Leatherman recomendations

I looked at the various offerings for some time while concluding that nearly all were significantly overpriced and typically had "features" with little real world use. What I eventually found on sale for $25 at Target (regular $30) is the Gerber (a.k.a. Fiskars) "Suspension" multitool which has everything you likely need without the fluff or inflated price. I've had it for some time now and used it extensively without issues, everything from sawing heavy poly bed liner material to the usual screw driving and pliar functions.

Pete C.

Oh yea, I also like the fact that it's pretty compact due to the way it folds, all the tools lock open for safety, and the belt holster works well in the horizontal mode.

Pete C.

Bill wrote in news:Xns98B95FCF82B5Dfredbarneybigmailbox@216.196.97.142:

One other question, can the bits in a Leatherman be purchased and replaced? I mean if I would round over the phillips bit or break off the knife blade can I buy replacement parts and fix it myself or would I have to send it back to Leatherman to get it fixed? I'm assuming these are repairable items?? I'd hate to pay big bucks for a pocketknife, break the blade doing something dumb and then not be able to get it fixed.

Bill

No spring, no popping open. Friction keeps it closed, plus it's two steps to get a knife out. Hard on the pocket though.

I have one from when there was only one kind, and it's still in good shape, without any overpriced Titanium.

Beware excess "features", they just mean a bigger, clunkier thing that's more of a chore to haul around and make space for.

That has knife, file, phillips, 3 sizes of flat, bottle/can opener, awl/drill, and the pilers/cutters. Closest thing to it seems to be the "kick", also the lightest full-sized, not coincidentally. You won't miss the file...

I also have one I ended up buying when that one went missing for a while. It traded the "awl/drill" blade for a pair of scissors, which I use much more than I use the awl/drill. However, it also added a non-needed (you simply close the handles) "blade locking mechanism" that makes it at least 1/8 inch fatter.

The files on both suck, IMHO. The later one has one side diamond. Probably OK, but of very limited application. Unfortunately, the better side of the old single cut/double cut file was the single-cut side, and they replaced that with the diamond, leaving you with diamond and a seriously inferior double-cut file (either stainless is a terrible thing to make files out of, or they don't pay much attention to the file quality).

I can imagine the saw, and I find it very hard to imagine enough use for a 4 inch long saw to make it worth dragging around.

I have the one with the self-locking pliers, what we would call a Mole wrench in the UK. This will cut quite tough wire, you can use it as an emergency spanner even on a rounded nut (of course a good nut gets rounded if you don't clamp it tight enough), and you can use it for crimping.

British bikers of my generation usually carried a mole wrench so that they could still change gear after the (foot change) pedal dropped off, which happened regularly when the vibration shook the bolt out. Actually it never happened to me (but then I rode Velocettes).

I've carried a Leatherman (the regular one, not the Wave) for a couple years now (not at school, of course) and I find it really useful. It's not too big, particularly thick, even when in the nylon holster, which is good since I don't wear a belt to put the holster on. I've only had two major screwups with the thing: A) trying to cut some large steel wire with the wire cutters, which left a burr on the wire cutter (at the base of the pliers) so the pliers get stuck closed a lot. B) I was tightening some battery terminals with the screwdriver on some 12 V motorcycle batteries (For those who aren't familiar, they put out about

200 amps for 30 sec> Last night as I was tightening a door knob at my wife's friend's house,

Yes..the black nylon belt case. When it wears out in 3-5 yrs..go to a gun show and pick up an EMT belt case, with room for the multitool, a MiniMag, etc etc. Some of the 99c store also have been carrying a rather decent for the price, belt case with pockets, belt clip and so forth. I can even keep a mini-multi meter in one.

Or if you want to keep it simple..a magazine pouch for a hi cap pistol magazine. Nylon.

btw..check around for best prices on the multi-tool. Big 5 Sporting goods often runs very cheap prices/sales on them, as well as Ebay.

