Pockets, Pliers and Problems

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pinnah

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Jul 28, 2011
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Who here carries a pocket sized tool with pliers? Can you describe the types of tasks (problems) that you use the pliers for?


I went up to Vermont last weekend to close up my uncle's camp. Among other things, this meant putting up aging rolls of snow fence, which in turn meant cutting and bending a lot of heavy gauge wire as I cut out rotten sections and respliced bits together again.

In the back of mind, the recent discussions about the virtues of SAKs and the Farmer vs multi-tools were kicking around. I was carrying my full sized Leatherman Blast. The thought came to me as I was cutting out a rotten section (about 12 hefty wire cuts for each separation) that I just couldn't imagine doing that cutting with a lighter multi-tool. Even my SOG Paratool wouldn't be up to it (the handles flex too much). The same was true in grabbing and twisting the wires. Anything less than a full sized MT just wouldn't cut it.

Now, right about here somebody is going to say, "Just get a good pair of lineman pliers" and there's some truth to that I suppose. But, the Blast did it's true MT function giving me fast "good enough" access to various screw driver bits and a file and a knife blade all in one package.

The point here is that if I owned a smaller, pocket sized MT like, say, the Leatherman Juice, I still would have needed to swap that out for the Blast (or my Wave) to tackle this classic MT type job.

And that's what got me thinking... If a Juice or it's pocket sized equivalents can't handle a fencing wire job... what are they good for?

Note... I carry a smaller Squirt backpacking but that's primarily to drive heavy needles through thick nylon webbing when making field repairs.

Can anybody suggest types of tasks where a full sized MT isn't needed but that smaller key chain tool like the Squirt can't handle?

What do you use your pocket sized MT for?
 
The Skeletool CX is a very nice size IMHO. Its my "off-work" multi-tool and I wouldn't go smaller than that size.
The pliers are still a good size for various jobs, like crimping or cutting smaller wire or tightening screws and nuts.
For heavier work its Surge for sure :thumbup:
 
C_Becker, can you describe what sorts of things you're doing "off-work" that require you to crimp and tighten nuts?

Not arguing in any way. Just wanting to get a better handle on this, so to speak.
 
See my avatar ;) Always good to have a tool with you, also when mountainbiking.
I have a toolbox in my garage, but being the unorderly guy that I am it can take some time to find the right tool. So the multitool is the way to go for quick jobs, especially when I don't want to run down (and back up) three flights of stairs from my apartment to get a screwdriver.

Also, being the "handy guy" for friends and family I often need to install lamps, ovens, light switches, assemble furniture and whatnot. :rolleyes:
I like being prepared, but don't want to drag the large Surge around everywhere I go and the Skeletool just clips to my pocket and is about the size of a 3" pocket knife.
 
pinnah said:
Who here carries a pocket sized tool with pliers? Can you describe the types of tasks (problems) that you use the pliers for?

And that's what got me thinking... If a Juice or it's pocket sized equivalents can't handle a fencing wire job... what are they good for?

Note... I carry a smaller Squirt backpacking but that's primarily to drive heavy needles through thick nylon webbing when making field repairs.

Can anybody suggest types of tasks where a full sized MT isn't needed but that smaller key chain tool like the Squirt can't handle?

What do you use your pocket sized MT for?
Click to expand...

Although it's okay for many things, I stopped carrying a Juice because too many times the pliers just weren't up the job. These days the smallest m-t I would likely strap on would be a Rebar, but better a Charge TTi, and Super Tool 300 even better. None of us truly escapes the law of physics: bigger is better. If I am willing to carry the weight, it had better be worth the nuisance when necessity arises. However, sometimes your requirements are different or you just want to lighten the load. Whenever I go SAK for the day, I tuck a P4 Squirt into my jeans 5th pocket for the pliers. They take little space and are better than nothing for small jobs, like pulling staples, tightening small nuts, grabbing the lip of the gas can collapsible filler tube, bending stiff wire (within reason), cracking reluctant pistachios and sometimes as a honking big tweezer.
 
I rarely use my multi, but I just want to have "something" just in case. The maximum weight I am willing to put up with right now is a Leatherman PSTII. It's at the upper limit of the weight I want to carry around for the minimal use I expect. Larger Multis and toolkits are in both vehicles in case they are needed.
When I do use the PST pliers it's for things like removing staples from wooden target frames, grabbing things I can't get my fingers on, etc.
 
It always makes me laugh when people mention the massive burden of weight that is involved with carrying a larger Multitool .
I have carried a Surge on my belt for years .
I now realise that I must be in the group of elite extreme athletes , because I can carry it happily without running out of breathe or getting muscle cramps from the extended periods of over exertion I experience daily by carrying such a weight everywhere I go during my working week . :)
Get a big Multitool , cancel the gym membership and harden up :)
As Tim the Toolman Taylor ( the patron saint of Multitools ) always said .
" no matter what the question is , the answer is always MORE POWER "

Ken
 
I recently ditched my Squirt PS4 in favor of a Vic Cadet because the pliers on the PS4 were virtually useless. The Cadet gives me a useful blade and much better drivers, plus better bottle and can openers. The only thing they lack are the scissors but I always have a classic on my keys anyway. Full size MT's will never make their way into my pocket, too heavy. And as far as my belt, since I carry a pistol and spare mag I don't need anymore weight. I have a Vic Spirit X in my bag that is never any further than my car, so if I do need a full size MT it's close by. I try to carry what I will need 95% of the time, the other 5% I'll go to my bag for. Except the gun, that I hope I never need.
 
