Which Multi-Tool ?

[frank k]

Tough call! Both the Blast and the Spirit are well made multitools with similar features. I have a slight preference for the Spirit because its tools are accessible without opening the handles, the handles are slimmer and slightly more comfortable than the Blasts, and that the Spirit has an awl and a very nice wood chisel which I find much more useful than the Blast’s little eyeglass screw driver bit holder.


Things the Blast has that the Spirit doesn’t that I miss are the rulers and the lanyard ring. The Blast also has slightly bigger pliers/wire cutters, better screw drivers and a plain edged clip point knife blade vs. the Spirit’s odd looking ¾ serrated blunt tipped Sheep’s foot blade.





Frank

 

[sunshaker]

For the life of me I can't figure out why SAK hasn't put pocket clips on their knives!
I love SAK's, but don't carry one much anymore because of no pocket clips.

Well you can always do what a few other people have done, order a pocket clip and kit from your favorite knife supply shop (I used Knifekits.com) and an Alox SAK (a Vic Farmer is a good choice) from your favorite SAK dealer (I used felinevet) and put your own pocket clip on your own knife.

I figure that Vic and/or Wenger have not done it yet because of the way the (Cellidor/nylon) scales are mounted on their knives (as they pop on and off with a little bit of work) and they are thin (they will break with a bit of effort, and yes if try to you pop them off with a bit to much effort they will break). This means they have to come up with some kind of mounting system that fits between the blades and the liners, which is going to be an absolute pain in the ass to design (sounds easy but look at your SAK and find a spot where they can put it that does not interfere with opening a tool or access to a toothpick/tweezer/pen). The fact that the pocket clip is a very North American thing, while Vic and Wenger are European doesn't help.

 

[jca21]

i have the vic swiss spirit as well as the leatherman wave II

both are solid multi-tools however the wave i bought required some lubrication before it had smooth opening action. the spirit is solid, works well however is a bit tough to open with one hand.

if one hand opening is a not a recommendation i like my spirit over the wave.

cheers

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Anyone have the Victorinox Swiss Spirit ?

Me, Me

. Give me a second and I'll give you my opinion (have to find it in a previous post).

Doc

"Any of the Victorinox multi tools. I recently bought the Vic Spirit and its fit and finish are excellent. I previously bought the Leatherman Wave because it was on sale ($30 off). I took it home, played with it for an hour or two and took it back. When the salesman dropped the Spirit in my hand, I knew it was coming home with me.

The Spirit is relatively light weight and has all the tools on it I need (only one knife blade and it is a combo blade- serrated and plain- all I need because I EDC 2 other knives). I constantly use it at work (maintenance) and it is a first class tool.

The foregoing is by no means a critique of the people who like the Wave, it's just that I don't." (This can be found as the original post here. Scroll down to post 10)

The only other multi tool (currently available) that I would consider is the Victorinox Swiss Tool X.

 

[pitdog]

Cheers Doc !

Now which does everyone consider to have the hardest steel ( as in which screwdriver bit will take the longest to round off etc )...Victorinox or Leatherman ?

 

[rfbadger]

I use a Blast as a EDC. I'm not a heavy user (once a day) and it serves me well.:thumbup:

 

[nick-nack]

The most major area that rust is the Plier area on the Leatherman's. But I learnt a trick where you scrub it off with a ball of aluminium foil and that works most of it off. But not in the nooks and crannies.

 

[Dantor]

You can go to Wal-mart and compare the two and you'll see what I mean and will be able to get a closer look.

+1 This is an excellent way to judge for yourself and get a feel.
Pitdog, your only requirement is a good saw? anything else?

Pit, I've never seen or read anyone complaining about the finish on Swisstools, their just fantastic bro.

Leathermans are sweet and made well but I have read of spotting and stuff, I still like em.

 

[Any Cal.]

I don't have a Swiss tool, so I can not be sure. However, I am told that the tools on the Swisstools are almost the same as those on the SAK. That being the case, the Swisstool, due to it's high degree of polish, would start out working like a worn out Leatherman tool.

This is not a bait, if I am wrong, then let me know politely. As much as people seem to like the Swisstools, I would be happy to give them a try. I have asked about the tools before, though, and was told they had the high polish like the SAKs.

The tools on the SAK I find very close to worthless, more on the line of a last ditch effort than an actual working tool, at least the screwdrivers anyway. The tools on the Leatherman I find very close in use to a quality dedicated tool.

Right now, I am watching this thread with interest because I am considering picking up another multi for if/when I send my Wave in.

