Advice/Suggestions for EDC multi-tool

[sawman]

If you feel those size pliers are suitable for your needs then I can vouch the vic pliers are awesome.  Check out all their models with pliers and see what you think is best.  Thanks to Benner I'm still wanting a CT34

[Benner]

Get one 

I like X-tracts too so get one of those as well 

[rp252]

Get one 

I like X-tracts too so get one of those as well 

And post lots of pictures! 

[Mercury]

If you feel those size pliers are suitable for your needs then I can vouch the vic pliers are awesome.  Check out all their models with pliers and see what you think is best.  Thanks to Benner I'm still wanting a CT34

CT34 is the bomb!  Now I want another!

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Wow... lots of info... thanks again for the suggestions.

I've been looking around some more, and saw the review here on the Gerber Crucial.  Looks like a nice little tool, but it would be nice to have some more extras.

Fine tipped pliers are an absolute necessity for me... those dang little thorns here are simply insidious... if you don't get every last bit of one out, you'll get another slow leak in a matter of hours from them.   

I'll have to check into the Wengers; I've got a Victorinox Ranger (I think that's what it's called anyway) and I really like the locking blade, but it doesn't have the pliers, so that's why I've been carrying my SwissChamp.  I'm a cub-scout leader and used it this weekend at a campout event to make a firebow, spindle, and hearthblock for the Outdoorsman activity I lead for the boys in attendance.  Handy to have to cut a slot into the hearthboard for the the embers to come through... LOTS easier than trying to carve one with the knife blade...  Anyway, point is I was looking at a Victorinox Hercules, but was hoping to find something a little smaller/lighter.  Darn shame you can't custom order a swiss army knife with just the tools you want in it...

I'll go back and reread some of the posts with you guys' suggestions, and check them out and do some comparison shopping.  I'm kind of picky about this kind of thing, and I don't want to end up buying several tools that are going to end up just sitting in my desk drawer going unused.  Unlike my LED flashlights (another sickness of mine) it's gonna be harder to justify two or three more tools on the CC to my wife...   

[Gareth]

Nothing wrong with being picky, and remember all the suggestions here are just that; suggestions.  Only you can decide what tool is right for your needs.  If you whittle it down to 2 or 3 options then folks here will happily argue for days about the merits of each one.....though I'm not sure that's any help now I come to think about it.    

[Mercury]

Nothing wrong with being picky, and remember all the suggestions here are just that; suggestions.  Only you can decide what tool is right for your needs.  If you whittle it down to 2 or 3 options then folks here will happily argue for days about the merits of each one.....though I'm not sure that's any help now I come to think about it.    

Come to think of it, we aren't very helpful at all.  In fact, we make it harder to decide!

[Gareth]

Just thought of another to throw in here the Gerber Octane.

Chako's review (one of a few on the site I believe):
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,18382.0.html

[rp252]

Nothing wrong with being picky, and remember all the suggestions here are just that; suggestions.  Only you can decide what tool is right for your needs.  If you whittle it down to 2 or 3 options then folks here will happily argue for days about the merits of each one.....though I'm not sure that's any help now I come to think about it.    

Come to think of it, we aren't very helpful at all.  In fact, we make it harder to decide!

Best be safe then and just buy all the suggested multis... 

[Mercury]

Nothing wrong with being picky, and remember all the suggestions here are just that; suggestions.  Only you can decide what tool is right for your needs.  If you whittle it down to 2 or 3 options then folks here will happily argue for days about the merits of each one.....though I'm not sure that's any help now I come to think about it.    

Come to think of it, we aren't very helpful at all.  In fact, we make it harder to decide!

Best be safe then and just buy all the suggested multis... 

YES!   

[sawman]

Just thought of another to throw in here the Gerber Octane.
Chako's review (one of a few on the site I believe):
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,18382.0.html

Another excellent choice, the Gerber Octane   

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Just thought of another to throw in here the Gerber Octane.
Chako's review (one of a few on the site I believe):
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,18382.0.html

Another excellent choice, the Gerber Octane   

Well, after looking around and doing a lot of research, I realized I was going to have to compromise.  I narrowed it down to a Gerber Crucial and an Octane.  Ended up going with the Octane and found it online for about $36 shipped. 

Hopefully it will be able to fit in the holster I've been using for my Swiss Champ, but if not I'll figure something out...

Looking forward to getting it.

Thanks for all the help! 

[Gareth]

Make sure you let us know what you think.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Well, I hate to say it, and I AM looking forward to getting the Octane, but I'm having second thoughts...

