Gerber Dime is here

[JNieporte]

I received another Dime (again, in red) from a guy who knows I'm into multi-tools. I traded him for a used Micra. His Dime was green, but I only saw it; didn't get the chance to examine it. My thoughts on the new one:

-The pliers don't line up on this one either. When closed, they easily flex side-to-side. The tips aren't even, so I used a file to make them flush. Now that they're flush, they've lost some of the precise point.
-The package opener required a full resharpening. It dulled (to a level requiring resharpening) after using it on eleven blister packages.
-The tools are a bit looser in this one, so no busting my fingernails.
-My previous Dime didn't have the "when opening, the handles rub together, shearing the finish and metal away" and neither does this one. Cool.
-The blade came dull and required sharpening. After using only notebook paper as a medium, it required resharpening (it tore the paper instead of slicing) after 73 cuts.
-The scissor spring doesn't jump over the moving arm in this one. Instead, the entire scissor assembly flexes side-to-side when slight pressure (the amount of pressure for making a cut in notebook paper) is exerted.

Again, I'm not happy with the Dime. I've had Swiss+Tech tool that are cheaper and better-made. IDL makes better tool at cheaper prices. I could understand excitement over a new tool, especially one that's been described as "The Squirt Killer" (On YouTube) and uses many similar comparisons, but not if the tool is functionally defective. It looks like Gerber improved the grinding handles and maybe straightened out the scissor spring issue (maybe the first one I got was an early one?) but there are still problems.

[JNieporte]

Received Dime #3, this one in green. My ten-year-old daughter got this one by trading in some old SAKs at the local knife shop. She said I could talk about it on here, but I'd have to give it to her.

-The tools are all easier to open.
-The Torx screws turn, but they're LocTited or something, because I need another Torx driver to hold the other side still. Loosening the screws doesn't seem to improve the stiffness of the tools.
-The pliers meet evenly, and there's no play. The teeth are ground nicely.
-The blade and package opener came dull, but were easily sharpened.
-The handles on this one do grind, causing wear on the finish.
-The scissors are just as wobbly as before, and don't open as far as those on my red Dime.
-This Dime came with a very flimsy split ring. A $0.16 fix, using the spare from a SAK Classic.

Once more, the Dime is unimpressive. I like the blade shape and grind, but the steel could be better. I really like the bottle opener. I don't drink, and will likely never use this to open a bottle, but it seems very nice for prying. The package opener seems like a good idea to some, but not to me. If I'm relying on a keychain tool to open blister packages, I've been using my Vic Classic for years with no problem. The blade and scissors both work very well, and I've never thought "I really need a small, sharpened hook to open this". It's easy enough to not damage the product you're trying to get out. I wish the package opener were left off and the open space used for a proper file. Like the PS4. I'd be okay with a Squirt PS4 price (around $24) if the Dime were improved. Make the blade 420HC, improve the scissors, fix the handle rub, make the file better, and it's great.

*I've handled all three Dimes now. The red and green are the same thing, except for color. I handled the black one at my local Dick's Sporting Goods, and decided not to buy it after noticing the grinding that the black coloring causes. The black one also showed signs of losing its finish, just from opening and closing. I'd say pick a color, red or green, if you really want a Dime. I'll post photos below for future reference.

[JNieporte]

There have been many good comparisons between the Dime and PS4; this isn't intended to be one. This is more of a focus on the Dime.



Green Dime's plier tips. No problem...


Red Dime's plier tips, after filing down the faulty tip. This shouldn't have been necessary...


Green Dime's jaws. Sloppy, but they do grip...


Red Dime's jaws. Sloppy, but again, they work...


I know I said earlier that the teeth are ground nicely, but I was looking at the black handle side. Apparently, the colored sides are mis-ground on both of mine.

The scissors, both sides. Those black specks (you can see them on the green Dime) are on both scissors, red and green, but I don't know what they are...


The drivers, showing both sides...


When the Dime is closed (when you can apply the most torque), driving capabilities with the small driver are severely limited because the bottle opener is in the way...


The blade, again, shown from both sides. I find that when using the blade, the bottle opener likes to dig into my ring finger...


The chisel-ground package opener. Again, the bottle opener likes to dig into my finger when using this...


Showing the well-known rubbing handles...


After only three opening-and-closing cycles, it looks like this...

[N_N_R]

Thanks for the awesome pictures! I was considering the Dime once, then I went for the Squirt PS4 ... it seems I did the right thing.

[Grant Lamontagne]

That depends on who you talk to.  My PS4 is blah at best and I really like the Dime.  Where JNieporte says he finds the bottle opener digs into his fingers I say I like the extension of the handle.  Where he says the file is blocked by the bottle opener I say it's ok because the file on the Dime sucks just as bad as the one on the PS4 anyway.

It's all a matter of personal taste- I like the Dime better, some other folks like the Squirt and others don't like either. 

Def

[50ft-trad]

Thanks for the awesome pictures! I was considering the Dime once, then I went for the Squirt PS4 ... it seems I did the right thing.

I agree with Grant. My P4s are not great, and my Style PS just broke on the scissors same as yours  My Dimes are better than my Squirts - better in quality, and better for me too. It seems there is no right answer other than what is best for you ... and how lucky you are to get a good one or bad one

[Syph007]

It also seems first impressions are based on if your tool has any imperfections too.  I didn't like the PS4 at all, but still love the older P4 so much I bought 4 as 'backup'.  I haven't tried a Dime, but don't 'need' one so I haven't bothered.

[JNieporte]

...Where he says the file is blocked by the bottle opener I say it's ok because the file on the Dime sucks just as bad as the one on the PS4 anyway.

It's all a matter of personal taste- I like the Dime better, some other folks like the Squirt and others don't like either. 

Def

I don't like either, to be perfectly honest. I prefer the Squirt more, but I'll stick with my Juice CS4 over either of them. Slips right into the pocket.

And yes, both files suck.

[Grant Lamontagne]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

[JNieporte]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

[50ft-trad]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

Needs scissors ... 

[JNieporte]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

Needs scissors ... 

You've got teeth, right? A 16d nail with a sharp point? A neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser cutter that you can stow in your pants pocket?

Scissors 

[50ft-trad]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

Needs scissors ... 

You've got teeth, right? A 16d nail with a sharp point? A neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser cutter that you can stow in your pants pocket?

Scissors 

[adfel]

A Nd-YAG-Laser that fits in my pocket?
Check.



I still need a holster for the heavy duty version and I must say that the anodization could be better…



(I'm working on bringing both lasers back online)

I don't trust the pliers on the dime. They might be longer and open wider but for me strength and durability are more important. I think the rivet on the dime will become loose much faster as it will experience greater force.

[Steinar]