Which Multitool ?

[sparkythecat]

I've had a Gerber 600 for about 7 years and it's now suffering wear and tear. I've broken the serated knife blade, the wire cutting blades despite having been sharpened no longer cut as clean as they once did and the flat blade screwdrivers have all been re-ground at least once.

I'm thinking of buying another one as I like the fact that you can open the pliers on Gerber tools with one hand.

However I wondered if anyone had any other recommendations?. My work means that the tool is in daily use and I've come to rely on it a great deal. This means that practicality and ease of use are the prime considerations, rather than what's deemed to be 'cool'.

[pic]http://www.tannersstorefront.com/secure/images/gerber/47540.jpg[/pic]

[markmullen]

I've got a Gerber Auto Recoil which allows you to open the pliers one handed, ideal if you're up a ladder or holding a torch. Seems a good bit of kit, pretty cheap too.

The Leatherman Ti looks pretty damn good if a little pricey, though it is made of titanium.

Some good deals on eBay too.

[polarbert]

auto express did a group test a couple weeks ago, they rated the leatherman mountain or something along those lines the winner

[sparkythecat]

markmullen said:

I've got a Gerber Auto Recoil

That'll be this one then.


Are those needle nose pliers or square jaw and how far to the jaws open?

I ask this as I understand that for instance the Gerber 800 plier jaws only open 15/16 of an inch whereas the Gerber 600 open 2 inches.

He says, trying not to appear anorakky


>> Edited by sparkythecat on Saturday 30th July 00:08

[andy mac]

Tne test I saw had the swiss army knife as the best, which surprised me a ot, but the bog downer was the fact that the tools do not lock. Best they said was the leatherman. Very close to the swiss, but the locking blades won it. The gerbers they found to lose their sharpness too quickly. Can't remember who did the test, but I remember being surprised the swissy did so well.

[mybrainhurts]

[andy mac]

mybrainhurts said:

[pstruck]

I have a Leatherman 'Wave' and it has been exceptionally good. The quality is great and mine is still like new after about four years.

It depends what sort of use you're likely to put it to. My brother-in-law has destroyed his, but then I think he tries to service his fleet of mechanical excavators with it!

[Zod]

I have lost three Leathermen to the security people at British airports. I forget they are in my bag and they take them "for destruction".

(I don't object the security, but it's just so inconsistent: you can buy razors or nail scissors at Boots airside or just use a broken bottle if you are a terrorist)

In Germany, they will hold it for you or post it.

[C C]

Zod said:

I have lost three Leathermen to the security people at British airports. I forget they are in my bag and they take them "for destruction".

How else would they end up on Ebay.

[sparkythecat]

andy mac said:

Tne test I saw had the swiss army knife as the best, which surprised me a ot, but the bog downer was the fact that the tools do not lock. Best they said was the leatherman. Very close to the swiss, but the locking blades won it. The gerbers they found to lose their sharpness too quickly. Can't remember who did the test, but I remember being surprised the swissy did so well.

From my point of view, the problem with both the swiss army knife and the Leatherman is that you neeed two hands to open them. Are Gerber the only ones that you can open one hande or are there others?

[princeperch]

leatherman without a doubt, we use all sorts of multi tools at work, and leatherman come out on top all the time.

check out ebay for some good prices

[paddy27]

I use a leatherman wave as well, cracking tools they are as well.
Havew had mine for a few years now still seems ok to.

[andy mac]

I used a leatherman for years when at sea. Never let me down, and the tools came in handy on several bad weather, slightly dodgy scenarios!

[parrot of doom]

I have a leatherman wave, its been pretty good (although it does require fingernails to get blades out).

The Gerbers look nice though.

[System-G]

Leatherman Wave here. Have used Leatherman for around 8 years (have had 2 - one was nicked). The last one has lasted me 6 years. I had a Gerber once - it lasted a week or two before becoming "un-usable"

[bga]

Leatherman tools are great!

My dad broke one after using it daily for 5 years, sent it back to leatherman & they replaced the blade for the price of postage.

[Wacky Racer]

Profile of Tim Leatherman here:-www.premierdirect.co.uk/leathermanmain.htm

[jimbeaux]

Oh my goodness; it's not made in China!!!

[popey]

Standing up for the other side, I use a Gerber Legend 800. Prefer it to my mates Leatherman.

Kelvin