How many have used/abused their multitools?

P

persuader 590

Joined
Jan 4, 2002
Messages
35
I've always been curious. A lot of the guys here comment that they hardly ever use their multi tools for serious tasks and claim that they're not really up to the job.
My question is this: how many of you construction workers, firefighters, working cops ,etc have actually given your tools a workout? What are your opinions and reccomendations?
 
I guess I could say that I have abused a few.
I have a Gerber multitool that has the phillips head stripped out due to over-tightening and attempting to loosen more that I should have. While cutting some barbed wire I pinched my figers so badly on these, I couldn't remove a class ring for days. It's in the car kit now.

I have a Leatherman PST that also has the phillips stripped out, and while trying to cut a some steel cable, I ruined the wire cutters.

These tools are a compromise, no more. The real tool, be it a screwdriver, wirecutter, pliers, or canopener are always better if they are available.

That being said, I still carry a Leatherman Wave. Having something with you is still better than having nothing.
 
Well, I've broken an SOG powerplier in hard use, building a recording studio. I also recently bought a house and have been remodeling, and my Gerber multitool has seen about 95% of the jobs I've done which include: tearing out an entire natural gas furnace, replacing a couple of sets of faucets, replacing 3 sets of deadbolts, and installing a woodstove. I use my multitool for everything and most of the time it does the job.
 
I issue all of our maintenance people multitools. It's considered a basic tool, the same as an electrical tester or a set of allen wrenches. I probably replace 1-2 per year, mostly for broken screwdriver blades. Some of the guys use them for everything and some of them jst throw them in their toolboxes.
 
Although I'm not a construction worker, firefighter, or a working cop, I'm an electrician by trade who's done a fair amount of maint/repair jobs, and I can honestly say that they are no better or worse than any other tool. It's a fact that all tools will eventually break, and these are no different.

Having said that, my old Leatherman Supertool is still in usable condition (well, the pliers work. Philips head screwdriver is stripped, standard is twisted, and the blade snapped about 1/2" from the tip, but that was under heavy abuse), and the Wave is still going strong (although it's not seen so much abuse).

Danny
 
One of our local ranch supply outfits sells them. I noticed a large box marked "defective -----" I asked to see them and saw most of the wire cutters - pliers were broken. The rest of the parts were pretty much the worst for wear. I talked to the outfit that makes them, suggesting a simple design change, he said that ranchers break a lot of them, just expect too much out of them. They do stick to their guarantee and immediately replace with new ones. It is a felony on ranches and farms in Wyoming to use pliers of any knid of bolt or nut -- just ask the owner of the outfit. I have seen them come through when badly needed.
 
I work as a "system specialist" in our company. This including computers, network etc. etc.

LM Wave is a "must have" for me while I'm at work and it gets a lot of use - sometimes light abuse too.
 
Yeah...I guess I could be considered a bit of a psychopathic multi-tool abuser. My Leatherman wave currently has two common screw drivers broken on it, the wire cutters destroyed, and the plain edge blade bends totally backwards because it's so loose. My old Leatherman had about the same amount of broken screwdrivers and such on top of the fact that I broke the pliers totally off. Used them to pry truck windows out(makes spinal immobilization alot easier during extrication) hammer survey stakes, trying to cut way thick wire that was beyond thier abilities, etc. They've saved mine and my fathers asses many a times by being able to pull rocks out of the our outboard jet intake and making miscellaneous engine repairs while runnin' rivers. Overall, a great tool, as long as you recnognize it's limitations. Still to carry mine in conjunction with a good stout knife of some sort (TOPS scalpel, Buck Strider, MOD CQD, and so forth....it's a constantly changing list)
 
I'm not a policeman or fireman, but I have had to totally abuse my mutitool a time or too. Once driving in the city my car's electrical system went out. I carry a Craftsman Multi-Purpose Tool due to it having locking pliers(which is unavailable in most other multi-tools). To fix my vehicle I abused that thing like I've never abused any of my tools before. It stood up superbly. A specific instance was to use the tips of the locking pliers to unscrew a large bolt in a tight place because I didn't have a rachet and socket. That thing is really tough. The knife on it came razor sharp but I haven't tested its durability.(I always carry a separate knife) Downside is that it does NOT fit in your pocket. It also carries a 70 dollar price tag. I have carried swiss army knives with many tools on them and they are just too chincy for "hard use". As long as you don't mind the price and the belt carry, this tool can't be beat for durability and function.
 
I don't know what guys would say they don't use their multi-tools above and beyond their capacity. Both my Leatherman Supertool and SOG Switchpliers see tasks that I don't care to bestow on my knives, and what's worse, the multi-tools often get put away and stored with handsweat and worse (fishguts, etc.) after use.

