome to send it in for warranty service. All you need to do is click on one of these links depending on where you are located and follow the direction on that page:
Thank you for contacting Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. We are very sorry to hear about your tool. While it is covered under our 25-year warranty, we are unable to sell or send out parts and components for our tools. However, you are more than welcome to send it in for warranty service. All you need to do is click on one of these links depending on where you are located and follow the direction on that page:
rlitman
Well-known member
Right. Like I said, that's how they get you to buy the more expensive versions.
I've got the gut hook on one tool. It's ok, I guess, but you're not missing much. A gut hook is nice on a safe edged tool (like a neck ring knife), but they put it on the back of the serrated blade, so you can end up hurting yourself when using it.
I've got the gut hook on one tool. It's ok, I guess, but you're not missing much. A gut hook is nice on a safe edged tool (like a neck ring knife), but they put it on the back of the serrated blade, so you can end up hurting yourself when using it.
Two Speed
Well-known member
In other words, we don't sell parts because we know some of you have some classics you really like and don't trust shipping it for fear of loss, so buy another one of products...
At least thats my take on it.
Alex.
itylerstewart
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2017
- Messages
- 62
KC, I have a Surge and I just got an apprenticeship. Do you use yours at work that often? Just curious if I should bother throwing it in my bag when I actually start
For what i do now especially - yes - cause i do a lot of inside stuff too. So theres always a pullbox to open, an access door or panel that needs to be open, ceiling tile to trim, tape to cut off - ect..
When i was doing more of the bigger construction stuff i still used it all the time between work during the day and just life in general.. had the wave, used it so much but asked too much of the pliers one day, and wanted bigger scissors anyway (mainly for the medication i take) so went up to the surge. Surge is nice, but its right at that point IMHO of being just a LITTLE to big and a LITTLE too heavy to pocket carry with the belt clip, and NOT know its there. At least thats how i felt. Also - the Surge and Wave use the same belt clip despite them being different sizes, and theres a good amount of play when its installed on the Surge. Accidentally left it in the office at work one day, some ******* stole it, went back to carrying a knife, but my partner at work had realized how nice it was having a multitool around - so he had bought a Wave too, (this is the cheapest person i ever met in my life, so that was an accomplishment for him to spend $80). So when i needed one I’d just steal his. I heard for months how it was the best thing he ever bought.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I’m working somewhere else, i finally got tired of needing a screwdriver or whatever and needing to walk back outside to get it, so ordered the new wave plus.. got delivered, said - well now i have a nice box to send my old wave back for warranty - and did that too.. lol.. so now i have 2 sitting here.
For me - like 70% of what i need a multi tool for i can do with the leatherman crater knife that has Phillips and flathead driver.. the pliers, saw, and scissors cover the rest of what i use/used the wave for.
Ill say this much - if leatherman made a version of the wave with a lineman plier head, or even just had bigger cutters on it, it would be perfect for what i do, but its great having it around just how it is.. that would be one of my 3 suggestions to leatherman - offer a wave with a lineman plier head, a diagonal cutter head, and a choice of a couple of the onboard tools you could pick to have installed from the factory when you buy it.
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lbhsbz
Well-known member
That looks like the blade in my wingman...which is mostly useless when new and completely useless after a handful of uses.
I'd like tool with the pliers/wire cutter, nice straight blade, scissors, flathead and philips screwdriver, and that little thingy to open plastic packages that comes on the wingman. That's it.
They should make different handle/frame assemblies and let you choose your tools to fill them with.
I'd like tool with the pliers/wire cutter, nice straight blade, scissors, flathead and philips screwdriver, and that little thingy to open plastic packages that comes on the wingman. That's it.
They should make different handle/frame assemblies and let you choose your tools to fill them with.
Bobdog
Well-known member
I don't think I'll ever give up my Wave.
But, that T4 looks like it would be perfect for the weekends when I'm not at work.
I'm going to keep an eye out for it.
But, that T4 looks like it would be perfect for the weekends when I'm not at work.
I'm going to keep an eye out for it.
