Schrade Tough Tools

Glad you got one Codger!
Please keep us posted and let us know how she tests out.

I got a Tradesman TMT11 Multi-tool the other day. It is really solid and a lot more comfortable than my Leatherman. It is touted as a "23 function multi-tool." The sheath is great! It has a pocket for the 9 various screwdriver/Allen bits, which makes it easy to get to them, and convenient to carry them. Usually I don't have a great deal of use for those bits on a multi-tool because they are so awkward to carry. Schrade's sheath has solved that problem. It even has a small screwdriver bit that looks small enough to tighten the screws in my glasses (at least when I have my glasses on....... when I take my glasses off I can't see the screw and barely the screwdriver). :o The small screwdriver bit was the most used function on my Leatherman.
All in all, the TMT11 appears to be a solid tool and a real bargain for $19.95 as they were listed in the 2005 price sheet.

I am wondering if anyone has used or even seen a TM49, the drywall saw. It was listed in the 2002 to price sheet for $13.95. It is a drywall saw that has a large sheep foot blade in the handle, like the putty knife and scraper. It looks quite functional, but I have been unable to locate one. Has anyone seen one?

I got the 4 in 1 screwdriver which I really like. It has a rubberized handle which makes it very easy to grip. It seems to be very solid and well-made. I haven't really put it to the test yet, but I don't anticipate any problems with it. Has anyone else had any good or bad results with the 4 in 1?
 
I have seen the screwdrivers, and have had about four versions from other manufacturers over the years. Some of them are reverseable ratcheting. Some are magnetic. Some had really thin walled bit tubes that broke under torque, and a couple had hollow handles to store bits which sounds great.... but...I work underwater a lot, and the water is salt or chlorine or both. Bits kept in the handle turn to rust. And the soft plastic cap threads stripped out pronto. The best one I have found so far is a Cobalt, triangular and rubber coated for gripping. Even their bits didn't last long before stripping out. I have to buy "ICE" cryogenic hardened bits to have them last anytime. ANd I keep a tray of the cheap B&D bits in my drill box for the hired hands to ruin and loose. I may have to get one to try out if they are heavy duty enough.

Codger
 
I closed, winterized and covered three pools today, and kept the tool in my back pocket. Some of the things I do, the tool came in handy for, but mainly I used the pliar portion. I don't drink bottles of beer or open cans of beans at work, so obviously I didn't need those blades. The Phillips is an oddball size that might prove useful at some point, but it really did not fit the size screws I use on pools, and a wrong size bit is terrible on stainless screws. The flat screwdriver blade worked ok on the hose clamps I had to remove, though the rounded corners made the blade want to torque out of the slots, it still worked fine with more pressure, and kept me from having to go back to the toolbox for a screwdriver after using the pliers to unscrew the pump drain plugs. The filter drain was too large to use the needlenose on, so that required a trip to fetch the channel lock pliers. Of course the unions on the plumbing were larger (4"), so channellocks again. The pool inlet fittings unscrew with a flat wrench plate (inserted into internal slots) with no grip, so locking the pliars helped here, and gave me enough leverage to unscrew them, and not drop the wrench plate in the pool when the fittings were loose. Now we'll see how salt water submersion affects the tool. I think the Vise-Grip part is just chromed, not stainless. I can see where the sawblade (agressive toothed sucker!) will come in handy removing stubborn 1 1/2" flex hose, but that wasn't needed today, and there were no bags or boxes to open, so the knife blade wasn't used. All in all, it performed OK today. But to be honest, so would have just the standard needlenose Vise-Grips without the attachments.

I will be digging a new 20' x 40' pool Monday, and the real test will start. Nearly all of the components come in boxes, some with plastic strapping, and in plastic bags. Nylon mason line is used throughout the construction to keep things straight and level, and I am constantly cutting it. Then installing over 400' of 1 1/2" PVC Sch 40 plumbing, deburring each cut, and on and on. I dig the second 20' x 40' pool the following week, so if the tool lasts the two jobs, I will have a good idea of it's usefulness.

Codger
 
I used my Tradesman TMT11 Multi-tool today. I had to help my son move. :grumpy:
One of the Allen bits that came with the TMT11 was just the right size to fit the screws on an entertainment center. I took the thing apart on short order (bad hand and all). My cordless Makita would have been faster but it was across town. The TMT11 worked nicely. Not the optimum tool, but then again a multi-tool is made to work in a pinch (IMHO), and work it did. I was really impressed. The way it is configured, I was able to use the half of the handle with out the Allen bit, to spin the tool and speed up the process.
For $14.99 from Smokey it was a bargain. Saved me almost that much in gas, as I didn't have to drive across town to get my Makita. :)
 
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