Leatherman Surge

[Tarrodemierda]

I think we should ban all tool talk completely. 

I agree, part of my "problem" with the Surge is that I wanted to really like it (as LM123 would say, it has everything!  ) and I just didn't  , and I think I am more disappointed than anything.

Compared to my Charge and my Supertool I do still feel it is not as nicely finished though.

i ve had two charges too,theyre so good on finishing,but maybe,just maybe its partly because of those cast handles that appear and feel more comfortable,so the whole tool seems also a bit better made.?

ive had supertools too and i liked em as well.


but now i have a SURGE!!! and i wouldnt trade it for those mentioned above due to its huge size and heavy duty design.

 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You just wait until my Skeletool review 


Dunc

[Sea Monster]

I don't have a good Camera so I can't show you the poor finish.

I don't mind the "rough"ness of the sheet metal edges, but all the corners are not ground neatly, some have half a mm of flat, or a different radius to the matching corner opposite etc- as if this was ground by an apprentice & not a highly calibrated machine.
One inside corner has either a crack or a dent right in the "L" of it

The end fittings that hole the inside tools are attached crooked, and have large, inconsistent gaps between themselves & the rest of the handle

To describe the blade exchanger failure- when I pull out the saw using the nail nick at the tip-end, the Saw & middle part of the mount come out, but the outside sheet that holds it in remains in the handle.

I have tried squeezing this part so it holes the Saw tighter to no avail, as the handles themselves squeeze it enough to loosen it again next time I draw the Saw.


In actual use so far I have only used the scissors to cut cloth - they work fabulously.

After three days in my pocket, the bead-blasted areas are already gathering Rust Spots (Something I never had an issue with with my PST, which I have frequently used in aquatic adventures)


Edit - After careful examination, I can see that one side of the handles is flaired in slightly (same on matching side - So Saw & Scissors slightly bent in, both knives slightly bent out)

is this a design thing, or are the handled supposed to have a nice U shape profile and mine are skewed?

[max6166]

I am looking forward to the successor to the Surge. I like a lot of the Surge's ideas, and a "Surge 2009" model would give LM a chance to address many of these issues, and add more neat tricks.

A tool is much more than the some of its implements. Issues like handles, feel, snap, design, colour, etc. shape our appreciation of a tool as much as its utility. That is why Vic has such a loyal following, and why people spend a lot extra to get the Charge's handles instead of just getting a Wave.

A tight, snappy tool just feels more reliable and well-engineered. As a consumer, I am put off by looseness or rattles, etc. In reality, the snap of the tools may not affect the reliability of a tool, but it is what I have come to expect.

Actually, I have a suspicion that people who coming from the SAK world are much more judgmental about the snap and tightness of a tool than others.


As well, visual appearance matters. The Charge looks great. So does the Spirit. And the Skeletool. Look at everyone going ga-ga over alox in another thread.

I think at this point in the history of multitools, the emphasis is increasingly going to focus on looks and feel. Let's face it, that is all that differentiates many MTs. And I am not against it at all. I'll buy the very first Surge II with HAIII iPod pink handles that LM puts out! 

[DaveK]

There's some weird sounding things there Nomad. Where did you get it from? I'm wondering if you've got a dud, as I have none of these issues with mine.

I understand the problem with the blade exchanger now, although I can't make it happen with mine. I always use the protruding part of the exchanger itself as a nail nick to get the blade out (I thought that was what it was for tbh).

Edit - After careful examination, I can see that one side of the handles is flaired in slightly (same on matching side - So Saw & Scissors slightly bent in, both knives slightly bent out)

is this a design thing, or are the handled supposed to have a nice U shape profile and mine are skewed?

The U shape should be consistent from top to bottom, the top and bottom of the cavity that each of the external tools fold into should be parallel to each other. I.e lying the tool down flat on its side, the upper surface should be level and even.  If I understand you right, it sounds like your tool has been squished?

[Hoghead]

I'll buy the very first Surge II with HAIII iPod pink handles that LM puts out! 

Not me buddy, I don't do pink. It's BO for me and purple for my wife.   

[Sea Monster]

If I understand you right, it sounds like your tool has been squished?

More like twisted, as it goes inwards on one side and outwards on the other.

I am looking forward to the successor to the Surge. I like a lot of the Surge's ideas, and a "Surge 2009" model would give LM a chance to address many of these issues, and add more neat tricks.

I have always preferred Mk II

(With the general exception of Movies)

[Sea Monster]

This just in:

The Surge can opener is as to PST can opener what lightning is as to a matchstick.

