Supertool or Wave?

C

Colt

Joined
Nov 15, 1999
Messages
73
I have a choice of one of the two. Would like some input one vs the other. The supertool would include the Driver/bit adapter.

Thanks,
Colt
 
I think they're about equal tools in terms of ruggedness and included tools. So I guess you need to decide which you want more, the tool kit, or to be able to open the blades one handed. I have a gerber with the bit attachment. I don't use it a lot, but when I need it I have it. Tool kits make the pliars a lot more versatile in what you can work on. Especially when you can get any 1/4" drive hex bits you want so you have them to fit what you want to work on. I carry a delica along with my multi tool and use it for all the quick cutting jobs where it would be a pain in the a$$ to open the pliars and and then the knife. The tool kit would also be good if you have a field knife that can be taken apart to be cleaned. That way you can have the right bits with you and not carry a bunch of extra stuff.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
I have a Supertool and the only problem I have with it is opening the pliers to get to all the other tools. The Wave offers the flexibility of accessing the blades, saw and file without opening the pliers. That would give it an edge in my mind.

I solved the problem by getting a SwissTool which allows access to all tools with the pliers closed.

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Travis Autry
My knives are just like rabbits---they keep multiplying!!
 
Swiss Tool, oops that wasn't one of your choices, I would have to agree with TAutry and go with the Swiss Army Tool, a little heavier but IMMHO it's a better selection.

(in my most humble opinion)
wink.gif

G2

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"There are no dangerous weapons;
there are only dangerous men."
.......... Robert A. Heinlein, 1959


G2 Leatherworks
 
Both are great multi-tools, I like and own the Super. When the Wave first came out I was going to get one, but I didn't like the feel of the main pivots, they were a little sloppy for my liking. You see, I ABUSE my Super. I've used it to cut through chain-link fence, and hammer in loose nails. They're both good, but if you want something indestructable, go for the Super.

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Being a site developer for the Air Force I have had the opertunity to use most every leatheman style tool conditions and the one I carry is the swiss tool. reasons are

1. All the tools lock (Wave doesn't seems petty but it really tears up your knuckles when one of the tools trys to cloes on your hand as you are using it
2. It seems to have a better fit and finish
3. The tool just has morte tools suited to my needs
4. It is kind of petty but the one thing I hated about the super tool is every time I would really squeaze hard on the pliers the edges of the tool would dig in and hurt your hands the swiss to has wider rounded edges that prevent that from happening
5. You can access all the tools without unfolding it
6. The lock is reminisant of the BM axis lock
7. the tools seem to be tighter more sping tension on them

Things I dont like. Pliers are too short

They do make a tool adapter for it now that uses 1/4" bits.
I know I recomended one that wasn't one of your choices if it were between the WAVE and the Super Tool. I would choose the Super more heft and the tools can't close on your knuckles
 
I would also go for the Super Tool, I have both a Wave and a Super. I like them both.The Super has more heft and a little more versital IMO. I would like to see a combination of the Wave and Supertool, maybe a SuperWave.
 
I think it depends on your situation more than anything. I have both and have been carrying the wave lately, but it is lacking to me compared to my old trusty SuperTool. If you are in a position where carrying "knives" is bad but carrying a multi-tool is fine, then go with the wave. I carry a knife all the time so having fast access to the blades on my multi-tool is not necessary. being able to whip out the saw ot file in a moment's notice has never been a major concern either.

Since the most used tool on my leatherman is the pliers, I like my SuperTool better. It has been well broken in and I can open it like a butterfly. I have seen the Swisstool, and my main gripe with them is the pre-rounded screwdrivers. Those drive me nuts.

I am still trying to break in the Wave, but it still is very stiff and does not want to flip open like my Super, and the screwdrivers and such are really tight and hard to open(and unfortuneatly thay like to close easier than they like to open, and the way the screwdrivers are ground only on one side is stupid). The wave is a nice tool, but it is sort of an amalgam of the worst of all worlds. Its knives aren't as good as one you would carry in your pocket, the non locking screwdrivers are a let down, and it don't open as easy to get to the pliers like the Super.

