Thoughts on sog multi tools

I don't mean to spoil your fun, but I used to have a Sog Power-Plier, it broke when I tried to fix a garage door spring, which in my opinion, was moderate use. It's supposed to have compound leverage and all that, but the @$%#!! thing left a 2-inch scar on my hand.:mad:

I'm never gonna get another one and that's it. Just my 2 cents. :thumbdn:
 
:eek: Must have been a defect, why didn't you contact SOG for a replacement or for your money back. SOG products rarely snap by the plier head unless there was something wrong that happened when they forged the plier jaws. This is covered under thier warantee and Chris@SOG is great at helping people with issues concerning tools, you should give him a call. I have a Powerlock and a Pocket Plier Deluxe and both get put through hell and have suffered no ill effects from the abuse, you must have just recieved a bad apple. When it snapped, were you twisting the plier head?

David Bowen
Multitool.org
 
As a matter of fact, I was, hehe :D , but not hard enough that it would break -off like that. Anyway, that was years ago and I got a replacement Plier Head on ebay cheap, then I sold it off to a colleague at work and he says he can't live without it.

It was one of those first Power Pliers that came out. I got it maybe in 1999 or earlier.

Thanks for the suggestion though.:thumbup:
 
I also once had a SOG Power-Pliar and I did not care for it much.
It was built tough, but the individual tool just didn't work as well as the tool on my Leathermans, Gerbers, or Victorinox multi-tools.
I recall that the woodsaw was especially poor in performance.
 
I've got a powerlock model. The wire cutters are great and the pliers are quite strong. The crimpers work as well as a real pair of T+B crimpers in my opinion. The implements leave a lot to be desired though. Due to the compound gears, the teeth of the gears dig into your palms something fierce when you try to use any of the implements. Also, the hand guard things are a pain in the butt. If you leave them on they make the handles much more comfortable, but are an extra couple of steps to get to the inner workings. If you take them off, the handles dig into your hands like the older Leatherman tools. I have no use for the knife blade - while most multi-tools don't have great blades, the SOG blade just doesn't work for me at all. I use the blade just for cutting stuff that I don't want to use my Case stockman on. For certain types of work, it's a good enough multi-tool that will save some trips to the work truck to get a real tool. For everday carry though, I say go with a Leatherman, Victorinox, or even a Gerber (I think the Diesel is pretty decent).
 
I for one, LOVE my powerlock. I picked one up because I had a Lowes giftcard, and I was tired of the newer LM tools rusting on me since they no longer come nearly as polished. When you buy a SOG you have to think about multi-tools in a different way. Being able to customise and replace tools cheaply and quickly makes this a wonderful tool. All of my favorite LM tools have chipped and bent screwdrivers. I know I could send them in to LM to be replaced, but the hassle of shipping them and being without them isn't worth it to me. So far, I've had my SOG for a few months now, and it is holding up VERY well. I have ordered a few little replacement parts for when I bend or break any pieces, or if i want to change anything out. I think each little piece averaged around $6.50.

First and foremost, this tool is a good pair of pliers to me. At first I didn't like the wings, but now they aren't too bad. I will give you that the knife SUCKS. However, like most I pack a folder with my multi-tool, so it sees very little use unless i'm going to be cutting something that would destroy my edge. All and all, I'm a very happy SOG owner. I would like to get one of their smaller Cross Grip tools for travel to go along with my tiny Blink folder:thumbup:
 
I have had a "love/hate relationship" with my SOG powerpliers. I own two, one polished and one tiger striped/black oxide. I think the pliers are the best of any multi tool available...but thats where it ends. They are generally heavy and bulky and I dont carry them unless I am wearing my 5.11 pants with the mag pocket on the leg. Otherwise, I prefer to carry my Vic spirits. Much lighter and generally better designed tool. You will find this opinion throughout the multi tool forums on the internet.
 
I agree with steely_gunz, I have broken gerbers, and I don't like leatherman. Nevere had a swisstool. I love my SOG but do wish they would switch to a different blade. I think a fully serated sheeps foot would be nice. I always carry a folder, which is not serated, but sometimes a fully serated knife would come in handy.
 