Now I'm feeling like I should have gotten a Suspension or perhaps even better, a Strata.  I noticed the Strata has a file which would come in handy for biking, among other things.

I'm starting to feel like I felt when I started getting into flashlights over at CandlePower Forums... and now I have more than half a dozen of them!!!  AGH!!!  Another compulsion, obsession, sickness, hobby, yeah, that's it...

[thebullfrog]

Just wait until you re-read all the suggestions, then decide you really DO want to try out a Skeletool, or a Spirit, or maybe that buck X-tract, and man these sure are useful, maybe I should try something bigger, like a Surge, or a Powerlock......

[sawman]

You may want to also consider a Gerber MP450.  It has a part serrated blade, phillips, 3 flat and a file 

[IrishMike]

I chose "see thread"

I don't have extra copies of my EDC, but I have alternatives of my old EDC's as backups.

Charge TTi, Skeletool, Micra.

[thebullfrog]

Wrong thread?

[JDBraddy]

I used to carry a Juice S2, but really wanted a pocket clip, a locking blade that could be opened single handed like the so called "Tactical" folders, and better blade steel. I came here several years ago, and they told me about the Charge TTi, I bought one, and never looked back. If I could design my custom dream tool, the only improvments I could imagine would be a spear-point instead of a clip-point blade, and i'd replace the scissors with an Awl.

[sawman]

That's why I carry a SAK with my LM so I have an awl, scissors and can opener.  Would be nice to get rid of those things on the Charge and make room for some actual tools.

[thebullfrog]

Yeah, but problem is most people won't carry two tools, so LM has to play a balancing act to keep it fairly well rounded. I loved my Wave that I used for years, the Wave/Charge platform is a fantastic design, but I gave up on it because I needed more tools. It's gotta be hard from a design standpoint to try and keep the "casual" user who probably uses the scissors more than anything else, and the "hard" user who would rather have a dedicated driver in that slot happy at the same time. Me? I just gave up looking for the best compromise and started carrying multiple tools.

[Mercury]

Yeah, but problem is most people won't carry two tools, so LM has to play a balancing act to keep it fairly well rounded. I loved my Wave that I used for years, the Wave/Charge platform is a fantastic design, but I gave up on it because I needed more tools. It's gotta be hard from a design standpoint to try and keep the "casual" user who probably uses the scissors more than anything edtlse, and the "hard" user who would rather have a dedicated driver in that slot happy at the same time. Me? I just gave up looking for the best compromise and started carrying multiple tools.

Ditto.  I really like carrying two at a time.  No one ever sees them unless they are needed so no one cares, and I get all the tools I need.

[umberto00]

Actually, carrying two makes a lot of sense. I've run into situations where I needed a screwdriver and pliers AT THE SAME TIME. That's why I usually have a multi on me, and a larger one in my man-bag.

[Mercury]

Actually, carrying two makes a lot of sense. I've run into situations where I needed a screwdriver and pliers AT THE SAME TIME. That's why I usually have a multi on me, and a larger one in my man-bag.

MAN BAG! 

Which one do you have?

I carry a jumbo for now, it suits me fine.  I also carry a LM Crunch in it as my secondary tool.

[umberto00]

I have a Victorinox messenger/laptop bag. I usually keep a Skeletool, Wave or Charge in it, while I keep a Juice KF4 in my pocket.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Hey again...  According to USPS tracking, my Octane might be here today; should be Mon. at the latest.   

Although I still need to check it out and see if it will meet my needs, I'm already feeling like it's not going to be a good fit for me.  If that's the case, I'll stash it in my desk drawers and give to my son for Christmas.  I'm sure he'll love it no matter what; he turned 10 this summer so it would be his first MT.

I've looked and looked, read and read, and I've realized the tool I want doesn't really exist.  The X-tract Fin is the closest thing to it, but it still doesn't have all the tools I'd like, even for my short list.  One thing that's important to me as a cyclist is a file, I've used the file on my SwissChamp dozens of times for lots of little jobs where I needed to smooth something out or clean up a surface after cutting. 

Most of the mid-size tools seem to be pretty much identical to one another; the only significant differences other than awl vs scissors, etc. is the styling.  This seems to be the case for Gerber in particular, the Crux, Rip-Stop, Suspension, etc. all seem to be the same tool with different handles. 

As for my EDC strategy, I typically carry a primary AND a back-up of what I consider to be my most important EDC items, an LED flashlight and a pocket-knife/MT.  So I carry a Zebralight SC50w+ clipped in my pocket, and a Quark XPG-NW 18650 in a holster on the strap of my messenger bag, as well as my SwissChamp there, and a SOG Salute clipped into one of the inside pockets.

