Kirks long term Fit-ness test

[Farmman]

You don't need pictures on a thread like this when you've got a good description and imagination. I think John's done a fantastic job really

You never did elaborate on why a Cybertool wasn't suitable though? It has nice long drivers, decent blade and scissors... doesn't have a good torch but you can carry an AAA light of Fauxton easily enough.

Thanks for the nice words Tom!

Sorry,yes,the Cybertool....

A Cyber-Yeoman would be almost perfect  Right,yes...the problem with the CT was the same one that tends to knacker most bit drivers for everyday( omg I'm going to regret this ) screwing...very often the screws I'm dealing with are in deep narrow recesses,so either the bit is too short to contact the screw head,or bit driver is too wide to enter the recess. Even the diminutive CT tripped up on this . On a not unrelated note,I'm considering copying your Wave mod

Thats why my favorite driver has been that long skinny phillips on the workchamp.  All the kids toys seem to have recessed screws that none of the normal phillips can reach. I wish that driver was an option on the 91mm SAKs.

I know.  If only there wasa talented modder on this forum that could make that happen.  We could call it the Christmas day survival sak.

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk

[enki_ck]

You don't need pictures on a thread like this when you've got a good description and imagination. I think John's done a fantastic job really

You never did elaborate on why a Cybertool wasn't suitable though? It has nice long drivers, decent blade and scissors... doesn't have a good torch but you can carry an AAA light of Fauxton easily enough.

Thanks for the nice words Tom!

Sorry,yes,the Cybertool....

A Cyber-Yeoman would be almost perfect  Right,yes...the problem with the CT was the same one that tends to knacker most bit drivers for everyday( omg I'm going to regret this ) screwing...very often the screws I'm dealing with are in deep narrow recesses,so either the bit is too short to contact the screw head,or bit driver is too wide to enter the recess. Even the diminutive CT tripped up on this . On a not unrelated note,I'm considering copying your Wave mod

Thats why my favorite driver has been that long skinny phillips on the workchamp.  All the kids toys seem to have recessed screws that none of the normal phillips can reach. I wish that driver was an option on the 91mm SAKs.

I know.  If only there wasa talented modder on this forum that could make that happen.  We could call it the Christmas day survival sak.

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk

Your mission, should you choose to accept it ...

[Syph007]

You don't need pictures on a thread like this when you've got a good description and imagination. I think John's done a fantastic job really

You never did elaborate on why a Cybertool wasn't suitable though? It has nice long drivers, decent blade and scissors... doesn't have a good torch but you can carry an AAA light of Fauxton easily enough.

Thanks for the nice words Tom!

Sorry,yes,the Cybertool....

A Cyber-Yeoman would be almost perfect  Right,yes...the problem with the CT was the same one that tends to knacker most bit drivers for everyday( omg I'm going to regret this ) screwing...very often the screws I'm dealing with are in deep narrow recesses,so either the bit is too short to contact the screw head,or bit driver is too wide to enter the recess. Even the diminutive CT tripped up on this . On a not unrelated note,I'm considering copying your Wave mod

Thats why my favorite driver has been that long skinny phillips on the workchamp.  All the kids toys seem to have recessed screws that none of the normal phillips can reach. I wish that driver was an option on the 91mm SAKs.

I know.  If only there wasa talented modder on this forum that could make that happen.  We could call it the Christmas day survival sak.

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk

Your mission, should you choose to accept it ...

(Image removed from quote.)

For sure possible, but expensive to buy 111mm outriders for donors!   I think Id rather plan a new 91/93mm layer of 2 small tipped drivers that fold in on each other.  Long phillips and long flat head.  It would be a thinner layer than the large phillips too.  I like the idea.

[kirk13]

9 November

Last day of the Fit!  Initially,I'd planned to run the test for thirty days,then early into the third week decided to cut it short,largely because I didn't think there was much more to learn. By the end of the 9th,in reality its best the test is ending,purely for safety reasons!

Saturdays are fairly low use multitool days at work. Yesterday more than usual as the Christmas lights were being switched on in the London through fair outside our front door

Aside from a bit of light box bashing,the main task yesterday was replacing the batteries in the Famous Brand Cola diorama on our ground floor. This was a challenging task for a number of reasons...firstly,having to stand,or kneel in one place for more than thirty seconds on the ground floor is an invitation for the general public to push you over and trample you to death. Secondly,it was a pain because the diorama is four foot long,has to be balanced half out of the shelf to gain access to the batteries,and you have to kneel down to get to the retaining screw.

This is where the Fit failed twice in close succession.

Firstly was the bit size chosen...its a number two Phillips,which struggled badly...very badly. Working with the tool in the vertical it battled to keep purchase in the screw head. Secondly,the problem I'd been encountering with the blade deploying reared its ugly head again. On two occasions I nearly nipped my self with the blade. Really not good!

Of course being Kirk,I'd neglected to take the correct number of batteries with me,and had to repeat the whole task a second time

Still,it's over now! I'll be back later with my final conclusions and contusions

[Cupboard]

 

It could be Gerber's answer to the SAK if it wasn't a bit rubbish.

[Gareth]

Thing is; Gerber have made a few non-plier based tools over the years.  The Mulit-Lite, Neptune, Bear Grylls thingy, and others.  You can't say that they are not persistent.

[Farmman]

You don't need pictures on a thread like this when you've got a good description and imagination. I think John's done a fantastic job really

You never did elaborate on why a Cybertool wasn't suitable though? It has nice long drivers, decent blade and scissors... doesn't have a good torch but you can carry an AAA light of Fauxton easily enough.

Thanks for the nice words Tom!

Sorry,yes,the Cybertool....

A Cyber-Yeoman would be almost perfect  Right,yes...the problem with the CT was the same one that tends to knacker most bit drivers for everyday( omg I'm going to regret this ) screwing...very often the screws I'm dealing with are in deep narrow recesses,so either the bit is too short to contact the screw head,or bit driver is too wide to enter the recess. Even the diminutive CT tripped up on this . On a not unrelated note,I'm considering copying your Wave mod

Thats why my favorite driver has been that long skinny phillips on the workchamp.  All the kids toys seem to have recessed screws that none of the normal phillips can reach. I wish that driver was an option on the 91mm SAKs.

I know.  If only there wasa talented modder on this forum that could make that happen.  We could call it the Christmas day survival sak.

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk

Your mission, should you choose to accept it ...

(Image removed from quote.)

well having just finished my first 91mm mod today (put pliers into an explorer) I think it will be quite some time before I try cross size stuff

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[kirk13]

Final round up!

Blade: The lock is reliable-ish. I would prefer either a full PE,or a full SE blade. Being hollow ground didn't help. It took a while to get used to it ,but it was up to the job of box bashing and cable /wrapping cutting. However it made heavy weather of cutting fruit,and of precision cutting.     OVERALL: adequate

Scissors: Surprisingly,the least used tool! More surprisingly,other people made more use of them than I did! They're perfectly fine for normal usage. They did pass the Cupboard test,but they wouldn't be my first choice for cable tie cutting.     OVERALL: adequate

Small drivers: my favourite tools on the Fit. Bit of a PITA to get to,but they passed all tests thrown at them bar one. The test it failed was beyond its means,but very few MTs of any make would have passed!    OVERALL: Excellent

Bit driver: This should have been the jewel in the crown.  Early on,50ft-trad raised concerns over the spot weld construction. In genuinely heavy use,I'd share that concern! The bit size is quarter inch,but the double ended bit is a non standard length,and relies on a small spring loaded BB for retention. My feeling is that a magnitised bit holder,for standerd quarter inch bits would be much better, its one of winning features of the Wenger MiniGrip. I'd considered modding the bit driver,but now...?

I never tried the cap lifter,but I'm sure it works fine. OVERALL:  Adequate

Torch: As good as,if not better than the assorted Tank,Fenix and Olight single cell torches I normally use. Ok,it's a single mode,but the clicky switch never activated in my pocket,it gives plenty of light in a dark stockroom,and gave no issues with overheating! The real winner in the test.   OVERALL: Excellent

[kirk13]

Final round up continued!

Teasers: never used them,no rating

Fit,Finish and Quality: This is where the Fit really fell short! The plastic scales feel tacky. They show no signs of damage,but they're just...tacky!

The lock mechanism is fairly standard Gerber fair,and whilst it has reliably kept the chosen tool safely in place,it has,after only ten or twelve days use,started allowing other tools to open unbidden. A simple flick of the wrist can now start all the main tools opening.

This is very worrying! On the last day of the test,I nearly nipped myself twice when using the bit driver. I'd be starting to worry about tools deploying in my pocket if the test were to continue!   OVERALL: Fail

Other impressions: My co-workers are somewhat non phased about my 'man-tools',but the Fit was well recieved and much commented on...and all comments were positive!

My feeling is that the blade is over aggressive in appearance,and I never felt comfortable using it on the shop floor. The ergonomics are iffy. It's not a tool you use by instinct.

The fact that I had to start using a pouch says more about the quirks of my body than of any fault with the tool. It is eminently pocketable!    OVERALL: Should be an excellent,but based of usage? FAIL!

CONCLUSIONS

Sadly the Fit is an outright fail. More worryingly,it's a potentially dangerous fail!

