Message to SOG

[Jors]

Message to SOG (I think Frank?):
If you want to kick ass (I mean seriously kick ass) and grab a big chunk of the Multitool market:

Redo the Powerlock:
-Make the pliers bigger and with replaceable cutter blades.
-Make the handles bigger and in two sizes: one slightly wider than the Powerlock so that it can take 8 blade spaces per handle and another size that can take double (16 slots). I know the last option will make the tool very heavy and expensive, but you can charge double and you will still get the sale. This will be the tool for serious multitoolers (New wordfor people like me). This tool will have all the option available. You can even think of having a handle size in between (12 slots).
-Make the handles of a little ticker material and press the edges like the Leatherman Supertool 300 so that it will not hurt your hands and also then the covers will not be needed.
-Beef up the tool sizes to the Supertool 300 size.
-with the bigger size handle you can even opt in for an alternative bit holder, one where the adapter and the 1/4"drive is one piece and then drastically thicker. If space is a concern, you can opt for the smaller one.
-Beef up the scissors
-Beef up the smooth blade and make everything longer.
-Add a blade changer, that will give users the option to add their own blades or other tools.

This bigger beast of a tool will be for people who do serious work and I will still use it for a EDC.
With the option to buy where you can choose between 2 or 3 handle sizes the options are limitless.
You can even think of selling the tool with spacers to limit the tools (and lower the price) and users can add to the collection later.

What can you loos? Answer: Nothing.
What can you gain? Answer? more sales and more sales and more sales and kick some ass.

[Medic82]

I would much rather see them come out with an outside opening blade above all else.

[Jors]

I agree with you Medic28.
I ahve been installing irrigation yesterday when I was off as the SAP owed me some hours and I used my Surge's outside serated blades several times. It was very convenient not to have to flip open the frame first.
However it seems to me SOG prefers the inside tools. I don't have a problem with it.

[Medic82]

Sometimes I don’t mind that all the tools are on the inside but sometimes when I carry my Powerlock I just wish it had outside opening blades. Sure the Powerassist was a step in the right direction but IMO it turned into a novelty item when they put the assisted technology in there.

But I agree that they need to do something with the handles so we can lose the flaps, they sure can be irritating sometimes.

[Sean]

Personally, the only problem I have with added beefiness is added weight.  I think both
the Powerlock and the Supertool are now just shy of 10 oz.  I would be concerned
that adding strength/beefiness to the Powerlock would take it into Surge territory and
that, I found was way to heavy for "enjoyable edc carry". 

[Medic82]

I don’t think that the PL needs to be beefed up since it’s beef enough as it is.

[CENTURION]

I don’t think that the PL needs to be beefed up since it’s beef enough as it is.

I would agree, for me it's almost a little too large, but it's done pretty much everything I've asked of it.

I have to say, I'm having a little trouble understanding the original post.
Are you suggesting having three sizes of tool, one with 12 (6x2, as it is now) tool slots, one with 16 tool slots (2x8), and one with 32 slots (2x16)?!? 
To be totally honest, I think a tool with `1.25" wide handles that holds 32 folding tools would be pretty useless, as it would be very hard to carry and use...

Also, not to be unfriendly or anything, but SOG is a large, seemingly competent company, I'd say it's a fair bet that they have thought about making a mega-mega-tool, and if it's been shot down, I'll bet it's because there are very few people who would actually need that kind of capability, and who will buy it. Because they do have something to loose: Money. Designing all the new parts (and with your proposals, the ENTIRE tool would be new parts), creating all the tooling necessary to have machines that make them, advertising for the new tool, and so many other things that have to be done to create a new product do cost money, and if it doesn't sell, they've lost all that money.

Not trying to be a total party pooper, just trying to be practical.

[Jors]

Are you suggesting having three sizes of tool, one with 12 (6x2, as it is now) tool slots, one with 16 tool slots (2x8), and one with 32 slots (2x16)?!? 
To be totally honest, I think a tool with `1.25" wide handles that holds 32 folding tools would be pretty useless, as it would be very hard to carry and use...

