Gerber Dime is here

[Max Archer]

So am I the only one who finds the package opener completely amazing? I just tried it for the first time and it's a revelation. Opening clamshell packages has always been an ordeal even with a nice sharp knife, but it's almost totally effortless this way.

[Gareth]

Nope, not just you.  I am a big fan of the clamshell opener as well.  It really does make light of the work.

[AimlessWanderer]

  Works better than the Octane's

[Grant Lamontagne]

I joked about the usefulness of the clam pack opener long ago.

Now I see how wrong I was.  I use it all the time, and not just on clam packs, which I personally believe to be the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse.  Pestilence, Famine, War, Death and Clam Packs- that sounds about right?

Def

[JNieporte]

I was just gifted a Dime in red. My thoughts:
-The blade is a nice size and shape, but came very dull. Quick fix. But, it rubs pretty bad against the liner.
-The scissors are pretty short, and the stop prevents them from opening wide (and thus sharpening). Also, the spring in mine keeps jumping over the moving arm.
-The pliers are misshapen. The tip of one side is slightly higher than the other, and there's side-to-side slop.
-The small flathead driver / file is embarassing. It's unusable as a file for most of my chores. The driver is unusable when fully opened (with the handles closed) because the bottle opener is in the way. However, it does drive Phillips screws nicely.
-The flathead driver is average for this size and price. It does its job as well as a Leatherman's.
-The package opener came dull, but was easily fixed. It works as advertised.
-The tweezers are hard to get out (I don't have long fingernails) but they remind me of Wenger tweezers. That's a good thing.
-All of the outside tools are very hard to get out. Even after lubricating everything, they're stiff. I tried loosening the Torx screws (T-8, by the way) but I needed another one to hold both sides. It didn't really work, because by the time the tools came out easy enough for me, the screws were almost falling out.

Overall, I'm disappointed in the Dime. The blade rubs against the liner and dulls very quickly (just from closing) and the pliers are horribly defective. I know Gerber has a lifetime warranty, but I'm not spending $8 in shipping on a $15 item that I got for free.

[AimlessWanderer]

-The scissors are pretty short, and the stop prevents them from opening wide (and thus sharpening). Also, the spring in mine keeps jumping over the moving arm.

That's interesting! I have the same problem on my LM Style, but my Dimes don't seem to suffer from it. Just out of interest are you left handed? Reason I ask is the scissors are reversed on the Dime compared to the LM equivalent

ARSE!!!!!!

As I was typing this I got my Style PS out to check this to make sure I wasn't wrong ... and the scissor spring snapped, just like everyone else's is doing on the Styles and Squirts.

Leatherman have got a real problem there - this is happening WAY too often!!!
Anyone else having the same issue as JNieporte on their Dime scissors?
Has Gerber got the same inherrent flaw?

[Gareth]

Bugger, we were just talking about that last Friday and it happens less than a week later.

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah  and to be honest it's probably had a total of fortnights carry at the most since I've had it 

[JNieporte]

50ft-trad;

Yes, I'm left-handed. I tried the scissors with each hand, and it still has the problem mentioned.

I had a Squirt PS4 and don't remember having any problems, but I did see a few in the "used" bin at my local knife shop, and some of them had broken scissor springs. All of them were riveted, whereas the older Squirts had Torx construction.

[AimlessWanderer]

50ft-trad;

Yes, I'm left-handed.

Wayhey - I'm a genius ...

I tried the scissors with each hand, and it still has the problem mentioned.

... OK, maybe not 

I had a Squirt PS4 and don't remember having any problems, but I did see a few in the "used" bin at my local knife shop, and some of them had broken scissor springs. All of them were riveted, whereas the older Squirts had Torx construction.

It does seem to be an Achilles Heel on the LM tools from what I've seen. I hope Gerber haven't inherrited the same issues when they copied were inspired by them 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Actually I think they both were "inspired" by Wenger who has been using this system for years.... but not "inspired" enough to do it properly it seems. 