Hot Damn! I've never cracked into tinned liver so fast!

Does anyone have links to External Surge reviews? I want to know on what basis this thing is touted so highly.


Edit:

I performed a little tool servicing this morning.
For the most part, this means emptying a can of lubricant into it, but I also bent the lock on the blade-exchanged a bit so it works better now, and I worried the tabs inside the handles that close the plier head so that it closes sooner (ie. Before it puts huge gouges into the "hex" bit holder. The downside is now the handles don't snap as close together.)

Edit II:
Cutting Cable Ties - Good Fun!

[duckman1975]

the bit holder and the can opener on my SURGE doesn't properly close tight when closed, it doesn't bother me much but does anybody else have this problem. Both just flew open when I do the one hand open flip on the pliers.

[MultiMat]

the bit holder and the can opener on my SURGE doesn't properly close tight when closed, it doesn't bother me much but does anybody else have this problem. Both just flew open when I do the one hand open flip on the pliers.

Duckman I had the same issue with my Surge , tightening the screws fixed the problem, T10 security tool bit did the job nicely.

[duckman1975]

Thanks multimat, is it the same with the blades the screws sometimes rotate with the blade.

[MultiMat]

Thanks multimat, is it the same with the blades the screws sometimes rotate with the blade.

I have not had that problem the blade screws ,is the blade loose? You could try tightening it with the T10 security bit (make sure  it is hollow to accommodate the metal lump in the center of the screws) I think with the blade screw you may have to apply Loctite to stop it becoming loose again.Try tightening it & see what happens.   

[Sea Monster]

I used my Surge at work today (usually carry the PST for work but it is being used for another purpose at the moment)


Compared the the PST, using the Surge to cut steel welding rod was like caressing a supple breast.

Which is nice, because using the outside tools on the Surge is no fun at all.

[duckman1975]

Thanks multimat, is it the same with the blades the screws sometimes rotate with the blade.

I have not had that problem the blade screws ,is the blade loose? You could try tightening it with the T10 security bit (make sure  it is hollow to accommodate the metal lump in the center of the screws) I think with the blade screw you may have to apply Loctite to stop it becoming loose again.Try tightening it & see what happens.   

Bought 2 sets of T10 security torx thighten the lose parts and its good to go
I love my SURGE the only time its not beside me is when I go out of my province.
I have a maintenance schedule of around every 3 months, I wash down the whole tool with water and soap, towel it down and sun dry it for 15 mins or until bone dry sometimes use a hair dryer if I'm in a hurry, be careful of the rubber part of the scissors when doing this. After drying use wd40 on the whole tool then wipe excess.

[MultiMat]

Bought 2 sets of T10 security torx thighten the lose parts and its good to go
I love my SURGE the only time its not beside me is when I go out of my province.
I have a maintenance schedule of around every 3 months, I wash down the whole tool with water and soap, towel it down and sun dry it for 15 mins or until bone dry sometimes use a hair dryer if I'm in a hurry, be careful of the rubber part of the scissors when doing this. After drying use wd40 on the whole tool then wipe excess.

Good to hear buddy

[Magic Bus]

The Surge was my first MT. I bid on a Wave on ebay, and received the Surge  Did I get a bonus??

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's a bonus until you throw your back out from carrying it on your belt! 

Def

[NutSAK]

I guess it depends on how you want to look at it.  Typically, the Surge is a bit more expensive than the Wave.  But, you still don't have a Wave. 

I would suspect that a used Surge might be a bit harder to sell on the used market, due to the Wave's popularity.

[Magic Bus]

I guess it depends on how you want to look at it.  Typically, the Surge is a bit more expensive than the Wave.  But, you still don't have a Wave. 

I would suspect that a used Surge might be a bit harder to sell on the used market, due to the Wave's popularity.

In a NutSHELL   

[MultiMat]

The Surge was my first MT. I bid on a Wave on ebay, and received the Surge  Did I get a bonus??

That there big boy is a bonus mate ,ignore those ignorant heathens. Get a Wave as well The removable interchangeable file(DIAMOND ) Saw on the Surge, is a ripper

[Magic Bus]

The Surge was my first MT. I bid on a Wave on ebay, and received the Surge  Did I get a bonus??

That there big boy is a bonus mate ,ignore those ignorant heathens. Get a Wave as well The removable interchangeable file(DIAMOND ) Saw on the Surge, is a ripper

I did do too mate