suggestions for an automotive sak?

[Santos]

Just wondering what peoples opinions on a good SaK is for the car. In general auto duties and again specifically for offroad vehicles (two seperate catergories rather than one must meet both)

can be new or used (if 'used' something that pops up common ebay or other sources rather than pot luck finds)
(No Swisstools either)
for under the following price points
-$15
-$25
-$50


Go!

[Sazabi]

Under $15 would have to be a Spartan or Tinker, unless you can find a Super Tinker or Climber on pre-2009 (give or take) prices.  Less than $25 would be a Pioneer, and less than $50 would be a Swiss Champ (Amazon has a yearly discount on either Swiss Champs or Champion Pluses, for $45 with free shipping).

I keep a Huntsman, Kick, and Inova/Victorinox flashlight in my car's meager kit, personally.

[frugalscotty]

I'll suggest a Vic Ranger for the car. I often see used examples going for under $15 on ebay.

[gustophersmob]

Are you excluding Swiss Tools based on laws, or just to make it interesting?

I agree with Sazabi's choices.

[bren10man]

Craftsman or Deluxe Tinker......

[Singh]

Sorry, but I wouldn't rely on a SAK for automotive repair.

For the car, I have an automotive tool kit. 

[Stirling3749]

The first one that comes to mind is the Mechanic but I suppose anything with pliers and screwdrivers would be handy.

[Santos]

Are you excluding Swiss Tools based on laws, or just to make it interesting?

I agree with Sazabi's choices.

Excluding the swisstool for simple reason that would make any folding plier tool eligable for the list.

I also should clarify that the idea was to put it with the average factory issued tool kit which typically is
-1-2 Spanners
-Double sided screwdriver (flat/phillips)
-basic pliers
-wheel brace & carjack

Also in the price point is room for pairing if you look at used COMMON saks (eg, climber, huntsman

Given that any sak is better than no Sak i wanted to explore function vs size etc. For my 4wd i have a 2nd hand OH-bundeswehr-trekker. Its great for cutting through radiator hose, rubber bushes, fashining plastic bottle funnels and the like, not too good for slicing up improvised gaskets or fiddly razor type task. Haven't had a chance to use the woodsaw either but i know its there if i need to hack through thick plastic.... or wood.

I find my wenger esquire great for many razor or cutting task and stripping wire. The classic attached to my spare keys i used last night wasn't nearly as comfortable with work with. Sounds incredible but i put it down to the fact that whilst only 6mm difference when closed the esquire is probably 10mm/1cm larger in overall length when open and slightly wider handles. I don't have big meaty hands either.

I have a champion that i bought for mod-fodder a while back but its in serviceble shape so i felt it needed a better home. After it spending 6 months on my pile-o-saks i thought maybe i should move it to my car tool kit. Its so bulky and unwieldly though. Tried out the inline phillips on the tail lights and its the first time i can recall a SAK tool fail so miserably at its intended job. Ended up fishing the Oh-trekker out of the tool kit. I have used 91mm backsprung philips in the past on the same screws and dont recall it being an issue.

The Wenger In-line Skater i have sitting in my room has a removable #3 phillips AND a inline phillips which is great, except its a discontinued model so someone making a purchase in 3 years time will not be able to walk into a store or type the model name into ebay and get 10+ listings daily.

Through all this pondering i realised that my SAK get as much if not more 'Macgyver time' in my car

So i started this thread. I never really used a plier in a sak before i don't know if necessarily having one in daily auto life helps? Is the impressive list of tools on the Swiss Champ a good thing? While i might think of a spartan or a camper Sazabi's sugestion of a pioneer/soldier is a good one, bigger pin, better grip/no broken scales, inline awl.

The price points are set as i need to make a case for saks in a automotive manual to a bunch of offroaders who are notoriously stingy. They might spend 3/4 of their cars value on big tyres and fancy suspension but will whine that spending $$ on a sak is a poor investment. It also lets the average joe think you dont have to be a tool nutter to keep one in the glovebox.

[Santos]

damn it now i just might need a beater soldier/pioneer/farmer... i've resisted alox for so long 

[Stirling3749]

You remind me of myself. Trust me, if you think about stuff like this too much you'll go crazy.
...You'll end up with the perfect tool but the cost may be your sanity. Is it worth it? HELL YEAH! 