Gunner

"Deep in her heart, every moslem woman yearns to show us her t*ts" John Griffin

You didn't have Locktite or an equivalent there?

When the holster for my Gerber "Suspension" wears out, I'll just toss the tool in one of my many toolboxes and buy another one for the $30 to keep on my belt. It's got everything I need and a whole lot more sane price tag than the $90 ones. The carbide insert cutters on the higher end ones are nice, but not nice enough to justify the much higher price.

Pete C.

Gunner wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

My appologies Gunner, I thought I'd remembered a thread about Leathermans that included you saying you used one. Next time I google first before making the smart assed comments. Have you used both brands? I think I'll get more use out of a Needle nose type pliers so for me it might be 600 Needlenose version although the 600 Pro Scout Needlenose looks interesting. Anyone know if the saw blade and file can be replaced when they get worn out?

Bill

Google is my friend. "mole wrench" is what we call vise grips.

Half the time I use my leatherman I need a second tool and I carry the smallest vise grips (4 inches long?) along. It's occured to me to carry a second, complementary multi-function tool, instead, but I'm not that compulsive.

You never rode a Triumph, then.

I'm not sure about a leatherman, but these can be replaced and/or customized according to which options you prefer:

I had a SOG for years and it was by far my favorite multi-tool. Matter of fact, I just ordered a new one. Th' last one was stolen. Anyway, it's designed so when one uses th' pliers and closes them, there's still room for fingertips inbetween th' handles. No more pinching and blood letting . It's a good solid tool and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Snarl

I pack a Victorinox (swiss army people). Damn fine tool. The knife means business, the saw is scary sharp and the file is blazingly hard. The whole tool is built to last with some not-so-obvious functions thrown in that are at the least, entertaining.

Just be sittin' down when you get a peek at the price!

Nope.

I have been carrying a Leatherman Wave for about 10 years now. Actually I am on my second one. The tool is pretty tough. I use it every day on the job and use it pretty hard. As for the saw blade or file wearing out, it has not happened yet. I regularly saw holes on drywall with the saw and file dings of motor shafts with the file. The knife blades open without opening up the whole tool, grab it out of the pouch and you can pop the blade open with your thumb. The Charge TI is pretty close to the same tool. My boss has a Wave TI and likes it. I have never had a problem with the blades coming open on my Wave, not sure if the Charge is the same but the Wave has a spring loaded blade stop to lock the blade open. It also gives a bit of friction to help keep the blade closed. My experiance with these tools is if you buy a cheap one, you will end up buying a higher end tool latter, so why not just buy a good one to start! Greg

I cary the Leatherman super tool and ues it every day... Its the best... Not to big and has everything I need ... I also carry a sawed off 8" cresent adajustable wrench cut down to

2"... I would never be with out eather one...

I used to carry a leatherman wave that I recieved as a, um, gift. yeah. snicker. It was so useful, I can't decsribe. I was at a surplus place today, and couldn't open an electrical enclosure because I ONLY had my favorite knife. a kershaw ken onion 1660CKT that you could only take from me against my will. nonetheless, the knife is ONLY a knife. the wave is expensive, but you will not regret paying the steep price for it.

Hey gunner, my swiss army knife is the best (well, most used) tool I have, and I was vaguely thinking of upgrading to the Leatherman, but was put off by the outrageous price. You mentioned Gerber - I had some Gerber kitchen knives years ago, superb..(using Japanese Global now, take an edge real good) - and I didnt know Gerber made a multi tool.

How old is yours, ie are we doing the usual thing of "they used to be great but are now crap" type of thing.....which one would you recommend for carrying in a belt pouch everyday and being the most functionally useful?

(Bloody airport security - lost a swiss army knife last time I got on a plane, forgot it was on my belt.....this was in Hobart, Tasmania, which is about as far south as you can go without hitting icebergs. Gawd knows where I could have hijacked the plane to from there.....)