Colored Micras

J-sews · **on:** January 07, 2007, 01:58:25 AM

Everyone here has a Leatherman Micra don't they? If you are like most folks I know, you probably have several. One in the car, one in the tackle box, another in the wife's purse. But do you have any of the colored ones?

Leatherman recognized the appeal of colored Micras early on, but went through several renditions coming up with the best way to do it. At first they simply spray-painted the tools in various colors. However, paint doesn't stick well to stainless steel, and the colors would scratch off after a short time. The finish was beautiful, but not very durable.

The next attempt to colorize the Micra involved a second "skin" for the tool. Stamped out of aluminum, anodized in various colors, and then attached over the stainless steel handles, this skin was a lot better than plain paint. It is not even noticable unless you look closely. One big clue is the rectangular handle cutout for the tweezers, which is covered up by the aluminum skin. A simple fingernail cutout is all that's left.

I don't know if the aluminum skin still tended to scratch? Or maybe it was too expensive to produce? Anyhow, Leatherman replaced it finally with translucent plastic skins. These handle covers are molded from see-through plastic in various colors, and paint chipping is no longer an issue. Surface scratches don't show up as noticably either. This is the current version offered by Leatherman today.

Pictured below are examples of all four types of Micra, including plain, painted, aluminum skinned, and plastic skinned.
Which one do you have?

J-sews · **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2007, 02:00:18 AM

Here's another picture, this one showing the red translucent handle covers. They make the handles slightly thicker, but not enough to hardly notice.

~Bob

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2007, 02:18:53 AM

Interesting- I have them all as well, but I hadn't looked all that closely at the anodized aluminum coated one and just assumed that it was a nylon cover, similar to the nylon scales used in 111mm series and econmy SAK scales. Now that I look at it I can certainly see that it is indeed aluminum, but it feels just like nylon!

To be honest I don;t care for the translucent plastic for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the same reason I don't care for translucent SAL scales- they scuff quickly and look like crap almost right away. This isn't too big a problem as they still work, but why go the extra length to look good if it's only going to look crappy? Kind of defeats the purpose IMHO.

Next, unlike translucent SAK scales, crud easily gets caught under the plastic cover and is visible from the outside, and difficult to get out. Again with the looking like crap thing.

Last, and this is a more personal issue- I may be more used to the bare metal, but I prefer the feel of it over the plastic cover. Again, that's just me, and maybe I'd feel differently if I had carried the plastic covered one first.

Def

CacherX4 · **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2007, 03:15:14 AM

I have the plain and the painted one. The painted one I have looks terrible and the plain one....well, I am still looking for it $:-\$ I realize the plastic one is all that LM offers right now, but I have not wanted to buy it mainly because I thought it would look crappy after a bit of EDC.
I found this site a couple years ago when I bought my Charge and it appears they still offer all versions of the Micra:
http://www.moontrail.com/knives/k-ltg/micra.html

I have ordered a few things from them with no hassel and they offer free shipping on all retail orders of at least $18 delivered within the "lower 48 states" of the USA.

parnass · **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:23:11 AM

Quote from: Defender on January 07, 2007, 02:18:53 AM

...Next, unlike translucent SAK scales, crud easily gets caught under the plastic cover and is visible from the outside, and difficult to get out. Again with the looking like crap thing....

Even worse, if you get the plastic covered Micra wet, you cannot easily dry it out. The moisture stays in between the steel tool and plastic cover, inviting rust.

J-sews · **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:34:10 AM

I agree, the colored plastic covers were a definite step backwards. Here's a close-up of one that I carried in my pocket for a week of camping and fishing this summer. It has all sorts of crud stuck in it, and no good way of cleaning it out.

parnass · **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:36:48 AM

I removed the plastic cover from a Micra. Inside is a "normal" bare Micra. But the screws are longer so they stick out like the electrodes in Frankenstein's neck.

J-sews · **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:37:32 AM

I wondered if that might happen!

