Hi guys. Just a quick question: can I use the SwissTool's Drive Extension for my Leatherman Charge?
Quote from: an0nemus on September 27, 2017, 05:17:06 AMHi guys. Just a quick question: can I use the SwissTool's Drive Extension for my Leatherman Charge?I'm sad to say I don't think it would work. I can't confirm this as I don't have a Charge but Leatherman uses a bit extension that is designed to fit into their bit holder with the flatened sides. It works great that way and the knerling on its shaft makes it almost a stand alone tool.The Victorinox drive is a standard 1/4" hex and would not fit into Leatherman's bit holder. The Leatherman Bit extender can be used with the Victorinox ratchet or breakover though I would not advise it because there is a lot of play (slop) due to the flatened sides.Hope this helps.
I think Douglas is right... The main problem you face when you mix LM and standard 1/4" bits is that the LM standard has beeen derived from 1/4" by flattening the sides, so from an original hexagonal profile (six sides, six corners) LM has made a profile which has only two of the original corners left, the four others and most of the adjoining faces having fallen prey to the flattening. In addition, to compensate (as it were) and to enable reversible bits, the LM bits have a longer shaft (insertion) length. The thick end of the LM bit extender tries to take the best of two worlds. It has the 1/4" standard profile but the LM shaft length.This means:- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender fit in the LM bit holder fine, same profile and shaft length.- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender do fit in a 1/4" bit holder or extender (i.e. the Victorinox 1/4" bit holder or ratchet), however use only two of the corners and less shaft length than they are made for -> not a nice fit and not one I would trust with a lot of torque. Usable in a pinch though, but expect damage if overtorqued.- Standard 1/4" bits and the thin end of a 1/4" standard bit extender do not fit in the LM bit holder (obviously; wrong profile)- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender do fit into the the thick end of the LM bit extender. This is a bit of a compromise that LM has entered. The fact that only two of the corners are used for support is somewhat compensated for by the longer (LM) shaft length, although again I'd say the transferrable torque is somewhat limited with respect to standard 1/4".- Standard 1/4" bits or the thin end of a 1/4" standard bit extender do fit in the thick end of the LM bit extender but go in too deep due to the longer (LM) shaft length needing to be accommodated. (Some people insert a few 1/4" nuts to prevent this.)Note: there's also the Victorinox 4mm mini-bit standard, however this is excluded from the above.Edit: I see an0nemus has already responded - hope this still helps.
Quote from: Dutch_Tooler on September 27, 2017, 08:21:22 AMI think Douglas is right... The main problem you face when you mix LM and standard 1/4" bits is that the LM standard has beeen derived from 1/4" by flattening the sides, so from an original hexagonal profile (six sides, six corners) LM has made a profile which has only two of the original corners left, the four others and most of the adjoining faces having fallen prey to the flattening. In addition, to compensate (as it were) and to enable reversible bits, the LM bits have a longer shaft (insertion) length. The thick end of the LM bit extender tries to take the best of two worlds. It has the 1/4" standard profile but the LM shaft length.This means:- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender fit in the LM bit holder fine, same profile and shaft length.- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender do fit in a 1/4" bit holder or extender (i.e. the Victorinox 1/4" bit holder or ratchet), however use only two of the corners and less shaft length than they are made for -> not a nice fit and not one I would trust with a lot of torque. Usable in a pinch though, but expect damage if overtorqued.- Standard 1/4" bits and the thin end of a 1/4" standard bit extender do not fit in the LM bit holder (obviously; wrong profile)- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender do fit into the the thick end of the LM bit extender. This is a bit of a compromise that LM has entered. The fact that only two of the corners are used for support is somewhat compensated for by the longer (LM) shaft length, although again I'd say the transferrable torque is somewhat limited with respect to standard 1/4".- Standard 1/4" bits or the thin end of a 1/4" standard bit extender do fit in the thick end of the LM bit extender but go in too deep due to the longer (LM) shaft length needing to be accommodated. (Some people insert a few 1/4" nuts to prevent this.)Note: there's also the Victorinox 4mm mini-bit standard, however this is excluded from the above.Edit: I see an0nemus has already responded - hope this still helps.Thanks for expounding Dutch_Tooler. Its hard for me to fully comprehend by text so I also searched for image of both extenders and found this. Now I completely understand what you and Douglas said.(Image removed from quote.)One on left is for Leatherman, one on right is for SAK
Quote from: an0nemus on September 27, 2017, 02:55:00 PMQuote from: Dutch_Tooler on September 27, 2017, 08:21:22 AMI think Douglas is right... The main problem you face when you mix LM and standard 1/4" bits is that the LM standard has beeen derived from 1/4" by flattening the sides, so from an original hexagonal profile (six sides, six corners) LM has made a profile which has only two of the original corners left, the four others and most of the adjoining faces having fallen prey to the flattening. In addition, to compensate (as it were) and to enable reversible bits, the LM bits have a longer shaft (insertion) length. The thick end of the LM bit extender tries to take the best of two worlds. It has the 1/4" standard profile but the LM shaft length.This means:- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender fit in the LM bit holder fine, same profile and shaft length.- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender do fit in a 1/4" bit holder or extender (i.e. the Victorinox 1/4" bit holder or ratchet), however use only two of the corners and less shaft length than they are made for -> not a nice fit and not one I would trust with a lot of torque. Usable in a pinch though, but expect damage if overtorqued.- Standard 1/4" bits and the thin end of a 1/4" standard bit extender do not fit in the LM bit holder (obviously; wrong profile)- LM bits and the thin end of the LM bit extender do fit into the the thick end of the LM bit extender. This is a bit of a compromise that LM has entered. The fact that only two of the corners are used for support is somewhat compensated for by the longer (LM) shaft length, although again I'd say the transferrable torque is somewhat limited with respect to standard 1/4".- Standard 1/4" bits or the thin end of a 1/4" standard bit extender do fit in the thick end of the LM bit extender but go in too deep due to the longer (LM) shaft length needing to be accommodated. (Some people insert a few 1/4" nuts to prevent this.)Note: there's also the Victorinox 4mm mini-bit standard, however this is excluded from the above.Edit: I see an0nemus has already responded - hope this still helps.Thanks for expounding Dutch_Tooler. Its hard for me to fully comprehend by text so I also searched for image of both extenders and found this. Now I completely understand what you and Douglas said.(Image removed from quote.)One on left is for Leatherman, one on right is for SAKYou are exactly correct. I too have seen that set up in some of my searches. I wonder how it worked out as an EDC and if it's still in use how much has it changed? Good research.
Beautiful pic DT!!
Great pic Poncho!!
Awesome!!!
I have both, Bill, and the difference is in the feel of the Swisstool. It's almost like the difference between a custom knife vs a production model. I love them both and both have their advantages, but the Swisstool feels like it's forged out of solid stainless.
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