Inexpensive Multitool With a REAL Screwdriver Bit?

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ElectroPulse

Joined
Feb 18, 2014
Messages
5
Hello, all!

I'm currently in the market for a multitool. I was recently given an old, promotional Swiss-Army Knife-style pocketknife, and unfortunately the thing's screwdriver bits are useless. Over the past couple of weeks I have had so many "Damn, this would be so handy if the screwdriver fit" moments. The other tools, however, have come in handy.

Anyway, I am going to be heading out of the country soon to resume my work at a school as the IT guy. Since I started carrying this mostly-useless pocketknife, I have realized what an asset a multi-tool could be.

So, background info aside... I've been looking for a multi-tool that fulfills the following requirements, but it seems like they either fail one or the other of my first two requirements:
1. ~$30 or less
2. Has REAL screwdriver bits (seems like all of the lower-priced ones have those crappy 2-dimensional phillips head screwdrivers)
3. (Not a requirement, but a huge plus) - A couple of sizes of the bits (particularly the phillips head)

...And really, that's it. It seems like most of the other things are pretty standard with multi-tools, like knives, pliers, and wirecutters.

I am not familiar with the brands, but just from hear-say from coworkers and from reading reviews online, it seems that Leatherman dominates the multi-tool industry, with Gerber coming in second. As I am, again, not familiar with the quality of brands, recommendations for other less-well-known-but-equally-good-quality brands are welcome.

Thanks!
ElectroPulse
 
We'll if you can bring up your price range to about $40 you can get a leatherman rebar
It's got a real Phillips head driver, about the best pliers head out there.

If you can't bring up your price range then I would say a leatherman wingman or sidekick $25-$30 they have Simi 2 dimensional Phillip driver but it works great in my use.

As far as brand goes leatherman is in my opinion the best brand of multi tools out there.
Leatherman has one of the best warranty 25 years (very fast warranty service)

Best of luck

ZTD.
 
Not 30 bucks but the Vic Cybertool 34 is pretty cool....good hardened bits and well liked by guys that work in IT (or so I read).

Cybertool_zpsd5cf6f65.jpg


Seen them used on the bay for reasonable prices.
 
Other makes have their good points, but if screwdrivers are an important consideration for you, Leatherman screwdrivers are much better made than the rest. I like the set-up on the Super Tool 300, also its stablemate Rebar which is smaller and weighs less. Usually they are good to go, but when needed, both can take an accessory bit extender that accepts a really clever compact 1/4 in. bit assortment kit and also standard bits, just about any you can think of. Some say Leathermen have too many flat heads, but they are at least sharply squared and fit standard slotted screws very well. To my knowledge, none of the M-Ts on the market have multiple built in ph drivers, but those on the ST300 and Rebar have worked just fine on just about every ph screw I ever needed in or out.
Neither can be got new at your price point, but in my experience, most of the time if I can afford $30, another up to $20 usually isn't that far out of reach (just saying.) Or, you could find them used for less. You don't have to worry about condition either because Leatherman Warranty will fix whatever needs done free or even send a new tool. Apparently, the warranty comes with the tool, not the original buyer. That's another good reason to go Leatherman.
 
SAK Guy said:
Not 30 bucks but the Vic Cybertool 34 is pretty cool....good hardened bits and well liked by guys that work in IT (or so I read).

Cybertool_zpsd5cf6f65.jpg


Seen them used on the bay for reasonable prices.
Click to expand...


I would suggest the Cybertool 34 as well.

Unless you can spend more than $30 your not going to get anything worth buying with the features you are looking for.
 
Why not consider a real screw driver and separate knife?

I speak from experience of bashing knuckles because I used my multi tool rather than a proper screw driver...
 
It doesn't lock, but it seems sturdy enough for most purposes. I might not use it to put 2" screws into untapped hardwood, but I've never had an issue with bending or breaking and it still snaps open and closed nicely. It does have a half-stop to use the handle for greater leverage. I've been using it in an IT environment for a couple years now and it's been pretty robust, including being the primary tool for assembling a couple racks of servers. Not heavy-duty, per se, but very handy.

It's kind of an undocumented feature, but the slot where the driver folds into the handle is a perfect bottle opener.
 
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