Leatherman SIDEKICK / WINGMAN Owners Club

[mcrow]

What do they do to the wingmans that give them such a bad rep?

Ive heard very little bad things about the Sidekick (I own one) but so much about the wingman

It’s puzzling to me. Only problem I had with my Wingman is a broken knife tip due to me using it out of advisable usage purposes.

Had mine since they were released and love it.


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[BadMechanic]

It happens mcrow 

Just yesterday my coworker and I used our bottle opener on our wave + and surges to turn a very fat flathead looking screwhead. 

[Thomas Li]

I loved my Wingman until my knife decided to break.
Didn't use it in ages but I'm about to get a s30V blade what should fix my biggest issue with this tool. 

[JasonJ]

Wow, but a least its under warranty!

Yep!  Interestingly enough, I bought this one brand new from Home Depot when they were on winter clearance a few years back, paid all of $8 for it! 

I opened it while playing MT with my youngest... we like to just hold them and open and close them and he switches and trades with me (he's 2).  He can't physically open the blades, so biggest safety concern is plier-ing himself (or me).  But we opened the Wingman (which honestly, sits most of the time) and snapZILLA!  Repaired or replaced unit should be here Thursday.

What do they do to the wingmans that give them such a bad rep?

Ive heard very little bad things about the Sidekick (I own one) but so much about the wingman

Should be identical in terms of quality and production. I mean, they change out 3 tools- scissors/saw, serrated blade/pkg opener, and main blade.  All else is the same except for the stamped name on the side.  Should be no difference at all.  It may just be that there are more Wingmans sold than Sidekicks, people love their scissors!

I do have to say... the Sidekick was my first personal Leatherman tool.  It was gifted to me by my brother some years ago.  They were still about $35-40 at the time.  My only other exposure to MT's was a SAK Classic and a Pioneer, and my dad's original Super Tool.

I did know that the SK was LM's "entry-level" tool... the one for people who weren't multitool people, maybe to get you introduced to them.  Given that, I knew that it was not indicative of the quality of their higher end tools (that I never thought I'd be able to afford or own).   I used the crap out of that first Sidekick.  It was a FANTASTIC tool and continues to be.  Never a shortcoming with it at all. 

That specific, first one I've sort of retired being sentimental to me now.  I have another Sidekick that I recently disassembled... just playing around.  I made it more like the new T2/T4 tools with a plain edge blade and moved the flat and phillps driver to the same arm.  Left the arm as a standalone tool with pocket clip.  I made a pocket knife with two drivers, basically.  Again, just tinkering.. wanted to see if it could be done.  Yep.

[Edi]

Well, i am too a satisfied owner of a wingman. I bought it to be part of a combo. It works very well with the victorinox locksmith. The needlenose and regular pliers suit my needs and the scissors are more than decent. Can't say i use the rest of the tools more than the ones of the locksmith, except the flat screwdriver, see photo. When i bought this pair i considered functionality, price and weight compared to a single tool. Combos work better for me.

[Poncho65]

Welcome to Edi Sorry if I have already welcomed you before but I am not sure so I did anyways Sounds like a great combo and I also like tool combos as well

[Edi]

Thank you! I did forget to write that i like the spring type pliers on the wingman very, very much   
Btw, i forgot to ask/check: what's the max resolution permitted for the pics?

[Poncho65]

Not sure about the res but max file size is 512 kb Or if you use a photo hosting site like Imgur or Flickr then you can use full res images

[Poncho65]

This thread hasn't had a in a while 

[Gareth]

Great shot Poncho. 

[Poncho65]

Thanks Gareth

[Zephon]

Would a Wingman be able to take in the plier head of a wave/charge v1?

[Gareth]

Would a Wingman be able to take in the plier head of a wave/charge v1?

I've never tried but looking at them side by side they actually might. 

I've never much liked the sprung head in the Sidekick so this sounds like a great idea. 

[Zephon]

I've never tried but looking at them side by side they actually might. 

I've never much liked the sprung head in the Sidekick so this sounds like a great idea. 

Thanks Gareth!

I like the load of the Wingman it’s just that the pliers don’t really work for me — the don’t seem to want to cut into anything properly.  I found this old wave/charge plierhead and was thinking if it would be feasible to bring some fresh air into the Wingman.

For some strange reason, assembling something to resemble a Curl is cheaper here than actually buying a Curl on retail.

[Adam5]

[SteveC]

 

[Gareth]

(Image removed from quote.)

That's a great pic Adam. 

[Adam5]

Thanks guys 

[Poncho65]

Would a Wingman be able to take in the plier head of a wave/charge v1?

Only problem I see is that the holes for the barrel screws are the same on both ends of the Wingman/SideKick platform but the Wave/Charge ones are larger on the plier head end than the other end Might fill the plier head holes in with a softer metal and then redrill them to have a smaller diameter hole that would take the screws of the Wingman without a wobble

[Poncho65]

(Image removed from quote.)

Excellent pic, Adam

[Zephon]

 

I have no idea how this happened while I was opening the tool.

[Zephon]

Only problem I see is that the holes for the barrel screws are the same on both ends of the Wingman/SideKick platform but the Wave/Charge ones are larger on the plier head end than the other end Might fill the plier head holes in with a softer metal and then redrill them to have a smaller diameter hole that would take the screws of the Wingman without a wobble

Thanks for the words of caution. All the while I thought it was just a drop-in.

[Poncho65]

I have no idea how this happened while I was opening the tool.

 

No idea either Guess you have to take it apart to fix that?

[Poncho65]

Thanks for the words of caution. All the while I thought it was just a drop-in.

Well you will be for certain about the pivots on the plier end if you have to take it apart to fix it

[gregpost]

 This was a good platform and it's sad Leatherman went in the opposite direction cutting and removing features(Rev/Bolster) when if they would have expanded on this platform they could have something really fantastic for EDC.

[Zephon]

No idea either Guess you have to take it apart to fix that?

Managed to untangle it without disassembly. Surprisingly the key was something like an odd angle of the opposite plier pivot- not the stuck one. I swear it was crazy! Good thing it happened at home and not in the field.

[Poncho65]

Glad you were able to fix it

[Juan el Boricua]

Managed to untangle it without disassembly. Surprisingly the key was something like an odd angle of the opposite plier pivot- not the stuck one. I swear it was crazy! Good thing it happened at home and not in the field.

Good to hear and glad it wasn't complicated!

[Zephon]

Fresh off the table. I haven’t even had the chance to wipe clean the tools I used.

How I wish I can come across a plier head that I can simply drop into the Wingman.

Anyway, the mod here isn’t 100% perfect.  A <1mm portion of the tip of the bit holder comes in contact with <1mm of the plier tip. 

I think this gives extra value to the Wingman.  Yeah, it adds a little extra cost since I bought the bit holder separately.  Wish I had an awl to add on to this. I honestly don’t have the tools to grind something into an awl.

I’m doing the Rebar challenge now so I can’t comment on how this tool holds up. I’ll probably give feedback next month.


Edit: as it is, all in all, this Wingman with bit driver still costs half of what a Curl costs down here. And all I’m missing is an awl….

Edit 2:  I can easily replace the PE blade with the saw and now I’ll have a bladeless Wingman.

[Poncho65]

Excellent bit of mod work,  Zephon