Schrade Tough Tools

[Codger_64]

Check out this bad boy!
http://cgi.ebay.com/SCHRADE-TOUGH-G...21525QQcategoryZ48820QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Does anyone know the story behind this tool? I have one in the clampack, but it is unopened. It really looks like a solid tool!!!!
It keeps screaming at me......"Use me! Use me!"
So far I have resisted temptation but it is really nice. I thought someone might know some history on this.......LT, Codger?

I have a bunch of these and love them I guess I should put a couple away to save. Just one of them jobbers that I always had a use for. Nice collaboration . with ( I guess vice grip ) I hate to look stuff up. I am sure someone will have the statistics. LT

From 2001 flyer.
$33.95 & $36.95 in the 2002 catalog
Interesting spring lock used to hold the tools in place. I keep it in the glovebox of my old truck.

Thanks Irv!
I saved a copy of that.
I didn't realize there were 2 different models. The flyer you posted is the only info I have ever seen on them.

How convenient, a built in excuse to buy another Schrade!

It's a good product, I have one tucked away in my tool belt (I be an electrician). I didn't know there were two models either!
Phil

In May or June of 2004, a large, nameless, "Big Box" store near me had 4 or 5 of these for $12 each. Since I didn't really need one, I hesitated a couple of days, then went back to get 2.....of course, they were gone. Sigh.

Bill

Well, I finally got my "user" Toughgrip. It works real good.
I had a little trouble figuring out the lock for the tools though. It turns out that one only has to press down on the tools that are not open to open the lock to close the open tool. Different but quite effective. The tools seem to lock up good and tight.
It is a great size and fits my large hands nicely. The wider handle on the bottom that accomodates the tools makes for a much better grip than the regular Vise Grip. My son noticed that right off & I must agree. It really feels good in the hand. So much so, that I used it instead if a regular Vise Grip a couple times today in the shop. It really feels GOOOOOD in the hand!
The plastic sheath is funky, but thanks to OTguy's post I have a nylon sheath coming from Smokey.

PS- I probably won't be posting for a few days. I have surgery on my right hand in the morning, so typing will be harder than normal.
See you when I get back.
Dale

Thankyou for the review Dale. And good luck with the hand. You can type one handed you know. Just forget the caps. We can translate!

Folks, I thought this subject needed a thread of it's own. Not being one of the annointed ones in gold or saffron robes, this was my best effort at moving the posts.

There were well more than two tools produced by Schrade, and it is high time we gave them a bit of attention, IMHO. Collaborations begun with Bob Loveless (some will say Mr. L.C. Finger was first, but no info on this has been provided as asked), Lake and Walker, D'holder, Kious, Barnett, and others on semi-custom knives did not end there. It extended to Imperial Schrade's effort to diversify it's product lines by designing and marketing multi-tools, the "SAK with pliars". I am guessing that Schrade marketing saw the other manufacturers placing these tools in Walmart, sports and hardware stores across the country and even one foriegn company buying an entire U.S. company to get their multi-tool design (Bear MGC/Victorinox). Victorinox eventually resold Bear once they had their plum. Gerber/Fiskars, Buck, heck... who wasn't making multitools? It was an intellegent move on Schrade's part, even if their marketing efforts fell short of providing enough revenue from new sales. Schrade chose Vise-Grip, a division of American Tool as their collaborator.

Codger

 

[El Lobo]

Good idea Mike.

I'll kick in here and say that IMO, the Tough Chip ( ST2) has the best small scissors/shears I've ever used.

Bill

 

[El Lobo]

BTTT.




P. S.
Sorry I apparently killed your thread, Mike. I sure thought there would be more input???

 

[Codger_64]

No, you had nothing to do with lack of response here. I don't yet own any of the tools, but since I initially moved the thread, I have done quite a bit of research on Schrade Tough Tools, and the resulting text is just way too much to post here. Suffice it to say there were more tools, and more variants than I had imagined.

I found Tim Faust's posts regarding the I-Quip way back during it's early limited introduction, but they just seemed to mime the factory flier on them. I'd really like to have one to play with, but the original MSRP od $250 was beyond the price of many multi-function GPS units with most of the I-Quip's electronic features and then some.

I like the little ST2 "Chip", and it may well be one of the first tools I get. It does seem handy for it's size. I am watching some discontinued stock from American Tool as well, the other half of the Vise-Grip/Schrade equation. A.T. used the Schrade blades and tools, put them on other jaw designs, added accessory bits, and marketed them in their own clampacks.

