Gerber Dime Mini Multi-Tool?

afishhunter

afishhunter

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Gerber 30-000469 DIME Mini Multi Tool: P.O.S. or worth getting for light duty pliers based mini multi tool, or would a SOG or Leatherman of the same size/class be a better (albeit much more expensive up front) option?

I think I've read in this sub forum that the Gerber multi tools are much better than their knife shaped objects.
 
I did have one but I don't carry enough to comment on it, but from what I read on MTO(a multitool forum) and my own personal experience with both Dime and LM Squirt, I would think the fit and finish on PS4 is more refined and Dime could be hit and miss. I think at <20usd, Dime is an ok choice if you find one that works.
 
Relative to not having a micro MT in your pocket, the Dime is pretty good. But the tools are very stiff to open, and its not a high quality MT. The PS4 is a higher quality MT, and does not have the unnecessary bottle opener sticking out of the end like the Dime does, but the PS4 also costs twice as much as the Dime.

For $20, I would say buy the Dime and give it ride.

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Not a fan of the dime myself. Tools are thin and hard to open. I love my PS4. I am also loving a leatherman skeletool. It has alowed me to replace 2 tools i was carrying and has given more pocket space. So far the skeletool is doing me a great job. I used it as my only tool a few weekends ago to completely disassemble my dryer to figure out what the noise was it was making. It worked well.
 
After a almost six year run, the Leatherman squirt has won me over. Tough, capable little tool, and the one time something broke, (scissors spring) Leatherman has a new one in my hand two weeks after I sent mine off to them. Considering mail in-transit time, they must have sent one off soon as mine got there. I've worked the ever lovin dog poo out of my squirt and its been great. Its a Leatherman.

At 20 bucks, you're halfway to the price of a new Leatherman. Whats 20 bucks??? A price of a lunch at a chain restaurant for you and your better half? Half a tank of gas for your car? One box of bulk pack .22's if they were even available?

Just buy the Leatherman and skip a lunch out. You'll be better off 5 years from now when the Leatherman is still working.
 
jackknife said:
After a almost six year run, the Leatherman squirt has won me over. Tough, capable little tool, and the one time something broke, (scissors spring) Leatherman has a new one in my hand two weeks after I sent mine off to them. Considering mail in-transit time, they must have sent one off soon as mine got there. I've worked the ever lovin dog poo out of my squirt and its been great. Its a Leatherman.

At 20 bucks, you're halfway to the price of a new Leatherman. Whats 20 bucks??? A price of a lunch at a chain restaurant for you and your better half? Half a tank of gas for your car? One box of bulk pack .22's if they were even available?

Just buy the Leatherman and skip a lunch out. You'll be better off 5 years from now when the Leatherman is still working.
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This!
 
afishhunter said:
Gerber 30-000469 DIME Mini Multi Tool: P.O.S. or worth getting for light duty pliers based mini multi tool, or would a SOG or Leatherman of the same size/class be a better (albeit much more expensive up front) option?

I think I've read in this sub forum that the Gerber multi tools are much better than their knife shaped objects.
Click to expand...
Get a leatherman squirt.
I've had a few of the little Chinese made keychain sized Gerber tools and they were worthless garbage, they kept breaking on me.
For what it's worth though, I had the vise and 2 examples of the bear grylls version of the vise.
The pliers are essentially the same and I'm sure the quality of the dime is just as bad.
 
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Hickory n steel said:
Get a leatherman squirt.
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This.
I realize money can be an issue, but if there’s a better tool I do my best to save, and 99% of the time I only have to buy once.
Before my stubborn brother passed in ‘07 he went thru several Gerber multi tools before finally taking my advice a buying a Leatherman.
 
I have two gerber dimes. The first one I got to rough with the pliers and it collapsed. I got another one and use it occasionally but they are just to delicate. I’ll agree with others who’ve commented on getting the LM squirt. It’s probably more robust for a small tool and worth the extra for durability. I’d get one if I could see it first hand but no dealers in my area carry a squirt.
 
Thanks, all. Gerber is out.
If/when the 3rd economic stimulus happens, maybe I'll just get a LM Super Tool 300 or Rebar ... or a SOG ... or the Schrade ... or just get a Irwin or Huskey needle nose pliers, and a decent precision screwdriver set ...
Full size pliers would probably be more practical, (for me) anyway.

Or for the same money as a LM a 60 pound draw (@ 28 inch; with my abnormally short 22 or 23 inch draw (I'm deformed), an effective 40 to 45 pounds) Mongolian Horse Bow :D
 
afishhunter said:
Thanks, all. Gerber is out.
If/when the 3rd economic stimulus happens, maybe I'll just get a LM Super Tool 300 or Rebar ... or a SOG ... or the Schrade ... or just get a Irwin or Huskey needle nose pliers, and a decent precision screwdriver set ...
Full size pliers would probably be more practical, (for me) anyway.

Or for the same money as a LM a 60 pound draw (@ 28 inch; with my abnormally short 22 or 23 inch draw (I'm deformed), an effective 40 to 45 pounds) Mongolian Horse Bow :D
Click to expand...

If you want a small multitool that's durable look on Ebay for a Sebertool, m2 m3 or m4, they're all sturdy little tools.
 
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I haven't been able to find a really good multi-tool in this size category. So I've carried either a Dime or a Squirt.

The main winner on the Dime is the bottle opener. When viewed primarily as a bottle opener that comes with other little tools, it's okay. It's really one of the best EDC bottle openers, unless you put it on a key ring with other things. (The key ring attachment is on the same side as the bottle opener.) Otherwise, it fits well into a fifth pocket or small pocket organizer.

The knife on the Dime has a decent blade shape but horribly soft steel. The file is a joke. The clam-shell tool is actually a cool idea and I've used it, but better steel would help. The scissors are okay. It actually has hidden tweezers but not quite as good as what you get on a SAK. I like these pliers a little better than the Squirt's for some things. However, the wire cutters on the Squirt are better.

The Squirt feels like a higher quality tool overall but it isn't great. Get the Dime if the features appeal to you. There is also a "Travel Dime" that's supposed to be okay for air travel. It swaps out the knife and clam-shell tool. One of the replacements is a little hook which I've actually found useful once or twice.
 
I damaged my dime removing some tight bolts with the screwdriver. I wouldn’t buy one again. Pretty happy with my SAK tinker small and CobraXS plier combo. Much less compromise that a plier based small multitool.
 
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