Mini multi-tools

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Interloper

Joined
Sep 6, 1999
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Does any one use their micra, crosscut etc. more often than they use a small folder? What uses do you find these tools most often applied to? And can any one suggest what may be best of the Leatherman Micra, SOG Crosscut, Buck mini tool, Serbertool
M-4 or Swisstech Ultikey. All comments welcome. Thanks
 
I've tried several mini-tools, but none have been able to replace my Victorinox Mini-ChampII SAK. It's only 2.25" long and packs two blades (drop point and sheepsfoot), a flat head screwdriver, a phillips head, scissors, nail file, bottle cap lifter, some strange little hooked blade that works wonders on peeling oranges, tweezers, and the best feature - a retractable and replacable blue ink pen! I use it a few dozen times a day probably. At about $20, it's got the best price/use ratio around.

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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
The only two from your list that I'm familiar with are the Leatherman Micra and the Buck Mini tool. I own a Buck mini tool and my wife has a Micra. I like both for different reasons.

The real main differences:
Micra: Better scissors, better tools. The tools on the Buck are sometimes quite useless. The Buck only has an extra small phillips, and an extra small screwdriver that I find little use for. The Micra however has bigger Philliips and flat screwdrivers that I think are much more practical. The Buck Mini tool has scissors that work well enough but they are VERY small which makes them hard to use, and hard to cut straight lines with.

Buck: The main difference here is that it has some Great little needle-nose pliers which is the reason that I chose the Buck over the Micra. These pliers work surprisingly well (althought the handle configuration takes some getting used to since the lateral pressure while gripping can make the handles close up half-way). I found that in places where my Leatherman Wave is just to big to take (like the Federal building where I used to work) or places that have strict blade limits, the Buck mini tool works great. I find that those pliers work very well for removing staples from documents. I use it all the time to remove the heavy-duty staples for 30-60 page documents that are hard to remove with regular staple removers.

The only other issues are 1) the knife blades and I think its a toss-up. I don't really care for chisel-ground blades (Micra) so I like the Buck mini tool a bit better, but the Buck knife blade closes quite easily when being used even for some light-duty cutting. I usually have 2 or three Spyderco or Benchmade folders that I use for cutting so It doesn't matter to me.
2) the tweezers: I am dissappointed in both tweezers. The Micra tweezers seem too weak to really grab with, and the Buck tweezers are very hard to depress, so both seem impractical to me.
3) The nail files are pretty much identical.

To summarize: if you're going to use the item more for the tools (screwdrives) or scissors, then you definately want the Micra. If you might need pliers, then the Buck mini tool is the way to go.

I rarely use the blade since my folders always work better, but I often find myself using those pliers and sometimes the other tools as well.

I hope that helps! Good luck!
 
The Micra is the only mini tool that I carry everyday. For some one like me who works in an office setting, it is an extremely practical gadget. It is great for tightening screws on glasses. I use the scissors all the time. The can opener is strong enough for real world use.
 
I like the micra. In fact I often give them as gifts to female friends as kind of a way to bring more people into the edged world. Some are a little puzzled at first, then I show them that with the tweezers they can remove slivers from their childs hand ,and with the blade they won't have to use their keys to open a package and its easier to use the screwdriver to pop open a battery compartment on a toy then your fingernails. Later when I run into these people they can't wait to tell me all the things they use it for.
 
I carry a Swiss Tech mini Pliers and a Utilikey on my key ring. Both work fairly well, but seldom get used. I never remember that they are there.

I have a Buck mini tool that hangs on my backup key set and has never been used for anything. I have a large buck tool that warms the bottom of a junk drawer. (I don't like it.) I bought it because the shop owner went out of his way to show it to me, and it was cheap. I will look at it again, perhaps in a better light thanks to Frag's review.

I also have a Leatherman Micra of which I am not over fond. I carried it in my pocket for a long time and never really used it. It was removed during a weight reduction program more than a year ago. It is currently in my shaving kit, and gets as much use there as it did in my pocket.

The combination of the Swiss Tech micro plier and Utilikey are about as good as anything. The tools are useful if you remember they are there. Both are solid and well made. The knife blade on the Utilikey is more or less of a sheep's foot with a very steep chisel grind. For all that it is surprisingly sharp, and most importantly, the bottle opener does work if you keep at it. It beats trying to chew the neck off a beer bottle to get inside.