Codger

 

[redshanks]

El Lobo, I agree with you about the scissors on the ST2, they are fantastic. Mine is marked Craftsman and doesn't have Schrade anywhere on it, but I only paid 6 or 7 bucks for it. I also have the ST6 with the Vise-Grip pliers, but I haven't thought much about buying the other multi-tools as they are somewhat expensive. There is also a model being sold with bits that one seller stated is or was made in China. I don't know if Schrade offered that model before they went out or if that is being made for Taylor. The tools that I've seen all look interesting and it would seem to be fairly easy to collect most if not all of them.

 

[El Lobo]

Codger,

If you decide you want an ST2, email me.

Bill

 

[Codger_64]

William, Chitaylor multitools are being imported now (ST1N). There may be more that I don't know about yet. Schrade had some of their pieces made overseas, and did all the assembly and finish here. Info on that is sparse, mostly because it was a sensitive subject for Schrade, and very little info about it was published that I am aware of.

Bill, I do have it in my mind to gather a representative sampling of Schrade tools, but it will have to wait a bit. My construction season has ended for the year, and I have not yet moved on into the other building trade, metal buildings. Dang, I wish I was wealthy and retired!

Codger

 

[textoothpk]

Sorry to use the thread for this purpose, but....

Mike! Your server must be down again! My emails to you are getting returned.
Phil

 

[redshanks]

Codger, e-mail me your mailing address, I'll send you a ST6.

 

[orvet]

Thankyou for the review Dale. And good luck with the hand. You can type one handed you know. Just forget the caps. We can translate!

Codger

Thanks Codger.
I will give it a try.

 

[Codger_64]

Phil, William, e-mails sent. Yes, I live in a rural area and dial-up is the only thing available. Service is spotty at best.

orvet, I hope the surgery went well. Hand surgery is getting to be very commonplace now, so I'm sure they know what they are doing. Back in the '60's when I lost a finger, it could not be reattached. Now days reattachment of a simple finger is a no-brainer for them. I continue to be amazed by medical advancements.

I read some criticisms on the web about the ST6, and the gripe seemed to be mostly "clumping" of the tools when you try to take out one (need crinking?), and loss of the release lever position for the jaw clamp. No problem with these?

Codger

 

[Codger_64]

Here is one of the 2003 reviews I found. I don't know the guy's level of competence with tools (Homer Simpson comes to mind), but his review makes me curious.

Reviewer: A home improvement enthusiast
I buy every new Vise Grip product as it comes along. Most are outstanding additions to my tool collection, a few have been of questionable utility but this is the first to be very hard to use (and because of that, truly unsafe).
The usual release lever is gone, so if you have set the locking jaws really tightly, you won't get them loose without usinganother tool.

The space where the release lever used to be is taken up by 2 blades and a hex drive. This doesn't leave enough room between the two plier handles. Unless you are very deliberate, one in every 3 or 4 times you lock the tool, it will pinch the meaty and very sensitive heel of your hand (OUCH!!).

The blades are EXTREMELY sharp (sharp is good) and VERY tight (tight is good)... sharp AND tight is bad. The tool requires absolute attention as you use it, and for an ordinary hand tool, this seems a bit much. It takes a couple of minutes and other tools to safely deploy and store a blade.

I had to buy and return 3 of these before finding one where the blade and driver lock worked correctly. Along the way there were numerous poorly installed rivits, with sharp edges showing. This "Toolbox" should have stayed in the toolbox.

Nice idea but poor execution. If you want this utility, carry a knife, a hex driver and a good 'ol Vise-Grip... your choice
of jaw!

Now, there are lots of times when I have to either carry a 30# toolbox from my truck, up a driveway, around the house, across a pool deck to the pool equipment because I don't know what I will find wrong. It would be handy to be able to inspect a pump and fix it with one tool carried in a pouch, or at least diagnose a problem requiring parts from the truck. We shall see what we shall see.

What are your thoughts on function, fit, tool choice on the tools guys?

Codger

 

[lrv]

I think the clumping complaints are from when opening one of the blade tools a couple will come with it. Crinking is not the problem. Its from too many tools on one pin too close together. Whatever, its not a major issue. The only complaint I have is in using the screwdrivers, turning the screw is a bit awkward, the other arm of the tool sometimes getting in the way especially in close quarters.

 

[Codger_64]

Hey! You know that ST2 Tough Chip? Well, someone here just nabbed one for five dollah! Way to go man! Let me know how you llike it!

Codger

($32.95 in 2003)

 

[redshanks]

Yep, and I was the only bidder. Go figure!

