Juice S2 vs. Deluxe Tinker

[Lynn LeFey]

This is a match-up I've been thinking about for quite some time. It's about as 'fair' and equal a match-up as can be had, given the very different form factors on the two tools.



Before I get into any detail, I wanted to say that this is maybe not so scientific as some of my previous tests. This is more a comparison of the tools from MY perspective... how they work for ME. YMMV.

Let's start with a run-down of the implements that the tools share, and what are unique to each.

Shared:
Main Blade
Can Opener
Bottle Opener
Scissors
Needle Nose Plier
Regular Plier
Phillips Driver
Large Flathead
Medium Flathead
Lanyard Ring

What's only on the Deluxe Tinker:
Small Blade
Awl
Toothpick
Tweezer
Wire Stripper
Wire Crimper
Parcel Hook

What's only on the Juice S2:
Wire Cutter
Hard Wire Cutter
Small Flathead

Both are 125g (4.4oz) in weight. This is largely why I find them so comparable. They are pushing toward the edge of what most folks find comfortable for pocket carry.

I purchased both at Grand Prairie Knives. The Juice was $42.50, The Deluxe Tinker was $38.95.

So, a tool-by-tool comparison. And again, keep in mind, this is just MY opinion.

Main Blade: While the Leatherman blade is very slightly more useful for thrusting (for instance, puncturing a package), the DT's blade is more useful on a day to day basis. This comes in most noticeably if the blade is forced into cutting food. Point to DT.

Can Opener: The blunt edge of the Juice's can opener makes initial puncture of a can tough. The Tinker's can opener wins this hands down. Outside of use specifically as a can opener, the Tinker still wins for various scratching and very light pry tasks. Point to DT.

Bottle Opener: Not much to say here. Both will lift a cap, although the Tinker is very slightly more likely to do it on the first pull. Too close to call, IMO.

Scissors: I prefer the 'wenger' spring system of the Leatherman tool, but the extra step to access (opening can opener first), and worse precision of the hinge, making them less useful for lefties, means I have to give this to the Deluxe Tinker.

Needle Nose Plier: As 'super tweezers', they are about equal. The shape of these two tools is so different that each will excel at certain tasks over the other. The Leatherman pulls ahead quickly with more substantial jobs. Point to Juice.

Regular Plier: The Juice wins this both in the range of size of bolt that could be manipulated AND the amount of force that could be applied. Point to Juice.

Phillips Driver: This is the first time in this review where I feel I might take some heat. Due to the position on the tool, I find the Juice's Phillips driver to be more useful. Even adding in the medium flathead as secondary phillips on the Deluxe Tinker, I still give this one to the Juice.

Large Flathead: This is very close. The design of each tool is such that each will have somewhat better reach in different circumstances. Both are excellent, and good light-duty pry tools. Too close to call.

Medium Flathead: As a dedicated driver, the Juice has a better medium flathead. Competing against the rounded off driver at the end of the can opener on the Deluxe Tinker, the Leatherman's driver wins.

Lanyard Ring: The immobile lanyard ring/splitring of the Sak may on occasion get in the way of function. The lanyard attachment of the Juice allows it to either be swiveled out of the way, or stowed away altogether. Point to the Juice.

Additional tools on the Deluxe Tinker:
Small Blade: Excellent option to keep a second, super-sharp blade available. Big point here.
Awl: An amazing, if (for me) not often needed addition. Another huge bonus.
Toothpick: Used WAY more often than I would have imagined. Very useful.
Tweezers: Another option that's not used by me all that often. Useful on those rare occasions, though.
Wire Stripper and Wire Crimper: Honestly, I NEVER use these.
Parcel Hook: Another option I've never used, but I see some potential.

Additional tools on the Juice:
Wire Cutter/Hard Wire Cutter: While not the most robust cutters, they will do a surprising amount of work. For the size of the tool, the cutters are, IMO, great. Big point here.
Small Flathead: This is perfect, if you need to adjust gun sights. Outside of that, it also works as a half decent awl. Okay addition.

Finish: The scales of the Juice are subject to scratching, removing the color from the tool. The scales on the Deluxe Tinker can be chipped and scratch pretty easily, but can also be replaced. I'm giving this one to the Deluxe Tinker.

So, added all up, in my opinion, who wins this? The entire conversation comes down to how much plier capability you need. Not much? I'd pick the Deluxe Tinker. Need more? Then the Juice wins. The Deluxe Tinker gives you more options, but some of those aren't as stout as the Juice's.

So, the winner is... ME! I have both now!

[jerseydevil]

Good review, thanks Lynn.    Looks like your results are similar to 50-ft's in his review:
http://forum.multitool.org/reviews/vic-deluxe-tinker-vs-lm-juice-cs4/

Al's thread convinced me to get a Deluxe Tinker.  Bad Englishman!      I've found that I don't need pliers all that much at work, and the other tools on a SAK tend to work more effectively for me.  I've been carrying a Swisschamp or a S557 only for the past week, and have had no problems.    Most of my plier work is little stuff, and the Vic or Wenger pliers do nicely.

[Lynn LeFey]

I think it almost completely comes down to how much you need pliers.

