THE Crunch Owners Thread

[Beerplumber]

Absolutley! Not so quick with the south paw yet...


Stay multi my friends

[Strangelovecraft]

I will no doubt be joining you soon... When I finally retired my beloved long-suffering PST last year, the Crunch was at the top of my list- vice grips were the only thing I ever really thought to carry in addition to a MT. in the end, though, I opted for a Surge, and I love it- all twenty pounds of it- but I STILL want a Crunch. I think it's a completely unique tool, and I don't want to miss out...

[David]

Absolutley! Not so quick with the south paw yet...


Stay multi my friends

 

I will no doubt be joining you soon... When I finally retired my beloved long-suffering PST last year, the Crunch was at the top of my list- vice grips were the only thing I ever really thought to carry in addition to a MT. in the end, though, I opted for a Surge, and I love it- all twenty pounds of it- but I STILL want a Crunch. I think it's a completely unique tool, and I don't want to miss out...

Hope you can get one soon. The Crunch is really a great tool.

[kd8fre]

I'm in with my contest winnings from the LTG Facebook page.  Just received it today!

Russ

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

My Crunch is officially part of my bike toolkit now...  As much as I like it, it really was the best use of it for me, rather than as an EDC tool.  Eventually I'll get another one to put in my rotation though.  They're just too good to have only one!

[mtool78]

Gotta love this powerhouse - I've been thinking that I should somehow test how strong these pliers are and took a bottle opener which is pretty solid built. Pic shows how it's shape changed after some pressing with only one hand - you know how Crunch has to be "bumped" little by little after adjusting the jaws. I also tried to do the same with full-size Swiss Tool, pressing with two hands and result was about one quarter of what Crunch managed to do. (..not comparing these tools - only for having a reference point  ) Anyway, it's amazingly strong tool for it's size.

[jwh]

My new Crunch arrived today and once again I am pleased with a Leatherman product. The only complaint I have is the nylon sheath is a bit loose fitting. Would I recommend it to others? Yes.

jwh

[Niro]

I just bought this brand new out of the box Crunch marked 0808 so it has been waiting a long time for me. It even came with the nice old leather sheet.


I look at the Crunch as a workshop, mechanics tool. It is not a tool i EDC carry for "just in case" it is a tool i would bring knowing i would work on something mechanic.

I have some small issues with it.
The wire cutters doesn't perform very well on soft wire or on electric wire, maybe i am doing it wrong. And compared to "normal" multitools it is more difficult to open, the pliers, as well as the inside tools. But once the tools are out they perform very well.
I think that after some practice the opening issue won’t be a problem any more.

The pliers are great for loosen and tighten nuts. They gives allot more torque compared to other pliers. I am also happy with the inside tools. Normally i don’t like the over load of flat-heads in most multitools. But on the Crunch i think they can be useful.
I even like the short stubby file and the serrated blades, off witch I normally isn’t a fan. But on the Crunch it feels just right, after al it is a heavy duty tool.


Over all i am very happy with the Crunch. With the Crunch in my pocket i feel confident walking in to a new room, knowing i can screw anything!

[airballrad]

Ah, I forgot. I joined a new club!

My Crunch came in a couple weeks ago. The casting date on both handles is 0911.   

[Smitty44]

Finally the proud owner of a new old crunch (0908),but had to have the sales clerk show me how to close it the first time.

[David]

Finally the proud owner of a new old crunch (0908),but had to have the sales clerk show me how to close it the first time.

Congratulations Smitty!      Now you can practice one hand opening techniques.     

[captain spaulding]

Im still trying to get my hands on one. Its number one on my LM list right now.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

My Crunch is awesome!  It's definitely a niche tool though, at least for me.  It's great for stuff you don't need to constantly grasp and release.  If you had to turn a nut or bolt in tight quarters, I don't think it'd be a good tool.  On the other hand, I've been tempted to EDC it, just because it is such a cool tool.   

I keep mine in my bike toolkit, as that's the place where for me, it'll be most useful. 

[Desmodromic]

Is the crunch ever made in BO? Would love one

[stealth007s]

I own one and I love it. I actually found mine on the ground next to my vehicle on our way into Iraq. It stays in the center console of my SUV. Handy dandy MT!¡!

[Desmodromic]

I own one and I love it. I actually found mine on the ground next to my vehicle on our way into Iraq. It stays in the center console of my SUV. Handy dandy MT!¡!

(Image removed from quote.)

You have a picture of that? Never seen a black oxide Crunch before

[stealth007s]

No, it's not BO. I was referring to the Crunch not the post you put up 

[theonew]

Yesterday I replaced the balancing springs in a window in my apartment. The clips are attached to a thick string and are under a lot of tension. I was able to get one attached using a Vic Spirit but not without getting a few cuts and scrapes. For the second one I extended the clip and then used the Crunch to clamp it off. Ahhhh, so much easier. Vise grip pliers expand the functionality of pliers to a great degree. Their functionality is really a multi-tool in and of itself

[colt 1911]

Can I be part of the group. Was giving this bad boy today. Soaked it in some dawn, cleaned up ok. Cool thing is I have already put it to work, the vise grips work better than I thought.

[Mercury]

Wow, what an awesome gift to get!

