- Joined
- May 9, 2002
- Messages
- 12,685
First of all, let me say that I am floored by the warranty department of LM. I had always heard that it was good, but I never tried it out. I figured it would be a pretty lengthy turn around time, so I never bothered with it.
A little back story:
My wife purchased a Leatherman Surge back in 2005 for me as a bit of a wedding gift. There was nothing special about this one, she just knew I had wanted one since they were new on the market then. Long story short, I liked it pretty well. However, the jaws always seemed to stick when you tried to close it. They would wedge between the bits, and you'd have to give the handles a good squeeze to snap them shut. No big deal, but annoying so it became my workbench tool when I wasn't carrying anything else on me.
For 6 years, the Surge with the sticky jaws worked just fine. Over time I lost the file and saw, arched a spark hot enough to cut a gouge down the jaws, and completely lost the tiny springs that hold the bits in place. However, the blades always worked, the pliers always gripped, and the tool was always more than capable to do what I asked of it.
After a lot of procrastination, I decided that I would send it in to see what LM would do with it. I filled out the form and told them about the tiny springs (I had inquired about getting them from LM before but was told that I would have to ship the tool to them to get them replaced). I mailed it out last Friday afternoon priority mail and was told by the PO that it would reach LM on Monday.
It's exactly a week to the day from when I MAILED the tool, and sitting in front of me is a brand new Surge with an manufacture date of September 2010 (funny since my old one was manufactured in September of 2005
). Incredibly impressed. :thumbup:
Now for some comparison to the old tool:
First of all, the sticking jaws are GONE. El zippo issues with all the different bits I have tried. The tool has some new-tool stiffness to it, but it'll break in. The pliers jaws meet up perfectly flush on all sides. All bits and blades lock into place with authority and zero wiggle. All and all, a very to spec tool. It looks like they have worked the kinks out of the design since 2005.
There are a couple things I have noticed. Streamlining the process has yielded a tool that has lots of manufacturing and casting lines. There is a lot more slop regarding the finish, but it's a user and in no way affects functionality. I'm still not a fan of the brushed finish LM has elected to give their tools since 2004, but it seems serviceable if more prone to rust. I was also hoping they would have done away with the chintzy tiny springs holding in the bits and gone with a more robust design like what is found on the Skeletool. That said, these are minor gripes. LM has hooked me up with a quality tool with absolutely no run around or hassles.
Color me incredibly impressed:thumbup:
A little back story:
My wife purchased a Leatherman Surge back in 2005 for me as a bit of a wedding gift. There was nothing special about this one, she just knew I had wanted one since they were new on the market then. Long story short, I liked it pretty well. However, the jaws always seemed to stick when you tried to close it. They would wedge between the bits, and you'd have to give the handles a good squeeze to snap them shut. No big deal, but annoying so it became my workbench tool when I wasn't carrying anything else on me.
For 6 years, the Surge with the sticky jaws worked just fine. Over time I lost the file and saw, arched a spark hot enough to cut a gouge down the jaws, and completely lost the tiny springs that hold the bits in place. However, the blades always worked, the pliers always gripped, and the tool was always more than capable to do what I asked of it.
After a lot of procrastination, I decided that I would send it in to see what LM would do with it. I filled out the form and told them about the tiny springs (I had inquired about getting them from LM before but was told that I would have to ship the tool to them to get them replaced). I mailed it out last Friday afternoon priority mail and was told by the PO that it would reach LM on Monday.
It's exactly a week to the day from when I MAILED the tool, and sitting in front of me is a brand new Surge with an manufacture date of September 2010 (funny since my old one was manufactured in September of 2005
). Incredibly impressed. :thumbup:Now for some comparison to the old tool:
First of all, the sticking jaws are GONE. El zippo issues with all the different bits I have tried. The tool has some new-tool stiffness to it, but it'll break in. The pliers jaws meet up perfectly flush on all sides. All bits and blades lock into place with authority and zero wiggle. All and all, a very to spec tool. It looks like they have worked the kinks out of the design since 2005.
There are a couple things I have noticed. Streamlining the process has yielded a tool that has lots of manufacturing and casting lines. There is a lot more slop regarding the finish, but it's a user and in no way affects functionality. I'm still not a fan of the brushed finish LM has elected to give their tools since 2004, but it seems serviceable if more prone to rust. I was also hoping they would have done away with the chintzy tiny springs holding in the bits and gone with a more robust design like what is found on the Skeletool. That said, these are minor gripes. LM has hooked me up with a quality tool with absolutely no run around or hassles.
Color me incredibly impressed:thumbup:
