SAK Combo Tool or Fish Scaler - If you could banish one to oblivion?

[Steinar]

The most important use of the fish scaler is removing the cellophane (or plastic which feels similar) wrapping from newly bought DVDs and CDs quickly without scratching the actual DVD cover. As all of this is moving over to the network, the fish scaler will have to look for new focus areas.

[strmliner]

The combo tool is great!
The fish scaler works for those that want it.
The hook is worthless...I'd vote to remove it from our lives!

[Caranthanus]

 

[Aerocap]

The hook is very useful. It's always good to have something to pull when you have no grip, bicycle chain, tent pegs, barbwire, stucked zipper, wire through a narrow spot or as hot pot lifter, grill grate and to hold the little pen under it to write :-)

[Subterranean]

1) Combo tool alone is a very good tool, especially when you realize all the functionality you get in a single tool place. If I can choose, I prefer the separate openers, but I still find the combo tool surprisingly capable for a single tool. I've used both versions of combo tool (84mm and 91mm) and IIRC the 91mm version feels a bit bigger and more convincing  . However, I would like to finally lay my greasy paws on a Wenger combo tool - I never had one and according to the pictures on the Net it seems a bit bigger and potentially better than the Vic one...? Okay, you would lose the "wanna-be-Phillips-screwdriver" functionality of the Vic combo tip, but nonetheless...



2) The hook is awesome. Period. Since I bought the Climber, the hook became one of my favorite tools on SAK. I've used it countless times.

3) Fish scaler - I don't do fishing so I could only use it as a basic ruler. So this would be my least used tool. 

--

There is a tool I would definitely like to see more often on a SAK - a "technician" fine screwdriver, beacuse of its long reach. 

[Subterranean]

Oops, we necrobumped this thread 

[gene stoner]

My three favorite SAK'S have those tool's on them. So no hands off my combo tool, scaler and hook. These SAK'S would not be what they are without these tool's.

[gene stoner]

And the fish scaler works as a range finder.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,62121.0.html

[firiki]

The hook is very useful. It's always good to have something to pull when you have no grip, bicycle chain, tent pegs, barbwire, stucked zipper, wire through a narrow spot or as hot pot lifter, grill grate and to hold the little pen under it to write :-)

Welcome to the forums  I like the hook very much myself, too.

Have you seen this thread yet? http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,66478.msg1276099.html#msg1276099

[firiki]

My three favorite SAK'S have those tool's on them. So no hands off my combo tool, scaler and hook. These SAK'S would not be what they are without these tool's.

You know, the Hunter is a very interesting model 

[firiki]

1) Combo tool alone is a very good tool, especially when you realize all the functionality you get in a single tool place. If I can choose, I prefer the separate openers, but I still find the combo tool surprisingly capable for a single tool. I've used both versions of combo tool (84mm and 91mm) and IIRC the 91mm version feels a bit bigger and more convincing  . However, I would like to finally lay my greasy paws on a Wenger combo tool - I never had one and according to the pictures on the Net it seems a bit bigger and potentially better than the Vic one...? Okay, you would lose the "wanna-be-Phillips-screwdriver" functionality of the Vic combo tip, but nonetheless...

(Image removed from quote.)

2) The hook is awesome. Period. Since I bought the Climber, the hook became one of my favorite tools on SAK. I've used it countless times.

3) Fish scaler - I don't do fishing so I could only use it as a basic ruler. So this would be my least used tool. 

--

There is a tool I would definitely like to see more often on a SAK - a "technician" fine screwdriver, beacuse of its long reach. 

(Image removed from quote.)

I'm sure you'll find some ideas on how to use the fish scaler in this thread 

[cody6268]

Combo Tool--works when the tool needs to be a layer thinner, or when another tool's in the place of the can opener or bottle opener, like on the Hunter and Equestrian.    Doesn't need to go. 

Fish Scaler, don't know if anyone uses it as intended.    I use the disgorger on the end to straighten model car axles--best non-purpose built tool I've found for the job.  I use the ruler frequently.  And did I forget to mention it's an awesome back scratcher?

Hook--I use it a lot for pulling stakes, carrying haybales, tightening shoelaces, you name it.  Of course, my EDC SAKS mostly lack them because it's not offered in 74mm, 93mm, or 111mm, and my Craftsmen are both pre-hook models (mid '70s, and '87 to '91), but it comes in handy when I need it.