I'll carry a Squirt PS4 occasionally. I like having the pliers, but really only use them very, very rarely for small "tighten this up a bit" things until I can get a real pair of pliers. They are more of an instant convenience than an real working tool I think. My edc needs are pretty light.
 
As much as I love my SAK's I do still carry or at least have near me a MT. On my duty belt I keep my Leatherman Blast and when I'm off duty I'll have either on me or on my daily carry bag (Maxpedition Fatboy) my Leatherman Skeletool clipped on. Since I carry an off duty weapon (Ruger LC9) concealed on my right side I don't want nor have the luxury of having a large MT on my belt as I feel it draws too much attention to my belt line. Thus the Skeletool has it's place as either clipped to my maxpedition pack (which I take with me and leave in my truck when I leave the house) or clipped to my back pocket (with SAK still riding up front).

Uses of the Blast:

I've used the blast for everything on duty including but no limited to:
-scissors for when I kept a mustache and skimped on a shave or trim before work
-file for sharp edges in patrol car that needed fixing
-philips and flat head for vehicle and gear repairs
-pliers for repairs such as fixing head lights, fixing hoses under the hood (think clamps that need to be pinched together), grabbing a dropped license from between the seats, pulling dope out from between a seat, cutting small wires for light repairs (the shop will literally take a month for a 5 minutes fix so this is important), repairing loose bolts/nuts, etc..

Skeletool has been used for the following but not limited to:
-light home repairs utilizing the philips/flat head driver
-opening imported beer (think dos XX)
-light cutting such as cardboard and tape
-pliers used for simple repairs to outdoor gear, fishing equipment, cutting wire (I do self home repairs thanks to my dad who taught me electrical work growing up), crimping cable jacks, loosening old cable jacks, cutting tie-wraps around the yard for holiday decorations and electrical work in garage, etc...

All in all the Blast would be my first choice of course not only for its larger array of tools but also for the comfort the handle provides when utilizing the pliers. The Skeletool starts to bite into the palm when grasped tightly and in my opinion was intended for light duty tasks in which a readily available blade and pliers could come in handy.
 
harronek said:
It always makes me laugh when people mention the massive burden of weight that is involved with carrying a larger Multitool .
I have carried a Surge on my belt for years .
I now realise that I must be in the group of elite extreme athletes , because I can carry it happily without running out of breathe or getting muscle cramps from the extended periods of over exertion I experience daily by carrying such a weight everywhere I go during my working week . :)
Get a big Multitool , cancel the gym membership and harden up :)
As Tim the Toolman Taylor ( the patron saint of Multitools ) always said .
" no matter what the question is , the answer is always MORE POWER "

Ken
Click to expand...

Has nothing to do with brute strength. There are two kinds of people in this world, pack horses and the rest of us, which includes me. Pack horses like to pile it on, or at least don't seem to mind. We who are not pack horses do care about the size and weight of stuff we must carry for one or another reason. Even as a child I was aware of this. Like most kids, I seriously considered becoming a cop when I grew up, but rejected the idea solely because I couldn't see spending every working day of my life carrying all that crap; gun, ammo, cuffs, bullet proof vest, all that other stuff the police pack, not even accounting for special occasions, like civil disturbances. With all due respect for those who have chosen careers in which they have to carry stuff, that was not for me. So instead I became a photojournalist and every working day carried a bagful or more of photo gear, including a gas mask for special occasions, like civil disturbances (actually, carried it only once :o .) So what we learn from this is that life laughs at us. :D
 
For me, I have been walking around with an alox cadet and a ps4 squirt on my person for quite a while now. makes it a perfect college combo for size and utility. The squirt has come in handy on campus for little cable and outlet repairs (a professor jokingly asked if anyone had pliers on them, this was before he got to know me). They have also come in handy at work as a groundskeeper needing to quickly mend a fence or loosening a rusty screw where the bolt has been stripped. The cadet having a nail cleaner is a godsend for I am compulsively cleaning/trimming my fingernails (my girlfriend doesn't like me cleaning them with a knife). It also havs a more substantial blade for cutting tasks and whittling. what makes the combo nice is that they are light enough to not feel them yet they are there for when you, or someone nearby, has moments where you go "shoot, I wish I had a *insert tool here* right now." I wouldn't know if the squirt could handle a real heavy duty task, but if there was one I would have my toolbag with me. The squirt and cadet are excellent for those "shoot" moments of every day life.
 
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