New Craftsman Multitool Cheap or Not?

[trouthunter]

So recently I purchased a new Craftsman Multi-tool.  It is a newer design and in my opinion it appears to be to at least some basic tasks around the house or office. 

The tool its self is different from most other multi-tools out there.  The pliers head and tool is opened with a sliding mechanism that allows the plier head to retract in to the handles of the tool and keep the tool closed.  The pliers them self have a good grip and seem solid.  They are also spring loaded.  On one handle there is also precision screw driver with a removable two sided bit.  The bit hold will take the standard precision bits.  Although there is nothing really holding the bits in place so they do fall out.  As with most multi-tools there is a saw blade that is good for cutting off the occasional small branch or two.  On the other handle there is a can opener, bottle opener and standard screwdriver.  All seem more that capable of the job.  It seems solid but has some flex and would not work at all as a pry bar.  Then finally on this handle is a very sharp knife.  The blade its self is also very solid and has a nice polish to it.  It is laser etched with the Craftsman logo.

I have posted some picture for your pleasure.

[Landrew]

Chances are, if it has the same lifetime warranty as other Craftsman tools, it won't fall apart any time soon.

[nelson]

What do they cost?

I'd imagine anything under $20/£15 is cheap. Something you could take a chance buying without it hurting the wallet if it doesn't live up to expectations.


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[Gareth]

IIRC these are under $20 so seem like a very good price to me.  Very interesting MT I think, especially in that it takes standard precision screwdriver bits.

[radiotecha1234]

Looks like a gerber balance to me

[Lynn LeFey]

I can only find them around here at $25. I don't know how interested I am at that price. Under $20 might interest me.

Trouthunter, can you give us the weight on this tool?

[Landrew]

Looks like a gerber balance to me

It does look like that, with a few obvious differences.  Chances are that it may have come from the same manufacturer.

[trouthunter]

I can only find them around here at $25. I don't know how interested I am at that price. Under $20 might interest me.

Trouthunter, can you give us the weight on this tool?

Yeah, the weight is 233 grams or 8.3 ounces.

[rdub934]

I can only find them around here at $25. I don't know how interested I am at that price. Under $20 might interest me.

Trouthunter, can you give us the weight on this tool?

Yeah, the weight is 233 grams or 8.3 ounces.

Wow, heavy little bugger for what it is. Anyways, if I stumble across one for under $20 it will be mine - oh yes, it will be mine. 

[AimlessWanderer]

I can only find them around here at $25. I don't know how interested I am at that price. Under $20 might interest me.

Trouthunter, can you give us the weight on this tool?

Yeah, the weight is 233 grams or 8.3 ounces.

Wow, heavy little bugger for what it is. Anyways, if I stumble across one for under $20 it will be mine - oh yes, it will be mine. 

That is chunky 

Trout, could we have a size comparison with a "known" tool please? 

[trouthunter]

So here is comparision of the Craftsman Multi-Tool and a Original PST.

[AimlessWanderer]

Excellent, thanks mate 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I know the ergonomics are better with a lot of these new tools, but it sure seems to add a lot of bulk too.  It would be nice to see designers somehow incorporating more function into the extra size.

Def

[J-sews]

I picked up one of these Craftsman tools recently. It clearly borrows from the Gerber Balance design, but its not quite as refined in my opinion. And there's no real definite evidence that they both came from the same factory. 


Balance is smaller and fits in my hand (and in my pocket) better than the Craftsman









Gerber sliding mechanism is slick and quick to use, because the slot it rides in is "parallel", and offers no resistance. Craftsman slider runs in a tapered slot, and tends to "wedge" the further I slide it forward. This would probably be something the user would get accustomed to over time, but still.......points to Gerber








Pliers themselves however are longer and thicker on the Craftsman tool. Makes the Gerber pliers feel sorta cheap and flimsy in comparison:







Both tools have four folding tools, but the selection is entirely different. One similarity is the hex driver, but oddly enough the larger Craftsman tool uses a tiny little hex bit, whereas the smaller Gerber tool uses a larger 4mm hex bit.

[Landrew]

I see a bit of a Fiskars look to it.

[J-sews]

If I were to bet, I'd say it was definitely "inspired by" the Balance, but not made by the same people or in the same factory or anything like that.

[dks]

I know the ergonomics are better with a lot of these new tools, but it sure seems to add a lot of bulk too.  It would be nice to see designers somehow incorporating more function into the extra size.

Def

Wenger should be first... Ranger??

[Lynn LeFey]

J-sews,
Great comparison. Thanks!

Grant... yeah, I'm with you on the added weight thing. Inefficient use of space and mass on tools that are by their function intended to save space and mass makes me a little crazy.

[Gareth]

Great shots Bob, very helpful.  

[AimlessWanderer]

Great shots Bob, very helpful.

Absolutely! Cheers Bob 

[mikekoz]

    Does the Craftsman have locking tools/blades? I know this thread is old, just am hoping somebody still owns one!! I saw this today, but Sears wanted $30.00 for it which I thought was a bit much.

[mikekoz]

Found my answer...it does not have locking tools! Will probably not be adding this to my collection!

[n4vgm]

I'm more interested in the Gerber after this review. Something to "research" at work tomorrow.

[jerseydevil]

I'm more interested in the Gerber after this review. Something to "research" at work tomorrow.

The Balance is a nice tool.  There are several good reviews of it on here, especially the one by 50ft-Trad.  It does have its fans here, and I'm one.  It's my favorite small plier-based tool. 

[kerwin]

If anyone is interested, the victorinox cybertool bits fit the driver on the craftsman tool. They are a bit shorter, but fit fine.

[Etherealicer]

Both tools have four folding tools, but the selection is entirely different. One similarity is the hex driver, but oddly enough the larger Craftsman tool uses a tiny little hex bit, whereas the smaller Gerber tool uses a larger 4mm hex bit.
(Image removed from quote.)

Wait, does that mean Victorinox CT bits, fit into the Gerber Balance? Thought that the Balance has some odd sized bits.

So the balance has a 4mm and a 1/4" bit driver?

[Etherealicer]

Both tools have four folding tools, but the selection is entirely different. One similarity is the hex driver, but oddly enough the larger Craftsman tool uses a tiny little hex bit, whereas the smaller Gerber tool uses a larger 4mm hex bit.
(Image removed from quote.)

Wait, does that mean Victorinox CT bits, fit into the Gerber Balance? Thought that the Balance has some odd sized bits.

So the balance has a 4mm and a 1/4" bit driver?

did some digging: No they won't