Leatherman Sidekick Wirecutters Have a Gap!

J

jobu

Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
3
Sidekick owners out there, do you have the same "problem"/situation that I do?

My wirecutters don't meet, they have a slight gap. This means that I can't cut stranded wire completely.


view






Does this bother anyone else?

I contacted Leatherman customer service and they said:

==============
Thank you for contacting Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.

It is normal for the Sidekick tool to have the gap in the wire cutters. Since the sidekick have spring pliers this is normal.

Best Regards,

Spencer Kemp
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc./LED Lenser USA

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jobu said:
Sidekick owners out there, do you have the same "problem"/situation that I do?

My wirecutters don't meet, they have a slight gap. This means that I can't cut stranded wire completely.


view






Does this bother anyone else?

I contacted Leatherman customer service and they said:

==============
Thank you for contacting Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.

It is normal for the Sidekick tool to have the gap in the wire cutters. Since the sidekick have spring pliers this is normal.

Best Regards,

Spencer Kemp
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc./LED Lenser USA

=============
Click to expand...

It's a different type of wire cutter than we usually find in multi-tools. The Sidekick is equipped with anvil cutters, the mechanics of which are to break wire rather than slice through it like the bypass variety we are all familiar with. As a rule, anvil cutters don't cut as cleanly as the bypass, but are stronger because the force is concentrated at a single point rather than on two separate planes. Also, the wire won't wedge between blades, as can happen with the bypass type. The gap on your cutter is normal, but should close when you squeeze hard on the handles. If not, you should take it up with Leatherman again.
 
znapschatz said:
It's a different type of wire cutter than we usually find in multi-tools. The Sidekick is equipped with anvil cutters, the mechanics of which are to break wire rather than slice through it like the bypass variety we are all familiar with. As a rule, anvil cutters don't cut as cleanly as the bypass, but are stronger because the force is concentrated at a single point rather than on two separate planes. Also, the wire won't wedge between blades, as can happen with the bypass type. The gap on your cutter is normal, but should close when you squeeze hard on the handles. If not, you should take it up with Leatherman again.
Click to expand...

The don't meet, even with lots of pressure. I suppose I'll reply to them. But I'm abit tired of getting no for an answer.

In my mind, there should be no gap. i have wirecutters that are not the "bypass" style and they meet with precision.
 
jobu said:
Does this bother anyone else?
Click to expand...

Me. The Wingman and Sidekick are pretty lousy MTs, in my view, and the "cutters" suck. Better to save up an extra $20 - $30 for a Rebar, with real cutters, a 3D phillips, etc. Just my take on the world.

Welcome to Bladeforums!
 
At the end of the day, never treat any multi-tool like the tool its replacing. It will never be as good. That's just reality. Maybe you got one that has a bit more gap than normal, but at the pricepoint, I feel like the cutter tolerance is pretty low on their priority list. If the cutters engage too early, it makes the pliers useless.

The wingman and Sidekick are cheaper tools, for a budget. If you need good cutters for production work, then get a good set that do what you need them to do, its much cheaper to go that route, long term. If however you just need cutters once and a while, and want a multi, go for the rebar.

I think they changed the style to prevent so many tools being ruined by the cutters getting deformed. just the nature of the beast.
Don't feel like I'm having a bash at you, its only my opinion, not some hard fact. My opinion is that the tool is not suited to what you want to do with it.
 
gadgetgeek said:
At the end of the day, never treat any multi-tool like the tool its replacing. It will never be as good. That's just reality. Maybe you got one that has a bit more gap than normal, but at the pricepoint, I feel like the cutter tolerance is pretty low on their priority list. If the cutters engage too early, it makes the pliers useless.

The wingman and Sidekick are cheaper tools, for a budget. If you need good cutters for production work, then get a good set that do what you need them to do, its much cheaper to go that route, long term. If however you just need cutters once and a while, and want a multi, go for the rebar.

I think they changed the style to prevent so many tools being ruined by the cutters getting deformed. just the nature of the beast.
Don't feel like I'm having a bash at you, its only my opinion, not some hard fact. My opinion is that the tool is not suited to what you want to do with it.
Click to expand...

Agree that the price point is amazing. I'm an original PST owner, and I stopped carrying it because the handles were uncomfortable to use after awhile, and it was kind of a paint to open it to get access to any tool. When I picked up the Sidekick, it was kind of an afterthought, like, hey, I'll try it, since its inexpensive. But WOW, design improvements have come a long way and now its almost an EDC (even though I don't have need for it literally every day). I simply dont understand why the gap is there. But I'm not belaboring the point. I'll get a Wave when I feel like spending money on yet another tool/toy. Till then the Sidekick is a great value, and an invaluable tool for me.
 
Its just the nature of the production method. a 0.001 here a 0.001 there, and you get a gap. again, some match up, some don't. If they all did, it would be a 50$ tool
 
jobu said:
The don't meet, even with lots of pressure. I suppose I'll reply to them. But I'm abit tired of getting no for an answer.

In my mind, there should be no gap. i have wirecutters that are not the "bypass" style and they meet with precision.
Click to expand...

You're right. Insist to the warranty department that there should not be a gap with these pliers, so either fix, replace or refund.
 
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