Design The Next Multi Tool!

R

RickJ

Joined
Mar 2, 2003
Messages
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I RECENTLY SENT AN E-MAIL TO LEATHERMAN WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR A NEW MULTI TOOL. I ASKED FOR A TOOL WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE SUPERTOOL WITH THE EASY OPENING BLADES OF THE WAVE. I ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE KNIFE BLADES BE MADE FROM A GOOD STEEL SUCH AS VG-10. I WOULD LIKE SOME MORE IDEAS ON THIS, AS THEY SAY TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE!
 
Hey, Rick, welcome to Bladeforums!

(I go along with numberthree -- the locked caps come across as shouting.)

I wouldn't mind starting with the Leatherman Supertool and changing a few points myself. For one thing, swap out that second knife blade and put in a scissors.

I once thought I would want to replace the serrated blade, but ... I generally carry a good folder and rarely need the Leatherman blade. Maybe a serrated sheepsfoot would be better for the off-the-wall coarse material I wouldn't want to mess up a good knife on. :)

I like the lock on the Pulse and Supertool 200 but I like the system on the SOG Powerlock better.
 
I would want one without any knife blade. Replace it with a hacksaw to complement the wood saw that normally comes with multitools. Though I realize they'd have to make the hacksaw blade easily replaceable since it tends to snap during use more.

But mostly, I'd like a multitool that has some parts that are interchangeable and replaceable, so you can mix and match.

(edited for grammar).
 
Give me a basic strong pliers, and let me choose, change and replace whichever tools I want in the handle. Personally I would only want a good set of screwdriver tips, since I also carry a SAK and a stockman, perhaps a file because I allways wear down the ones in the SAKs.

I do like locking blades but don´t care for one hand opening.
 
I'd like to see the SuperTool 200 lose one of the small flatheads in favor of scissors.
Course a "SuperWave" would be cool. Beef up the Wave, and give it locking tools.
Better blade steel isn't a big deal on a multitool for me, so if we're going to run the price up, I want something practical like voice-activated self-opening tools:cool: I hate it when the tools clump together...
 
I would say there are 3 levels of multitool. One is the mini, like the Micra or Crossgrip, which we don't seem to be talking about here.

The others are the lightweight, like the original Leatherman, and the heavy weight, like the SOG Powerlock. On a lightweight, all we really need are pliers, screwdrivers, and some sort of cutter or scraper blade. (The Schrade Tough Tool has a couple of really good scrapers.) On a different sort of lightweight, say a "personal" multitool, we might like a scissors and a file for grooming, and a can & bottle opener.

But if you could design a real portable toolkit that wouldn't even fit in your pocket, not a multitool you put on your belt everyday, what would it have? -- Everything!

1) Equip it with the new interchangeable plier heads: snub, needle, and cutter.
2) Give it a socket for interchangeable drivers, and a set of at least ten specialized hex and torx and box tips, for example.
3) Full set of eyeglass & small & large flat screwdrivers, and small & large phillips.
4) A hacksaw socket and a SAK-type saw, with another saw edge on a two-sided file: cross-cut and diamond.
5) Scissors and can & bottle opener.

All the blades might as well lock, but at least the cutting and screwdriver blades must lock. Since this is going to be a big tool, of course engrave metric and British rulers on it. Maybe beef up the metal at the end of the handles to use it as a tackhammer (like I use my Supertool anyway!)

No LED, no laser, no cellphone built in! No batteries or solar power! Now, did I leave anything out? Oh, yeah -- have Mission make it out of titanium ... :D
 
How about something pocketable, lightweight and upscale? Carbon fiber housing; minimal amount of tools; and pocket clip.
 
I like the lightweight pocketable idea. Maybe a titanium locking tool like the Juice but with interchangeable blades so that you could carry just the blades that you need. Also, a removeable pocket clip.
 
Interchangeable blades is a great idea. You could replace broken blades, customize the multitool for special jobs, or personalize it for the weekend, or swap in a new blade when the company came out with an improvement.
 
...That's easy...How about a SOG PowerLock that's the size and weight of a SOG Deluxe Pocket PowerPlier?.:).
 
Dann, I'm not putting down the Powerlock, because that's what I've been carrying ever since I bought it recently. But I would like some clever designer to make its capabilities available in a cleaner package, like the Supertool. Even the gears on the PL shouldn't have to stick out like that.
 
I would like to see:

1. Medium tool based on a folding shears, rather than a pliers.

2. Large tool with pliers and good quality wire cutters, as usual. In one side of the handle would be just a hex screwdriver, and in the other would be just a plastic holder for the bits, like the Victorinox Cybertool. With the bits placed diagonally into the holder, and long handles, you could fit a heck of a lot of bits in there. The handles would be smooth and comfortable in both the open and closed positions. On the outside would be a thick, 1/2" extension integral with the handle, for scraping and prying.
 
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