I have a paratool that I think is great. I have a Leatherman Charge and a Gerber Multitool and the Paratool is the one I always carry. I ordered a saw blade for it and like its slim profile and the polished finish is very resistant to rust. I agree with those that dont care for the knife blade. Mine is ground on one side only resulting in a very steep grind. I'm working on reprofiling it but havent finished yet. I look forward to getting a powerplier.
 
I've a Harley Motortool which is essentially a SOG powerplier and it's fine - very much 'no nonsense' and has no play, unlike my leatherman wave. The blade on mine is ground on both sides and is as good as the leatherman, likewise the saw is as good. I'm not very impressed with the can opener though. I've had it to bits and swapped some blades round which was a big plus (I swapped the very aggressively serrated sheepsfoot blade for some scissors).

The customer service is excellent by the way, they were very good at sending stuff to the UK, including a free nylon pouch (the HD motortool comes with a very large leather pouch complete with buckle and tassle!).

Mark
 
The Harley tool is assembled via allen head bolts. Other SOG tools look to have regular bolt heads. You just undo the bolts, slide the pin out and take the blades out of the handle. You can then swap blades with replacements from SOG. There are two things to bear in mind:

1. You need to get the spacing right. Some tools are twice as thick as others e.g. scissors, and you may have to do 2 for 1.
2. The order is important to accomodate the plier heads. You can have 2 long implements on the outside edge of each handle. The middle tools must all be short or flat (like the awl).

For no apparent reason the Harley Tool came with a plastic spacer instead of a tool so I added scissors and lost the serrated blade. I also got a half serrated blade which, as observed above is chisel ground so I left the plain blade in.

I've only done this once and was nervous about dismantling the tool but it went fine.

Mark
 
i cant think of another multi-tool that can eat through copper coins as easily as my original power-plier (because of the compound gear system) it also cuts chain link fence, just.

a good sturdy and capable pocket tool imo
 
I carry/use a Powerlock every day; strong as a vise grip with that compound leverage, can strip down for maintenence (and tighten /loosen tools/customize tools), opens/closes with one hand, nice LEATHER sheath with a snap (no velcro RRRRIIIIPPPPPP), solid locking tools...just tough as hell.
 
I had a paratool that I absolutely hate!! It is loose from God knows what, I haven't used it enough to warrant looseness. My biggest gripe however is that the pliers would almost always fold down when trying to tighten or loosen something. It was quite a long time ago when purchased so maybe the company was just learning.
 
I notice the tools lock on my powerplier allows the tools to disengaged and the tool to close in the reverse directions. Do any of you have come across this? The pliers are the best in gripping, than any other multi tool I have.
 
superduty truck said:
I notice the tools lock on my powerplier allows the tools to disengaged and the tool to close in the reverse directions. Do any of you have come across this? The pliers are the best in gripping, than any other multi tool I have.
Click to expand...

I have never had the tools unlock when fully locked. If the tools are not fully locked into place then yes the design will allow the tools to fold back. I have noticed that because the tools do clump sometimes if one of the other tools is partially open or pushed too far into the handle it will prevent the lock from fully engaging.
 
I've only ever owned the first powerplier years ago so i can't say much about the new locks or caps, which the original didn't have.

i can imagine the caps minimise the digging into palms, when using the pliers.

the only think i can comment on which i imagine to be common on all powerpliers, is that the compound leverage system causes the tool arms to be spread at larger angles than 'normal' pliers and thus, for larger nuts and bolts, forces your fingers too wide for a strong secure grip*

like gripping a baseball versus a basketball. obviously a baseball pitches easier.

when plier is deployed at closed angles (when plier arms are just starting to open, less than 90 degrees) like this symbol < , i don't get enough leverage i.e, tight clamping yes, but insufficient torque.

*i don't have basketball hands though:p 24 cm span thumb to pinky and 21cm heel/wrist joint to tip.
 
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