There's no way I'd do this with my small Seb!

Two comment aimed at multi-tool manufacturers: all of you should be putting some type of washers between tool blades. My Supertool is so gunked up between tools that most of them stick together when opened. Another thing, every multi-tool made should be easy to disassemble and clean. My Switchplier is, while my Supertool isn't.

Professor.
 
I use mine what I consider frequently and with medium stress on the tool. The original Swisstool is by far my highest recommendation. I've had several leatherman, Gerber, and SOG tools. Some were good, others weren't. Now after rounding the market I've found myself back ith the Swisstool :)

Each component is oversized and has a generous amount of steel. The casing is nice thick gauge steel, far thicker than most other tools except the SOG (about an even match). Lock is superios in my opinion. Even though it's spring loaded, it's designed in a way that heavy(much more than I have caused) sideways torque won't cause failure.

You won't be disappointed....
 
I'm an electronics engineer and -even when I have a toolkit at hand- I use my Gerber compact sport plier very often and all of its tools have seen a lot of action, though nothing extreme.

The half serrated blade has been used so much for wire stripping, for cutting cardboard, plastics and conductive paths in printed circuit boards, that now it's clearly shorter due to sharpenning. When I'm doing my job on the field, this multitool is frequently my only tool, and it has never dissapointed me.
 
I'm an Industrial Mechanic who does alot of field service on freight elevators,and couldn't work without my Leatherman anymore.I have two full Rollaways of tools that I can't take in the field,so it is small toolbox time with my Leatherman and fixed blade EDC.Dave:)
 
I have a Leatherman Pulse that I have used for everything from assembaling a sheetmetal storage shed to automative work, and fixing small engines, and it has held up very well. I will admit though that I didn't do anything to it I would consider abuse, yet, but I would if the need arose with confidence.


Erik
 
...I spend a few weeks out of each month at remote locations, some more remote than others...

Part of the job requires work in a 30' 4'x4' tower...

After almost 20 years as an electronics tech/engineer I've got a fairly complete tool bag with sling that I throw over my back ala rifle carry...

It's got most of the tools a body could use...but for those moments that I'm playing the one handed Spyderman role, I use my Leatherman WAVE...with no abuse yet...

It's not abused because I deliberately Don't abuse it!

Either I have the 'right' tool, or I use my Spyderco Endura 50/50, old style...now that one I abuse!

In fact, I have been trying to kill, (dead, dead, dead), my Endura for years now, and haven't even come close yet!

The point here? Use the right tool for the job...or use a Endura...lol :p
 
Very good reading here, especially the section regarding the use of multi-tool as self defense weapon! Looks like another good endorsement for the SAK brand. See page two "The Ultimate Fighting Multi-Tool". You'll never look at them the same way ever again!


http://www.drearic.com/index2.html
 
I am no longer a fan of Multi-tools Leatherman, Gerber, SOG take your pick. Two summers ago I charted a sailing boat down in the Bahama's. I brought with me a leatherman Wave and Gerber multi-tool and by the end of the trip I almost threw them in the Gulf. Broken tips on the pliers and most of the screw driving tools rendered both of them useless. Corrosion was the next factor, once exposed to the salt water opening any one of the blades was a near impossible task. Never again will I count on a multi, I now make sure a full tool box is on board with pliers, wire cutters etc.
 
I have carried a Leatherman PST in my front pocked for years, both on duty and off (I'm a cop). I've used it to repair locks, alarm systems, motor vehicles and a number of other tasks that come up.

There are a lot of people out there that think any problem can be solved by simply dialing 9-1-1 so most cops end up getting called to a wide variety of situations.

Yesterday I was in my bathroom and noticed the sink was draining slowly. I grabbed a hanger out of the nearby closet, cut it, and bent a small hook with the Leatherman and used it to clean a hairball out of the drain. Elapsed time: under 4 minutes.

I love my multi-tool. I feel naked without it.

mike
 
I use the scissors on my Micra most often - in fact I use this tool most often probably because it is on my keychain which is always with me. I use my Wave at least 2-3 times a week (pliers, screwdrivers, and file most often). I use my EDC knife (small or large Sebenza) for most of my cutting chores.
As for durability, I have owned the Wave for about 2 years, and I'm getting ready to send it back for warranty repair. The problem is that the pliers-pivot is loosening. I was considering buying a Super-tool 200 to replace it...but as long as Leatherman will warranty it when / if this happens again, I would rather carry the Wave.
 
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