What's your favorite pliers multi-tool and why?

As I mentioned above, my daily belt carry is the Leatherman PST II, but one thing I notice is I prefer the can opener on my Victorinox SAKs to the one on the PST II. The Victorinox can opener cuts cleaner, easier, faster. But overall, for a pliers/tool for typical use, I use it more than the Wave because my Wave seems a bit too "loose", and the Supertool, the sturdiest of the three, the other tools are not as easy to pull out, even with lube, as on the PST II, and in normal use I haven't really needed the locking feature yet. So the Super and Wave await active duty in my drawer for now.
Jim
 
I'll vote for Gerber's tool and the Leatherman PST. Origional... I like the gerber for some things but the tools don't seem as precise as the leatherman's - but it does feel more solid and your hands don't get cut up from the housing - SOG's Paratool went down the road in a hurry after the handles collapsed on my hand..
Another on I use a lot is an "Excalibur" from China via Fiskars.. There is pruning shear inplace of the plier.. very handy around the house and yard. Let's not overlook the lowly SAK in a multi tool discussion either - never without on!

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Don't wrestle with the hogs - they enjoy it and you get dirty !
Jonesy

[This message has been edited by Revvie (edited 05-03-2000).]
 
I've got the PSTII with the bit driver, got it because it was the most versatile when I was buying. It's served me very well, and I don't see the need to get another, although I really like the Wave. Maybe I'll have to pass it on to my nephew to create the excuse to get me a new one.
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I do agree with WadeF, Gary, MDP and others about the accessibiity problems with the Leatherman tools, maybe I need to handle a SwissTool before I go off half cocked....
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(sorry, couldn't resist)

Brandon



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I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...
 
I only have the Wave and carry it almost every day. Comfortable, durable, sharp, and very useful. How the heck do you sharpen the plain blade?
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A knife is by default a tool, it's only a weapon when a human chooses to make it so.

 
Three more cheers for the SwissTool!
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I also have a Leatherman Supertool that I thought was great until I met the SwissTool.

Now I don't even look at other multi-tools.

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Travis Autry
My knives are just like rabbits---they keep multiplying!!
 
Have several (Don't tell my wife) but when it's time to go I have a tough time between the Swisstool and the Leatherman Crunch. I usually let what I expect to need to do be the deciding factor, buty they're both GREAT!

Chris


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Stay Sharp!
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AKTI Member A000987

[This message has been edited by christopher (edited 05-04-2000).]
 
Gentlemen -
I commented in a negative way about the SOG paratool in lastnight's post - this morning there was an E-mail from SOG's customer service asking me to send it in for adjustment and service.. that it should not collapse on your hand.. Wish I'd thought of that before I traded it off - just thought you all would like to know that this company cares about it's products and reputation. I like that ! Just thought I'd share it.

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Don't wrestle with the hogs - they enjoy it and you get dirty !
Jonesy
 
In the beginning, it was the Gerber and things were good.
Then, the Leatherman Supertool and things got a little more good.
After the Wave things were definetely good.
The Swisstool made things BEST!!!!!!

I have been carrying a Swisstool for about six months now, so far no complaints. Have used it for everything from fixing an artificial Christmas tree to removing small fishing lures from even smaller bluegills. The shape of the pliers hasn't hampered their usefulness for me, and the other tools are stashed in various places for back up duty, except the Gerbers, which all got given away.

Later, Jeff B

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Knife Medic "Weilder of Fingerdicer,Healer of Minor Owies,Instigator of Laughter"
 
Hello,

I am a diehard Leatherman fan and my original PST has been serving me well for the past 7 years. Never once during this time of frequent use have I found the "clumping" of tools to be any inconvenience. It's just the way the tool is designed, so you either accept it or don't buy it. But as I said I don't see this as problem.

I use mine a lot for electrical work and for other things where a needle nose would come in handy. This is where these tools really shine. For a true heavy duty tool the Crunch is the way to go. Quite comfortable and capable of hard work like automotive or plumbing. The Pulse which is due out this fall sounds like it will be darned near the best needle nosed Leatherman yet with all locking tools and rounded handles but closer in size to the PST as opposed to the Super Tool.

I have also read a lot of posts about how the Wave has too much flex and does not appear as strong as some of the other multi's. Yet I have not seen a single post about a Wave failing under use. I guess initial impressions are not alays what they seem.

Later,

MBS

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Nevermind the dog...beware of owner!
 
am beginning to develop a fair collection of these things, and I'm working on a set of opinions to go with them.

In descending order:

1. Leatherman Wave - Good solid machine, it isn't perfect, but it does what I need most with the least fuss.

2. Leatherman Crunch - Excellent locking plier. Very useful, very compact. Phillips screw driver seems to fit everything regardless of size. Knife blade and file are marginal, better than nothing but not by that much.

3. Leatherman PST - Spyderwrench - Tied for third. The PST does everything pretty well, nothing extra, very compact. Spyderwrench has some great features including adjustable wrench, very serviceable knife blade and interchangeable bits. Great gadget factor. Too many lose parts, often Too hard/slow to get into action.

4. Leatherman Sideclip - really very good for a minimalist tool. I'd like to trade the knife blade on this one for something else, maybe a file or hacksaw blade.

5. Kershaw locking plier - spare parts are available, file blade and hacksaw blade can be replaced when worn. Knife blade is accessible one handed with tool closed. Nice open top belt pouch with clip rather than belt loop. Needle nose pliers are light duty only, they will withstand little or no side torque Tool seems over bulky especially in view of light duty pliers.

6. Bucktool - solidly in last place. It's hard to think of anything nice to say about this thing. The little pictures engraved on the handle to show you where the different tools are is a nice idea. The tools lock open, but what difference does it make when the handles fold up during use. Maybe it's just me being left handed. There is a lot of flex in the handles, they can be bent into full contact with each other with moderate hand pressure. Anything more than moderate hand pressure and the handles start to fold up. My bucktool is an early production tool, I have heard that improvements have been made but I am unclear as to what these improvements are.


Mike
 
I carry a Victorinox SAK.I'm not sure what model,but has locking main blade,about 14 tools including pliers.It's still small enough for my pants pocket.Ralph
 
Years ago I bought an original Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool. I carried and used it for years until the Leatherman PST II can out. Now that is my favorite.

I also have an original Gerber MultiPlier that usually goes with me camping.

And a Coast Hardware multitool. The think I like about it is that one handle of the very tough pliers is actually a pocketknife, complete with backsprings.
 
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