I say none of these tools need to be removed from the lineup.

[gene stoner]

My three favorite SAK'S have those tool's on them. So no hands off my combo tool, scaler and hook. These SAK'S would not be what they are without these tool's.

You know, the Hunter is a very interesting model 

Thanks, the camo ones from back in 08 have a back side Phillips  instead of CS. Makes the Hunter just a little more useful.

[hiraethus]

I want to change my vote.  Stupid combo tool, needs to be consigned to room 101.  Fish scalers FTW.

[magentus]

I want to change my vote.  Stupid combo tool, needs to be consigned to room 101.  Fish scalers FTW.

Care to explain why H? Having had no experience with the combo tool it's always interesting to hear others opinions.

[hiraethus]

It's a weak pry tool, a poor screwdriver, a bad can opener and a terrible knife.  Ok, it's quite a good bottle opener, but everything has got a bottle opener on it these days.

[magentus]

It's a weak pry tool, a poor screwdriver, a bad can opener and a terrible knife.  Ok, it's quite a good bottle opener, but everything has got a bottle opener on it these days.

My R2D2 figure hasn't got a bottle opener on it. I'm just saying.

[hiraethus]

 

[magentus]

(Image removed from quote.)
 

My keks haven't got a bottle opener on them.

[hiraethus]

 

[magentus]

(Image removed from quote.)
 

Not my keks. And that is a picture of a bottle opener.
My Cheese sandwich for lunch doesn't have a bottle opener.

[gene stoner]

I want to change my vote.  Stupid combo tool, needs to be consigned to room 101.  Fish scalers FTW.

The combo tool open cans (not as good as a Vic can opener but better then a rock and a screwdriver) opens bottles turns screws and stips wire. That's a lot for a small piece of metal. For it's size it offers a whole lot of usefulness.

[strmliner]

(Image removed from quote.)
 

       

[strmliner]

I want to change my vote.  Stupid combo tool, needs to be consigned to room 101.  Fish scalers FTW.

Wow H, can you tell us how you really feel!   
But leave my combo tool alone...for the minimalist fuller-sized SAK, it does many jobs just fine..in fact, it's great!   

[Anbaric]

I have the Cybertool 41, which includes almost every worthwhile tool except either of these two, and is as close as you can get to the Swisschamp without a fish scaler. In fact, I haven't yet bought a genuine SAK with this tool, so it seems a little unfair to judge it, though I can't see myself ever actually scaling fish with a multitool. On the other hand, the ruler would be handy, and the SwissChamp seems like an inevitable future purchase (well, I haven't got a knife with the magnifier...). I prefer the separate opener tools to the combi tool, but then it does make possible the Waiter, currently my EDC for peeling fruit and opening things, and all the knife I need for lunch or a picnic in a tiny package. So that brings us to the parcel hook, something I've never missed on my pre-hook Huntsman or ever found a use for on the Cybertool. Out with it!

[jerseydevil]

I'm sure I posted in this thread when it first came around, but I'm too lazy to look for my reply.   IMO the Combo tool's biggest failure is that it's too thin to use as a prybar like the regular flat SAK driver. It's not a bad can opener, and I think it's a better bottle opener than the standard tool. That being said, I love my Compact for light EDC.  The fish scaler's best use is as a fork to steal french fries from coworkers. It also has a use as a GPPT (General Purpose Pokey Thing).......

[strmliner]

I'm sure I posted in this thread when it first came around, but I'm too lazy to look for my reply.   IMO the Combo tool's biggest failure is that it's too thin to use as a prybar like the regular flat SAK driver. It's not a bad can opener, and I think it's a better bottle opener than the standard tool. That being said, I love my Compact for light EDC.  The fish scaler's best use is as a fork to steal french fries from coworkers. It also has a use as a GPPT (General Purpose Pokey Thing).......

GPPT?....   

[jerseydevil]

Hell yes! There are times when nothing but a GPPT will do!

[AmberDragon]

The forked end on the fish scaler is also great for guiding a string with a magnet tied on the end so that you can drop it straight down on a set of keys that just got kicked into a storm drain. 

[firiki]

I want to change my vote. Stupid combo tool, needs to be consigned to room 101.  Fish scalers FTW.

It's never too late to repent, my child. Your will is noted but the voting is closed now so only those reading the scriptures will know the truth about you. To be honest, those are the ones that matter so I think you should feel good about it.

Show content

I'm feeling kinda silly today.