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:40:54 AM

I had thought of doing that too but was concerned about the Frankenstein-ism myself. Thanks for pointing that one out so I don't have to do it now!

I thought about using pressurized water or something to clean it out though. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and let you all know how I made out.

Def

J-sews · **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2007, 04:11:59 AM

I'm wondering what all different colors the Micra came in? Here's what I know of....

Painted: Red, Green, Blue, Black

Aluminum: Red, Green, Blue, Black, Gray

Plastic: Red, Green, Blue

Are there any other colors that you know of?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2007, 12:23:01 PM

That's a good question. Maybe if Tim drops by he might be able to help. I'll bet he has a million of them lying around!

Def

J-sews · **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2007, 03:58:58 AM

I'm betting that a certain Mr. JoeBW has an insight on this question as well.

specgrade · **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2007, 04:13:31 PM

The anodized aluminum looks kinda cool. I'm not as thrilled about the plastic scales, though. I imagine the painted ones would scratch easily, also.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2007, 08:35:54 PM

You could say that...

Def

colubrid · **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2007, 10:06:44 PM

I remeved the plastic from mine as well. Boy was that a mistake. The screws stick out to far.

BTW I have a nice blue plastic covered one that I would trade for a painted model. I don't care it its all scratched up either.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2007, 10:50:27 PM

Hey Colubrid- I was wondering where you had gotten to!

Welcome back bud!

Def

joebw · **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2007, 01:05:06 AM

Hi,

I think that J-Sews color chart is correct. I've heard that the painted Micra was done in dark gray, but have yet (not that means much) to see one. For the collector, go with J-sews list until we change it

Cheers - Joe

specgrade · **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2007, 02:36:11 PM

Quote from: Defender on January 11, 2007, 08:35:54 PM

You could say that...

Def

Man, that IS bad. More than I imagined! Thanks for the photo. How long have you had that Micra?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2007, 08:58:20 PM

Probably only a couple of years or so- but I also got it second hand too, and it wasn't really gorgeous then either!

Def

J-sews · **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2007, 03:49:09 AM

Of the different attempts at coloring Micras, I like the anodized aluminum scales the best. The finish on mine has held up well, and they are classier than the plastic scales. Yes, crud still gets stuck in between, but it isn't noticable like on the see-through plastic ones.

I wonder why Leatherman switched to the plastic?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2007, 03:57:47 AM

Two reasons I imagine- plastic is cheaper, and it's hard to get translucent aluminum...

Def

J-sews · **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2007, 01:49:55 AM

Quote from: Defender on January 13, 2007, 03:57:47 AM

Two reasons I imagine- plastic is cheaper..........

Yah, you're probably right about that.

Every now and then though, I wish manufacturers would opt for the "better" solution, instead of the "cheaper" solution.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2007, 02:06:44 AM

Now what would be the fun in that?

Def

J-sews · **Reply #23 on:** July 21, 2008, 02:08:32 AM

Time to resurrect this old thread, on account of a couple smartypants Leatherman collectors who need a new goal to strive for.

The Micras with colored plastic scales or aluminum scales are easy to find. But those pretty painted ones from way back when.........not so easy.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #24 on:** July 21, 2008, 02:57:26 AM

Mine was a pretty painted one at one point... does that count?

Def

DaveK · **Reply #25 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:12:27 AM

Quote from: J-sews on July 21, 2008, 02:08:32 AM

Time to resurrect this old thread, on account of a couple smartypants Leatherman collectors who need a new goal to strive for.

The Micras with colored plastic scales or aluminum scales are easy to find. But those pretty painted ones from way back when.........not so easy.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

You're dead right, not easy to find and getting more difficult all the time. I've Nitormors'd a few that had even less paint on them than Def's, they're quite nice then as the steel isn't polished as highly as the regular SS finish.

J-sews · **Reply #26 on:** July 21, 2008, 05:28:53 AM

Yeh, that paint never did stick very well.

Which is a bummer, because brand new the painted ones have such a deep rich color to them. After very little use though they start to look like Def's.