Ready,Set,Switch! (SwitchPlier)

[MultiMat]

This NIB SwitchPlier I nabbed way back in Feb 2009.For the last 2 years my weight has been around the 107kg/235lbs mark & I have been keen to break the 100kg barrier. As of yesterday my weight has been under 100kg for a week  . The SwitchPlier was my weight loss reward carrot  .



It sure is a handsome thing the polished handle,classy branding & nice lines reminds me of the chrome of a old American car  .


The pliers flick out very quickly once the release button is pressed. Much like a Gerber Recoil , maybe not as violently as the Gerber but unlike the Recoil the SwitchPlier can be easily retracted with one hand  .Unlike most other SOG's the Switchy's plier opening is not huge.


The Switchy is fitted out with standard SOG parts, so it can be customised

The tools can be accessed & deployed even when the pliers are locked in place 



Finally a SOG that fits my hands  .It feels great in hand ,the tools lock up great but the position of the lock is right were your thumb often sits so accidental unlocking is a potential problem.The Switchy is one classy piece of kit.It is by no means a heavy duty tool, I think the pliers & plier handle may suffer if pushed hard  .


People it's 'NEW Fun & Functional'  . The SwitchPlier is no longer new , it was retired some time ago but by golly SOG was right when they said it is fun. The functionality is certainly there but I would say for light duties more than heavy duty  . Now the fiddle factor for this MT is way off the scale , VERY cool tool I reckon  . 
Thanks Dennis/WH867 for parting with the SwitchPlier all those moons ago 

[Sean]

thanks for the review.  To tell the truth I can't remember seeing that tool before.  I like
the look of it.   I wonder how it would carry with a pocket clip?

[badwolf]

Thanks for this, just what I need to wet  my appetite for a switch plier You've answered and showed just what I wanted to know, excellent. Good job with the weight loss quality pics too

[Gareth]

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that the Switchplier is a MT that I keep forgetting about.   I have played with one before and I can well understand the addiction to opening it though.   Nice round-up and pics mate.

[AHB]

Wouldn't dare to pressure test the pliers on mine, but the SwitchPlier is definitely a need to have in the SOG collection..   

Good writeup matey.. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Great pics  I've been tempted to grab a switchplier a few times, but never took the plunge.
They're a great collectors item, but I buy to use and not convinced I'd feel safe with one of these in my pocket without wearing some form of (very) personal protective equipment 

Just how heavy/light duty are we talking for these pliers?
Comparable with a Leatheman Juice? LM Kick maybe?

[scrappy]

Nice write up.
Dennis is a real gentleman

[Syph007]

Curse you! I've been wanting one of those since I heard about it.  No luck on ebay yet, but maybe someday I'll get lucky.

[MultiMat]

Great pics  I've been tempted to grab a switchplier a few times, but never took the plunge.
They're a great collectors item, but I buy to use and not convinced I'd feel safe with one of these in my pocket without wearing some form of (very) personal protective equipment 

Just how heavy/light duty are we talking for these pliers?
Comparable with a Leatheman Juice? LM Kick maybe?

I think premature deployment in your pants  could be a distinct possibility mate 
Al I would love to do some 'real world' testing but I am not that well off  .I would have to not only find a replacement if I broke the Switchy but hire someone to give me a good kick as well 

My miniature SwitchPlier Stanley SL40 which is currently in pieces  , the plier's internal spring came out of it's retention groove. Fixable but VERY fiddly hence the 'delay' in fixing.
The Stanley is no were near the build quality of the SOG so it is not a true indicator of the durability of the SOG.

If the pliers were 'fixed' I would say they would be a notch down from the Kick but given they are in no ways fixed I would rate them closer to a Juice , all very speculative though 

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that the Switchplier is a MT that I keep forgetting about.   I have played with one before and I can well understand the addiction to opening it though.   Nice round-up and pics mate.

Given that I got this SOG almost 3 years ago & the misses had taken custody of it this SwitchPlier was well & truly MIA/forgotten. I had most certainly not forgotten about but the misses had , it was a nervous 30 mins  . 'I would of only put it here or their' (misses) , me thinking 'how many car boot sales has Jodie done in the last 3 years' 
 

Curse you! I've been wanting one of those since I heard about it.  No luck on ebay yet, but maybe someday I'll get lucky.