Bottlecapdigger
Well-known member
I know this was brought up here before but are they still made in the USA? If so why don't they stamp it on the casting? My son has an older wave that we bought about 10-15 yrs ago and it's stamped USA. I bought a charge TTi about 10 yrs ago, which I think is one of the best models they've made, yet it's not labeled "made in USA". What's up? BCD.
neophyte
Well-known member
The Leatherman site sort of mentions this, as have several articles.
For an item to be sold with the label “Made in the USA” it has to be primarily manufactured in the US of US produced materials, and in some states, I think California was the major one, the item may need to be completely manufactured in the USA of USA made materials.
Leatherman doesn’t completely manufacture their multitools in the USA from US materials, at least for the larger multitools.
Certain components of the multitools are made over seas, or made outside the USA and finished in the USA.
I don’t recall everything, but certain components like the file, pocket clips, and maybe a few other components were actually manufactured in Switzerland for leatherman. I’m not sure whether any major company still manufactured files in the US, whereas Stitzerland still has more than one world class file manufacturer, and those manufacturers are willing to make custom files if you order enough.
The flat Letherman bits were being made in Taiwan if I recall correctly.
The plier jaws were supposedly being cast in Mexico, and maybe finished in the USA.
I’m not sure about other components, but basically, Leatherman can’t lehally sell the tools as “Made in the USA” at least in some states, and advertising US made in some states and not others would likely cause confusion and criticism.
The older Leatherman tools may have been completely US made, but I seem to recall Leathean may have gotten fined for using imported parts, and that’s when they removed the US made from the label.
rlitman
Well-known member
On the Wave, both the serrated and straight blades are 420HC. It can cut copper in a pinch, but it tends to roll the edge, because it's pretty soft, so you'll want to carefully go over it with a small radius steel (something that fits in the serrations) before you touch it to a stone.
On my Charges, I have S30V straight blades (some models use 154CM), which hold up much better to abuse, but that's ONLY on the straight blades. The Serrated blades are still 420HC, and sickeningly soft.
On my Charges, I have S30V straight blades (some models use 154CM), which hold up much better to abuse, but that's ONLY on the straight blades. The Serrated blades are still 420HC, and sickeningly soft.
Bottlecapdigger
Well-known member
The Leatherman site sort of mentions this, as have several articles.
For an item to be sold with the label “Made in the USA” it has to be primarily manufactured in the US of US produced materials, and in some states, I think California was the major one, the item may need to be completely manufactured in the USA of USA made materials.
Leatherman doesn’t completely manufacture their multitools in the USA from US materials, at least for the larger multitools.
Certain components of the multitools are made over seas, or made outside the USA and finished in the USA.
I don’t recall everything, but certain components like the file, pocket clips, and maybe a few other components were actually manufactured in Switzerland for leatherman. I’m not sure whether any major company still manufactured files in the US, whereas Stitzerland still has more than one world class file manufacturer, and those manufacturers are willing to make custom files if you order enough.
The flat Letherman bits were being made in Taiwan if I recall correctly.
The plier jaws were supposedly being cast in Mexico, and maybe finished in the USA.
I’m not sure about other components, but basically, Leatherman can’t lehally sell the tools as “Made in the USA” at least in some states, and advertising US made in some states and not others would likely cause confusion and criticism.
The older Leatherman tools may have been completely US made, but I seem to recall Leathean may have gotten fined for using imported parts, and that’s when they removed the US made from the label.[
Thanks for the info bcdQUOTE]
I'm so glad to find this thread. I was searching for a Leatherman thread. My son has a Wave and lost it a couple of years ago. He just found it in the backyard. It's all stainless but the screw is not. It's rusted and we can't get it open. I've tried soaking it in vinegar and still no help. If he sends it in will they rebuild it? His fear is they will replace it and it's sentimental. I've been to their site and can't figure if they will charge for service.
Outlander
Well-known member
sigh. Getting sentimental about my Leatherman now.
On the warranty form, there is a box you can check making it clear the tool has sentimental value and you do not want it replaced. As far as it being repaired - thats another question. You’d just have to send it back and see what they do, as they might deem that as not falling under their warranty. Broken is one thing, covered in rust from being left outside - i guess you’ll have to just see what they’ll do..
