multi-tool vs. utility knife?

[tlavin]

How do you decide when to use a multi-tool vs. a utility knife? When do you use a multi-tool instead of a knife? If you've switched to a multi-tool for cutting, why did you make the leap? Multi-tools are expensive!

 

[znapschatz]

The answer lies in the term, "multi-tool." I never know what tool I am going to need in a typical day, let alone non-typical. A multi-tool provides many options, while a utility knife is exclusively for cutting. If that is all you do, say a grocery clerk, is opening and breaking down cartons, then a multi-tool is a waste of money. OTOH, yesterday I needed pliers for a quick fix on my car and a screwdriver to install a window air conditioner. Reach in my pocket for what the job needs, and there it is. On a few occasions, having one with me got me or others out of a jam. Utility knives are cheap compared to an m-t, but add screwdriver set, pliers, awl, can opener, cap lifter, saw, ruler, direction finder (I kid ) and how much would that cost? Over years, the expense is trivial compared to the increased utility. At least, that's what I tell my wife.

 

[Wardo46]

I use a utility knife whenever I can if one is readily available and suitable for the intended purpose.

Reason? Utility knife blades don't require sharpening. Why dull your knife or multi-tool blade if you don't have to. Just laziness on my part I guess.

 

[jackknife]

I'll carry both. Most times I carry a small mulitool or SAK, and back it up with a dedicated knife for cutting stuff that I know will bugger up my blade. A lot of the time my Leatherman micra or squirt is combined with a Christy knife. The blade is replaceable at a low cost, and I'd rather mess up that than the blade on my Leatherman.

Or, sometimes I'll even carry a cheap box cutter that has a replaceable single edge razor blade. Every tool has it's place.

[/url]Untitled by Carl Levitan, on Flickr[/IMG]

The dollar store box cutter at bottom actually fits in my wallet for out of the way carry, or goes in watch pocket.

[/url]Untitled by Carl Levitan, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[James Y]

If I need to, say, break down a lot of heavy cardboard, I will use a Stanley utility knife. I'm not afraid to use my knives, and in the past I've used folders for that. Many of them worked very well in the role. But now I generally prefer the Stanley knife for heavy cardboard. It's generally more expedient for the task.

If I'm carrying my Vic Spirit, I rarely use the knife blades. I view the blades on it as 'spares'.

Jim

 

[22-rimfire]

Small jobs, use a multi-tool if you have on on you. I don't mean a SAK. Bigger jobs, especially ones that are likely to dull the a knife blade quickly, utility knife. You're right, multi-tools are expensive or they are to me just to abuse them. If I am cutting carpet, I certainly don't want to have to sharpen my knife/multi-tool during the job or risk damaging the blade on nails and so forth that don't cut so well. I cut and remove carpet in houses maybe 6 times a year on average.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Pretty much it depends on whats in the plan for the day. Since cutting anything is rarely on my to-do list in the AM, its whatever is with when the need arises. If I knew that day would involve a certain cutting task, I'd try to take the best knife for that task, either one that could stand up to it, or a disposable for those jobs that require that sort of thing, like building materials and the like.

 

[ThePeacent]

Same here as jackknife. I carry a SAK/MT and a knife, very similar in shape and purpose to a utility knife.

Small, pocketable, easily replaceable, weighs nothing. Has a flexible, thin blade and does the "don't want to use the great blade on my other tools" jobs.

It's not so hard to carry both, if you get an inexpensive Sak or inexpensive (not cheap) Multitool like a LM Wingman or SOG PPP and the utilty blade then you have a real versatile combo on your person for whatever problems arise that day.

Add a mini SAK to your keychain, and you'll become the handyman in the neighborhood

 

[jackknife]

Same here as jackknife. I carry a SAK/MT and a knife, very similar in shape and purpose to a utility knife.


Small, pocketable, easily replaceable, weighs nothing. Has a flexible, thin blade and does the "don't want to use the great blade on my other tools" jobs.

Yeah, sometimes I like to have a nice thin flexible blade along that is disposable. I love the Victorinox serrated edge paring knife for that role. Cheap, like less than ten bucks, and comes with a nice plastic blade sheath for pocket carry. Weighs almost nothing, don't even feel it in the pocket. Even if you bugger up the blade on something you can still saw through insulation and cardboard, and even wallboard.

[/url]Untitled by Carl Levitan, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[deltaboy]

I keep Utility Knifes all over the house ,shop and in my tool bags plus One I started carrying in my pocket. It makes no sense to me to bugger up a good blade.

 

[22-rimfire]

I am a big user of the Vic utility knives (kitchen knives), both serrated and plain edge. I have maybe 5 or 6 in the kitchen drawer with the other knives and probably at least that many in another drawer that have not been used. I doubt I would use one to cut carpet or sheetrock. I pick up a couple just about every time I visit a particular knife store in East TN. Probably about time for another visit there as I have not visited since February.

 

[Scott321]

A multitool sacrifices the efficiency of work for the convenience of carry. If you find yourself doing hours and hours of work that requires a tool, i.e. cutting boxes, driving in wood screws, etc. you'll find out right away that a $1 box cutter or a $3 screwdriver is worth more than a $200 multi tool. Once you get into some of those huge, heavy-duty multi tools, you might find keeping a small tool bag around with the proper tools required weighs almost the same.