If you look closely you may find one currently for sale US Ebay 

[badwolf]

I think premature deployment in your pants  could be a distinct possibility mate 

Curse you! I've been wanting one of those since I heard about it.  No luck on ebay yet, but maybe someday I'll get lucky.

If you look closely you may find one currently for sale US Ebay 

Ssshhh or their all want one I'd been looking and searching for a while now, even emailed various USA dealers until I found one with new old stock, they might have one left, so a SwitchPlier will soon be mine

'Premature deployment in your pants'  maybe this is why they don't make them any more, too many lawsuits

[Bruce909]

Since the weight was lost in the USA you need to send the Switchplier to me!  Oh well you can't fault me for trying.

The one on ebay is going to take about $125 usd to win...if you want to outbid me. 

Bruce

[dks]

It was going for $20 last tme I checked with only US postage. With all the interest produced by this thread I would think this is the wrong time to try for any sort of ebay bargain. I am not bidding so good luck!

[AimlessWanderer]

Great pics  I've been tempted to grab a switchplier a few times, but never took the plunge.
They're a great collectors item, but I buy to use and not convinced I'd feel safe with one of these in my pocket without wearing some form of (very) personal protective equipment 

Just how heavy/light duty are we talking for these pliers?
Comparable with a Leatheman Juice? LM Kick maybe?

I think premature deployment in your pants  could be a distinct possibility mate 
Al I would love to do some 'real world' testing but I am not that well off  .I would have not only find a replacement if I broke the Switchy but hire someone to give me a good kick as well 

My miniature SwitchPlier Stanley SL40 which is currently in pieces  , the plier's internal spring came out of it's retention groove. Fixable but VERY fiddly hence the 'delay' in fixing.
The Stanley is no were near the build quality of the SOG so it is not a true indicator of the durability of the SOG.

If the pliers were 'fixed' I would say they would be a notch down from the Kick but given they are in no ways fixed I would rate them closer to a Juice , all very speculative though 

 

Thanks Mat, I hope you get your Stanley up and running sooner than any of the projects I subscribe myself  I can understand the reluctance to put it into real world use mate - you've got a gem right there ... but I'd personally have to get it scratched up pretty quick 

Do you reckon they would make a good tool in use for a reckless tool basher (wrong connotation  retract - rephrase) multitool user like me, or is the switchplier purely one to be admired, fondled and collected? I can't knock anyone collecting stuff like this, but if I'm going to get one it'll have to earn it's keep. I do like to torment my Swissgrip, Japanese Toolclip, MP700, Yeoman, Salesman, Mini and a few others with some good honest hard labour  My "safe queens" consist of two reserve MP700s, a KF4, and a Business Tool ... though I keep telling myself that it's only because I haven't had to use them yet 

Premature deployment is certainly a little worrying  I can't see me wearing cricketing paraphenalia beneath my jeans 

[MultiMat]

Al I used the Switchy on a brocken Transformers mask yesterday & the on board tools worked fine. They are standard SOG fare , the tool lock is very good , much better in fact than my Powerlock   . So yep you crazy mad dog you could use a SwitchPlier no worries , I would just avoid really cranking on the pliers or cutting heavy duty wire  . I did a test fire in my track suite pants & I think testicular assault is unlikely  . It is a good size for pocket carry , if you are prepared to live life on the wild side  but they are a light to medium duty MT so no snapping/deforming  handles or breaking pliers OK Al     

[AimlessWanderer]

Excellent - sounds good to me feller I'll let this little wave of excitement settle down and see if I can't source one to have a crack with  Cheers mate 

[Syph007]

The one on ebay is going to take about $125 usd to win...if you want to outbid me. 

Bruce

LOL I would, but then my wife would kill me.  I've got 5 MT's already in the mail to me... so I better pace myself.  I'm actually selling off some I dont want on ebay now to raise some money for more 

[Syph007]

Googling turned up this place, but it really doesn't look like a great legit site, might be, but doesn't look like something I'd trust.  Also doesn't say if its in stock or not, but its listed.

http://thetoolnetwork.com/switch_plier.html

[Bruce909]

The one on ebay is going to take about $125 usd to win...if you want to outbid me. 

