Oh, so shiny and sharp!

[b.macavoy]

Hello, My name is Beth and I live in Michigan (for now).
I know very little about these fantastic gadgets, but I can't wait to start learning.
Where should I start?

[David]

Hi Beth and welcome to      Where to start?     What are your interests and needs in a MT?  A Leatherman Micra might be a good tool to start with. 

[Farmman]

Hi Beth. Probably I would start with a tool from each main camp. A pliers based model and also a sak. I would get ones with as many features as possible to start with. That way you can decide what you actually use and don't. Then further purchases can be made based on this information, making your choice lighter and slimmer/ more compact.  Sounds easy, however most of us will agree we are still searching for our own perfect multi.

[dks]

but I can't wait to start learning.
Where should I start?

Welcome Beth.

For reading, I suggest these links: (also on the top right of your screen)

http://www.multitool.org/

http://www.sakwiki.com/

[N_N_R]

Hi, Beth! I was just like you- knowing very little about those things, but still hopelessly in love with them! I came here because I was interested in the LM Micra, so there's where I started - reading the threads devoted to it. Then, I also like flashlights, so I read some threads about Fenix.... and eventually I got interested in browsing people's EDC pictures.... so here I am with over a hundred posts in no time

[Zed]

Welcome beth, Hmm where to start  well you could go SAK but there are so many and it might take you a while to find the model you like, the explorer is a good start or a tinker if you want smaller, MT wise a leatherman wave is a good start for a full size model, but there are so many too choose from, what are your daily needs 

[Lynn LeFey]

Translation of some of the Alphabet Soup being thrown at you...

MT = Multitool
LM = Leatherman

While plier-based multitools are sometimes generically referred to as 'Leatherman', on this site when someone says Leatherman, they actually mean a tool made by the Leatherman company, as opposed to SOG, Gerber, Victorinox, etc.

EDC = 'Every Day Carry': the stuff most people have on them every day, usually in their pockets.

SAK = Swiss Army Knife

Hope this helps translate some of the lingo in the previous posts. 

[N_N_R]

Translation of some of the Alphabet Soup being thrown at you...

A good idea

[enki_ck]

Welcome Beth, you'll love it here.

Translation of some of the Alphabet Soup being thrown at you...

MT = Multitool
LM = Leatherman

While plier-based multitools are sometimes generically referred to as 'Leatherman', on this site when someone says Leatherman, they actually mean a tool made by the Leatherman company, as opposed to SOG, Gerber, Victorinox, etc.

EDC = 'Every Day Carry': the stuff most people have on them every day, usually in their pockets.

SAK = Swiss Army Knife

Hope this helps translate some of the lingo in the previous posts. 

Great effort Lynn, also look at this thread for other popular acronyms.
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,2260.msg27186.html#msg27186

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hi Beth, just hang out here for a while and I'm sure you'll absorb all you ever wanted to know about tools. We aim for a good community first and foremost so just relax and enjoy yourself here. When you have questions, someone will be happy to answer.

Welcome to the forum.

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[nuphoria]

Good to have you with us

Just let us know what your needs are in a tool and we'll bombard you with lots of reasons to spend your money

[b.macavoy]

Thank you so much for the warm welcome.  I can see I will be comfortable here.
The link to the acronyms is so helpful. 
Now, I am off to learn about tools!  Multitools!


Beth

[AHB]

Good to have you here Beth.. 

[edcgear]

Welcome! Good to have you here!

[knestle]

Hey, Beth,

I posted this story here over a year ago. Just for your benefit I am reposting it.

-------------------------------------------------------------


   I got a used LM Surge at a VERY good price on ebay, Since I knew it was coming I purchased a belt clip from the LM web site and had it ready to install.
   I had been fondling my new toy for about a half hour when I remembered I was supposed to meet friends for dinner. I couldn't bear to leave my new toy at home, so I clipped it to my belt and headed out to the restaurant
   My three friends were waiting for me.
   As I slipped into the booth I noticed a long thread hanging from my shirt cuff. I scrounged in my pocket, produced my LM Micra and snipped off the thread.
   One of my friends on the other side of the booth pulled out his LM Wave, flicked open the pointy blade, which I considered inappropriate in a family restaurant, and chided me: “You should get one of there!”
   I dug in my pocket and produced my LM Wave, and laid it in the table by my Micra. I did not open the blade. I said: “I've got one of those.”
   Unable to resist, I said: “I've also got one of these.” I pulled my new(used) LM Surge from my belt, popped open the big pointy blade(I know, wrong place), and laid it along side my Micra and Wave.
   The Surge was still quite new at the time and none of the other guys had yet seen one.
   A gray haired lady sitting at a table across the aisle from our booth looked across and saw my display of hardware. I was quite surprised when she gave me a big approving smile, as if I had laid out my grandmother's best silver.
   Then a waitress came down the aisle She was working the other side of the restaurant but had to pass our booth to get to the kitchen.
   She saw my hardware laid out on the table and stopped to look. She picked up the Surge and hefted it in the palm of her hand. She said: “I like big tools!”
   The booths in front and back of us, and two tables across the aisle all burst out in laughter at her double entendre.
   Then she closed the blade one-handed(press the liner lock with the thumb and rotate the blade with the forefinger). I ALWAYS do it granny style(depress the liner lock with the right thumb, and close the blade with the palm of the left hand..) I was impressed! That blade was stiff, still is!
   She laid the Surge back in place on the table and continued toward the kitchen.
   The manager had heard the outburst of laughter. He left his post at the register and wandered down our aisle to see what was going on. We all closed and pocketed our various pieces of hardware, and by the time the manager arrived in our area everyone was busy cutting meat and stabbing veggies with restaurant supplied utensils.
   After the manager had passed, the gray haired lady across the aisle gave me a big wink, and her husband smiled.
   When we were ready to leave my friends took the aisle straight to the front of the restaurant I detoured over to the other side where the waitress who had caused so much amusement at our booth had been serving a family of seven. The cheap smurf had left a three dollar tip. I dropped another five dollars on the table and headed for my friends at the check out. My mother worked as a waitress most of her life.

