Use a multi-tool in trades/farming/law enforcement/work?

[pinnah]

Do you work in construction, the trades, farming/ranching, law enforcement, fire, rescue, miliatary or any similar related job and do you carry a Leatherman-type multi-tool for that job?

If so, can you describe some of the things you use the MT for and why you would use the MT instead of a dedicated tool from your toolbox?

Lastly, are modern medium carbide powder steels, like S30V, which offers longer edge holding than industry standard fine cardbide steels like 420HC, a real advantage for you with respect to the primary knife blade on the MT? If so, can you talk about how often you sharpen and what you do at work that dulls the knife blade. Lastly, why would you use the knife blade when you have access to disposable industrial "box cutter" style knives?

The question came up in the multi-tool sub-forum. It was suggested that SAKs are more oriented toward casual pocket knife owners and that Leatherman (style) multi-tools are targeted towards tradesmen. It was countered that real tradesmen rarely use MTs and rely, instead, on dedicated tools and that MTs real audience was on more casual home owner types.

Do you work in the trades, agriculutre, public safety and the like?

What say you?

 

[collim1]

Public Safety, bike officer.

I carry a Victorinox Farmer in my pocket. But the Leatherman Wave with bit kit and extension is in my saddle bag. It packs a lot of tools that are needed for maintaining a bike on the go.

I am not willing to pay for a multitool with S30v steel. I have been using Leatherman tools for many years and the blades are used sparingly. Easy to sharpen and easy to dull. I carry a dedicated knife at work, I use the Leatherman for its tools.

 

[marthinus]

Do you work in construction, the trades, farming/ranching, law enforcement, fire, rescue, miliatary or any similar related job and do you carry a Leatherman-type multi-tool for that job?

Personally, not that often. 98% of the people I have met dont as well, but I deal with some tradesman so I will comment on the things I have seen they do.

If so, can you describe some of the things you use the MT for and why you would use the MT instead of a dedicated tool from your toolbox?

They use it for everything because they do not have all the tools on hand or forgot something. So that includes cleaning of bale slicers, cutting fences, removing thorns out of tires, opening containers, processing meat, cleaning their nails, cleaning hooves, deburring, closing a valve, the list goes on but those come to mind straight away.

Lastly, are modern medium carbide powder steels, like S30V, which offers longer edge holding than industry standard fine cardbide steels like 420HC, a real advantage for you with respect to the primary knife blade on the MT?

They dont care what steel is used in my experience. As long as they can sharpen it on their Lansky. I have only heard of one farmer commenting that they prefer the Charge model of Leatherman because of the 154CM blade but did mention it would chip out a lot.[/QUOTE]

If so, can you talk about how often you sharpen

They sharpen the knife when it is not cutting, they dont keep track.

and what you do at work that dulls the knife blade.

It is mainly dirty materials that are cut, think full of sand, dust, hard material are scraped etc.

Lastly, why would you use the knife blade when you have access to disposable industrial "box cutter" style knives?

They tend to only carry their MT. They think I am nuts for carrying a normal slipjoint with a MT sometimes. So the train of thought is. One tool, pliers and a knife. What more do you need?

The above said, I have met a farmer that carries around one large pliers (back pocket) and his custom folder. He uses his folder to do almost everything and the pliers to cut fence wires and tighten and loosen what needs to be done. His folder looks like this.

The question came up in the multi-tool sub-forum. It was suggested that SAKs are more oriented toward casual pocket knife owners and that Leatherman (style) multi-tools are targeted towards tradesmen. It was countered that real tradesmen rarely use MTs and rely, instead, on dedicated tools and that MTs real audience was on more casual home owner types.

IMO, you get different tradesman. I dont expect a dentist to pull out a MT. I expect it on a farm somewhere remotely. If you are planning to do a mile of re-fencing, I doubt you are going to do it with a MT but a dedicated crimping tool. I have seen boiler makers with multitools, others not, most carry a dedicated toolbox with modified equipment. Some security companies frown at MT's.

What say you?

Who cares if they person carries a MT or a SAK. He is at least carrying a pocket knife and as long as the person enjoys it, more power to them.

