Who makes the best multi-plier?

If you missed the coupon and you have a Costco in your area check it out. They have the LM Wave w/Leather Sheath for $57 and change here in AK. If you don't have a membership factor that in also.

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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 
I have an Original Leatherman and a Wave, I like the Wave better. I'm waiting to check out the Spyderwrench. Today a new AG Russell catalog came that has an add for a Leatherman Crunch, it's basically a multi-tool with vise-grips, looks interesting.

I've never seen a Swiss-tool, sounds like everyone likes them.


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LD
"Every Dog Has His Day"
BFC Member Since October 2, 1998


 
I have the 400 series in the Gerber. The scissors actually came in handy when I cut some gum out of my daughter's hair. I would prefer the blade, but the 400 doesn't come with one. I asked Gerber if I could exchange something for the blade so the 400 could have a blade. They said the multiplier is very hard to work on (?) and they don't offer customization and you can't buy seperate tools and the blade binds the pliers in the 400 anyway. I think I may just buy a tool with a blade to see if it actually fits in the 400; I guess it's the need of a knifenut to see what knives can or can't do.
 
I saw the Leatherman Crunch in the Cabellas Winter catalog. Anybody have this tool? Any comments?
 
I had one of the original Gerber Multipliers. I like being able to open the pliers single handed without any trouble. However the quality of the blades in there leave something to be desired. And there were no scissors.

I've also got a LM Wave. Like the quality of the blades and the tools inside. Like the inclusion of good quality scissors. But trying to open the can opener/large screwdriver/x-head driver side always seems to leave me with bent nails. Anybody got a solution?

I hope someday, someone will be able to build a tool with the pliers opening like a Gerber, the blades opening like the Wave, the blade quality like a SAK, with tools that don't need nails of steel to open, very rust proof and the whole thing in a compact and light weight package. Dream on!
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But it just might be possible with most of the parts made from Titanium and talonite blades and...
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I have owned just about every incarnation of LM ever created. I have also handled lots of SAKs and the Swisstool. My favorite multi plier is the WAVE.

Many say it is flimsier than the PST or the Supertool, or even the Gerber or Swisstool, but I don't think so. Certainly the Wave feels more "compressable" with the liner locks and it gets a little "loose" without the special torx-like tool bit no one can find, but I think any strength differences are percieved and not real.

What I love about the Wave is that it is a one handed opener. You pull it from that nice Bianchi made nylon belt pouch which will not rot and you can open it as pliers or two different knives with one hand. I love that the saw blade and the file also lock. I like that the interior tools can all be made to sort of positively lock merely by closing the handle pieces again before use. The scissor are top knotch engineering. Even the "compressibility" works for the Wave, as it is by far the most comfortable and pinch free multi-tool I have tried.

My only suggested improvement would be to ditch one of the flathead tools and put on a reamer/punch.

The Wave will work really hard for a long time and not break. It is well worth the 50+ dollars spent.

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Real artists ship--Steve Jobs
 
Joe,

Maybe the Gerbers don't get mentioned much because their handles have a nasty tendency to snap off just behind the pliers. My local knife store has seen several returns in this condition. My building maintenance person recently asked to see my Wave; I noticed he had a Gerber and asked if he'd seen the problem. He replied that he'd broken three in that manner. I think next time he'll be getting a Wave
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When I bought my first multi-tool, it was a Gerber Multi-plier. Once I got over the "cool" sliding jaws, I realized it was overall a clunky, ill-fitting item compared to the PST - which I traded it for after a month. I later upgraded this to a PST II. Then this was replaced by a Wave. It's the best so far.

I haven't seen the Swisstool, but I certainly want to after seeing the forum response every time this question comes up. I have seen the Bucktool, Bear Jaws, Shrade Tough Tool, various SOGs, and others. The SOGs have some nice features; the rest, IMO, are junk. Everyone I know who's owned another brand now has a Leatherman of some sort. Life doesn't give us situations this clear-cut very often. They sure are nice, aren't they?