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

A very good point, and well made 

[powerring]

So am I the only one who finds the package opener completely amazing? I just tried it for the first time and it's a revelation. Opening clamshell packages has always been an ordeal even with a nice sharp knife, but it's almost totally effortless this way.

I love the clamshell opener on the Wingman.  It's useful enough that I've considered a Dime more than once.  I'm not sure who had the idea first but it was a great one.

[Gareth]

Gerber did clamshell openers on the Octane and Strata a couple of years ago, though I don't know if someone had done them before on a MT.

[Gryffin]

Actually I think they both were "inspired" by Wenger who has been using this system for years.... but not "inspired" enough to do it properly it seems. 

Word. 

For those who don't have one, Wenger puts a bevel on both the scissor "arm" and the end of the spring, forcing the spring against the arm, so it won't slip off. It's so simple, I can't imagine why Leatherman and Gerber don't so something similar...

 

[JNieporte]

I received another Dime (again, in red) from a guy who knows I'm into multi-tools. I traded him for a used Micra. His Dime was green, but I only saw it; didn't get the chance to examine it. My thoughts on the new one:

-The pliers don't line up on this one either. When closed, they easily flex side-to-side. The tips aren't even, so I used a file to make them flush. Now that they're flush, they've lost some of the precise point.
-The package opener required a full resharpening. It dulled (to a level requiring resharpening) after using it on eleven blister packages.
-The tools are a bit looser in this one, so no busting my fingernails.
-My previous Dime didn't have the "when opening, the handles rub together, shearing the finish and metal away" and neither does this one. Cool.
-The blade came dull and required sharpening. After using only notebook paper as a medium, it required resharpening (it tore the paper instead of slicing) after 73 cuts.
-The scissor spring doesn't jump over the moving arm in this one. Instead, the entire scissor assembly flexes side-to-side when slight pressure (the amount of pressure for making a cut in notebook paper) is exerted.

Again, I'm not happy with the Dime. I've had Swiss+Tech tool that are cheaper and better-made. IDL makes better tool at cheaper prices. I could understand excitement over a new tool, especially one that's been described as "The Squirt Killer" (On YouTube) and uses many similar comparisons, but not if the tool is functionally defective. It looks like Gerber improved the grinding handles and maybe straightened out the scissor spring issue (maybe the first one I got was an early one?) but there are still problems.

[JNieporte]

Received Dime #3, this one in green. My ten-year-old daughter got this one by trading in some old SAKs at the local knife shop. She said I could talk about it on here, but I'd have to give it to her.

-The tools are all easier to open.
-The Torx screws turn, but they're LocTited or something, because I need another Torx driver to hold the other side still. Loosening the screws doesn't seem to improve the stiffness of the tools.
-The pliers meet evenly, and there's no play. The teeth are ground nicely.
-The blade and package opener came dull, but were easily sharpened.
-The handles on this one do grind, causing wear on the finish.
-The scissors are just as wobbly as before, and don't open as far as those on my red Dime.
-This Dime came with a very flimsy split ring. A $0.16 fix, using the spare from a SAK Classic.

Once more, the Dime is unimpressive. I like the blade shape and grind, but the steel could be better. I really like the bottle opener. I don't drink, and will likely never use this to open a bottle, but it seems very nice for prying. The package opener seems like a good idea to some, but not to me. If I'm relying on a keychain tool to open blister packages, I've been using my Vic Classic for years with no problem. The blade and scissors both work very well, and I've never thought "I really need a small, sharpened hook to open this". It's easy enough to not damage the product you're trying to get out. I wish the package opener were left off and the open space used for a proper file. Like the PS4. I'd be okay with a Squirt PS4 price (around $24) if the Dime were improved. Make the blade 420HC, improve the scissors, fix the handle rub, make the file better, and it's great.