 

[Ryan Sumner]

I don't go outside the house without a multitool, most of the time outside of work it's just a Leatherman PS4, but sometimes I'll supplement it with a Leatherman Charge alx.
I work in a vineyard, so there is often wirework or irrigation repair and a whole lot of different jobs in between. With all the walking we do it is MUCH more efficient to carry a leatherman, instead of all the tools individually. We have few dedicated tools in the vineyard shed, but I can do most jobs nearly as well (and sometimes better) as when we use full size tools

Regarding blade steel, I actually much prefer the Wave over the charge, I only use the blade for rough jobs, like scraping or cutting against wire so I've not seen any advantage to the 'better' blade steel, and the disadvantage of it being harder to sharpen.
The separate handles of the charge make a gritty sound when it gets wet/ dirty, and is a problem I never had with my wave.

 

[Topcatpt]

I dont carry a multitool with me nowadays I do keep one in my truck. But when I was in the Military I always kept one. I was a machinegunner in the USMC. We used it all the time to do maintenance on the machine guns,tripods, and personal weapons. Also to open ammo crates and cans. Obviously we were allready loaded down with gear so carrying a bunch of different tools was out of the question.

 

[pinnah]

Who cares if they person carries a MT or a SAK. He is at least carrying a pocket knife and as long as the person enjoys it, more power to them.

You're confusing my curiosity with caring one way or the other.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Camillus]

I have a lot of knives, and a lot of tools (just ask my wife), also, I do a lot of stuff when a knife is needed. My uses and my tools of choice are:

bushcraft - bushcraft knife
military - swiss army knife
edc - swiss army knife (Cadet)
woodworking - specialist tools and marking knives
gardening - gardening multi-tool (with secateurs not pliers)
general tool in the car - multi-tool, but with screwdrivers and wrench sets as well
powerboating - multi-tool
loungeroom tasks (stereo maintenance, fixing toys) - multi-tool
fishing - scissors and filleting knife
kayaking - scissors and stainless steel knife

The one role that the multi-tool excels at is powerboating. There's not a lot of room for extra equipment, but lots of potential uses for the various functions of the multi-tool in that environment.

 

[Franciscomv]

My family owns a horse ranch, I worked there when I was younger and still do from time to time. I find a multitool useful for small repairs, adjusting something on the horse waterers, helping me fix muzzles and saddles, cutting wire and so on. We do have specialized tools but they aren't always at hand, throwing a multitool in my pocket assures me that I'll have some basic tools anywhere I go.

In my urban life, I keep a multitool in each of my backpacks/briefcases and use them to fix little thjngs at home or at my girlfriend's (who owns almost zero tools), adjust stuff on my guns, etc.

My favourite ranch/outdoors multitools are the Leatherman ST300 and Rebar, and the Victorinox SwissTool and SwissTool Spirit. They are tough and have all I need. I had a Wave and gave it away, also have a Charge Ti and keep it in my EDC backpack in the city, the bit holders are not too strong (the bits are rather fragile for what I do at the ranch, too), it has no awl (I do lots of leather sewing). Basic 420 blades work fine for me, because I carry at least one dedicated knife all the time, so the blades on my multitools don't get too much use (fixed blades are practically considered an item of clothing in the Argentine countryside).

 

[WEB2]

Maintenance engineer - many times while on "4th floor" i find a "loose something", my sog powerlock has saved many hrs of time by not having to return to truck for a tool.
I use the knife blade for scraping duty so i dont care what steel it is. When it gets real dull i sharpen on a belt sander with silicon carbide belt

 

[BoozeFighter]

I look after a small fleet of wash trucks, and I find myself reaching for my leatherman at least once a day. Whether it is to cut and splice a wire, grab on to a rounded fitting, or even pry out a damaged seal or o-ring, my multi-tool is indispensable for making small in the field repairs until I can get the truck back to my shop to make a proper repair with proper tools. It isn't always the proper tool for the task at hand, but like they say, the best knife (or tool in this case) is the one you have when you need it.

 

[palonej]

HVAC and commercial refrig tech for too many years to count.
I mostly do diagnostics and it impossible to carry every tool I 'might' need.
Always have a Leathernan Wingman with me and it gets used every day.......especially those pliers!
That thing has saved countless trips back to the truck.
Blade is used rarely.
Joe

 

[Wheeler80]

HVAC Tech/Diagnostic Electrician

I always have my Surge and the bit kit on me. I also carry a small set of normal size driver bits (1/4", 5/16", 3/8"). It's really just me being lazy. I hate dragging my tool bag into a crawl space or up onto a roof. I can do 90% of my job with my mt setup, a Vic Farmer, a multimeter, and some improvisation.

