Post by funkenstein on Jan 27, 2006 17:36:25 GMT -5
Well, as an avid collector of pointy things, I happen to pick up a bunch of multi-tool type knives. They're useful little buggers, always handy to have around (unless you're in an airport, then check them into baggage). Here's a lowdown of some of them.
Leatherman PST- the original multi-tool. Has multiple screwdriver tips (including a philips, which always is handy), knife, file, can opener, pliars (duh) and a wire cutter. Useful for basic jobs that aren't too strenuous, but if you have to grip too hard, you will rip the hell out of your hand on the edges of the tool. Lightweight and small, a good thing to have in a glove compartment for emergencies. One annoying thing about the first Leathermans were that all the blades came out whenever you pulled on one (unless you tuned it), requiring you to pick through it. No longer made.
Leatherman Super Tool 200- an improvement on the original multi-tool, with a longer grip for more leverage (which means you can mess your hand up that much more, the edges are still exposed), and the addition of a saw, a serrate knife blade and a crimping spot on the pliars. A bit more useful and rugged than the original PST, but still with the same failings. Another fault with the original line of Leatherman tools is that none of the blades lock, so you have to be careful when using them, otherwise you can really do a job on your fingers.
No longer made.
Leatherman Wave- a very neat little tool that's a little bit bigger than the original, but with MANY more useful features. The large cutting blades are now on the outside, in recesses on the grips, and lock into place (no more cutting fingers). The edges of the tool are now rounded off so that you don't cut off circulation trying to use the pliars. Also, they've improved the bushings so that you can pick out one tool at a time. Plus you've got options to add a bit driver for multiple screwdriver tips. Very handy.
Gerber 600 Multi-Plier@ 600 bluntnose- a basic, run of the mill multitool, with all the requisite doodads (though no scissors). Gerber always builds a solid knife, and these are a fine example. A few nice features about Gerbers are that the pliars are one handed opening, with solid locks, and you grip on the flat of the case (not the open inside). This allows you quick, comfortable access to your tool, and means you don't tear the poo out of your hand when gripping. I've beaten up mine so much, I basically just use it when I'm doing construction so I don't screw up my other tools.
Gerber Multi-Plier@ 600 Fisherman- I actually don't fish, but this is still probably my favorite tool. It's got all the doodads, plus a few extra. The pliers are extended needle-nose, allowing you to get into hard to reach places to pick up those vitally necessary parts that always drop. The wire cutters are hardened carbide, and are replaceable, allowing you to chop stuff other than copper, and fix any nicks without replacing the whole knife if you try something too hard. They've also got these nifty little scissors by Fiskars that will cut just about anything (I cut out shapes in a cardboard box with them without too much effort).
SOG Power Pliar- Similar in build to a Leatherman, but with an added feature of an interlocking gear arrangement that allows it to fold out one handed, and gives some extra grip leverage. It also uses hex bolts to hold everthing together, so it can be taken apart for maintenance easier. This one suffers from the common failings of hand grip cutting when using the pliars and no locks on the blades. I use this one as a spare when I can't find my others.
Anyways, I've found that multitools are handy, but cannot replace dedicated tools. They are a jack of all trades, master of none, and way easier to carry than a tool box. In a pinch, you can even replace a muffler with two of them and some rags to wrap your hands.
Leatherman PST- the original multi-tool. Has multiple screwdriver tips (including a philips, which always is handy), knife, file, can opener, pliars (duh) and a wire cutter. Useful for basic jobs that aren't too strenuous, but if you have to grip too hard, you will rip the hell out of your hand on the edges of the tool. Lightweight and small, a good thing to have in a glove compartment for emergencies. One annoying thing about the first Leathermans were that all the blades came out whenever you pulled on one (unless you tuned it), requiring you to pick through it. No longer made.
Leatherman Super Tool 200- an improvement on the original multi-tool, with a longer grip for more leverage (which means you can mess your hand up that much more, the edges are still exposed), and the addition of a saw, a serrate knife blade and a crimping spot on the pliars. A bit more useful and rugged than the original PST, but still with the same failings. Another fault with the original line of Leatherman tools is that none of the blades lock, so you have to be careful when using them, otherwise you can really do a job on your fingers.
No longer made.
Leatherman Wave- a very neat little tool that's a little bit bigger than the original, but with MANY more useful features. The large cutting blades are now on the outside, in recesses on the grips, and lock into place (no more cutting fingers). The edges of the tool are now rounded off so that you don't cut off circulation trying to use the pliars. Also, they've improved the bushings so that you can pick out one tool at a time. Plus you've got options to add a bit driver for multiple screwdriver tips. Very handy.
Gerber 600 Multi-Plier@ 600 bluntnose- a basic, run of the mill multitool, with all the requisite doodads (though no scissors). Gerber always builds a solid knife, and these are a fine example. A few nice features about Gerbers are that the pliars are one handed opening, with solid locks, and you grip on the flat of the case (not the open inside). This allows you quick, comfortable access to your tool, and means you don't tear the poo out of your hand when gripping. I've beaten up mine so much, I basically just use it when I'm doing construction so I don't screw up my other tools.
Gerber Multi-Plier@ 600 Fisherman- I actually don't fish, but this is still probably my favorite tool. It's got all the doodads, plus a few extra. The pliers are extended needle-nose, allowing you to get into hard to reach places to pick up those vitally necessary parts that always drop. The wire cutters are hardened carbide, and are replaceable, allowing you to chop stuff other than copper, and fix any nicks without replacing the whole knife if you try something too hard. They've also got these nifty little scissors by Fiskars that will cut just about anything (I cut out shapes in a cardboard box with them without too much effort).
SOG Power Pliar- Similar in build to a Leatherman, but with an added feature of an interlocking gear arrangement that allows it to fold out one handed, and gives some extra grip leverage. It also uses hex bolts to hold everthing together, so it can be taken apart for maintenance easier. This one suffers from the common failings of hand grip cutting when using the pliars and no locks on the blades. I use this one as a spare when I can't find my others.
Anyways, I've found that multitools are handy, but cannot replace dedicated tools. They are a jack of all trades, master of none, and way easier to carry than a tool box. In a pinch, you can even replace a muffler with two of them and some rags to wrap your hands.