The main problem I reckon,is that the Fit wasn't designed for everyday use. Its meant to live in a drawer,at a shop,or in the kitchen;to be used once in a blue moon,not several times a day.

If it has failed,and it has,it's because it's been well out of its comfort zone.

I paid twenty quid or there abouts...I can't be that upset, but given that the general rrp is around Forty pounds,it massively over valued.

Sorry Gerber,but the Fit is Unfit!

[Grathr]

Thank you for testing the Fit properly in the real world. I have been considering to get a Fit, but have now dacided not to.
Thanks Kirk

[kirk13]

Thank you for testing the Fit properly in the real world. I have been considering to get a Fit, but have now dacided not to.
Thanks Kirk

Pleasure!

I think

[Gareth]

I really, really hoped the Fit would fair better, but with the lock being dodgy I can understand why you'd not be happy.  The real shame of it is that the Gerber lock system is normally a good one in my experience.

[Farmman]

Yes sorry for the hi jack crappertalk posted hours after I wrote.
Kirk you have gone well above what could be expected. You carried a Gerber for a full three weeks! Now grab yourself a can.

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[enki_ck]

Took me a few seconds to figure out the Teasers. Also I'd give it a few points for the flashlight. But overall, if the multitool fails to keep its blades in while other tools are being used, BIG FAIL.

Thanks for doing the real life use testing for us, Kirky.

But I'm afraid that based on your experiences with the tool, I won't be adding one to my gear arsenal.

[kirk13]

It could be Gerber's answer to the SAK if it wasn't a bit rubbish.

Big +1 to that!!

Took me a few seconds to figure out the Teasers.

You had me going there! Guess some distant relative of mine must have programmed the Apple spell check

Yes sorry for the hi jack crappertalk posted hours after I wrote.
Kirk you have gone well above what could be expected. You carried a Gerber for a full three weeks! Now grab yourself a can.

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk

No apology necessary Farmman...it ain't a MTo thread with out a derailment In fairness to Gerber I've carried my MP425 for per longed periods,as well as the Clutches,Dimes and Fliks. It just seems Gerber has no consistancy. I do wonder if the fail tools can be linked to the respective factories they from?

I really, really hoped the Fit would fair better, but with the lock being dodgy I can understand why you'd not be happy.  The real shame of it is that the Gerber lock system is normally a good one in my experience.

Not much I can say other than to agree!

[kirk13]

Ones thing I had forgot...

MENTIONS IN DISPATCHES

Honourable mention must be made to the LM Mini,that,when called on,performed well beyond my expectations. I've enjoyed the Mini for its fiddle factor,but it performed very well as full sized pliers!

The little one layer Alox Wenger is a lovely little Gentleman's folder,and served with distinction of food chopping duties at lunch time In a correction to earlier posts,it's not a Pocket Pal,but a Patriot.

[Nhoj]

That's too bad the tools open like that. I see the fit a lot at Target but I think it's a little ugly for me. Especially the giant orange scales on the orange version.

[AimlessWanderer]

Fit,Finish and Quality: This is where the Fit really fell short! The plastic scales feel tacky. They show no signs of damage,but they're just...tacky!

Your scales are plastic? Mine aren't

Whe I read this I had top go to the car to grab mine and check, and sure enough my memory wasn't failing me this time ... anodised aluminium. While I'd got it, I figured I'd test out what you are saying about the tool locks. Mine do not move BUT that's due to friction of the tools, and because this went straight into the glove compartment when I got it, it hasn't done much work. With the bit driver locked out, I can raise the knife and scissors maybe 10 degrees before they start hitting the lock mechanism - more than enough to cause injury. I hadn't noticied it before, as mine doesn't just slop out with the friction on the scales/liners.

I did notice that mine has developed a very serious problem though. I decided to turn on the torch to check there was still life in the battery. Nothing ... and then I figured out why ... no battery cover!



I went back and emptied the glove box to see if it had dropped in there, but no cover or battery, so this has happened when I've had the tool out for use sometime  With this issue and the lock issue Kirky discovered I think that's pretty much Game Over for this tool, and a SAK and Thrunite T20 have taken it's place in the car. However, it does look like the scissors might be about the same thickness as the knife blade on the Octane ..... 

Now where did I put my micrometer ..... ?

[kirk13]

You must be right about the anodized aluminum,but it still feels tacky!

If the scissors fit the Octane then

[AimlessWanderer]

It may be possible to adapt them to fit, but remember they are on different locking mechanisms. I'd need to take both apart to tell for sure, but I don't have the driver bit (or the time) at present

[kirk13]

It may be possible to adapt them to fit, but remember they are on different locking mechanisms. I'd need to take both apart to tell for sure, but I don't have the driver bit (or the time) at present

Spoilsport!

[CanadianLMfan]