Whats the best multi-tool?

Perfectionist · Oct 2, 2005

True ... my old LM Wave did show a bit of rust when not taken care of but I haven't seen this problem with the Charge ..... well not yet anyway

I have a SwissTool as well and love it too - absolutely bomb-proof and will last virtually forever ...... but I prefer to EDC the Charge because it ....
1) is much smaller/lighter and I love the industrial look the Titanium handles give

2) has a superb one-hand-opening blade (which even the new Swiss Spirit lacks

)
3) has an excellent belt-clip and quick release lanyard hole - I hate pouches !

My SwissTool stays in the Toolbox for when some serious tooling needs to be done

PS - What exactly is "BOB" ???

dunc5 · Oct 2, 2005

Hi Perfectionist i think between us weve just got too many multitools

in your last post you said "My SwissTool stays in the Toolbox for when some serious tooling needs to be done " thats why i think it would be best for Rifter if he is going to keep it in his bag as weight isnt a problem .
I think a BOB stands for bug out bag , something you keep emergancy gear in .Also the swisstool is cheaper and has a lifetime warrenty .

Dunc

bquinlan · Oct 2, 2005

Perfectionist said:
PS - What exactly is "BOB" ???

That would be me.

No, dunc5 is right on the money. It's an abbreviation for "Bug Out Bag". The idea is to have a bag pre-packed with everything you might need in an emergency so you can just grab it and go.

--Bob Q

Perfectionist · Oct 2, 2005

Bug Out Bag ...... cool idea !!

errrr but what kind of "emergency" would need a multi-tool ..... World War 3 ..... Comet Strike ...... Alien Invasion !!!!

Perfectionist · Oct 2, 2005

True again .... the SwissTool is half the price of the Charge and far more robust and sturdy ..... best bang for buck as they say

Vic Lifetime Warranty versus LM 25 year Warranty = to me not much of a big deal seeing as I tend to buy the latest gadgets every year !!

dunc5 · Oct 2, 2005

Perfectionist said:
Bug Out Bag ...... cool idea !!

errrr but what kind of "emergency" would need a multi-tool ..... World War 3 ..... Comet Strike ...... Alien Invasion !!!!

yep all of them, mine do get alot of use in and around the boat im involved with .

Dunc

bquinlan · Oct 2, 2005

Perfectionist said:
errrr but what kind of "emergency" would need a multi-tool ..... World War 3 ..... Comet Strike ...... Alien Invasion !!!!

I'm trying to think of an emergency where a multi-tool wouldn't be useful...

--Bob Q

shpshooter · Oct 3, 2005

I don't know why everyone says the Swiss tool is built so much better then the Charge/Surge. My Charge and Surge have little to no flex when squeezed hard, yet both the my swisstool and Powerlock have quite a bit. The extremely slight wobble the Surge has closed is nothing considering how much easier it is to open then the Swiss tool, and the wobble does disappear once open. Plus the Surge has user adjustable pivots, which the Vic doesn't even have adjustable pivots. The swisstool also has a more complicated and less durable locking system for the implements. I'm starting to think it just looks better made because of the extreme polish on everything. :foot:

Perfectionist · Oct 3, 2005

bquinlan said:
I'm trying to think of an emergency where a multi-tool wouldn't be useful...

--Bob Q

Absolutely agreed !! Which is why I keep my Charge on my belt 247

But a BOB emergency would mean having things over and above what I EDC anyway :-

KeyChain
- Keys
- Orb Raw (with 2 stage)
- Victorinox Mini Champ
- Glowring

Pockets
- Small change
- Polo's
- Marlboro Lights
- Zippo
- CK Wallet
-- Tool Logic Credit Card Companion
- Moleskine Notebook
- Namiki Vanishing Point
- Rotring Quattro Executive

Belt
- HDS Ultimate
-- Glowring
- Leatherman Charge
-- Photon Freedom Max
- Imate Jam
-- 2Gb SD Card
-- Sony MDR e888

If an emergency happens which is bad/serious enough to need more than the above ..... than I doubt an extra multi-tool is gonna save my ass !!

Perfectionist · Oct 3, 2005

shpshooter said:
I don't know why everyone says the Swiss tool is built so much better then the Charge/Surge. My Charge and Surge have little to no flex when squeezed hard, yet both the my swisstool and Powerlock have quite a bit. The extremely slight wobble the Surge has closed is nothing considering how much easier it is to open then the Swiss tool, and the wobble does disappear once open. Plus the Surge has user adjustable pivots, which the Vic doesn't even have adjustable pivots. The swisstool also has a more complicated and less durable locking system for the implements. I'm starting to think it just looks better made because of the extreme polish on everything. :foot:

I love my Leathermans ..... but you can't say the SwissTool isn't built like a tank !!