-Drew
 
Cord:

>Maybe the Gerbers don't get mentioned much because their handles have a nasty
>tendency to snap off just behind the pliers.

Now that's the first time I've heard that! Is that with the older models, newer models, all of 'em?

>When I bought my first multi-tool, it was a Gerber Multi-plier. Once I got over the
>"cool" sliding jaws, I realized it was overall a clunky, ill-fitting item compared to the
>PST

Are you talking the original multipliers, or the newer 600 and 400 series? The fact is, no one can top Leatherman for fit & finish, but the newer Gerber models are much much better than those originals. I have a PST II and I love it, but still keep my original klunky Gerber around. Why? Because I use the pliers often, and one-handed opening was really nice. More importantly, I wanted bullnose pliers, not needlenose, and the Gerber was the only tool that offered that for a while. For me, needlenose pliers are much less useful.

In addition, if you want to use the pliers hard, your hand is going to be in a world of pain if you've got the PST. For that reason, I can't quite consider it a serious tool. If I can see I'm in for some hard pliers use, and all I have is the PST, I wander around until I find real pliers with comfortable handles and bullnose shape. With the Gerber, I've never had to do that.

>I haven't seen the Swisstool, but I certainly want to after seeing the forum response
>every time this question comes up.

The Swisstool is a great tool. You'll find it a bit klunkier than the Leatherman. On the other hand, exterior-accessible non-clumping locking tools grow on you real quick. If you use the tools a lot, don't mind carrying a larger-sized tool, and don't need true needlenose pliers, the Swisstool seems the obvious winner to me.

Drew, you should take a second look at the Gerber 600 series. Finish is better than the old multipliers, all tools lock (unlock PST and Wave), you can get bullnose pliers. And unlike the PST, it doesn't kill your hand to use the pliers hard.

Joe
 
SwissTool rules!
PST II comes second. I've never had a problem with my Leathermans (PST II, Super, and WAVE), though I several friends that are in the USCG, and each of them has been able to break the pliers on their Leathermans.
 
Joe Talmadge,

I value your input so I have few questions. How would you rate these three brands of multi-tools in order of preference? Meaning which one do you think is best, second best and third. Leatherman, Victorinox and Gerber. If you want to point out specific models be my guest. What is your criteria for determining which best suits your needs?

My personal choice is Leatherman Wave which is really tied with the Swiss Tool. I like the design of the Wave. The 4 tools that are available while the pliers are closed is great. I used the saw only once but the two blades and file I use regularly. I wish the screwdrivers locked but they are adequate. I love the scissor on it and use it more than the pliers. The only thing I truly hate is that the handles loosened up quite a bit
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The Swiss Tool is just a fine piece of work. A bit heavy but I got use to it. The handle to plier ratio makes for great leverage. The blades are adequate but I wish the serrated one was a sheeps foot. I don't like the high polish on the tool. The screwdrivers slip alot and I attribute it to the polish. If it had a brushed finish and scissor I would call it perfect (I know all tools are a compromise).

I don't have a Gerber and handled only a few in the stores. The first thing I noticed is the needle nose wasn't really a needle nose. The screwdrivers were really short. Have these features been changed in the new models?

Oh yeah, the Super Tool has locking tools also.

Chuck,

Please post your website again so we can see you open the LM like a Balisong. Yekim employs the same technique and he is pretty fast. Faster than a Gerber deployment IMHO.

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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb



[This message has been edited by David Williams (edited 28 October 1999).]
 
David, I *definitely* don't claim that my choices here are universal. Moreover, I've handled all of these multitools, but not used them hard, so I can't make comments about tools breaking, handles loosening up, etc.

One thing I do often is use the pliers hard, and I have way more use for bullnose than needlenose pliers. The Gerber has the edge here for me. I don't know if the Victorinox's weird pliers head would suit my needs, and I don't know if the Wave's handles are really comfortable when squeezing hard.