[kirk13]

Hiya Beth,nice to have another lady amongst us.
Where to start?
1 Vic Super Tinker
2 LM MIcra
3 SOG Pocket Power plier Delux S45

think that covers it

Welcome to the mad house

[b.macavoy]

That is a great story!
"I like big tools.!" 
Now, I will just be waiting for an opportunity to use that line myself!
lol
Thanks for that big tip too, I tried to waitress, being in the Army was easier.
 

Beth

[b.macavoy]

The mad house sounds like fun.
Your avatar is cute, but a little confusing to me.
What are the cards?
 

Beth

[Craig]

Welcome aboard Beth.

[JAfromMn]

Welcome Beth

 I'm new here to but I've been a long time lurker here.

Micra or super tinker are great places to start

If you want a multitool the leatherman Wave is a excellent tool you may like and is definitely worth trying. It has all the basics in a affordable package.

There are so many good tool's I say enjoy trying as many as you can the perfect tool will find you 

[b.macavoy]

Thank you Craig.
Very friendly forum here.

[b.macavoy]

Welcome Beth

 I'm new here to but I've been a long time lurker here.

Micra or super tinker are great places to start

If you want a multitool the leatherman Wave is a excellent tool you may like and is definitely worth trying. It has all the basics in a affordable package.

There are so many good tool's I say enjoy trying as many as you can the perfect tool will find you 

I have heard good things about the Leatherman, I certainly will check it out.
I was thinking that the last line in your post would make a good sig line as a sort of zen approach to multitools, but then I thought about it, and maybe not!   

[JAfromMn]

Welcome Beth

 I'm new here to but I've been a long time lurker here.

Micra or super tinker are great places to start

If you want a multitool the leatherman Wave is a excellent tool you may like and is definitely worth trying. It has all the basics in a affordable package.

There are so many good tool's I say enjoy trying as many as you can the perfect tool will find you 

I have heard good things about the Leatherman, I certainly will check it out.
I was thinking that the last line in your post would make a good sig line as a sort of zen approach to multitools, but then I thought about it, and maybe not!   

I stand by my statement it's been working for me.

 I've enjoyed owning/using a lot of different multitool's and SAK's I haven't found my perfect tool but it's been a fun hunt

[b.macavoy]

I stand by my statement it's been working for me.

I am sorry JA, I did not mean it was a bad statement, I still think it is a cool approach.
 
I was thinking as a woman, and the funny story about the waitress. "I like big tools!"
Replace the word tools with men, and it made me laugh.

I hope to start my collection this month, using the wealth of knowledge on this forum.
Thank you for welcoming me, and I apologize for my  thoughts.

Beth

[JAfromMn]

I stand by my statement it's been working for me.

I am sorry JA, I did not mean it was a bad statement, I still think it is a cool approach.
 
I was thinking as a woman, and the funny story about the waitress. "I like big tools!"
Replace the word tools with men, and it made me laugh.

I hope to start my collection this month, using the wealth of knowledge on this forum.
Thank you for welcoming me, and I apologize for my  thoughts.

Beth

No offensive taken at all

Some of us have big tools and some just want one 

Don't change a bit Beth your thoughts put a smile on my face

[ducttapetech]

Hello Beth and welcome to MT.O. There is a vast amount of knowledge here. But be warned, sometimes threads kinda go astray if you know what I mean. 
Have fun!



 

[b.macavoy]

Some of us have big tools and some just want one 

Don't change a bit Beth your thoughts put a smile on my face

       

I wish there was a fell off my chair laugh!
Glad we got it right.
 

[b.macavoy]

Duct tape tech,
I finally figured that out.  I know duct tape is a wonder fixer, I have used it myself quite a few times. I don't have my tech degree yet, been side tracked by multi-tools. 

I saw some duct tape in the hardware store that was purple camo!     What's next?

Wait, I think I just went astray.   

Back to tools.   

[ducttapetech]

not many people figure that out ducttapetech out so fast if at all. Which is funny because i never meant it to look like a weird name or something. I have alot of people calling me ducti or ducta.

Ok going back on track........

[stack]

 Ok if I were a multitool I would say-

      BETH I HERE YOU CALLIN
      BETH WHAT CAN I DO?     


    Welcome!