Hello all,<br><br><br>I am looking for a new multi-tool. I am switching brands. The problem is not with the quality of the tool, but rather a corporate policy with which I cannot abide. My present multi-tool is a Leatherman Wave. I love the thing and hate to replace it, but....<br><br>I've been a Leatherman user for 12 years now. I have zero experience with other brands. Any reccomendations?<br><br><br>Thanks and take care,<br><br>Andy

Oh do share! What policy? I want dirt dernit!

Andy,<br><br>Remember, most of all, it is ANDY'S MUTLTITOOL. You paid your own good, hard-earned money for it before they adopted whatever the policy is. You're not buying another new product of a company you despise. It was the right decision when you bought it. It is still a good decision & a good tool -- well almost as good as the Supertool anyway :-} . I wouldn't be surprised if I agree with you re their policy (whatever it is); but I'm not foresaking my Supertool (or Wave for that matter). BUT THEY'RE MY MULTITOOLS -- NOT LEATHERMAN'S! <br><br>I had the same problem when S & W made their deal with the devil, only much more so. But again, they're my guns -- not S & W's! And I have neither divested myself of any of their products or bought any of their new products. But, still, they're my guns. They were only manufactured by S & W. I bought them when they were still free from their original sin (of sorts).<br><br>And, again, as AndyO said, what is their new & intolerable policy. Who knows? Maybe they're still amenable to persuasion.<br><br>John

Oh please do share the gory details with us.......please!!!!!! I do not know what their new policy is but I have a Leatherman Supertool that my late father gave me in his death bed.....needless to say, that short of them condoning or commiting some atrocity, I will keep mine....it was my father's. But if you must.....then the only other brand I have is Victorinox....Doug has a review of it. I personally do not part with my Swiss Champ SAK. Please do share with us though...:-)

Ade,<br><br>I have used both Gerber and SOG multitools. My EDC used to be a Gerber 400 series tool, but I changed to a Wave last year. <br><br>The Gerber multitools (original, 400 and 600 series) are good tools but I replaced these as EDC primarily for the saw and superior file in the Wave as compared to the Gerbers. The best feature of the Gerbers is their ability to be opened one-handed. The Gerbers that I have do not have a saw. Also the new models have a substandard file. Try and find one with a file that is stamped with the manufacturer (Simonds or something like that). The Gerber nylon sheath flops around on the belt more than I like. The tool adaptors use a square Phillips shank on the tool as a driver and are a bit less useful than the Leatherman separate driver arrangement. Gerber is now owned by Fiskars so check out these fellows also.<br><br>My SOG multitool is a ParaTool. It has a unique folding arrangement that makes it very compact. I really have never liked it well enough to carry often, but it seems to be a capable and good quality tool. I have acquired more blood blisters opening this thing than any other tools I have ever used. It also does not have a tool adapter option.<br><br>I rank my multitools in order of usefulness and quality like this:<br><br>Leatherman Wave (decent file, saw, more flat screwdrivers than needed)<br>Gerber Original (good file, no saw)<br>Leatherman PSTII (diamond file, no saw)<br>Gerber 400 (good file)<br>Gerber 600 (crappy file)<br>Leatherman Juice CS4 (Small, saw, no file, nice leather sheath)<br>SOG ParaTool (Compact, Blist-O-Matic)<br><br>I decided that EDC required a decent saw and a file. Having a tool adaptor is also a requirement for me as most of my work "repairs" are something other than standard screwdrivers. I find my Victorinox SAK's to have superior saws, so if I decide to carry a Gerber I need to also carry a SAK. This makes the choice for me to be a Wave.<br><br>Good shopping and what is the Leatherman issue?<br>

Hi all,<br><br><br>First of all, I have no intention of getting rid of my three Leatherman tools. I'm going to keep using them until they break, and then I'm going to warranty them. What I am not going to do is buy anymore of them. I had planned to buy three this year, a backup Wave for me, and two as gifts. No more.<br><br>The policy I object is their adamant refusal to even provide a source for a driver that will fit the specialty fasteners that hold the Wave together. The handles on my Wave are loose. That's all, just loose. I am not going to part with a tool I use everyday for 3-4 weeks over loose handles, but I would like to tighten them. I find it ironic that a tool marketed to DIYs cannot, by company policy, be fixed or adjusted by anyone but the Leatherman Co.<br><br>Take care,<br><br>Andy

Schwert,<br><br>Thank you. I'll look into the Gerbers.<br><br>Answer to issue question in another post.<br><br>Take care,<br><br>Andy

Ade,<br><br>I finally found security hex bits to try and grind into a workable tool for the Wave 5 spline torx fastner. I will try this out this weekend if I get time and post the results. I am starting with a 3/32" security hex bit. If it works at all, I will send it to you. <br><br>This sort of security fastner drives me nuts also....not quite to the point of finding different tools....but close.<br><br>See this old thread:<br><br>http://www.equipped.org/wwwthreads/print...amp;type=thread

Schwert,<br><br>Thanks for the offer. I hope you succeed. <br><br>I found the company that makes the 5 spline security torx plus. I've ordered a catalog and fired off a pleasantly worded e-mail requesting info. I have no hopes; it seems like one of those deals where orders of less than "a very large number" will be ignored. We'll see and I'll let you know.<br><br>Thanks and take care,<br><br>Andy

www.brownells.com<br>they'll hook you up.

Often a "we're a small manufacturer of custom thingys and we are looking to improve our product with customization du-jour. We are considering replacing our screws with security screws that those stinking DIY'rs out there can't remove. We would like to consider you as a vendor of this tool but need a sample to ensure that the quality and usefullness of your tools is up to snuff. Could you please send us one to test and if we find it to be useful we will probably be placing an order of significant size in the near future to supply our production lines." ruse will shake one or two free from a supplier that only wants to sell in the 1000 lot. Of course this may be a difficulty to your integrity and may involve some uncomfortable phone conversations where you will have to support the ruse.

Mini, <br><br>Integrity? Integrity? I mislaid that years ago; I kept meaning to put a dummy cord on it, but lost it before I gotta round to it. <br><br>Seriously though, if my honest efforts bear no fruit, I'll Tom Sawyer someone into weaseling some out of the company that makes them.<br><br>Thanks and take care,<br><br>Andy

Hi AndyO,<br><br>Do you have a Brownells' part # for that? I would like to get one, wait two, well better make it three. ;^)<br><br>Dave

Could Leatherman's rigid policy be the result of product liability concerns ? Soon, even dirty looks will be grounds for lawsuits. _________________________________________________ PROVERBS 21:19

I am awaiting the delivery of a Swiss-Tech Mariner. By the time I can give a report on it, we will have all forgotten about this message thread. <br>

Dave,<br><br><br>Well, I have three viable multi-tools right now, an original LM, a Supertool and a Wave. It may be some time before I need a new one. Take your time.<br><br>BTW, I like your tag line, and I don't.<br><br><br>Take care,<br><br>Andy