Want Juice with that?

[cgmblade]

I'm still new to multi-tools and am enjoying learning about the different brands and models. For years I kept a Gerber MP600 in my truck and had numerous occasions to use it. Not long ago I purchased a Leatherman Wave for myself and I recently gifted a Skeletool to my Nephew for Christmas.

The Wave is a very nice tool and has replaced my Gerber. It is small and light enough that I wouldn't have any problems wearing it on my belt, but I generally keep it in my truck also. In shopping for my nephew I decided on the Skeletool because it's a nice, functional tool and I thought the cool design would appeal to him. But in the process of deciding which model to get him I looked more closely at the Juice models and was quite impressed.

Of the various Juice models available I concluded that the CS4 was the one I wanted and was able to find a slightly used one for sale on a certain auction site and just received it in the mail today. It is certainly a smaller and lighter duty tool than the Wave but I think it is more than capable of handling the normal day to day tasks most people would use it for.

My initial impressions of the Juice CS4 are very positive and I actually prefer it over the Skeletool for most purposes. It has more tools than the Skeletool and is lighter and easier to carry. The only real advantage the Skeletool might have is in the added leverage the longer handle might offer for cutting hard wire.

I would appreciate others comments and opinions regarding the relative merits of these tools.

Here are some pics.

Here's the Juice compared to my Wave.

 

[bigrob911]

I got myself a juice s2 for christmas. Much easier to carry than my wave and is still a great tool.

 

[R Lewis]

I think the Joice line of tools is great. Obviously not a tool you are going to take into the woods to do heavy work. I have a CS4 and S2. The CS4 stays in my computer backpack and the S2 stays in my EDC fanny pack. They are the perfect size for EDC and pocket carry. Seems there is not a day goes by that I don't use one of them for some task. You made a good choice.

 

[cgmblade]

Thanks for the comments.

I have a rapidly shrinking coat hanger that I've used to compare the cutters on my Gerber MP600, Wave, the Skeletool, and now the Juice CS4. The Gerber, Wave, and Skeletool all cut the hanger wire with ease and they were all quite comfortable doing it. The juice cut it, but it required more force and wasn't very comfortable. In a pinch the Juice will get the job done, but it's not the tool I'd choose if I expected to be cutting a lot of hard wire.


BTW, I don't think that sheath is a leatherman product. It's functional, but doesn't have a logo and it's not nearly the same quality as the one that came with my Wave.

 

[znapschatz]

Thanks for the comments.

I have a rapidly shrinking coat hanger that I've used to compare the cutters on my Gerber MP600, Wave, the Skeletool, and now the Juice CS4. The Gerber, Wave, and Skeletool all cut the hanger wire with ease and they were all quite comfortable doing it. The juice cut it, but it required more force and wasn't very comfortable. In a pinch the Juice will get the job done, but it's not the tool I'd choose if I expected to be cutting a lot of hard wire.

Very definitely not as easy to use, but if I had a lot of heavy wire to cut, there are better options than any multitool. It's a compromise in the direction of "better the uncomfortable lightweight tool with me than the comfortable heavy one left at home."

BTW, I don't think that sheath is a leatherman product. It's functional, but doesn't have a logo and it's not nearly the same quality as the one that came with my Wave.

Yes, it's a cheapo generic that should wear out sooner than later, fortunately because you can then replace it with a genuine Leatherman sheath. The leather one is very nice, not too expensive.

 

[fatcat55]

I have a Wave and a CS2. I like everything about the CS2 except the knife blade. It is probably just me, but I can't get it as sharp as it should be.

The Wave has better blades for sure.

I also have one of the original Leatherman tools and the blade on it is the weakest part in my opinion.

I think Leatherman tools just started caring about the quality of the knife blades within the last few years and focused on the other tools prior to that.

I carry my CS2 fairly often and it is pretty good for its purpose. I like the saw feature on the CS4 but don't need the corkscrew, so I settled on the CS2.

How is the knife blade on your CS4?

 

[cgmblade]

It's a compromise in the direction of "better the uncomfortable lightweight tool with me than the comfortable heavy one left at home."

+1 :thumbup: Yeah, like you said, all multi-tools are compromises, but all things considered I like the Juice.

How is the knife blade on your CS4?

Probably the same as yours. I haven't tried sharpening it yet. Now it will push cut paper. It's not the best quality steel, but that's okay for its intended purpose. The blade is thin so I think I should be able to get a good edge on it. Don't know how long it will hold an edge though. I usually have another knife on me anyway so it's not a real big concern for me.

 

[Toyz]

I've got the CS4 and the S2 - great little tools.

You can put a SAK screwdriver in the cork screw of the CS4 - added value!

I did find that I had to sharpen the can opener on both models as they were not that functional out of the box.

CS4 definately belt carry. The S2 is the biggest I'll go for pocket carry.

 

[cgmblade]

I think Victorinox has the best can opener. I keep a Spartan in the Kitchen just for that.

I haven't used the CS4's can opener yet, but I did examine it and there's no edge on it at all so I suppose I'll be sharpening mine too.

 

[Foilist]

I got the Juice Pro in a trade with a forumite last year. I like it a lot, although I had to sharpen the edgeless can opener and awl. It's a cool tool, but it hasn't bumped my Vic Spirit from the top of my list.

 

[znapschatz]

I got the Juice Pro in a trade with a forumite last year. I like it a lot, although I had to sharpen the edgeless can opener and awl. It's a cool tool, but it hasn't bumped my Vic Spirit from the top of my list.

My CS4, dated 1103, also came with an awl that needed sharpening, but the can opener was good to go. From what I gather, can openers in later years came without bevel, or was that random batches throughout the whole production run? Did I get lucky, or did you get un?

 

[cgmblade]

My CS4, dated 1103, also came with an awl that needed sharpening, but the can opener was good to go. From what I gather, can openers in later years came without bevel, or was that random batches throughout the whole production run? Did I get lucky, or did you get un?

Maybe you got lucky. Neither my can opener or awl have any kind of edge.

 

[Foilist]

Maybe you got lucky. Neither my can opener or awl have any kind of edge.

Same here.