Multitool.org Forum

Tool Talk => General Tool Discussion => Topic started by: DIYMultiTool on July 12, 2012, 08:05:34 AM

Title: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: DIYMultiTool on July 12, 2012, 08:05:34 AM
Is the Gerber Carbide harder?  Cheaper to repace?

Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: MultiMat on July 12, 2012, 02:13:01 PM
Pretty sure 154cm would not do this  ::) :D
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/Gerber%20Cable%20Cutter/S6303615.jpg)

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/Gerber%20Cable%20Cutter/S6303616.jpg)

Gerber's carbide cutters are hard but brittle. The wire I was cutting was thick & hard though , in most circumstances Gerber's cutters would be fine.

Both are replaceable so give em both a go  :pok: :pok: :D :D
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: parnass on July 13, 2012, 12:54:12 AM
Interesting. .... I've seen other reports of the Gerber carbide cutters shattering.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Syph007 on July 13, 2012, 01:18:50 AM
Ya Ive heard nothing good about the carbide cutters.  Yes they are replaceable, but you dont want to have to replace them all the time.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: jzmtl on July 13, 2012, 01:32:53 AM
I think people are mistaking the purpose of the carbide cutters, they aren't meant to cut thick wires, too brittle for that as mentioned. Rather they are meant to cut thin/stranded wires and stay sharp, thus performs better in long term.

As an example, I dented my dedicated side cutter cutting fishing leaders (the wire loop on end, which is thin and hard), but the carbide cutter on my MP600 handled many of these without a hitch.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: DIYMultiTool on July 13, 2012, 03:31:53 AM
Pretty sure 154cm would not do this  ::) :D
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/Gerber%20Cable%20Cutter/S6303615.jpg)

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/Gerber%20Cable%20Cutter/S6303616.jpg)

Gerber's carbide cutters are hard but brittle. The wire I was cutting was thick & hard though , in most circumstances Gerber's cutters would be fine.

Both are replaceable so give em both a go  :pok: :pok: :D :D

Excellent pics :salute:
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: cj1984 on July 14, 2012, 03:14:25 PM
I agree with jzmtl. I use the carbide cutters everyday at work cutting 1, 1.5 & 2.0mm household wire. I've never had them shatter, only become dull.

I bet leathermans version would not shatter, but I believe it would leave a dent in the cutter if trying to cut thick wire shown in the picture by DIYMultiTool.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: MultiMat on July 15, 2012, 09:25:28 AM
I agree with jzmtl. I use the carbide cutters everyday at work cutting 1, 1.5 & 2.0mm household wire. I've never had them shatter, only become dull.

I bet leathermans version would not shatter, but I believe it would leave a dent in the cutter if trying to cut thick wire shown in the picture by DIYMultiTool.

The wire was 2mm thick & it was hard. The previous day I had used the same carbide cutters to cut the same wire when I was hanging some palms & it did the job. The following day the cutters seemed too break when the wire separated suddenly & caused the cutters too shatter.

I did a experiment at the time with my Leatherman Surge's hard wire notch & it had no problems cutting the same wire & I also tried my SOG PowerAssist & it cut the same wire incredibly easily(compound leverage is a hell of a thing). The wire was too thick/hard clearly for the Gerber Carbide Cutters but no problems for the LM & SOG  :think: :think: . The Gerber cutters have the advantage of having X3 cutting edges so you can rotate the triangle cutters around when the edge becomes dull  8) 8) & they are simple enough to replace which I did & my MP600 lived to fight another day  8) just not cutting 2mm+ hardened wire  ;) :D
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Dunc on February 05, 2013, 12:21:00 PM
Whats the quality of the threads like on the Gerbers plier head, will they stand up to many cutter changes or is it easy to strip the threads.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Breezy12 on February 05, 2013, 05:02:58 PM
I agree with jzmtl. I use the carbide cutters everyday at work cutting 1, 1.5 & 2.0mm household wire. I've never had them shatter, only become dull.