As a last resort, there are some listings on eBay for broken leatherman tools (which no doubt most buyers will just send in for warranty), that you can purchase for parts - but they aren’t as cheap as you’d think.. i just send it back, see what happens. Worst they can do is just return it and say sorry but we dont cover this, and honestly if that happens you really cant blame them. Maybe they will reach out and offer to repair it for a cost if they dont just fix it. I have a feeling they will just fix it and send it back though - assuming it can still be taken apart without needing special attention. I would not be expecting them to do anything more than just trying to remove the screw they same way it was installed.
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Thanks. It is stainless so it looks great. Only the hardware that holds it together rusted. I found the site. I was hoping someone would pipe up that they did the same thing. It sat in the woods behind our house. He got it as an award in Boy Scouts. I'm going to try to get it fixed. I might try soaking it in oil first to see if it loosens up.
rlitman
Well-known member
If you check the box that it is sentimental, they will send it back without repair if they deem that they cannot repair it. But is a lump of rust sentimental?
There is nothing made from steel in a Leatherman Wave that is not also stainless. The screws most certainly are stainless, but they're not all 300 series, so some parts may be more prone to rust than others (in particular, harder parts such as the replaceable screwdriver bits or the screws themselves for example will be more rust prone).
Vinegar takes time. I'd give it a few weeks. If you have CLR, you can try that, as it's significantly stronger.
Do not start with oil, because any oil you add will prevent the acid from dissolving the rust.
Thanks. It's been in vinegar for more than a week. Not much luck unsticking it. It seems they could disassemble it and use a new screw.
For anyone interested in repairing Leatherman tools or requiring spare parts there is a multitool forum. A lot of the guys on there mod and repair multitools and so sell parts (screws, blades etc) in the classifieds. There is guy on there (think I've seen his name on here too) who sells parts and makes special tools for Leatherman screws. Though you can use pliers if you don't mind damaging the screws a bit.
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php
Leatherman screw wrenches.
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php
Leatherman screw wrenches.
Bighead38
Well-known member
Badger 13
Well-known member
Has anyone purchased one of the new "Free" models, and if so what are you thoughts on it ?
Locker537
Well-known member
I'm curious if the pocket knife style models have a pocket clip.
rlitman
Well-known member
Purchased, no, not yet. But my friend was in town the other day, and I got to play with his his new Free P2. Handling it in person, I am VERY impressed with the build quality. The fit and finish looks even better close up than the impression I got from the videos. I really like how the pliers joint handles, and it seems clear to me that they spent a lot of time getting all sorts of important details just right.
The only catch is that it is about a quarter inch longer than my Charge, so I don't think it will fit my existing case.
https://www.leatherman.com/free-collection
I see a clip on the knives.
I’m sure ill wind up with one.. ive bought 4 different tin snips to compare in the last few weeks... i have a problem like that..
Still using my wave plus everyday..
If anyone finds a good sale on em - post it.. I’m sure ill be dumb enough to buy something else i dont need. 2nd pair of safety sunglasses ordered today, cause I’m not liking the no rubber on the nose piece on the cheap ones i bought a week ago.
Ill buy the k4 or p4.. but not at those prices. The combo blade on the p2 eliminates that one. Not dealing with that.
Still using my wave plus everyday..
If anyone finds a good sale on em - post it.. I’m sure ill be dumb enough to buy something else i dont need. 2nd pair of safety sunglasses ordered today, cause I’m not liking the no rubber on the nose piece on the cheap ones i bought a week ago.
Ill buy the k4 or p4.. but not at those prices. The combo blade on the p2 eliminates that one. Not dealing with that.
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alcorelli
Well-known member
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IndyGarage
Well-known member
I have tried many of the leatherman tools over the years. Most of them reside in my desk drawer. The one that resides in my pocket almost all the time is a Juice S2 from about 1995. I've gone through about 4 of them, but it's simply the best combination of compact size and weight, plus useful tools that I've found. It's smaller and lighter than the skeletool and has more useful tools. It doesn't look as pretty, but my pocket doesn't complain.
Yeah if I were castaway on an island, I'd pick a different tool, but for everyday use the S2 is hard to beat. They haven't equaled it yet.
Yeah if I were castaway on an island, I'd pick a different tool, but for everyday use the S2 is hard to beat. They haven't equaled it yet.