Mike
 
In my work putting together the Multitool FAQ, I got a lot of feedback on these tools. Here's the general feeling:

The Micra is the one that generally pleases the most people, unless there's some niche tool (like pliers on the Buck tool) that isn't on the Micra. Most people switching from their tool to the Micra, end up raving about the Micra. Fit and finish is excellent, the choice of tools is excellent, the scissors cut well.

The SOG is less popular, but still popular. Main complaints are that it's bigger than the Micra, made worse by the fact that if you don't carry it in its little sheath it will tear up your pocket. Also, no phillips head screwdriver is a disaster, in my opinion. Lastly, most head to head comparisons put the Leatherman's scissors well ahead of the SOG's as far as ability to cut various materials without slipping, though there's been a recent post claiming just the opposite.

I've heard mostly complaints about the Buck and the micro-tool-like Sebertech.

Joe
 
Micra, and as I end up doing a lot of Tech work (not supposed to, but damn accountants keep pinching the pennies) it gets a lot of work. Not a replacement for the Big Leatherman, but handle quite a bit of screw and clip tasks nicely.

I want to try one of the high-end Sebertech's, they look much more functional although I can't see the Aluminum holding up as well.

smile.gif
Brandon

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"You should never never doubt what nobody is sure about..."
 
I finally took my Micra off of my already sizeable keychain, as I am rarely if ever without my Wave, and the pathetic little tweezers on the Micra are about the only real difference (though the Micra's file does have a fingernail cleaner).

Joe: is the Multitool FAQ still around somewhere? Also, did you ever get a Gerber Multiplier? Or are you waiting for the Pulse (I may replace my Wave with that one when it comes out).

Clay

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
I took my Micra off my keychain also, because I realized I don't often carry my keys around. Instead, I carry my Micra (with attached photon light) either in the watch pocket of my jeans, or in a jacket pocket.

Joe: is the Multitool FAQ still around somewhere? Also, did you ever get a Gerber Multiplier? Or are you waiting for the Pulse (I may replace my Wave with that one when it comes out).
Click to expand...

The Multitool FAQ is still around, it's here on bladeforums, in fact. http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqs.html

I never did get that build-your-own Gerber Multiplier, partially because I felt that for less money, a stock Multiplier would be good enough. And partially because I took advantage of the offer at Mercata and picked up a Wave for $25, awesome deal!

However, the Pulse seems like as close to the perfect multitool as I've ever seen, assuming fit and finish are up to par. I can't believe Gerber has designed something so well. It's got everything -- good locking system, exterior-opening tools, non-clumping tools, one-hand-opening knife blade, ergonomic handles, etc. I can't wait for that thing to hit the streets.


Joe
 
Thanks for the link, Joe. That is a helluva a deal on a Wave!

I like the look of Gerber's new offering. Looks like an excellent tool. I am anxious to see how long their scrwedrivers are, though (one thing Leatherman has always gotten right).

The only downside I can see is that it looks pretty large, one of the downsides of the Wave has as well. While it is smaller than the Swisstool, compare it to the slim profile of the PST or PSTII and it seems pretty thick.

I am hoping the Pulse will offer something near the comfort of the Wave's pliers with the slimness of the PSTII. The plainedge blade is an improvement over the PSTII and the locking tools are a boon over both the Wave and the PSTII.

I hope the screwdrivers are double-ground on the Pulse.

I had a BYO Mutliplier and sent it back. Firstly, the coloured coating was horrible (it would have been cool if they were anodized) and the screwdrivers and scissors were not up to par with the Leathermans.

Wasn't this thread about mini-tools?
smile.gif
I had a minimaster but gave it away -- it was not on par with the Leatherman Micra in any regard, IMHO. Have always wanted to try the Buck with the little pliers though. May have to give it another look...


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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
I've been lugging this little tool kit around in a homemade pouch for several years.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/sog1.htm

The only thing that has changed is I substituted the Sog for the Micra. I think the Micra might be a little better tool but I really like those pliers and wire cutters. The little SAK provides the scissors and phillips. The whole thing is 2 1/4" by 2 1/2" and sits unobtrusively and comfortably in my front right pocket along with a small sebenza. That leaves the left pocket for other sharp things...
smile.gif


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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
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