Tools-wise, Victorinox's solution is by far the best. All tools lock, all tools are accessible with the tool closed, and there's no clumping. Gerber has all tools locking, and they're finished much better than they used to be, but to be honest they remain kinda short. The Wave has a few locking, exterior-accessible tools, and the rest are non-locking. There's no clear winner here between the Wave and Gerber for me -- what's more important, Gerber's locking screwdrivers or the Wave's exterior-accessible knife blades?

Fit and finish probably goes in order, Wave, Swisstool, Gerber.

Then there are the smaller issues: Swisstool has no scissors, Gerber has a semi-custom build-a-tool option, etc.

In short, we have a jumble of advantages and no really obvious choice. For me, because I like the easy-to-access bullnose pliers, I'm giving the Gerber a serious look, using the build-a-tool web page.

I don't consider the Supertool because the unlocking system is such a pain in the ass that I consider it unacceptable for me.

Joe
 
I vote the Swiss Tool for heavy duty work (but its heavy for carry as well), and the Leathermans for every day carry. The Gerbers are all very prone to rust (?) and imo not the same quality as the Leathermans.
 
Right now I have a PST 2 and one of the old Gerbers. I've been waffling as to what I'd like next.

One other thing I forgot is the availability of a bit adapter for the Gerber. Not sure if those are available for the Wave or Swisstool yet.

Joe
 
There is no adaper for the LM Wave or Swiss Tool. Europeans can get the Swiss Tool with a seperate *L* driver though. I bought a Tool Adaptor for my LM Super Tool (fits the PSTs also) but never really used it. I think it defeats the overall purpose of a *pocket tool* IMHO. Although I can see how it would come in handy in certain situations. I do like Gerbers adapter fitting on the phillips if it still does that. Using the Leatherman adapter is cumbersome but effective.

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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb



[This message has been edited by David Williams (edited 29 October 1999).]
 
i own an original leatherman. can't tell you how many times my fingers have gotten bitten when the non-locking screwdriver has folded up on me
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this fact alone is making me want a new tool.

so am very glad to hear that the new gerber & the swisstool have locking 'drivers. i've handled the swisstool at a knife store, and it seemed stiff, enormous, and uncomfortable in my small hands. anyone have any opinions on how the gerber handles for us smaller folk?

i loved the build-your-own-tool site! i wish the tool choice was a little wider and more flexible--i have no use for a saw, but i'd love more 'driver heads integrated into the tool. i work on computers and my leatherman has opened more PC cases than i care to think about...i did notice that victorinox has a new "cybertool", i might have to look at that one.

my constant complaint with multitools is that not all of us who need such things have huge powerful hands...some of us have small, nimble hands.
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silverwing
 
OK I'll jump in as well. I have both the Swiss tool and the LM Supertool. I started carrying the Swisstool on a daily basis for reasons others have mentioned above. The one thing I did not like was that I have to use my keys to get the screw drivers etc out. But I liked the external tools enough to overlook the agrivation. Elk hunting this year I tried using the Supertool saw to remove elk legs (which I have done numerous times in the past) The kerf of the blade was too narrow and binded often. I ended up using a friends Wyoming saw to finish the job. On a deer I got this year I switched back to the SuperTool and had basically no problems(it did bind alittle on the forelegs so I whacked the leg with a knife and dented the knife... don't whack deer legs with knives) In the future the Supertool will go hunting and the Swisstool will be for work. I will have to check out the WAVE????


Pat
 
The coupon deal for new members at mercata.com on LM Wave is still (or again) available. They have a power-buy on it until 10/31. I ordered two today at an after discount price of $37 ea.

Cheers - Steve
 
Had the chance to use my SwissTool this past week changing my license plate on our car, seems as PA is replacing the very old yellow plates with newer ones. I found that with the large flat bladed screwdriver/prybar tool I could have the one handle at a 90 degrees and use that as leverage to remove the now rusted badly screws, handy tool, very handy. Of course my wife never seems to understand my incessant ranting about how nice it is to use good tools especially when they work as well as the SwissTool.

Anybody else have actual stories of using their multi-plier tool recently?

G2

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My mind is made up,
So don't confuse me with the facts!

www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html


 
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