kc2ixe: I do work with very small wire, and now that I think about it I have ran into a situation or two where I couldn't grip it well with a LM. Looking at the way my TTi works, though, they close completely at the tip, so I imagine I could get the job done by relying on the tip to grip. Isn't that enough?

Usually when I'm working with stuff that small I have dedicated tools available and use a smaller tool. I recently found some some small needlenose pliers that have smooth faces (no serrations) and I prefer to use them when soldering. I'm always afraid of damaging the wire with the serrations.

I don't expect my multi-tools to be able to do everything... I would say that 75% is pretty good, and with my Charge TTi I feel that it's at about 90% and I think that's exceptional.

I'm looking for item 1, willing to give up on #2 and #3

I agree, I'll stick with number 1

I agree that a multi-tool does not NEED to be perfect - however, when you're reviewing it, I think it's fair to point out it's shortcomings, so someone who wants to make differnt compromises CAN

To give you an idea - I'll use knives as an example

I break knifes down into multiple classes - with some overlap

1)BIG fixed blades
2)Small fixed blades - bird and trout type etc
3)Dress folders
4)EDC folders - heavy use

I have NO want of anything in category #1

In category #2, I can hand you a mid sized drawer full of them, none of which thrilled me - till I had a custom made - the custom is nice, and the closest I've got to my vision - I think the only way I'll get EXACTLY what I want is to make my own - I've made 3, and still don't have the perfect knife YET (the custom is still better, so)

In Category 3 - after 20-30 knives, I finally found one that makes me perfectly happy - once I get it engraved, I'll never have to spend another dime in the category - and the engraving will WAIT

In category #4 - another pile of 10-20 knives, ranging from cheap, to knives that if I were to sell right now, I'd get in the very high 3 figures - not ONE of which is exactly what I want - some are darned close - close enough that it took 5-6 years for me to get fed up with it

I'm willing to keep looking, and searching - I really think my dream edc MIGHT be an early Talonite Medium TnT - so long as it does NOT have a recurve blade

So - where does the TTi fit - as a knife replacement - I'm willing to give up on the perfect knife to get the rest of the tool for EDC - but it has to be "great" - I'm NOT sure if this is quite good enough - but it's close, even with it's problems. Do I say "it's bad" - no. Is it good enough? Maybe - but right now - lets say "it's a Mercedes-Benz" - but I'm really looking for a Maybach or a Bugatti Veyron

That wasn't my quote, it came from Glock-A-Roo. I view multi-tools as convenience items; I expect every tool in there to be compromised in order to fit. When I want the right tool I look at my garage tool box. I use a multi-tool to do things "quick and dirty", understanding that if I had the right tool or set of tools I could do it better.

I've got at least a half dozen pliers alone. Screwdrivers with short shafts, long shafts in straight and philips. One set of screwdrivers just for works on guns designed to not strip out the slots. The primary goal of a multi-tool is convenience, it's effective if you carry it. As for actually doing a job designed for a real tool, it just needs to be okay. A multi-tool will never replace a tool box, so I see getting to a 7-8 out of 10 rating to be a huge accomplishment.

That said, the files suck, they should sub out the files to Nicholsen. I like that they went to S30V for the main blade, but I'll never use that blade anyway so why bother.