Bruce

LOL I would, but then my wife would kill me.  I've got 5 MT's already in the mail to me... so I better pace myself.  I'm actually selling off some I dont want on ebay now to raise some money for more 

I now have the stupidest reason to miss an auction ever!  There was a jumper on a freeway overpass this morning that prevented me from getting to my destination!  So it sold to someone else for less than 1/2 of what I would have bid!

Bruce

[badwolf]

Bruce909 and Syph007 try here http://www.osograndeknives.com/SOG/sog_wpl76_switchplier_multi-tool.htm they might have one left

[Syph007]

The one on ebay is going to take about $125 usd to win...if you want to outbid me. 

Bruce

LOL I would, but then my wife would kill me.  I've got 5 MT's already in the mail to me... so I better pace myself.  I'm actually selling off some I dont want on ebay now to raise some money for more 

I now have the stupidest reason to miss an auction ever!  There was a jumper on a freeway overpass this morning that prevented me from getting to my destination!  So it sold to someone else for less than 1/2 of what I would have bid!

Bruce

Ya i noticed that.  I wanted to bid on it, but the seller wouldnt ship to me... in canada.  His loss, I would have gone over 100 for sure.

[J-sews]

Hey Mat, sorry I missed this thread earlier, Congrats on the weight loss and congrats on the reward! They say with any task, motivation is the key, and a Switchplier makes for some powerful motivation it seems!   So how many times have you folded it fired it folded it fired it folded it fired it in one session so far? The thing is powerful addictive isn't it? Especially after the first few hundred times when you get fluent at doing it all one handed. I once got hollered at because someone in our house got tired of hearing the clickity-click-click all the time.

Hope you guys who don't have one yet score soon!  

[David]

    thread Mat buddy!          

[MultiMat]

Thanks David  .

Bruce EZsniper  , it has saved me a fortune & scored me some very cool tools  .

Bob can you wear out a Switchplier just through fiddling 

[J-sews]

My dad once told me you can wear anything out through fiddling Mat

[MultiMat]

My dad once told me you can wear anything out through fiddling Mat

I reckon your dad was wrong Bob 

[njfist]

OK,  I don't know if its all the hype , but this has become my new favorite tool!  when this thread started, I searched hard online for one and actually found one for sale locally for under $50.00 new in the box!   
its compact , fits in the pocket nicely and I love the fact that I can add tools as needed, like a saw or awl...
wonder why they stopped making them?

[J-sews]

Hmmm, good question nj.

Checking through the archives, it appears that the switchplier patent was applied for by Spencer Frazer in 1996, and the first prototype was shown at the 2000 Shot Show. (a rather typical long lead time for new SOG products it seems) But there isn't anything on when exactly the Switchplier was discontinued, or for what reason.

[MultiMat]

OK,  I don't know if its all the hype , but this has become my new favorite tool!  when this thread started, I searched hard online for one and actually found one for sale locally for under $50.00 new in the box!   
its compact , fits in the pocket nicely and I love the fact that I can add tools as needed, like a saw or awl...
wonder why they stopped making them?

I think David's latter model SwitchPlier's warning sticker may explain why it may have been discontinued  . Excessive warranty issues 

[J-sews]

A theory that definitely has merit Mat. After wondering about the Switchplier innards for years, I've finally gotten brave enough to disassemble mine this morning:





As we suspected, the plier mechanism is not exactly what one might call "strong". The weak link is that small pin protruding from the side of the plier jaw:






The pin is a part of the jaw casting, and it takes the entire force of the handle when you squeeze down. The handle pivots on the center screw (removed in this picture) and the leverage is applied against the cast pin, which forces the plier jaws closed.




I could imagine the little pin being sheared off rather easily. I wonder if on the later version (with phillips screwdriver) if SOG tried increasing the diameter of the pin to make it stronger?

[MultiMat]

Nice work Bob  .

Great to see the SwitchPlier apart  .
Thanks Bob