Quick thoughts on the Gerber Dime

Mr. Whippy · **on:** March 20, 2012, 08:31:12 PM

I've had it a couple days now and have been giving it the once over.

Here are some thoughts in no particular order:

1. The scissors seem like they the Wenger scissor without serrations. They work great. Much better than the old Squirt scissors or Juice scissors.

2. The bottle opener is fantastic. I thought it might snag in a pocket, but actually the shape seems to prevent that

3. The blade is super. Much nicer than the chisel ground generic drop point-ish blade on a Squirt.

4. The package opener is excellent. It cuts baling twine really well too.

5. The flat driver is short but stout and has enough thickness to be useful.

6. The 2D Phillips/file is a little silly. Not enough file to really be useful. The 2D driver is only a little better than the corner of the flat driver.

7. The pliers are slick! The tip is very precise. Almost surgical in precision. The spring action is excellent. (I hope the backsprings are up to the job...

)

8. I almost missed the tweezers. They are also very Wenger-like

9. The split ring seems pretty flimsy. I don't think I'm going to trust it.

Overall, this is a serious contender to the Squirt and Style CS tools.

This is the nicest offering I've seen from Gerber in a while. It's going into EDC rotation.

Gareth · **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:44:58 PM

Arrrrgh! I want my Dime NOW!

Happily it's winging it's way across the pond as we speak.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2012, 01:46:37 AM

DON'T USE THE WIRE CUTTERS!!!

That happened cutting ONE STRAND of #12 solid core copper wire.

Syph007 · **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2012, 01:48:10 AM

Seems we have a verdict on the non spring tempered spring then.... its not a spring!

badwolf · **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2012, 02:49:11 AM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on March 21, 2012, 01:46:37 AM

DON'T USE THE WIRE CUTTERS!!!

(Image removed from quote.)

That happened cutting ONE STRAND of #12 solid core copper wire.

that's not good, if any more go like this, you'll need to do a group return

Gerber need to know

jzmtl · **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2012, 03:04:28 AM

Woah, if it's steel wire I can understand, but copper?

Definitely subpar heat treatment, should've snapped before bending that much.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:45:33 PM

I've sent an email off to Gerber to let them know about this situation. I can't say whether they will respond to us or whether they will do anything about it, but I would suggest that anyone who breaks their Dime should contact customer service and find out how to make a warranty claim.

Gerber's warranty department has looked after everyone so far and I doubt they will let anyone down now.

Def

Carlos · **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:01:16 PM

Eh, I'm feeling a little embarrassed here, but what's wrong on that picture? What happened to the tool when the wire was cut?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:03:58 PM

The loop in the left is what's left of the backspring.

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

angusW · **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2012, 02:17:50 AM

I got my two today and I have to agree 100% with your list Mr. Whippy. I was testing the scissors out, cutting some paracord and it went through it pretty easily even though they are a bit small. I then tried cutting the paracord with the scissors on my Wingman and they didn't work half as well. I was going to put beer in the fridge today but forgot so haven't tried the bottle opener but it looks like a win. The pliers are really nice for more delicate work.

But to be honest, I wouldn't have cut #12 wire with this regardless if it's copper or not. I think the biggest wire I would attempt to cut with the Dime is #14. After all, this is a keychain tool. Even a Leatherman 300's wire cutter isn't any match for a proper set of linesman pliers, never mind the Dime.

Again, you have pretty much summed up my thoughts on this little guy. I've put one on my normal keychain and the other on my work keychain.

Chako · **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:19:21 AM

I agree. I just got mine yesterday.

One thing I should mention, this is way smaller than I thought it was going to be. Gerber's smallest plier based pocket MT to date.

scrappy · **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2012, 04:16:14 PM

The features look impressive!

sawman · **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2012, 04:37:10 PM

I'll pretend for a minute I never heard about its faulty wire cutter back spring... It seems a little pricey at $14.47 on Amazon for what it is

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2012, 06:35:35 PM

Quote from: sawman on March 24, 2012, 04:37:10 PM

I'll pretend for a minute I never heard about its faulty wire cutter back spring... It seems a little pricey at $14.47 on Amazon for what it is

For something with more features than a PS4?

Def

scrappy · **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2012, 07:00:16 PM

I think they are a bargain. Stylish and the implements are thought out and useful from what I hear

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2012, 07:22:23 PM

If the cutters weren't crap, it would be a strong candidate for MT of the year, IMO.

jerseydevil · **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2012, 01:46:13 AM

My Dime saw a fair amount of use today, everything except the wire cutters. I have to say that I like it a lot. The flat screwdriver is a nice useful size, the blade and scissors are pretty good, and the pliers are useful for small jobs, including cutting zip ties, which it handled with no problem. The package opener was effective even on some plastic that was pretty thick, and the tweezers pulled a splinter out of my finger with no problem. I figure that if I need to be cutting wire I won't use the Dime, but that's not something that comes up for me during the day. Come to think of it, I've never used the wire cutters on ANY of my tools to cut wire.....In that case, the Dime is a winner in my book.

clickstop · **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2012, 03:43:01 AM

Hey guys, just a question for those of you who already have the Dime -- how big are the pivots on it? 1/8 like the Squirts? Just wondering, I'd never heard anyone talk about it

Carlos · **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2012, 05:07:05 AM

Is it just me, or the blades -- both the main blade and the package opener -- come almost factory blunt?
I mean, the main blade struggles to cut the typical slice of paper, and I can safely slide my finger thru the edge without cutting my self. I don't remember getting anything with such a bad factory sharp.
I also got a little disappointed with the blade geometry overall.

