A Multi-tool Review Rating System

[I'm Still Bison]

 Here's one  everybody can have some fun and input in. You're ask to develop a standard system to review and rate multi-tools. What factors and criteria would you use? What format would you use?
 There's really no wrong answers,and very likely several right answers that could be morphed into a workable system.So think it over a bit,enjoy the exercise and post away.

[17Chap]

Here are the first things that pop into my head:

Tool Functionality--do they work for their intended purpose?
Tool Selection
Ergonomics--Does it hurt to use them?
Durability
Finish and Workmanship
Cool Factor

 

Chap

[Benner]

I'd also like to see something on how long it takes to select a tool as well.

[I'm Still Bison]

 Good,valid factors all of them..remember there's no wrong answers.

[Benner]

I'd also like to see a section that states whether they are legal to EDC in the UK.  Would be particularly handy for newbies.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I think we started that in the Multitool Wiki, didn't we?

https://wiki.multitool.org/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Law

Didn't get too far yet mind you, but there was a thread about that not too long ago.

Def

[Benner]

I think we started that in the Multitool Wiki, didn't we?

https://wiki.multitool.org/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Law

Didn't get too far yet mind you, but there was a thread about that not too long ago.

Def

Yes we did.  Would just be handy to have all the info in one place.

[I'm Still Bison]

Benner,we've got you thinking now.This where the second part comes in...and that's how to format a rating system.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Would just be handy to have all the info in one place.

That was our thinking exactly when we started the Wiki.  The forum is a great place to ask questions, discuss thoughts and experiences, but when you need straight up info and hard facts it can take forever to sift through all the off topic stuff and opinions listed here.  The Wiki will be a place to put nothing but fact, all in one place for easy reference.

Def

[Benner]

Well I'd like to see a chart with all manufacturers names and tools down the side and all the "tests" across the top with a score for how each tool did underneath and a simple tick box for whether it is legal to edc in the UK or not.

It would be good to be able to click on each tool name as well and then see a few pictures and a little more of a write up about it.

It would take aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages to do though.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not going anywhere, are you?

I think that you may have the right idea, but I don;t know if a specifically UK Legal column would be the best way to go with that.  A column for blade length, and one for locking mechanisms would allow the user to decide whether or not the tools were legal in their own jurisdictions, whether it be the UK, Australia, Mongolia or Alabama.

Def

[Benner]

I'm not going anywhere, are you?

I think that you may have the right idea, but I don;t know if a specifically UK Legal column would be the best way to go with that.  A column for blade length, and one for locking mechanisms would allow the user to decide whether or not the tools were legal in their own jurisdictions, whether it be the UK, Australia, Mongolia or Alabama.

Def

Good point!  Like you say if all the info was offerred it would be up to the buyer to decide.  And that way mt.org couldn't get moaned at if anything was written down incorrectly. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

That was a big concern- I'd hate to get sued because my site said something was legal and it wasn't.

Of course, since I've no money and precious little of value, it would also suck to be the person trying to sue me!

Def

[I'm Still Bison]

That's one of the main points of this thread,and that's trying to see if it's possible to get things whipped into a shape that's fairly quick for the user, and reasonably objective & neutral.

[Benner]

A filter system would be handy as well.  For example: we all know Def thinks tools without scissors are just stupid  (not even going to mention the folding lanyard ring ), so a system where you can filter out all those without them would be good.

[I'm Still Bison]

Excellent thought..I like the idea

[cryptrick]

I'll also pop in and say a filter system. You can then search for tools that have scissors, straight and serrated blade but with no saw for example.

Just like GSMArena's advanced search has for phones, would be great for multitools, see below:
http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3

[Grant Lamontagne]

We need someone capable of programming to do that...

Def

[Benner]

Couldn't we steal the guy that did the SAK selector on Sosak? 

[cryptrick]

We need someone capable of programming to do that...

Def

What you complaining about, I thought you could do everything Boss 

[Roadie]

We need someone capable of programming to do that...