[Santos]

come on people

[Santos]

Jeep engine repaired in the desert

The Norwegian Tore Lund Bache has carried his Victorinox knife on travels around the world for more than 25 years. It was given to him as a gift in 1968 by his company, OSO. In July 1992 he wrote to Victorinox in Ibach and told them the story of a trip which, thanks to the knife, passed without serious consequences.:

«The knife has been my companion for 25 years and has travelled with me all round the world. I have always kept it in my left trouser pocket, even in my smoking jacket, ready for use at all times. The OSO company logo has almost completely disappeared. There are numerous stories involving this knife. It has become a legend among my friends, who are always asking me the same question: ?have you got your OSO knife with you?? So I’d like to tell you one of these stories.

In 1969 I bought an old Willys Jeep, a Second World War model. It was a beautiful old vehicle and you could repair any of the parts (unlike today’s vehicles, on which broken parts have to be replaced). I took it for a spin into the desert at once, to try out the four-wheel drive. This test drive took me several kilometres into a marshy wooded area where no vehicle had obviously ever been before. And then my engine died.

The problem was that the fuel supply was no longer getting to the engine. Something was wrong with the fuel pump. There were no tools in my newly-acquired vehicle, and all I had in my pocket was a little loose change, a ballpoint pen and my Victorinox knife. With the help of the knife, however, I was able to scrape out and open the fuel pump. There were no screws on the pump, but I was able to use the knife’s bottle opener, which fitted the lid exactly.» «The suction valve in the fuel pump had broken into several pieces.

I used the knife to fashion a replacement part with the spring from the ballpoint pen. On reassembling the pump I was able to drive home. Although the knife hadn’t actually saved my life on that occasion it nevertheless enabled me to repair my vehicle. This saved me having to walk several kilometres and probably the trouble of finding a towtruck capable of towing the jeep back home.

Now, after 25 years of use, my knife is finally being retired. The spring locks on the blades are suffering from fatigue and the tool is worn out. That’s why last year I felt the time had come to buy a new pocket-knife. It simply had to be a Victorinox. Although it has the same shape, today’s models seem slightly longer and thicker and perhaps a bit stronger? I am happy with the quality of the new model. My only question: is the old model still available? It’s slightly thinner and shorter and so fits more easily into my pocket. In any case I will be sending you my old knife. As you can see, apart from the faults mentioned above and the signs of 25 years of use, it is still in very good condition. I would like to thank you for the excellent quality of your knives. They make ideal gifts and are a pleasure to use - whenever and wherever. Though, my wife doesn’t seem to appreciate it when I feel like doing my nails at the opera

Always loved this story, also wondered what a pulled apart fuel pump look liked so i could see exactly what he did 

[Santos]

Still need some input 

neil 
gareth 

[AimlessWanderer]

A SAK is obviously not going to be a fix everything tool as mentioned above, so it'll probably be needed to fill all the gaps in and amongst the other tools. Look at what your toolset has, and more importantly what's missing.

Examples:
I would imagine that electrically the most common flaw is liable to stem from an earth fault - so you are going to need spanners/sockets and something abrasive. If you've no emery in your kit a file on your SAK could be very useful

Are the pliers in your kit needle nosed or blunt. Would SAK pliers help get stubborn auto fuses out or pull apart a spade terminal?

Most SAK's would be able to cut a hose or tighten a jubilee clip anyway so focus on the periphery jobs and tools.

I don't think that a saw would be particularly useful for common repairs, but I'm sure others would disagree

Inline phillips might be better than back sprung for access (especially if it's the Wenger locking variety)


Problem is there's no definitive answer really - but if it was me, and I wanted a SAK PURELY for the car ... i'd probably want a modded one:

A) Blade & Combi tool
B) File
C) Scissors
D) Pliers
E) Inline phillips and LED torch

That's your budget out of the window though ... sorry 


Oh ... with plus scales so I'd got a pen too 

[Santos]

While your average motorist may not be inclined to customise their own SAK you have given heaps of good input. When i think inline phillips i always mentally pair it with a magnifying glass. A Victorinox Spartan lite is a nice intermediate model between the $25-$50 'new' price range. It also has the pen and the plus scales

Most pliers in cars and bike auto kits i've seen have been blunt but generally very narrow widthwise

Still haven't be able to find the Wenger equivalent of a Victorinox Ranger.