*I've handled all three Dimes now. The red and green are the same thing, except for color. I handled the black one at my local Dick's Sporting Goods, and decided not to buy it after noticing the grinding that the black coloring causes. The black one also showed signs of losing its finish, just from opening and closing. I'd say pick a color, red or green, if you really want a Dime. I'll post photos below for future reference.

[JNieporte]

There have been many good comparisons between the Dime and PS4; this isn't intended to be one. This is more of a focus on the Dime.



Green Dime's plier tips. No problem...


Red Dime's plier tips, after filing down the faulty tip. This shouldn't have been necessary...


Green Dime's jaws. Sloppy, but they do grip...


Red Dime's jaws. Sloppy, but again, they work...


I know I said earlier that the teeth are ground nicely, but I was looking at the black handle side. Apparently, the colored sides are mis-ground on both of mine.

The scissors, both sides. Those black specks (you can see them on the green Dime) are on both scissors, red and green, but I don't know what they are...


The drivers, showing both sides...


When the Dime is closed (when you can apply the most torque), driving capabilities with the small driver are severely limited because the bottle opener is in the way...


The blade, again, shown from both sides. I find that when using the blade, the bottle opener likes to dig into my ring finger...


The chisel-ground package opener. Again, the bottle opener likes to dig into my finger when using this...


Showing the well-known rubbing handles...


After only three opening-and-closing cycles, it looks like this...

[N_N_R]

Thanks for the awesome pictures! I was considering the Dime once, then I went for the Squirt PS4 ... it seems I did the right thing.

[Grant Lamontagne]

That depends on who you talk to.  My PS4 is blah at best and I really like the Dime.  Where JNieporte says he finds the bottle opener digs into his fingers I say I like the extension of the handle.  Where he says the file is blocked by the bottle opener I say it's ok because the file on the Dime sucks just as bad as the one on the PS4 anyway.

It's all a matter of personal taste- I like the Dime better, some other folks like the Squirt and others don't like either. 

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks for the awesome pictures! I was considering the Dime once, then I went for the Squirt PS4 ... it seems I did the right thing.

I agree with Grant. My P4s are not great, and my Style PS just broke on the scissors same as yours  My Dimes are better than my Squirts - better in quality, and better for me too. It seems there is no right answer other than what is best for you ... and how lucky you are to get a good one or bad one

[Syph007]

It also seems first impressions are based on if your tool has any imperfections too.  I didn't like the PS4 at all, but still love the older P4 so much I bought 4 as 'backup'.  I haven't tried a Dime, but don't 'need' one so I haven't bothered.

[JNieporte]

...Where he says the file is blocked by the bottle opener I say it's ok because the file on the Dime sucks just as bad as the one on the PS4 anyway.

It's all a matter of personal taste- I like the Dime better, some other folks like the Squirt and others don't like either. 

Def

I don't like either, to be perfectly honest. I prefer the Squirt more, but I'll stick with my Juice CS4 over either of them. Slips right into the pocket.

And yes, both files suck.

[Grant Lamontagne]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

[JNieporte]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

[AimlessWanderer]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

Needs scissors ... 

[JNieporte]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

Needs scissors ... 

You've got teeth, right? A 16d nail with a sharp point? A neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser cutter that you can stow in your pants pocket?

Scissors 

[AimlessWanderer]

This would be a pretty boring site if there was only one perfect tool that worked for everyone!

Def

Hammer + duct tape + WD40 = the perfect tool!

Needs scissors ... 

You've got teeth, right? A 16d nail with a sharp point? A neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser cutter that you can stow in your pants pocket?

Scissors 

[adfel]

A Nd-YAG-Laser that fits in my pocket?
Check.



I still need a holster for the heavy duty version and I must say that the anodization could be better…



(I'm working on bringing both lasers back online)

I don't trust the pliers on the dime. They might be longer and open wider but for me strength and durability are more important. I think the rivet on the dime will become loose much faster as it will experience greater force.

[Steinar]