Best bet is to get a Supertool, (or swisstool), a good pocket knife, and a Micra if you really need to carry scissors.


YeK


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My Mom carries three knives.
AKTI # A000348


 
While I don't own a Wave, I have handled it a few times. The blades do not open anywhere nearly as easliy as a quality pocket knife. I would choose the Super. The tool adaptor is great for adding odd ball bits such as an adaptor for sockets (making it a nutdriver) or tamper proof bits such as pin head allen or torx. You could also carry a #3 phillips.
This is the size for a lot of things that people will use a #2 for and strip out the heads.

Danny
 
I've liked my Wave overall. The only thing I miss on it is a good awl for drilling holes in wood in the backcountry.

Does the Super have an awl?

Brian.
 
first of all; congrats on your first post jwiliams and my vote goes to the swiss tool. I got one for my father and he loves it. all of the tools lock and they are accesible without having to open the pliars.
 
Dang It! now i have to tke a look at that Swiss Tool! Thanks will report back in a few days.
 
Another vote for the super - IMHO - its indestructible. And if you do damage it - they fix it like nothing happened.

The Swiss is very impressive but a little heavier than the super.

The wave feels fragile in comparison to the other 2, and i have seen too many blades brake on it - they are way too narrow.


 
Since everybody else has said swiss tool, I have to put my vote in for the gerber.
I know people who used leathermans and the pivots that close the pliars wear out over time, due to the fact that they are a friction type locking mechanism. That means eventually when you try and open the pliar jaws to get and hold of something, the jaws stay together and the handles start to fold up. I'm guessing thats the case with the swiss tool too. Gerber has a different lock that does not wear out, and it allows you to open the pliars with a flick of the wrist. I've been carrying one daily for 5 years.
The gerber has a lock on every tool also. Its a bolt action lock that is convenient and so solid I bet you would have to snap something off before the lock would give. But all the tools are heavy enough they aren't going to break off. The wire cutters are great. I use mine alot since I work for a farm baling hay and straw. (the bales are tied with baling wire) They have absolutely no knicks or edge rounding in the teeth. They will cut heavy stuff to. The heaviest I have cut was 12 gauge romex wire.
If you want something that you can abuse its the gerber. I've used it to drive 16d nails, and pull them out. I used it to pry hitchpins out when wagons were rolling back on a hill. That had it bending pretty good but it held and is perfectly straight and the pliars still slide out easily.On top of all that it is cheap. I got mine with the tool kit for $40.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
I have a Super and a Wave. I'm an aircraft mechanic and have abused the Super for years.
It is a very robust tool. I have had the Wave for a few weeks, I like the feel and the easy access to the blades, but I don't feel it will put up with the same abuse the Super has. So my compromise was to carry the Super at work with a Delica and carry the Wave when not at work. I don't really think much of the Gerbers. Had one before the Super and they really aren't in the same class. Check out the Kershaw and Crunch. I just bought both and so far like them.
 
I have used the Gerber,Wave,Supertool and the SwissTool so far. Currently, the SwissTool is the daily multi-tool carried. Just like the way the tools are placed a lot better. If I had to choose between the Wave and the Supertool, I am thinking the Supertool would get the nod, partly because of the durability and partly because of the tool adapter thingamajig. Hope that helps.

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Knife Medic "Weilder of Fingerdicer,Healer of Minor Owies,Instigator of Laughter"
 
I have a super and have used both. IMO the supertool is far and away the sturdier of the two. The easy access features of the wave are desireable but the ones I have seen were sloppy in the main pivot pin and handling one in each hand, the supertool looks, well, super.

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 
Well everyone thank you all for the input, but i went and got the Supertool with bit attachment from Mercata for $31.08 on a powerbuy.

Thanks,
Colt
 
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