Yes this is exactly what I am suggesting.
 Even if the just make such an empty handle available I will do everything in my ability to buy it. Size and weight is not a problem for me. I have four weeks ago packed away my service pistol, a Beretta and I am now working as a police officer without a firearm. I only pack it when I foresee dangerous work.

I am still hunting for the ideal tool that has everything I want. Does not exist to my knowledge. The Leatherman ST 300 come close, but I want the following tools added: Scissors, SOG wire strippers, LM bit holder large, SOG V-Cutter, Chisel, one or two blade changers of Leatherman and a pin like the LM MUT has with thread so that I can add something later.

This wish list does not exist.
I can however possibly make it happen: I can make a new frame set for a SOG Powerlock or a new frame for the Supertool 300.
To make a new frame for the SOG will be easier but I would like to replace several of the tools with stronger or bigger ones. The gears will take time bit is not impossible.
With the Supertool 300 All the tools will stay, but I will only add those mentioned. I think the frame is more difficult to make because of the folds.

I think I would prefer the latter.

[ari6126]

What about the SwissTool?
I don't think SOG even makes enough tools to fill 32 slots. Once you added in full size 1/4" bit driver (a common request), all the screwdrivers become redundant except for maybe a large fathead to use as a pry bar.

[yud]

Have you tried EDCing a Paladin powerplay 540, it as I recall adds one or two slots with biggers plyers.  I think the more important thing is add more componets to the line up. 

[jekostas]

Outside opening blades without the useless and space-wasting assist mechanism on the Powerassist.  Also, better scissors.  If those happened, I'd seriously consider the Powerlock as I've come to quite like the ability to open the jaws one-handed (and I ain't going back to Gerber).

[ari6126]

I just want real scissors. The Kick/Fuse/Blast don't have outside opening blades, and they sell fine (for now).

[PyroJames]

The Powerlock is big enough as is.  If you're looking for something bigger, perhaps the Paladin PT-540 would be better for you? 

32 tool components is also too much, not to mention extremely heavy for EDC.  I wouldn't want to lug around a MT that big all day long. 

[Santos]

Have you tried EDCing a Paladin powerplay 540, it as I recall adds one or two slots with biggers plyers.  I think the more important thing is add more componets to the line up.

Amen!
 like a #2 phillips at least!

Also a 'locking tools' update on the paratool and the pocket powerplier (with handle cover comfort flaps) would probably

Their patent for 'compound plier tool with linked handles' was issued back in 1998. I'm no legal buff but i thought patents only lasted 15-20 years in the not distant future we might be seeing compound leathermans, gerbers and swisstools.

[yud]

20 years from the 1st filing date, I don't see a bunch of compound pliers coming out in 7 years.  While I don't know how MT patents work, but it seems that there are non SOG compound leavage tools out there and nothing stoping any one eles from making them.

[Mr. Whippy]

What would I change on a SOG:


1.  First off:  LOVE the pliers
2.  Get rid of the piano covers.  It just adds steps to the process
3.  At least one outside opening blade
4.  Make the knife and tools out of stiffer steel (not so bendy)
5.  Make the 1/4 driver a little hardier.  I keep losing that little spring.  (and for the record, I love the 1/4 driver)

Also, I really like the wire stripper and V cutter. 

[CENTURION]

20 years from the 1st filing date, I don't see a bunch of compound pliers coming out in 7 years.  While I don't know how MT patents work, but it seems that there are non SOG compound leavage tools out there and nothing stoping any one eles from making them.

Compound leverage tools have been around for quite a while (go look at some large bolt cutters, and you'll see they've had the system for forever), but I believe SOG has the patent on the geared part, and the fact that it's a folding tool, unlike a bolt cutter.

