Leatherman Charge TTi question

Mercury · **on:** March 17, 2010, 02:17:10 AM

I am in the market for a new LM, and I am looking hard at the charge tti. Does it come without cap crimpers or is that standard?

DaveK · **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:19:25 AM

The TTi has the crimpers.

If you really can't live with them, you need the AL, SLV, or the retired Ti.

If you can put up with my boring commentary - this'll explain it all for you

Mercury · **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:23:39 AM

What do you recommend in this MT category? I have been on a swisstool spirit spree lately, but I see a lot of guys speak volumes about the LMs lately. I have owned a Blast, Wave, and Surge, as well as a PST, sideclip, juice, and skeletool. I didn't care for my wave but I think I got a lemon. The surge I am actually considering again.

DaveK · **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:30:41 AM

Well, the Charge is basically a premium Wave, so it might not be for you.

For me however, the Charge TTi is the best multitool ever made by anyone, and it's been my favourite tool since the day I got my first one. Every other tool I own comes up short in some (often trivial) way, and nothing so far has tempted me to change - and I've tried a few

What was wrong with your Wave that makes you think you got a dud?

jim guy · **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:32:05 AM

put a wave plier head on it like i did mine.

DaveK · **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:35:53 AM

I actually have found that the crimper has come in useful a few times, mostly for cracking pistachio nuts that haven't popped properly

Mercury · **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:38:46 AM

I ended up going with a Charge ALX for one reason. I need two bit drivers. I work at a Hotel in security, and I am responsible for the door lock maintenance. I have modified a t20 security bit in the past to fit a LM bit driver in my skeletool, and it got me out of more jams than I can count. I can handle the cap crimper because it is always nice to have a crimper of some sort on you.

My wave's blade had no detent: it would open every time I twisted the tool while using the screwdriver.

DaveK · **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:42:14 AM

Oh yeah, your Wave was very ill then, and needs to go back for repair - that shouldn't be happening.

The need for two bit drivers makes your choice easy then - congratulations. I'm sure you'll love it

jim guy · **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:44:09 AM

I like the dual bit drivers also, nice to have phillips and a flat at same time.

DaveK · **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:49:18 AM

I always like the option of scissors, so the XTi / ALX are the Charge models I never really do anything with. My "prettiest" Charge is an XTi though - a Cabela's Seclusion 3D version which is one of the favourite tools in my collection

jim guy · **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:53:30 AM

would it be possible to put scissors in a alx? In place of the mini driver or can opener.

Mercury · **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:56:10 AM

Yea, I hope this will help reduce the amount of crap I carry at work. The T20 security is what holds our door locks together, and being caught without it is not good. Being spring break here, many door locks have malfunctioned at the wrong time, leaving me in a pickle. I had to send my Maintenance guy on a quest to find the right bit in a hurry. The ALX should help me. Thanks for all the quick answers guys!

Mercury · **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:57:13 AM

Quote from: jim guy on March 17, 2010, 02:53:30 AM

would it be possible to put scissors in a alx? In place of the mini driver or can opener.

That's actually a great idea. Maybe my blast will donate it's scissors to the cause...

If I do that mod, I will post pics.

DaveK · **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:58:04 AM

Hmmm - I've not tried it, but looking now, it may be possible.

jim guy · **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:59:06 AM

yes please let me know if it works, i will do that mod too.

DaveK · **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2010, 03:03:18 AM

I might have a go at it - but not tonight.

You don't take a Charge apart lightly - you can be there for bloody hours trying to get the damn thing back together again!

jim guy · **Reply #16 on:** March 17, 2010, 03:07:18 AM

im looking at it now, i think it will work. Think ill have a go at it.

Mercury · **Reply #17 on:** March 17, 2010, 03:08:00 AM

Sounds like you guys will get a go at it before I do, let me know how it works!

jim guy · **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2010, 03:09:30 AM

looks like it should work in place of the mini driver, i never use it any way.

jim guy · **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2010, 03:14:17 AM

needs a thin spacer to replace the mini driver, works in place of the can opener though. Looks like i will have dual bit drivers and scissors!

Mercury · **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2010, 03:55:30 AM

Awesome! how do you take apart the charge? are the posts screwed on or cemented?

jim guy · **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2010, 04:35:36 AM

yes they have red loctite on them. I use two kick pocket clips for spanners. As soon as i get back on a computer ill put some pics up.

Mercury · **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2010, 04:48:19 AM

Quote from: jim guy on March 17, 2010, 04:35:36 AM

yes they have red loctite on them. I use two kick pocket clips for spanners. As soon as i get back on a computer ill put some pics up.

I don't have the kick pocket clips, but I will be ordering them.

cerbera147 · **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2010, 10:51:26 AM

***Stupid question alert***

What are the cap crimpers actually for? Apart for pistachio cracking

If you're going to say cap crimping I will need more info please

jim guy · **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2010, 12:56:47 PM

c4 explosives

Mercury · **Reply #25 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:01:30 PM

Not a stupid question at all!

I didn't know until someone told me!

I think they are kind of silly to put on a civilian tool, they should really be on a specialty tool like the MUT and nothing else. It's like putting a bore punch on a skeletool, not everyone who owns a skeletool is a shooter. I really like the charge(alx for me) but I am not a demolitions expert therefore I will likely never put the cap crimpers to their intended use, however I will use them to crimp electrical connections at the house. And break open pistachios!

DaveK · **Reply #26 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:13:02 PM

They do seem to be an odd addition those crimpers, unless you eat lots of pistachios of course.

Seriously, they can work for electrical "spade" connectors, as I have a couple of times. They are also a good way of holding SAK bushings when reassembling modified SAKs btw - Quite useful if you're all thumbs like me

ryan1835 · **Reply #27 on:** March 17, 2010, 10:45:13 PM

Quote from: DaveK on March 17, 2010, 05:13:02 PM

They do seem to be an odd addition those crimpers, unless you eat lots of pistachios of course.

Seriously, they can work for electrical "spade" connectors, as I have a couple of times. They are also a good way of holding SAK bushings when reassembling modified SAKs btw - Quite useful if you're all thumbs like me

but to use them for crimping it does take alot of force

DaveK · **Reply #28 on:** March 18, 2010, 05:14:12 PM

It does

Mercury · **Reply #29 on:** March 18, 2010, 05:25:31 PM

Does it take a lot of force to crimp ring terminals and butt splices or is it just hard to crimp C4 caps? I do some electrical work here and there, so it would be nice to be able to crimp smaller connections with my leatherman without worrying about crushing them.

Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.

Leatherman Charge TTi question

Donations

Community Links