I've hammered nails in with it without a scratch on the polish ..... wouldn't try that with a Charge

dunc5 · Oct 3, 2005

shpshooter said:
I don't know why everyone says the Swiss tool is built so much better then the Charge/Surge. My Charge and Surge have little to no flex when squeezed hard, yet both the my swisstool and Powerlock have quite a bit. The extremely slight wobble the Surge has closed is nothing considering how much easier it is to open then the Swiss tool, and the wobble does disappear once open. Plus the Surge has user adjustable pivots, which the Vic doesn't even have adjustable pivots. The swisstool also has a more complicated and less durable locking system for the implements. I'm starting to think it just looks better made because of the extreme polish on everything. :foot:

When you say the swisstool has a less durable locking system does this meen you have had one fail on you ?

Dunc

znapschatz · Oct 3, 2005

Perfectionist said:
I love my Leathermans ..... but you can't say the SwissTool isn't built like a tank !!

I've hammered nails in with it without a scratch on the polish ..... wouldn't try that with a Charge

V'nox produces a fine product, but IMHO for nail driving a hammer works much better

Still, sometimes the need arises.

Leatherman's equivalent to the Swiss Tool is its Supertool, with which I have hammered nails without visible damage, also ice, composite and other manner of stuff that needed hitting. While Core and Surge may be up to that sort of abuse, the Charge may be in another design category for lighter duty. But if necessary, I wouldn't hesitate to grab a Charge, haul off and bang away.

About knives and tools, I don't believe in dress-up. They get used/abused as needed and if not up to the job, replaced. But usually when I need a multi-tool for a task like that it is in some sort of emergency where the tool's cosmetics is of secondary consideration.

shpshooter · Oct 3, 2005

dunc5 said:
When you say the swisstool has a less durable locking system does this meen you have had one fail on you ?

Dunc

On my first one something happened during a week spent camping and it became hard to engage and easy to disengage. I didn't have it long enough after it broke to see exactly what happened and try to fix it though. It decided to jump out of my hands and into the lake at Cita scout reservation.

My second one I never had any problems with though, so maybe the design changed slightly between the two. However, if you compare the locking system on the Charge/Surge to the one on the Swisstool it is a lot better design since you wouldn't have to worry about a spring, which is usually the first thing to go.

heathah · Oct 3, 2005

Perfectionist said:
I love my Leathermans ..... but you can't say the SwissTool isn't built like a tank !!

I've hammered nails in with it without a scratch on the polish ..... wouldn't try that with a Charge

I've done this with my Old Wave with no noticeable marks on the finish. Worked great at the time although I sure would rather use a hammer.

Perfectionist · Oct 3, 2005

Would be nice if Leatherman provided a smooth extra strong plate somewhere on the outside of the Charge ..... to be used as a makeshift hammer ..... ??

Ming65 · Oct 3, 2005

I have a leatherman wave because of the weight. But if weight isn't an issue I'd say without a doubt that the swisstool is the best multi out there. Just shades the supertool in my opinion.

For travelling I have a swisstool spirit in the bag - very non knife people friendly.

ckl · Oct 4, 2005

shpshooter said:
On my first one something happened during a week spent camping and it became hard to engage and easy to disengage. I didn't have it long enough after it broke to see exactly what happened and try to fix it though. It decided to jump out of my hands and into the lake at Cita scout reservation. My second one I never had any problems with though, so maybe the design changed slightly between the two. However, if you compare the locking system on the Charge/Surge to the one on the Swisstool it is a lot better design since you wouldn't have to worry about a spring, which is usually the first thing to go.

Agree. The springs design in swisstool are stupid! Also i heard that the locking buttoms are not stainless too... Damn victorinox.

dniice87 · Oct 4, 2005

i really liked the Charge Ti but they say it tends to rust...which multitools wont rust? Im planning on getting one and using it when i go fishing. thanks

klattman · Oct 4, 2005

dniice87 said:
i really liked the Charge Ti but they say it tends to rust...which multitools wont rust? Im planning on getting one and using it when i go fishing. thanks

Some people are very afraid of a little rust. Keep the tool clean (free of saltwater) and oiled and you won't have to worry about it.

That said, a cheap needlenose pliers is better for fishing, especially when the lake swallows it.

Will · Oct 5, 2005

klattman said:
Some people are very afraid of a little rust. Keep the tool clean (free of saltwater) and oiled and you won't have to worry about it.

I'll second that.

I was sailing at sea for a few weeks last year with my old Wave on belt the whole time getting splashed with salt water all day and never really getting rinsed. I oiled it once before the trip, and it never develped a spot of rust. Others had SAKs on them that rusted rusted shut in no time.

My VG-10 Endura on the other hand, never saw a drop of salt water, and was below deck in my bag the whole time. I had not coated it with oil, it developed rust spots just from the two weeks of humidity.

My point: A little oil goes a long way.

Will