I bet leathermans version would not shatter, but I believe it would leave a dent in the cutter if trying to cut thick wire shown in the picture by DIYMultiTool.

Leatherman's 154CM replaceable cutters also include a hard wire notch at the base.  I've cut some thick stuff (see my avatar for an example, lol), and there's hardly a scratch on the cutters.  I bought a replacement set awhile back, but I have a feeling I won't be needing them anytime soon.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Monrogue on February 05, 2013, 06:05:54 PM
Does anyone know if the cutters on the Rebar are 154CM steel, or something else?  I believe on Leatherman's site they are listed as "premium steel", yet the Supertool 300's are listed as the 154CM.  Just curious :)  I haven't done any serious cutting with them as I haven't had a need to do so. 
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Breezy12 on February 05, 2013, 06:54:45 PM
they are listed as 154CM for the Rebar as well.

http://www.leatherman.com/product/Rebar

also, the 154CM replacement cutters fit both the ST300 and the Rebar.  :)
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Monrogue on February 05, 2013, 07:29:55 PM
they are listed as 154CM for the Rebar as well.

http://www.leatherman.com/product/Rebar

also, the 154CM replacement cutters fit both the ST300 and the Rebar.  :)

That's interesting...I could have sworn it said premium steel :think:  I haven't visited the Rebar page in a while there though.  Maybe they updated that info when they added the BO Rebar pics?  Those weren't originally there either.  Thanks for the answer Breezy :salute:
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Breezy12 on February 05, 2013, 07:58:23 PM
That's interesting...I could have sworn it said premium steel :think:  I haven't visited the Rebar page in a while there though.  Maybe they updated that info when they added the BO Rebar pics?  Those weren't originally there either.  Thanks for the answer Breezy :salute:

no problem, Monrogue!  :salute:  I actually remember the page saying "premium steel" as well... maybe that was back before they finalized certain aspects of the design?  :think:  in any case, I'm glad they stuck with 154CM -- I haven't had any problems with the cutters on my ST300, and those ones have been abused much more than the cutters on my ReCharge.  ;)
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: DaveK on February 05, 2013, 08:07:26 PM
no problem, Monrogue!  :salute:  I actually remember the page saying "premium steel" as well... maybe that was back before they finalized certain aspects of the design?  :think:  in any case, I'm glad they stuck with 154CM -- I haven't had any problems with the cutters on my ST300, and those ones have been abused much more than the cutters on my ReCharge.  ;)

154CM IS a premium steel isn't it? I've always regarded it as one anyway!!
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Monrogue on February 05, 2013, 08:18:24 PM
That's interesting...I could have sworn it said premium steel :think:  I haven't visited the Rebar page in a while there though.  Maybe they updated that info when they added the BO Rebar pics?  Those weren't originally there either.  Thanks for the answer Breezy :salute:

no problem, Monrogue!  :salute:  I actually remember the page saying "premium steel" as well... maybe that was back before they finalized certain aspects of the design?  :think:  in any case, I'm glad they stuck with 154CM -- I haven't had any problems with the cutters on my ST300, and those ones have been abused much more than the cutters on my ReCharge.  ;)

Ok good, so I'm not crazy then...either that or we both are ;)  I wonder if the first few "batches" of them may not have been 154CM?  Otherwise one would think the specs would have listed them as 154CM instead of just "premium".  I got mine this past summer when they were still somewhat new.  Either way they've worked fine for my use, which typically isn't anything too heavy duty.  Oh and I love that ReCharge :drool:  Good job with that :tu:  I really like the Rebar's pliers as they just have a look of extra toughness or ruggedness to them.  I wouldn't mind a ReCharge myself if I had the extra Rebar to sacrifice as I would still want my Rebar to keep it's pliers. 

Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: scrappy on February 05, 2013, 08:21:08 PM
Interesting. .... I've seen other reports of the Gerber carbide cutters shattering.
I had one that was shattered, came that way used. I also have a friend who was trying to cut zip ties with his at work and it was too dull. It just spread the pliers apart. So I tend to think the gerber cutter is not as good as leatherman but I could be wrong. I was able to cut the zip ties for him with my swisstool.
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Breezy12 on February 05, 2013, 08:31:39 PM
Ok good, so I'm not crazy then...either that or we both are ;)  I wonder if the first few "batches" of them may not have been 154CM?  Otherwise one would think the specs would have listed them as 154CM instead of just "premium".  I got mine this past summer when they were still somewhat new.  Either way they've worked fine for my use, which typically isn't anything too heavy duty.  Oh and I love that ReCharge :drool:  Good job with that :tu:  I really like the Rebar's pliers as they just have a look of extra toughness or ruggedness to them.  I wouldn't mind a ReCharge myself if I had the extra Rebar to sacrifice as I would still want my Rebar to keep it's pliers.

thanks!  the ReCharge was a fun project.  :)  I still have a couple tweaks I'd like to experiment with -- just need to find some time.  but I know exactly what you mean; I waited until I could grab an extra Rebar because I didn't want to sacrifice my only one.  ;)

and since the cutters are the same ones used on the ST300, I would imagine they have been 154CM the whole time, even on the first production models.

154CM IS a premium steel isn't it? I've always regarded it as one anyway!!

Dave -- no argument here!  :)  I love 154CM steel, especially the Crucible blend that Leatherman uses.  it's absolutely a premium steel in my book.  I was just referring to the semantics used -- saying "premium steel" leaves a bit of ambiguity, whereas if they specifically state "154CM steel", you know exactly what you're getting.  ;)
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: Monrogue on February 05, 2013, 09:49:28 PM
Ok good, so I'm not crazy then...either that or we both are ;)  I wonder if the first few "batches" of them may not have been 154CM?  Otherwise one would think the specs would have listed them as 154CM instead of just "premium".  I got mine this past summer when they were still somewhat new.  Either way they've worked fine for my use, which typically isn't anything too heavy duty.  Oh and I love that ReCharge :drool:  Good job with that :tu:  I really like the Rebar's pliers as they just have a look of extra toughness or ruggedness to them.  I wouldn't mind a ReCharge myself if I had the extra Rebar to sacrifice as I would still want my Rebar to keep it's pliers.

thanks!  the ReCharge was a fun project.  :)  I still have a couple tweaks I'd like to experiment with -- just need to find some time.  but I know exactly what you mean; I waited until I could grab an extra Rebar because I didn't want to sacrifice my only one.  ;)

and since the cutters are the same ones used on the ST300, I would imagine they have been 154CM the whole time, even on the first production models.


I bet it was.  I'd love to be able to get into modding as I think it would be a hobby I would really enjoy, but I'd need lots of MTs/SAKs with which to experiment as I wouldn't want to destroy my own :ahhh 

Good to know they are the same cutters as the ST300, I didn't know that.  So I would assume they would also be 154CM as you stated.  Good to know in case I do ever need to cut something harder than string or soft wire.  I find that the Rebar cutters work fine as scissors if you are simply snipping a loose thread, clothing tags or anything like that :tu:
Title: Re: Leatherman 154CM Removable Hard-wire Cutters vs Gerber Carbide?
Post by: David on February 06, 2013, 06:19:03 PM
no problem, Monrogue!  :salute:  I actually remember the page saying "premium steel" as well... maybe that was back before they finalized certain aspects of the design?  :think:  in any case, I'm glad they stuck with 154CM -- I haven't had any problems with the cutters on my ST300, and those ones have been abused much more than the cutters on my ReCharge.  ;)

154CM IS a premium steel isn't it? I've always regarded it as one anyway!!

Dave I still consider 154CM a premium steel as do most people. I guess some folks may not consider it a premium steel since it is not the latest powdered steel from CPM or CTS ect..     :)