 

[palonej]

HVAC Tech/Diagnostic Electrician

I always have my Surge and the bit kit on me. I also carry a small set of normal size driver bits (1/4", 5/16", 3/8"). It's really just me being lazy. I hate dragging my tool bag into a crawl space or up onto a roof. I can do 90% of my job with my mt setup, a Vic Farmer, a multimeter, and some improvisation.

That is just too funny Bill!!!
If we couldn't improvise we'd never repair or install ANYTHING!!!
I was breaking in in the 70's and my uncle would scream that all day long!!
Joe

 

[Rey HRH]

When I still did manual work as an electronics mechanic working on subs in a shipyard, I had a leatherman on my hip and carried a toolbag. For stuff that I can use my leatherman on and it's not like I'm doing work for an hour, I would use it; it is faster than going through my toolbag, opening it, and getting the tool out like a screwdriver.

 

[Yalius]

I do computer / networking / fiber installation and maintenance. I always have a Charge TTi on me. I'll sometimes find myself under a desk needing to cut through drywall, or trying to pull cabling under a crawlspace or under a desk outside. Using the Charge's saw to go through drywall or a branch or the pliers to pull a staple... cutting hook to take out a zip tie without nicking the Cat5... anything unexpected, I'd rather have a tool that's "good enough" in my hand than have to crawl back out to grab a different one. The blade hardly gets used because I'll typically have a separate folder for any cutting tasks more suited to a knife.

I carry the Charge instead of a Wave just because it's mot a much more secure grip with the texturing on the handles and has the hook for work when I need to cut on a delicate substrate. I use the tools on the Charge probably ten times as often as I use a knife.

 

[pinnah]

Sounds like a theme is developing here.

The multitool is most effective for people who work "in the field" and who can't carry a full complement of tools with them.

The multitool isn't as good as dedicated tools (everybody who's used tools for a living knows this) but on the other hand, not all jobs afford that luxury.

I'm interested that we've not heard from guys working road construction or general construction. Too little need for a MT or too much ready access to a full tool set?

 

[sabre cat]

I have done some light construction work and have to tell you that I only used a MT when I did not have other tools or I was to lazy to walk to the tool box. The people I worked with were the same way. I found that most of the time a MT was not the best tool to use.

A good friend of mine just retired from firefighting. He carried a Leatherman Wave and a full size Griptilian on duty. Also carried a rescue knife in the pocket of his turnouts. His Leatherman looks unused but he has had it for years and I know it did see some use. I can also tell you that he feels that the combo edge on his Grip is the best thing after sliced bread.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I don't think I've ever used my multitool around the homestead. Instead my most commonly used non-cutting tools are a Knipex mini pliers wrench, CoBolt mini bolt cutter, a pair of side-cutting wire nippers, ChannelLock fencing pliers, and assorted screwdrivers.

I use my multitool when I'm out and about places, like down at my family's camp, and something needs fixing. It's good for taking care of things NOW when it's either not feasible or convenient to go get real dedicated tools.

 

[Bobby3326]

I use my leatherman wave daily, I work retail construction and sometimes things come up where it's faster to pull it out an loosen a screw, tighten a bolt, remove a staple, cut something, and whatever else than stopping and going to dig another tool out of my bag.

 

[MIGUY]

I do lawn care and landscaping type work. I carry a Vic swisstool along side my Emerson cqc15. The swisstool I have only has the serrated blade, not the plain blade, as my Emerson covers all my cutting needs. I carry a multi tool for the okiers, and screwdrivers mainly, mostly the pliers. It does come in handy for basic electrical maintenance around the shop, as well as everyday things that fingers just can't grab, and I don't carry a full set of tools in the truck, as its a regular cab with a dump bed for grass.

My dad iwbs the business, and usrd to do ceramic tile for a living, as well as carpet abd ither flooring, so we do some if that in the winter to supplement plowing. The multitool makes stappes, switch playes, etc, a breeze.