Just got a new charge tti today and have already have to send it in for repair the bridge on the guthook blade is cracked all the way through very dissapointed in such an expensive tool with such an obvious defect from the factory
I have owned an ALX, and from what I understand they have the same gut hook serrated blade. I used the crap out of that guthook with no signs of wear or breakage. Sounds like you have a rare problem with that bridge breaking. It seems that the QC at Leatherman has had some problems(I didn't start this thread Davek! ), but luckily for all of us their warranty is still top notch. I think they are starting to fix the problem, because my ST300 is stamped 0909, and it is flawless. What is the datestamp on your charge? All the Leatherman tools I had problems with were 08 models.
also as far as get a vic and never be dissapointed? Thats a crock! I have a spirit and i dont like the thing. The plier heads are too thick to be usefull as needlenose. The drivers are weaker and slippy.
the drivers are not as strong as LMs, ive twisted mine, and they twisted easy. Vic may have better qc than LM, but there tools are not as well thouht out as LMs. The drivers on my vic are no better than what LM had on their psts. I also dont like the pinned together construction.
Okay, a new debate!! At least we aren't arguing about plier heads. As far as LM parts being outsourced, I have to side with Jim Guy, I think they do outsource the plier heads, but only the casting part. The finish grinding is done in Portland. In fact, from what I've seen all their grinding is done in portland. As for the rest of the parts, I really have no idea. I would assume they outsource all cast parts, because it is cheaper to have a foundry do it than to do it yourself. And the driver debate. I can honestly state that the phillips driver is the main reason I don't carry a spirit. It slips and galls way too easily. I have a LM blast that has seen around 500 screws, and you can't tell a bit. In reality, Vic drivers don't hold a candle to LM drivers. They're pretty, but ineffective. Don't get me wrong, I love Vics like no other, but their drivers just don't cut it.
Quote from: jim guy on June 02, 2010, 05:38:56 AMthe drivers are not as strong as LMs, ive twisted mine, and they twisted easy. Vic may have better qc than LM, but there tools are not as well thouht out as LMs. The drivers on my vic are no better than what LM had on their psts. I also dont like the pinned together construction. I agree,LM have great drivers,but I can easily use ratchet with 1/4 beats and not abuse tool drivers.
Quote from: Mercury on June 02, 2010, 03:34:52 AMI have owned an ALX, and from what I understand they have the same gut hook serrated blade. I used the crap out of that guthook with no signs of wear or breakage. Sounds like you have a rare problem with that bridge breaking. It seems that the QC at Leatherman has had some problems(I didn't start this thread Davek! ), but luckily for all of us their warranty is still top notch. I think they are starting to fix the problem, because my ST300 is stamped 0909, and it is flawless. What is the datestamp on your charge? All the Leatherman tools I had problems with were 08 models.Yes,they "fix the problem",actually if they fix one problem the tool returns with another problem,and etc.
Quote from: CumminsDiesel on June 02, 2010, 05:58:33 AMQuote from: jim guy on June 02, 2010, 05:38:56 AMthe drivers are not as strong as LMs, ive twisted mine, and they twisted easy. Vic may have better qc than LM, but there tools are not as well thouht out as LMs. The drivers on my vic are no better than what LM had on their psts. I also dont like the pinned together construction. I agree,LM have great drivers,but I can easily use ratchet with 1/4 beats and not abuse tool drivers.The point of a MT is to carry less tools, why would you even carry a MT if you can just use the ratchet?Quote from: CumminsDiesel on June 02, 2010, 05:13:47 AMQuote from: Mercury on June 02, 2010, 03:34:52 AMI have owned an ALX, and from what I understand they have the same gut hook serrated blade. I used the crap out of that guthook with no signs of wear or breakage. Sounds like you have a rare problem with that bridge breaking. It seems that the QC at Leatherman has had some problems(I didn't start this thread Davek! ), but luckily for all of us their warranty is still top notch. I think they are starting to fix the problem, because my ST300 is stamped 0909, and it is flawless. What is the datestamp on your charge? All the Leatherman tools I had problems with were 08 models.Yes,they "fix the problem",actually if they fix one problem the tool returns with another problem,and etc.I must disagree with you here. As many readers on this forum know, I have had my share of complaints with LM products. But never, NEVER, have they sent me back a faulty product, and if they did, I would have the decency to send it back and not mention the flub publicly. Their warranty is one of the best, and out of all the companies I have bought things from(which is a lot), Leatherman "respects" the consumer the most by asking minimal questions and making your warranty experience very easy. They treat every warranty like it is completely their fault, IE even when you step on your multitool to test it and break the plier head.
From what I've read, Leatherman totally outsources most of thier manufacturing to an extent, with the plier heads being made in Mexico, and the files somewhere in Europe..
Sorry to hear about your damaged tool Hkk - sounds more like it got broken than a QC issue tbh - where did you get it from? I've not heard of a problem like that one before.Quote from: sergemaster on June 02, 2010, 04:56:43 AMFrom what I've read, Leatherman totally outsources most of thier manufacturing to an extent, with the plier heads being made in Mexico, and the files somewhere in Europe.. You should read more reliable sources Leatherman's plier heads are indeed now cast in Mexico, since the company they have always used moved there. There has been suggestion that some files were made somewhere in Europe, but I've yet to see any actual evidence of that as opposed to speculation. During the 1980s, some PSTs and Minitools were made in Japan. The vast majority of parts are manufactured, and all assembly of the tools takes place in Oregon.So any perceived "QC problems" are "Made in USA".