 

[orvet]

Codger,
I think the reviewer you quote from encounter the same difficulty I did when initially opening and closing various tools on the Tough Grip. I have three Tough Grips, 2 came in clampacks, and one came in a box without instructions. The clampacks had no instructions on the back regarding the opening and closing of the tools. Such instructions would have been helpful and the reviewer would have avoided his problem.
When you open a tool, for example the knife blade, it will lock securely into place. At first I could not figure out how to unlock the blade so I could close at. I think this is what your reviewer was referring to when he said; "It takes a couple of minutes and other tools to safely deploy and store a blade." The trick to closing the knife blade is to press down on the Phillips screwdriver or slotted screwdriver blade to unlock the knife blade for closing. The Phillips screwdriver tool and the slotted screwdriver blade have a raise area at the base of the tool which when pressed down upon in the closed position, pushes up on the lock and unlocks the tool that is open. The only time a difficulty would arise is if one had both the Phillips screwdriver and slotted screwdriver opened and locked. I don't know why anyone would have both Phillips and slotted screwdriver open simultaneously. You certainly could not use both tools at once.
Closing one of the tools is actually quite simple if you remember not to open both the Phillips and the slotted screwdriver at the same time.

As noted by the reviewer to release lever is missing. I used Vise Grips for 20 years or more before they came out with the release lever. The release lever is nice to have, but IMHO not a necessity. I don't think the Tough Grip was designed to replace the Vise Grip. I have 8 or 10 pairs of Vise Grips of different styles in my toolbox and I don't intend to get rid of them. The Tough Grip like many multi-tools tries to do many things in a small package. I think it accomplishes them very well. Of course, a person could always carry a pair of Vise Grips, a saw, a standard screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, a knife, can opener, wire stripper, etc., and have better tools than those found on the Tough Grip. The idea of the Tough Grip is convenience in a small package. The alternative to the 30 lb. toolbox. And for my money it fulfills that function quite admirably.:thumbup:

 

[El Lobo]

Just as an aside...

The Tough Chip is on the back of SMKW's Christmas catalog for $4.99, with a free nylon sheath. The shipping is at least as much, I believe.....but it's still a good deal, if you don't mind shopping with SMKW and the boys.

NOT promoting that business...just as news matter and thread content only.

Bill

 

[redshanks]

Codger,
When you open a tool, for example the knife blade, it will lock securely into place. At first I could not figure out how to unlock the blade so I could close at. I think this is what your reviewer was referring to when he said; "It takes a couple of minutes and other tools to safely deploy and store a blade." The trick to closing the knife blade is to press down on the Phillips screwdriver or slotted screwdriver blade to unlock the knife blade for closing.

Instead of pushing down on a screwdriver blade to unlock the knife, try partially lifting ANY of the blades.

 

[orvet]

That works also on mine (with the exception of the can opener) if you open it almost to the lock position where the cam at the front of the lock grove disengages the lock mechanism. I hadn't tried that method until you mentioned it. Good observation! But watch your fingers if you are lifting the saw or knife blade........I had a little trouble as I had to do it one-handed due to my recent surgery on my right hand.

 

[Codger_64]

Thankyou Redshanks!

I have been playing with the ST6 since opening the box. All of my observations so far mirror what you fellows have posted.

As far as the hand-pinching goes, to me that falls into the catagory of "Doc, it hurts when I do this!" Doc says "Well, then don't do that!" All it takes is a bit of familiarity with the tool to avoid being pinched. I have been bitten by regular Vise-Grips before, and I suppose anyone really familiar with them has and learned to hold them differently when closing them.

On the blade locking, if you open all the blades they will all lock open but the can opener. Where they goofed was by not adding a kick to the bottom of the can opener allowing it to be a fail-safe unlock lever. As it is, only the non-locking can opener can be closed and you have to insert a flat bladed screwdriver in the slot of the lockspring to close the other four blades. Pressing one of the four locked blades with reasonable pressure does not do the trick. But normal care in selecting one of the blades for use before all of them lock is not a problem, if you know the tool.

Likewise for the sharpened blades. Just watch how you grab them when manipulating them opened or closed.

The can and bottle openers are, to me at least, unuseful. I know they are mainstays on camp utility knives, but they have always been my least utilized blades there too. and is that can opener finished? The piercing portion on mine has no sharpened inner blade. It is the full thickness of the spine.

The extended lower tool housing is a good addition as a handle. At the tightness I am likely to lock the jaws, not having a release lever is not an problem. The tool is, afterall, a needle nose locking pliar, not a large welder's clamp.

I was slightly surprised by the small scale of the tool. I don't know why I was expecting it to be larger, but I was. It will fit neatly into a back pocket, and is long enough to be easy to retrieve.

I'll be giving the ST6 a workout next week. I just sold two pools, something unusual for this time of year. I'll keep the tool handy and reach for it as often as I can think of an appropriate use, and I'll post the pros and cons in each use. I'll also dig out my box of used sheaths and see if one comes close to fitting it.

Hang loose while I rev her up and run a few hot laps to see how well she's built. We'll see if the cutters like #8 bond wire and if the stripper works on the stranded light cord, and the solid pump and chlorine generator wires. And if the handle gets in the way when holding the nuts securing the ADR lugs.

Codger