The good news is that the wire cutter survived on a hard 1mm diameter paper clip.

padowser · **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2012, 03:06:30 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on March 20, 2012, 08:31:12 PM

8. I almost missed the tweezers. They are also very Wenger-like

Tweezers!!!???

When I read this last night, I had to go out to the truck and pull mine out of my fishing vest. It still took me a while to find them.

Thanks....I would never have known.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2012, 03:29:30 PM

Not a bad pile of tools for a Dime huh?

Def

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2012, 03:25:14 PM

I've been looking at mine more closely since the weekend (I stowed mine away till Gareth took his from the pile), and I'm really liking it ... but not loving it ... yet

The features on paper are WAY better than those on the Squirt series in my opinion. The overall appearance is better, & the individual components seem better with the exception of the Phillips driver maybe. As regards the build quality, I'm torn between the Dime and the Squirt. The Dime does not walk and talk smoothly, and all three of mine (one of each colour) vary between components as to what's smooth opening and what's stiff. That said I only ever had two Squirts and both of them had smooth operation including the blades smoothly slapping into the aluminium scales on closure

and the file one one being smooth where it shouldn't have been $:-\$

I'm thinking about adding one of them to my gadget cluster which hangs off my CRKT Li'l Guppie (my Stainless Wenger Pocket Tool Chest that lived there has gone walkabout - brilliant little SAK, hope it turns up

) and see how it fares ... I just keep forgetting to attach it

The only use they've seen so far is decapitating beers and opening a clam shell pack

I'm hoping the operation gets smoother with use, else it could get a little annoying depending which tool I carry and which implement I need. I also need to modify the tip of the Phillips slightly to try and get it to act as a mini flat driver for my glasses. Overall I'm happy so far, just not quite as happy as I could have been. That said, even with the minor whines, for the money I paid (thanks again Travis) it's an exceptional little tool.

Not worth UK retail prices ... but then no tools are generally

Gareth · **Reply #22 on:** April 12, 2012, 06:35:41 PM

Having been fiddling with mine for the last few days the tools do seem to be 'settling in' and do seem to feel better than the first time I played with it. I agree that the Phillips feels a little rough around the edges, I suspect that's due to the fact Gerber are trying to cram that file on there and so the normal finishing would also make the file smooth. Pure speculation on my part though. Sadly the scissors on mine aren't great; for one thing the tips don't actually meet. $:-\$ Happily the other three I looked at are better so it doesn't seem to be an issue with the design.

Given that I paid around £13 for this I'm perfectly happy with this little guy, if I'd paid full UK RRP I doubt I'd be so happy.

ToolingAround · **Reply #23 on:** April 15, 2012, 06:58:07 PM

Hey Guys

I mostly just read through these forums. ( great info, always)
I picked up a Dime, great selection of tools. In design I think it tops the Squirt series but the build quality on mine is lacking.

My biggest beef with the dime I have is that every time it is opened to use the pliers, the handle scales rake each other. Not just removing the black finish but actually removing material off the scales, its to the point now were it has dug in so deep it has created some sharp edges on the scale.( not a nice feel when your multitool grinds its self when you open it )

The main blade cant cut paper it's so blunt, the package opener is nice and shape but has lots of play up and down, like its not in contact with the back spring.
The rest of the tools snap open nicely.

The main blade I can sharpen no big deal, the rest of the tool to me is just ok.
And a little weak feeling. I've had it for a week or so and I've already tossed it to the side and picked my squirt back up.
I had high hopes for the Dime and some other Gerber multitools but build quality just kills it for me.

Not the best picture, sorry.

scrappy · **Reply #24 on:** April 15, 2012, 08:07:35 PM

Mine does not do that but it has its own imperfections
that is the problem outsourcing production.

Woz · **Reply #25 on:** April 15, 2012, 09:30:33 PM

I like my Dime, I think it is one of the best keychain tools so far. I still prefer the Crosscut, but my Dime seems to be better than all tiny LM tools I owned so far, and WAY better then older Gerber keychain tools.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #26 on:** April 16, 2012, 02:28:39 AM

I liked the Clutch- it may not have been the best put together tool out there, but I did like it better than the Squirt series, which for some reason has never really appealed to me. This is probably the first keychain tool I've liked as well as I like the Micra- high praise indeed as I LOVE the Micra.

Def

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2012, 04:19:54 PM

True to their word, Gerber sent me a prepaid mailer and my damaged Dime is headed back for repair/replacement.

Excellent customer service.

Lynn LeFey · **Reply #28 on:** April 18, 2012, 05:29:40 AM

This is very cool to hear.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #29 on:** April 28, 2012, 07:26:07 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on April 17, 2012, 04:19:54 PM

True to their word, Gerber sent me a prepaid mailer and my damaged Dime is headed back for repair/replacement.

Excellent customer service.

Update time: I have my new Dime in my hand! I'm going to carry it for the next little while and see where it fits in my EDC. No heavy gauge wire cutting for me however.

Thanks so much Gerber!

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