Broken Sog S63 Powerlock

[Rayman]

I received my SOG S63 Powerlock about 2 weeks ago. I decided to use the pliars last week for the first time. I was bending a wire and did not use much force. I was being cautious with the tool as it was new and I did not want to break it. Nonetheless the pliers snapped! 

If you look at the place where it broke, there is a grainy type of metallic material. I thought these were supposed to be solid steel? It looks like a weak low quality material inside. What do you guys think it could be? 



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What do you think this metal is made of or how could it have broken so easily? Could it be a one in a million defect in the manufacture or batch?

I have used SOG knives before and found them to be great and long lasting. I am very dissapointed with the quality of this item. I have sent it back for a replacement. I hope the replacement is of a stronger better quality steel and that the same thing does not happen again.

The quality of some of the tools inside the SOG S63 do not match the quality of the knives it seems.

[MultiMat]

That is no good at a mate  .
I hope you have better luck with the replacement.
I am not sure about the metal , I am sure someone here will shine some light on it.

BTW G'day too you Rayman  impressive first post 

[thebullfrog]

A Powerlock is the only multi I've ever broken, and it was easy to do. I was disappointed enough that I never got it fixed or bought another one. However mine was near the tip, which actually made some sense. Breaking it down at the base like that without much force is DEFINITELY a fluke. SOG's aren't made near that badly lol. Absolutely an odd and unusual defect there.

[valvestem125]

It looks like nothing more than cast metal.  Which I am sure all multi-tool plier heads are made from these days.  It's probably just too expensive to drop-forge anything anymore, except single use tools that are priced accordingly.

You may have received a tool that was improperly heat treated which led to it's failure.  If so, you won't be the only one to suffer a failure.

[thebullfrog]

I should note that my break looks exactly the same. And yeah, I'm pretty sure I read someplace that they are cast.

[Chris@SOG]

Inserting my two cents here.

Send it in for repair.  All of our tools have a lifetime warranty.

As for how they are made.  Yes, they are cast 420 stainless steel. 

[Sean]

Welcome to the forum btw. 



There you go Chris from Sog taking care of you!  
It can happen it did to me a couple of years back and I broke my Leatherman Surge
pliers in the same place as yours.  Good companies have good warranties.  

[DaveK]

Inserting my two cents here.

Send it in for repair.  All of our tools have a lifetime warranty.

As for how they are made.  Yes, they are cast 420 stainless steel. 

Just to add for Rayman's benefit ('cos Chris will know this already), that most, if not all of the better known multis plier heads are cast these days, including Leathermans'.

Looks like you just got a dodgy casting Rayman, and that's what the warranty's there for. Still bad luck though

[AHB]

Bummer..  But I'm sure the replacement will be top notch.. 

Btw, Welcome to MT.O Rayman.. 

[thebullfrog]

SOG does have great cust. service. When I needed a replacement pocket clip for my Flash II a couple years ago they sent me like 4 of the things lol. When I broke my Powerlock's saw by using it to pry up my fuel pump, I had no problem just buying a new one since it was my fault and they treated me so well before. I wasn't happy with how easily I broke my old Powerlock, but I know I could have (and still could really) have them take care of it. I just didn't like the tool enough to really bother. One of these days I'll get the newer model that addresses most of my complaints (clumping, gear covers being the big ones). Flukes do happen which yours quite obviously was (probably mine too for that matter), and a decent company will take care of it. SOG has an awesome warranty and service.

[J-sews]

Much as we all love our multis, the fact is that a cast stainless steel multitool plier head will NEVER be as strong as the drop forged carbon steel head on a regular set of pliers.

[ryan1835]

Much as we all love our multis, the fact is that a cast stainless steel multitool plier head will NEVER be as strong as the drop forged carbon steel head on a regular set of pliers.

yep unfortunately your always get the odd imperfection in castings still its a cheaper way to do it :/

[thebullfrog]

Yep, exactly. Although the only tool I've personally broken was a Powerlock, I've seen it with pretty much every brand. Gerber, LM and although to my knowledge the only reported Vic plier breakage was the guy that was welding with it, I'm sure there's plenty others that have broken. Shyt happens, what matters is if the company will stand behind the product and make up for those flukes.

[Rayman]

Thanks for the welcome guys - great to be on the forum. There are lots of interesting knife/tool discussions here.

I am pleased that SOG are going to replace the tool for me. It was most likely a fault with that particular one. If the pliers have those 2:1 gears for extra strength, then doesn't it increase the chance of breaking the pliers?

How much extra would it cost if the pliers were made much stronger by using a different method of manufacture? It seems strange that the pliers are geared to increase the strength yet the bottle neck is the strength of the pliers metal. One would expect something like the gears to break before the actual pliers metal.

If SOG could make the pliers super strong so that the gears are the weak-point, then they would indeed have the strongest multitool on earth.

[DaveK]

How much extra would it cost if the pliers were made much stronger by using a different method of manufacture? It seems strange that the pliers are geared to increase the strength yet the bottle neck is the strength of the pliers metal. One would expect something like the gears to break before the actual pliers metal.

If SOG could make the pliers super strong so that the gears are the weak-point, then they would indeed have the strongest multitool on earth.

To be fair, even with cast pliers and the compound leverage, they aren't known for breaking and are thought of as being tough tools. I'm sure you got a dud, and that the replacement will be better

[Rayman]

I am pleased that SOG have sent me a brand new S63 today  . It arrived right at my door  .

I am not sure how careful I should be with the pliers though.... but time will tell

Thanks again SOG, and I'll be ordering a knife from you guys soon - maybe Tomcat 3.0.

[MultiMat]

GO hard Rayman give it hell 

Good news hope you have more luck with your new one mate.



I do like the look of the big Tomcat  , not really in my price range though 

[valvestem125]

Great news you received your replacement today.  Be careful "breaking it" in.

[sawman]

It sounds like a fluke to me, I'm glad they took care of you. I didn't care for the older PL myself but have been admiring the newer versions. The customer service you received encourages me to get one.

[Gadget Guy]

Yep, it sounds like a heat treat issue to me. Even the best companies in the world have heat treat issues from time to time. 

[nuphoria]

Hope the new one works out better for you

I love my SOGs... the plier head shape is nice too.