Man, that was just DUMB

koyote

koyote

Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Messages
5,846
The other week I'm in Home Depot grabbing a box of cutoff discs for the shop, and a new hammer. Saw one of those $1.98 multitool LM knockoffs, the really small one.

My son, all of 5 years old, is really into doing stuff. Has his own ryobi drill driver (my old 12V one) and a workbench, saws and hammers and a bench vise. He just goes to town.

So I figure, what the hell. Grabbed the el cheapo multitool, and gave it to him to help him get over inside frantics on turkey day.

Welllllll, I'm out at a meeting tonight, and I get home. There's Leif, sawing away at a (ugh, pine!) branch he picked up at the park for a walking stick. Somehow, with a lot of persistence, we got through that inch thick rod of wood, TWICE, with what amounted to a 1.25 inch butter knife with dull sawteeth. Then he filed the ends all round and smooth, using that poor excuse for a nail file! I helped him cord wrap the handle, and...

And now I realize he's way to damned goodf for that POS tool. It was breaking my heart to watch him struggling so hard and patiently with such a crappy tool.

Well, here's another Christmas present for the dude. But I need a little help. These are the MUST HAVE tools he needs in whatever I buy him-

pliers
scissors
saw
file

Everything else is pretty optional. He has custom small kiddo knives (duh!) and plenty of screwdrivers. It can't be a SAK, though. He wants the leatherman effect.

I'd like to keep it fairly inexpensive, but I'll spend what I need to.

The Victorinox saw is a bit TOO aggressive for him to handle well at this point, it might end up being minor, but I'd prefer a slightly less aggressive saw.

Size isn't important, but he seems to like the smaller sizes right now, more than 1.25 inches on the saw blade might be nice.

help!
 
Scissors: a good pair of EMT shears!!! they are low $$ (less than 5) , with ROUNDED tips. Cut thru anything.
 
Oh, he's got those, wife is in nursing school :D

it's the multitool thing he's all hot about right now. And he needs a good one.
 
Leatherman Wave. It's the SAK Farmer of Leatherman. Meaning it is just about perfect. I do Institutional Maintenance and Repair, and the Wave is invaluable.
 
That reminds me when I got my first full size pry bar (In case of zombies :D) and it had alot of rust on it... I was 10 and I only had 1200 grit sand paper! Took me hours! :(:p

When little kids are determined to do something they will either go to then end of the Earth to do it or quite early on. You got a fighter! :eek::):thumbup:

I would say leatherman Wave but those are almost to big for myself so not recommended... :p I say one of the juiced multi-tools from LM.

I got the perfect stocking stuffer! cheap, high preformance, and will go to hell and back..... A MORA! Put a mora in the big sock you hang on the wall! :eek::D:thumbup:
 
see, I carry a crunch, and a vic outrider. I also have a cybertool in the shop box, and another in the bike kit. So I'm not up on all the models

The wave might be a bit much for him, but who knows? the blast looks good. I remember the issue gerber in the Navy was excellent, but don't think it had a saw
 
Blood_Grooves said:
I got the perfect stocking stuffer! cheap, high preformance, and will go to hell and back..... A MORA! Put a mora in the big sock you hang on the wall! :eek::D:thumbup:
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHA. He's already got a My First SAK, a 5 inch round nose chef's knife I made him, a necker I made him, and a belt knife I made him.
 
I second the Leatherman Blast, very nice price but this time of year you can get sweet deals on many MTs, last year I got a Swisstool Spirit for 36 bucks complete, which is a way better MT, in form and function. So keep an eye out and good Dad!
 
Well, if price is a concern, how about the SOG S62? It's not quite a leatherman, but it aint a cheapie either! Plus, it's heavy enough it'll help build his arms up while he's working with it! :thumbup:
 
Leatherman wave is hard to beat..I have an older model (straight blade needs a sharpening) I'd could send your way if you don't want to wait to christmas, I don't use it any more as I have a new wave and a spare, so it's yours as a gift as it's collecting dust on my end, it served me well as my edc for the past 5 years in ems...just pm me you addy if you want it.
 
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If small size is a concern then the Leatherman Juice series might do.
I have an Juice XE6 that i edc, it is substantially smaller than my (old) Wave.
My Juice XE6 is about 3.25 inches long and weights 7 ounces.
You could go one model down in the Juice line and reduce the weight and thickness a little.
The next model down lacks the serrated blade and the file.
Personally i think its worth it to go with the XE6.
The only downside to the Juice is the canopener seems a little thin to me and needs to be sharpener to work better.
The scissors are good but i still prefer SAK scissors.

There is a lot of love for Vic Spirits here so thats another option.

As far as one-hand opening locking bladed multis i've only had personal experience with the Wave.
I find the Wave to be useful and sturdy but also big and boxy, it can be pocket carried but only just barely.
And most of the other multis available are even bigger than the Wave!

If i was starting over again i'd buy the XE6 for edc pocket carry and get a Vic Swisstool X for when i wanted to belt carry.
I figure if you are going to carry it in a sheath on your belt you don't need to worry so much about size/weight limitations.
 
i have multiple styles of leathermans ans sog multitools....
get the wave.....its my fave....

the blades and saw and file are all accessable with the pliers closed...very neat feature.
 
Guess we'll have to try a wave, given the economic options :D

I'll post photos, too.
 
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