 

[Ravaillac]

I have a leatherman Ti-Charge and I am pretty happy with it but people keep telling me that Vic Spirit is as good if not better.
My main concerns would be no hand opening and lesser steel on main blade.
But since Vic is notably under-hyped compared to leatherman, I think it has better cost ratio.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

I don't have a Swiss tool, so I can not be sure. However, I am told that the tools on the Swisstools are almost the same as those on the SAK. That being the case, the Swisstool, due to it's high degree of polish, would start out working like a worn out Leatherman tool.

Can you explain what you mean by this? What does the polish have to do with anything?

The tools on the SAK I find very close to worthless, more on the line of a last ditch effort than an actual working tool, at least the screwdrivers anyway. The tools on the Leatherman I find very close in use to a quality dedicated tool.

I've used Vic SAK's for maybe 30 years and my experience is definitely not the same as yours, however, I don't use the screwdrivers that much, but everything else is excellent - saw, file, scissors...........

What I put in my earlier post was literal. Aside from the nice variety of models and tools, I've never been impressed with Leatherman. I did own a Leatherman mini for awhile until I left it at a customer's house. It worked ok.

A lot of people really like the Leatherman so it must do the job for them, just not for me. YMMV.

Doc

 

[ikkyo]

I have had the charge ti for the last three years, and I carried it everywhere on my trips from Asia, Africa and on my last trip in Venezuela - wet climates - I fished quite a lot, and swimmed or waded through rivers with the charge on my belt, and except a few spots on the file, no rusting at all.
great tool IMHO. a bit on a heavy side but great.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

I have a leatherman Ti-Charge and I am pretty happy with it but people keep telling me that Vic Spirit is as good if not better.
My main concerns would be no hand opening and lesser steel on main blade.
But since Vic is notably under-hyped compared to leatherman, I think it has better cost ratio.

The only blade it has is a combi blade, maybe 2/3 serrated and 1/3 plain. I don't use it because I have other knives with me. In fact, that is one reason I went with the Spirit - I couldn't see having more blades with the attendant weight.

As far as one handed opening, I can open the pliers, one-handed with no problem. The individual tools are a different matter, though.

Doc

 

[flnder]

I have a Swiss Tool Spirit plus,it comes with an extra rack of bits and a great little ratchet. The bits are regular tool bits available anywhere. The rack comes with a couple empty hloes so you can add your own bits,like a robertson for Canada or torx for all your other knives. The serrations on Victorinox knives are the most sensible on any partially serrated knife,the smooth section close to the handle is where you choke up for fine cutting. Also(I almost forgot) it is lighter by far than almost any tools mentioned so far.
I have handled the Leatherman Charge ALX, it is also a nice tool,154cm blade. Leathermans sometime have trouble getting their tools to nest properly. On some models there is a little finger of sheet metal keeping them in line,this finger bends and breaks like a son of a gun.

 

[Lorien]

Hi Pitdog, I don't get to check emails sundays or mondays. I'll get back in touch with you tomorrow

 

[amiga]

Can you explain what you mean by this? What does the polish have to do with anything?

I think his problem is that on the vic, the corners of the screwdriver blades are a little bit rounded, making them jumping out of the screw far more easily, than a normal tool. I just squared them off with a grinder, now they bite much better.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Thanks amiga.

Here in Canada we don't use Slot or Philipps screws as much as our American brothers, so maybe that's why I didn't clue in.

I couldn't understand why somebody was taking exception to a well finished tool.

Doc

 

[Dantor]

I can open up my Swisstool RS with one hand, and the tools are on the outside, so you don't have to open up the pliers to get at them. Great scissors, file and wood saw. RS stands for "Rescue and Survival" knife and it's a little bigger than the Spirit and the whole thing weighs more too, around double the weight!

 

[Any Cal.]

Yes Doc, amiga has it right. I don't carry anything unless I use it. That being the case, my Wave gets used constantly. I use about 1/2 the tools on it daily, and the rest occasionally. I carried a Vic tinker, but did not care for the high polish on the screwdrivers, or the Phillips placement. I did the Trekker, but it had similiar problems, plus quite a bit more weight.
The Wave gets the nod from me because I use/need it daily. If I did not, I would probably go w/ a smaller or lighter tool.
While I use the saw on occasion, the pliers, wire cutters, serrated scraper/pry bar (I mean blade.) and the screwdrivers get the most use from me personally. Therefore, that is what I judge the tool on.
If I did not work the tool so hard, I would probably get a Juice or possibly an SAK of sorts. I think their saw is quite good.

 

[stingray4540]

One more vote for the Wave, I have one that I carry everyday and it get used hard.

No rust problems, and I've used it to clean fish.

Leatherman makes great tools. The first one I ever got, I carried and used it for 10 years, and it is still a great tool, but my wife just upgraded me to the Wave last Christmas, so the old one hangs out in my range bag.

Hint: the back of the saw makes a great firesteel striker.