Handle Flex in Leatherman Wave

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
6,504
This occurs in mine when the tool is closed, and is noticeable when opening and especially closing the outer liner-lock blades. I was told by Leatherman that it's normal due to how the outer blades are attached to the handles at the handle pivot area.

The pliers on my Wave also open and close very easily, whereas the pliers on my other Leatherman tools are not as "loose." It doesn't seem to effect the functionality of the tool, only makes it seem less sturdy than my Supertool or PST II.

Is this a characteristic unique to the Wave, and has anybody else this experience with their Waves?
Jim
 
James,
I have had a Wave for about six months. While it has not seen heavy use I do use it quite often and open and close it regularly just for fun. It has a very slight amount of play but I believe it is from the metal handles flexing and not from being adjusted improperly. The pliers are still not loose. Maybe you should send it in.
Cody
 
I've had my wave for about a year. It has seen moderately heavy use, such as cutting the guts out of a 50kg fish that a friend caught, tightening nuts and bolts on various machines and my bike, and light work like slicing oranges and apples. It seems to get at least a light workout everyday. The handles are a little bit out of line (noticable only when it's closed), but are still rather tight. The various blades are also still a little tight. In fact, I'm trying to find a torx driver so that I can adjust it to open a little bit easier. However, I have not noticed any flexing in the handle, just that bit of mis-alignment I mentioned.

[This message has been edited by Steelwolf (edited 05-08-2000).]
 
When I got my Wave I checked every one in the store to find the loosest one possible. It still was tighter than I wanted it so I worked it over a little so it works almost like a butterfly knife. Opens or closes with a flip of my wrist. The handles are a little loose when it is closed but everything works just like I want it when open.


Mike
 
I hear you, Jim. I notice that problem every time I open one of the liner locking blades..the handles shifting side to side. I think it actually is the fault of the metal bending slightly.

Serious problem? No. Noticable and slightly awkward? Yes.

Maybe LM should use a stiffer metal?

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You could put nacho cheese sauce on it...
 
Thanks for the feedback, guys.
The pliers on my Wave are actually loose when the pliers are in the open position and ready to use. That is, if I hold the needle-nose pliers closed than release one of the handles it flops open. Oddly enough, though, there is no "jiggling" action at the pliers joint itself. And when I open the whole tool to access the pliers, the action is not loose but is the same as my other tools, which is fine.

When I bought my Wave it was in a clam-shell(?) packaging, so I couldn't check it out. I think perhaps the handle flex seems like it's a fairly common occurrence with the Wave. I still like the tool, though, but just carry my PST II most of the time for convenience.
Jim
 
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