[Captain Crunch]

Greetings forum members. Although I'd like to own a Crunch,  I already EDC a new Charge TTI, which I love, by the way. So I can't see springing for the bucks for a Crunch too, as I already carry the equivalent extra tools found in that model. But I'd also like to have the vise grip capability on my person at all times. I hit upon the idea of acquiring a 4" Irwin 4WR Vise Grips, which are quite cheap at only $9 right now, and EDC that along with my TTI. Has this idea occurred to anyone else? It will just be loose in my pocket, or maybe in my jacket pocket during the upcoming cold months. Anyway it arrives in the mail tomorrow so I'm going to try it out. I don't think I'll be using it all that much but it would be nice to have in that odd situation where I need to hold something down.

[colt 1911]

Greetings forum members. Although I'd like to own a Crunch,  I already EDC a new Charge TTI, which I love, by the way. So I can't see springing for the bucks for a Crunch too, as I already carry the equivalent extra tools found in that model. But I'd also like to have the vise grip capability on my person at all times. I hit upon the idea of acquiring a 4" Irwin 4WR Vise Grips, which are quite cheap at only $9 right now, and EDC that along with my TTI. Has this idea occurred to anyone else? It will just be loose in my pocket, or maybe in my jacket pocket during the upcoming cold months. Anyway it arrives in the mail tomorrow so I'm going to try it out. I don't think I'll be using it all that much but it would be nice to have in that odd situation where I need to hold something down.

I think it is a great idea, I like the crunch a lot and have been trying to put in the edc but I always carry the wave. I will admit i needed it today over the wave.

[parnass]

.. I hit upon the idea of acquiring a 4" Irwin 4WR Vise Grips, which are quite cheap at only $9 right now, and EDC that along with my TTI. Has this idea occurred to anyone else?...

Welcome aboard.  I have a Crunch and several small and larger Vise-Grips.  I always carry a multitool and carried a small Vise-Grips in a jacket pocket for a while.

[AimlessWanderer]

Greetings forum members. Although I'd like to own a Crunch,  I already EDC a new Charge TTI, which I love, by the way. So I can't see springing for the bucks for a Crunch too, as I already carry the equivalent extra tools found in that model. But I'd also like to have the vise grip capability on my person at all times. I hit upon the idea of acquiring a 4" Irwin 4WR Vise Grips, which are quite cheap at only $9 right now, and EDC that along with my TTI. Has this idea occurred to anyone else? It will just be loose in my pocket, or maybe in my jacket pocket during the upcoming cold months. Anyway it arrives in the mail tomorrow so I'm going to try it out. I don't think I'll be using it all that much but it would be nice to have in that odd situation where I need to hold something down.

Welcome to the forum  I sometimes carry a 4" Vise Grip pliers with a Victorinox Yeoman instead of carrying a pliers based multitool. I've found that does work quite well for me, especially when you need pliers and drivers seperate (for holding a nut and turning a screw).

I don't own a Leatherman Crunch myself, but recently got myself a cheapo knock-off version to play with. Quality aside, I find it quite an odd tool to try and use and I've not really "clicked" with the concept of it. I find the Schrade ST6 a lot more intuitive, but of course they're discontinued and harder to lay your hands on. I've not tried the Gerber Grappler though 

[Mr. Whippy]

Although the Crunch is an easier pocket carry than the small ViseGrip, I think the small ViseGrip is a much better deal for the money.  If the file and knife were better or easier to use on the Crunch, I might feel differently, but aside from the locking pliers, all the other tools on the Crunch are definitely a compromise when compared to other full sized MT's.

[AimlessWanderer]

A lot more ergonomic to use the additional tools on the Crunch than on the Schrade ST6 too 

Having said that, as a "locking pliers with extras" I do prefer the ST6 overall. Not that I'm knocking the Crunch, but as the other tools are very much secondary and I'm unlikely to pocket carry either, I think I'd prefer to find the Vise Grips format in my toolbox/glove compartment rather than the Crunch 

I wonder how difficult it would be to talk Mat out of his 5WR.
He'll find another one easily enough I reckon

[captain spaulding]

Crunch in use. 

[stealth007s]

Crunch in use. 


(Image removed from quote.)

I've seen this image before but I don't recall where. Maybe a deja vu 

Oh yeah, HERE

 

So, I'm not going crazy after all  Or am I?

Again, GREAT work captain!¡!

[captain spaulding]

Nope not going crazy.    I just really like my Crunch. 

[Captain Crunch]

As I wrote here yesterday, I decided to try a small vise-grips tool as a substitute for a Crunch. I received my new Irwin 4WR Vise-Grips today, only $9.08 from Amazon, and free shipping with Prime! As you can see in the picture, it's about the same size, maybe a tad longer, than my Charge TTi. But it weighs far less, only 3.4 oz. versus the Charge's heavier 8.5 oz. I don't know what the Crunch weighs, but surely more than 3.4 oz. (I will carry one in each pocket, the Charge by means of its handy pocket-clip, and the Vise-Grips just loose).  I can get the jaws to clamp down to 1 inch work, but just barely. Should be good enough for most spur-of-the-moment tasks. It looks like a winner. Although off-topic, I included my other EDC's in the photo, my Aimkon iTP A3 EOS 96 lumen flashlight and my "Split-pea" lighter.