So I've decided I want to do away with carrying the SwissChamp and the SOG in favor of a lighter/smaller compliment.  The only thing I can think of that I know for sure is going to do what I want it to, and also give me the kind of knife blade I want is a Victorinox Work Champ.  That will go where my SwissChamp is now, I'll repurpose it to my deskdrawer and my Salute to my camping/emergency prep gear.  I've also decided to get a Gerber Remix Mini-2 for pocket carry as the two different blades will allow me to avoid the combo edge craze that I've come to absolutely despise and they're clearly utility blades so it'll be good for the handful of small cutting jobs I find I have to do from day to day.

Anyway, longer post than I thought, but again, thanks to all of you for the suggestions and tips.  It really was useful in my decision process.  I even got a new toy out of it, or Christmas present for my son in the deal.  I'll keep popping in now and then to keep myself up to date.

[Sazabi]

Heinz:  Honestly, if you want a blade similar to the Workchamp and a file, you should probably look to either the Locksmith or the Master RT; if you want something smaller, though, but still with the main blade of your SwissChamp, you may want to go with a Mountaineer; either the Locksmith, Master RT, or Mountaineer could then be paired up with either a pliers-based multitool, or could be paired with a PocketToolX Pryrahna, or other one-piece tool.

[Gareth]

I suspect the perfect tool for you just might not have been made yet. My Master Mechanic mod might be pretty close though. 



The Craftsman might be a good alternative.
http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Craftsman

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I suspect the perfect tool for you just might not have been made yet. My Master Mechanic mod might be pretty close though. 

(Image removed from quote.)

The Craftsman might be a good alternative.
http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Craftsman

You know, I have to say, that's pretty bloody close!  I really want the locking blade though... I've inadvertently cut myself enough times with lame-o liner locks to know better.  Ironically enough, more than on any other knife than with the Gerber Paraframe I had a couple years ago.  (There's a story about that knife I'll have to relate some time... from back when I was an post-doctoral researcher doing visual neurophysiology research with rhesus monkeys... me and the paraframe and a monkey had a bit of an 'encounter'...)

Back to the point, the saw isn't really a necessity for me, and like I said before, the things I typically do with pliers are pulling loose cables tight, holding something small while I put it into or pull it out of someplace it's been jammed into, stuff like that.  In other words, for things that I need more precision for.  For anything else I use a dedicated wrench that's either the specific size I need, or is adjustable. 

I know the Work Champ is bigger and heavier than the Craftsman or the Mechanic, but I really think it will suit my needs best.  I am also a cub-scout leader (my son is a Webelo and bridging to Boy Scouts next year), so having the larger saw is going to be useful for me.  I actually was one of the leaders on a Webelo campout I put together with the other Webelo den leaders in our pack a few weeks ago, and the saw on my Swiss Champ was really useful for cutting a notch in a hearth-block I made to show the boys how to start a fire the old fashioned way... with a hand-made fire-bow and spindle...  (It's a LOT harder than it looks, believe me.)

But I'm thinking too that a plier based MT would also be a good compliment as well.  (Lord, this is a sickness... isn't it!)  Just not sure which one yet.

Oh, and by the way, the Octane came in the mail today.  It's a pretty good basic little tool.  It's certainly lighter than I thought; the handle walls are also thinner than I thought they'd be... I'm not real confident they'd stand up to really hard use of the tool, but I know it's not made for that anyway...  The blade comes out pretty easily, though it could definitely be loosened up just a bit, and the pliers don't 'flick' out the way the ones on my ancient 15+ y.o. Gerber MT does.  (I don't even remember what it's called... I'll post a pic tomorrow so you guys can make some guesses as to what it is.)  The other thing about it is that the tool-locks are pretty stiff... had to really work to get them to release the small in-handle tools.  I'm sure things will loosen up over time, but still, it's an annoyance.  Overall, it's definitely a budget tool... it does okay for light duty stuff, which honestly is really all I need, but I'm surprised in particular how thin the walls of the handles themselves are.

Ugh.  It's late, and I'm rambling again.  (Can you tell I've had a few beers on Sat. night? LOL.)  I stop blathering now...  I'll come back again in the next day or two and check in again.  I gotta go argue with someone over on CPF before I turn into a pumpkin tonight too.

See ya guys.

[sawman]

Just remember it's very handy in some situations to have two sets of pliers on hand.  I don't mind having a choice of 2 maybe 3 blades, like I do between a Skeletool and Climber, but that's as far as it goes ideally.  Perhaps you could find the plier based multitool first, and then have a custom SAK built based on the difference in tools