I like both tools. I regretted giving away my previous Juice S2, but it went to a worthy cause (someone who sadly had NO MTs).

I still think I would prefer a Super Tinker and Style PS to the Deluxe Tinker, at about the same weight. I don't think I'd bother, to get a Super Tinker, though, when I have a Climber. I actually find the can opener has covered all of my minor Phillips driver needs. So... Climber and Style PS combo?

[neillcurrie]

A little off topic, but if you are prepared to live with "smaller tools" (other than better pliers), I think the Squirt PS4 is an amazing little package.
And those "little tools" still usually get the job done quite well.

[Lynn LeFey]

I have a PS4. Nice little package.

[Gareth]

Nice head-to-head Lynn.  I think I agree with you on most, if not all, of your conclusions.  If pliers are important to you then it has to be the Juice, if not, then it has to be the SAK in my opinion.

[ironraven]

On paper, I'd go with the Juice. But I've never, ever cut myself opening the screwdrivers on a SAK; I have on ever Juice. They are just too tight and the small driver too close to an awl.

[captain spaulding]

Great review Lynn. 

I agree with mostly everything you have said with the exception of the lanyard ring. I personally have very little if any problems with the ring on a SAK getting in the way of any functionality of the tool and find the Juices lanyard to be very thick with a very small hole. It seems as if the lanyard on the Juice was either very poorly designed or a afterthought. Again, this is just my opinion.

Another great review between two similar yet very different tools. 

[CanadianLMfan]

Both the Deluxe Tinker and the S2 are both great in their own ways. Is the Vic really that heavy?

[smiller43147]

It might be un-scientific, but an interesting comparison.

[Fattsgalore]

I never find this comparison fair since a a middle weight is being matched up with a light weight.
 
The Juice is a medium duty MP while Vic's pliers are light duty micro pliers.
I think PS4 pliers vs Vic pliers would be a better comparison... I'd personally like to see a comparison of the two TBH.

[Lynn LeFey]

The Leatherman keychain scale pliers (Squirt and Style PS) beat the living snot out of the Vic 91mm, IMO. There, review done.

[captain spaulding]

The Leatherman keychain scale pliers (Squirt and Style PS) beat the living snot out of the Vic 91mm, IMO. There, review done.

 

[CanadianLMfan]

The Leatherman keychain scale pliers (Squirt and Style PS) beat the living snot out of the Vic 91mm, IMO. There, review done.

 

+1 Very true, Lynn.

[Etherealicer]

The Leatherman keychain scale pliers (Squirt and Style PS) beat the living snot out of the Vic 91mm, IMO. There, review done.

 

+1 Very true, Lynn.

+1

[AimlessWanderer]

The Leatherman keychain scale pliers (Squirt and Style PS) beat the living snot out of the Vic 91mm, IMO. There, review done.

Agreed ... and the Vic 91 slaughters it with everything else, so we're back where we started 

[lister]

Think about victorinox pliers as forceps and your life will be much easier... 

[Lynn LeFey]

Oh, I ABSOLUTELY agree that they make great forceps. I have called that 'super-tweezers' in the past, and for that, they are excellent. My only knock had been that the jaws were smooth, but that's apparently only the older style pliers (on my mid 80s Handyman).

In some instances, the shape of the plier head on the Vic will out-perform the Leatherman, and vice versa, but outside of that function, the Leatherman win.

50ft-trad. So far, the Vic Pliers are the only tool on the 91mm line-up that I haven't been completely pleased with. That's a pretty good track record.

[sticktodrum]

You mentioned that the Vic pliers don't have a wire cutter, but I believe it does...

[Lynn LeFey]

My handyman, with the older version pliers doesn't have a wire cutter at all.

There are wire cutters on the Deluxe Tinker, but every test I've done with wire cutters in the past used 12-gauge copper wire as the bottom end of testing, which will not fit in the Vic 91mm plier's wire cutter. It cuts paperclips and bread ties alright. But then, my SOG Crosscut scissors cuts those just as convincingly, in fact more-so. So, while I guess it's technically correct to say the 91mm pliers have a wire cutter, I'm a bit hesitant to actually CALL it a wire cutter, if you can cut the wire with scissors.

However, I appreciate being called to task on this. It meant I actually tested the extent of the plier's wire cutter, which is something I'd simply skipped before.

Also... wow, the SOG Crosscut scissors are pretty good light-gauge wire cutters. LOL

[Cupboard]

They seem to cut very well once you've got things in to their jaws. It's just a struggle to get anything in there.

[Lynn LeFey]

True, and to be fair, they are in line with the 'scale' of the pliers. Meaning, I also wouldn't imagine I'd be using the 91mm pliers to twist the 12-gauge copper wire either.

However, this means that they pliers on 91mm Vics is on a smaller scale than even keychain sized Leatherman pliers. Almost 'jeweler' scale.

[Goatlord666]

I'm rallying behing the Victorinox Deluxe Tinker on this one. Nice review lynn!!! For my needs, I take a Powerlock when I try to get lost in the woods (and I have successfully gotten lost more times that I'd dare admit) and having the tinker as an insurance plan has always worked to my relief. In fact I'll leave the powerlock and take the tinker if weight was so much of a consideration....so long story short - make mine the TINKER!