Def

Well i can do the GUI but I don't know how to do the lookup of tools against a database yet, of course that would require making a database to start with, which for the tool selection i've already done i suppose but i think it would require a bit of modification to be used as a proper searchable database. I'll have a look if i get chance and see how that phone site works.

[I'm Still Bison]

 Roadie,if you do want to handle that chore just take care you don't burn yourself out,when the SAK Selector was developed..and a few mods,the developer was pretty well wiped out for a good while.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The guy that did the SAK Selector hasn't been around in a long time.

As for me doing stuff, well they say something about stuff being 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration- I'm lazy and just do the first ten percent!  If I try to give more than that then everyone else has to give 120% to make up for my extra effort!

Def

[CQC-7]

We could use a numerical rating system or we could use the emotionacons. You know a  :)for a certain function that is good.

The numerical system could be taken by having input from members that own the tools and rate them in numbers from 1-10 and then average the results to get say a 7.5.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Fair play to anyone who wants to take it on, fortunatly my computer skills are crap to say the least

[I'm Still Bison]

We could use a numerical rating system or we could use the emotionacons. You know a  :)for a certain function that is good.

The numerical system could be taken by having input from members that own the tools and rate them in numbers from 1-10 and then average the results to get say a 7.5.

             Numerical/icon rating system and a sleector filters are both good...I wonder if both can be incorporated.Not being especially tech savvy,I'm the kind that hopes and prays that when I do a re-boot,that I don't implode things or sending them careening off into the universe

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

We could use a numerical rating system or we could use the emotionacons. You know a  :)for a certain function that is good.

The numerical system could be taken by having input from members that own the tools and rate them in numbers from 1-10 and then average the results to get say a 7.5.

           I'm the kind that hopes and prays that when I do a re-boot,that I don't implode things or sending them careening off into the universe

That sounds familiar technosorcery leaves me cold too

[Roadie]

We could use a numerical rating system or we could use the emotionacons. You know a  :)for a certain function that is good.

The numerical system could be taken by having input from members that own the tools and rate them in numbers from 1-10 and then average the results to get say a 7.5.

             Numerical/icon rating system and a sleector filters are both good...I wonder if both can be incorporated.Not being especially tech savvy,I'm the kind that hopes and prays that when I do a re-boot,that I don't implode things or sending them careening off into the universe

In theory it is possible to do this, as what you would do is have a database of all the tools and whether they have said tool in them and the rating that tool gets. The filter would then pick out the tools by filtering out the ones you ask for and then display the list of tools with the ratings. The HOW to do that is where i am stumped. The filter system i can create, but i don't know how to link it to a database...yet. I have other programming to be learning for some coursework at the moment but when i've got that out the way i will take a look at how such a thing might be conceived, but i'm not promising any results!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Maybe you could have a chat with estaban (the admin guy) as he's pretty darn good with 'puters too

[cryptrick]

We could use a numerical rating system or we could use the emotionacons. You know a  :)for a certain function that is good.

The numerical system could be taken by having input from members that own the tools and rate them in numbers from 1-10 and then average the results to get say a 7.5.

             Numerical/icon rating system and a sleector filters are both good...I wonder if both can be incorporated.Not being especially tech savvy,I'm the kind that hopes and prays that when I do a re-boot,that I don't implode things or sending them careening off into the universe

In theory it is possible to do this, as what you would do is have a database of all the tools and whether they have said tool in them and the rating that tool gets. The filter would then pick out the tools by filtering out the ones you ask for and then display the list of tools with the ratings. The HOW to do that is where i am stumped. The filter system i can create, but i don't know how to link it to a database...yet. I have other programming to be learning for some coursework at the moment but when i've got that out the way i will take a look at how such a thing might be conceived, but i'm not promising any results!

Cool stuff roadie, is it a computer degree you're doing then?

I only know a little bit of VB programming so can't help with no php/java/web based stuff unfortunately