Really my wishlist for SOG (not actually in order of preference) would be:
1. Outside opening OHO blades a la LM Wave/Charge/Surge
2. LM-style flat bit driver (that probably won't happen)
3. Combined can/bottle opener, I don't use either of them enough to justify taking up two whole component slots, but I would still like to have them around.
4. Dedicated long-shank small flat driver, like the one on a Kick. I find it very useful for lots of other things beyond being a screwdriver.
5. Scissors that are actually useful.
6. Replaceable high-carbon steel wire cutters, so they can actually make use of the compound leverage the same way J-sews Powercut did.
7. A better file. I don't know exactly what it is, but my PSTII's file works so much better than the one on my Powerlock. Though I do like the little screwdriver/prybar ground end of it.
8. A normal electrical (terminal I think it's called?) crimper for things like quick disconnect plugs and the like on the back of the pliers, rather than the one for military blasting caps
9. Higher quality on the locking mechs (original of course, piano locks are stupid), I hate how much play the tools have when opened.
10. If the handles won't be changed around to have outside-opening tools, the powerlock should have the same handles that the Paladin PT-540 does (almost the exact same as the non-blade handle on the powerassist), with the new recessed handle covers (with detents rather then friction to keep them closed), stops on the handle for the covers, better defined edges and angles in the metal, and bolt grabbers on the outside.

I'll proabably think of more later

Eventually I'll probably end up modding a bunch of this stuff together myself (aka, take a PT-540 and start swapping parts)

[PyroJames]

What would I change on a SOG:

2.  Get rid of the piano covers.  It just adds steps to the process

True.  I always thought it was more of a gimmick to boost sales.  My Powerlock has the old rocker locks but I tried the piano locks on my brother's powerassist and I didn't like it.  It's meant to stop clumping but clumping was never a major annoyance.  The old locks are just fine.

I would like to see longer blades, saws and file components.

[CENTURION]

What would I change on a SOG:

2.  Get rid of the piano covers.  It just adds steps to the process

True.  I always thought it was more of a gimmick to boost sales.  My Powerlock has the old rocker locks but I tried the piano locks on my brother's powerassist and I didn't like it.  It's meant to stop clumping but clumping was never a major annoyance.  The old locks are just fine.

I would like to see longer blades, saws and file components.

I have a feeling he was talking about the handle covers, rather than the piano locks.

IMO, the piano locks are just plain stupid, but I can see why people would like them if they dislike clumping tools.
And as far as handle covers go, I think they're nice to have, but I wish that the tool was such that they weren't required. The LM Wave/Charge/Suge models defiantly have the best fix for the sharp handles problem.

[ari6126]

The LM Wave/Charge/Suge models defiantly have the best fix for the sharp handles problem.

If by LM Wave/Charge/Suge you mean Vic Spirit I agree with you 100%.

[CENTURION]

Eh, it doesn't have those awesome OHO blades though.

[SoDak]

I'd like it if SOG would go back to their old style flathead screwdrivers. I just picked up an old paratool and I like the fact that the medium and small flatheads actually have some reach to them. I really don't like it when multitool companies combine the medium flathead with the bottle opener since it seems to degrade the usefullness of the screwdriver while giving me a fairly useless bottle opener. The one on my powerlock is even worse since it can pivot downward until it sticks the lock open.

[Jors]

I started this thread after I bought my first SOG ( a Powerlock ) about two weeks ago.

I was impressed with the appearance and the pliers head (I just wish it could sports a set of replaceable hard steel cutters) and size, but I was disappointed in the quality of the tools. Much more flimsy than the average Leatherman in my opinion, also relative small. You can also see in the comments on my thread that some people have the same opinion.

I even thought of modding a Leatherman Supertool 300 to be able to have a compound pliers head with replacable cutters and the more stronger and less tinnish" inside tools of the Leatherman:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,26097.0.html

.

However I will keep the Powerlock as a tool where I will disregard the tools and refit them with a Leatherman that I can get plenty of and then I will have a useful tool.

Currently I have completely move back to Leatherman and I carry the Surge as EDC, but I am considering to replace it with a ST 300 if I can successfully add a scissors and blade changer. Currently in my opinion SOG can not replace the Leatherman in my personal inventory. I don't mind the weight.

Leatherman however is not moonshine and roses in all aspects: I have recently bought a Leatherman MUT.
A geat tool with a fabulous knives, but I can not use it for my daily needs as it does not feature all the tools I need.
I am considering selling or swapping it.