I received 2 big packages from Deal Extreme. I can thank Gareth for this latest batch of ordering. He made a thread in this forum regarding a removable hatchet tool. That led me to Deals Extreme, and this eventual order. I cannot resist stupid, weird, and wacky MTs.
So I lugged these heavy packages into my living room, gleefully opening them up to find what lurked inside. Whilst doing this, I threw the packaging on the floor to Gracy's delight.
I ordered another one of these simply because it was so cheap.
The next tool is Gareth's special. It comes in a nice sheath that opens up via Velcro.
Opening up the sheath, you see separate compartments for each handle and head.
Opening this up a little further, we can now see the handles, the head, and a few driver bits added for good measure.
Now, when I first saw this thing from a link that Gareth posted, I had assumed your could attach the handles to both sides, thereby flipping the head for function. I was wrong. You can only slot the handles into the head a single way. The handles slot right in, and I must admit, it is a secure enough mechanism.
Once the handles are attached, and you squeeze the handles, you can swing this all day and it shouldn't come out. I tried it several times...admittedly away from expensive furniture and cats.
I found it weird that the lower plier jaws are meant to be used where they are found, below the pivot point. Not to mention that the tips of the south pliers show lack of quality as one is longer than the other. You can see where someone ground one side more than the other.
Other than that little bit of defect, everything is surprisingly flat, flush, and well made. The rubber grips on the removable handles are effective.
The hatchet is a bit of a lark though. The claw end has a built in nail remover...odd considering you wouldn't be axing nails with the other end.
Overall, a weird tool with lots of quirks. The handle mechanism is very effective and should prevent too many fatal accidents. These little camp hatchets never fail to but a smile on my face. I smile because of the absurdity of such tools.
The sheath on this next tool is super cheap and thin.
This one has a trick however, on the back, there is a secret pouch where the driver bits hide.
This tool is massive and heavy. Strangely well made for the price.
An adjustable wrench places this tool decidedly on the weird side of the MT world. That is of course above the hammer option. Does this make it twice as weird?
This tool also features those neat folding pliers, and the standard cheap multi-tool shaped tools.
This next tool is interesting. The sheath has two sections.
Hmmm...this is interesting indeed.
Wow...look at that pedigree and beauty!
Notice the same type of folding tools. I gather most of these are made in the same factory in China...and or, this is the standard blueprint for cheap tools in China. Either way, this one is special in all the extra functions they included in the main tool. You have a hammer, adjustable wrench, pliers, etc...
Ah and this is one trick pony. You can remove the hammer head and substitute it with a bit driver adapter.
Overall, this is a real beast of a tool. It is large, heavy, and very functional. I am a bit surprised at the quallity of these cheap tools. My only niggle with this one, the worm drive screw is a bit sloppy, meaning it can be pushed side to side...making its use a bit harder than it needed to be. You can't just thumb it on one side...but have to support the other side with a finger.
This next beautiful tool has wooden handles. Not only that, they are very well fit to the metal furnishings. Is surprises me at the attention to details in some of these cheap tools.
This one features a needle nose plier along with the hammer feature.
The pliers are surprisingly well made with no sloppiness in the plier joints, etc.
Overall, I like this tool a lot. I do have a weakness for wooden handled tools. This one is exquisitely made with a seamless joint between wood and metal. The shape is unusual as well. Not the most comfortable tool to EDC though.
This next tool is another wooden handled monstrosity.
Usual tool selection...but that wood does make a nice contrast with all that metal.
Once again, tight fit in the head department.
Overall, not as nice as the previous wooden handled MT in fit and finish of the handles. On the other hand, This one would be better if I had to hold in while working outside in the winter.
The next tool is similar with a plastic handle.
Mostly the same tool with different looks. Personally, I like wooden handles.
Not much to say here.
Overall, the same as the above tool but with different handle options.
Here is my take on these tools. They are all dirt cheap and come from China. However, these companies have definitely ramped up their quality control. Most of these tools come with the cheapest sheaths, however, some offer weird and useful tool options. Overall, quality is not bad when it comes to handles, and head/hatchet/hammer/plier head. Where all of these tools do fail, are its folding tools. They are decidedly on the cheap side of things. All tools do not lock, some are lose, most clump something fierce. The quality is questionable at best. With that said though, for light use, not bad. There exist a duality in quality here that appears to be incongruous to the overall build quality. You can't compare these to name brands...but then again, would you ever see something this off the wall from a name brand company?
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