Skeletool RX?

[rescue4500]

they'll have to sell the breaker bit as a replacement part for the rx.... right??

[sLaughterMed]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

[kirk13]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

I'm kinda more bothered by the idea that you have to either open of half open the tool to use the glass breaker.....

[sLaughterMed]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

I'm kinda more bothered by the idea that you have to either open of half open the tool to use the glass breaker.....

I think it would be annoying, and slightly fiddly, but not terrible. You'd just have to hold it like this, only backwards:



(pic blatantly stolen borrowed from J-Sews )

I'd really be more concerned about the other side of the glass breaker bit getting ruined (when it pushes against the bit holder), or busting completely through the bit holder, not to mention screwing up the bit lock.

[rdub934]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

I'm kinda more bothered by the idea that you have to either open of half open the tool to use the glass breaker.....

I think it would be annoying, and slightly fiddly, but not terrible. You'd just have to hold it like this, only backwards:

(Image removed from quote.)

(pic blatantly stolen borrowed from J-Sews )

I'd really be more concerned about the other side of the glass breaker bit getting ruined (when it pushes against the bit holder), or busting completely through the bit holder, not to mention screwing up the bit lock.

I was thinking about that exact point this morning. But then I thought about the scenario for using the tool: emergencies. If someone is bleeding out in an over-turned vehicle, or stuck in a vehicle that is on fire, the well being of your tool is an afterthought when the well being of a life is in jeopardy. You probably wouldn't ever use the glass-breaker except under duress. If you were going to use it for gee-whizz, I think you'd have to weigh the risk vs reward.

Surely Leatherman tested it, right?

[sLaughterMed]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

I'm kinda more bothered by the idea that you have to either open of half open the tool to use the glass breaker.....

I think it would be annoying, and slightly fiddly, but not terrible. You'd just have to hold it like this, only backwards:

(Image removed from quote.)

(pic blatantly stolen borrowed from J-Sews )

I'd really be more concerned about the other side of the glass breaker bit getting ruined (when it pushes against the bit holder), or busting completely through the bit holder, not to mention screwing up the bit lock.

I was thinking about that exact point this morning. But then I thought about the scenario for using the tool: emergencies. If someone is bleeding out in an over-turned vehicle, or stuck in a vehicle that is on fire, the well being of your tool is an afterthought when the well being of a life is in jeopardy. You probably wouldn't ever use the glass-breaker except under duress. If you were going to use it for gee-whizz, I think you'd have to weigh the risk vs reward.

Surely Leatherman tested it, right?

I absolutely agree. If I found myself in a situation like that, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use the tool, regardless of the damage to the tool.

However, this tool is aimed at emergency response personel, who likely have a need to use tools like glass breakers very often (sometimes even multiple times a day). So the question is, will this tool work long term for someone in that line of work? Im not convinced that the skeletool frame will hold up to multiple strikes on the bit adapter

[rescue4500]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

  that's a good point.. as a former extrication technical rescuer I can say this... as long as what your breaking the glass with is a small point and strong material it doesn't take that much force.. just the opposite if your using a larger point to break glass it take much more force.. which is why most rescue squads and fire departments carry a couple spring loaded punches on each truck to break windows with.. its strong and requires little force to do saving time and effort

[kirk13]

Is no one else concerned about the bit adapter holding up to the strain of punching through a window? I've never actually done it, but doesn't breaking a window require a fair amount of force?

I'm kinda more bothered by the idea that you have to either open of half open the tool to use the glass breaker.....

I think it would be annoying, and slightly fiddly, but not terrible. You'd just have to hold it like this, only backwards:

(Image removed from quote.)

(pic blatantly stolen borrowed from J-Sews )

I'd really be more concerned about the other side of the glass breaker bit getting ruined (when it pushes against the bit holder), or busting completely through the bit holder, not to mention screwing up the bit lock.

TBH,the photo demonstrates exactly my concern. I wouldn't fancy having to strike glass holding a shape like that.

It's also a bit of a moot point...I sold my Skeli years ago,and have never missed it

[Kampfer]

I can see LM selling LOTS of those glass breaker bits from the Skeletool RX ( so long as they fit other LM bit holders and LM choose to market them).

I think they will. They'd be dumb to not sell them. And they will work better in the Wave/Charge/Surge than in the Skeletool since you can lock the driver out with the tool closed - better grip. With the Skele, you would be striking the window with the tool either half opened - which could then collapse at the pliers, or fully opened - which would be awkward whilst striking. I don't understand why they wouldn't work something onto the outside of the carabiner area for glass breaking. Or at least make the glass breaker bit long enough to protrude past the carabiner

I am still not sure how practical the glass break bit is, sine it took the place of phillip drive, which I think it is one of the most Frequently used tool.
Most LM only holds one bit, if you store the glass break bit in MT that means you will have to get out the bit kit often. Or if you store the glass break bit somewhere else, do you think there will enough time to get it installed in case of emergency?

[rdub934]

I can see LM selling LOTS of those glass breaker bits from the Skeletool RX ( so long as they fit other LM bit holders and LM choose to market them).

I think they will. They'd be dumb to not sell them. And they will work better in the Wave/Charge/Surge than in the Skeletool since you can lock the driver out with the tool closed - better grip. With the Skele, you would be striking the window with the tool either half opened - which could then collapse at the pliers, or fully opened - which would be awkward whilst striking. I don't understand why they wouldn't work something onto the outside of the carabiner area for glass breaking. Or at least make the glass breaker bit long enough to protrude past the carabiner

I am still not sure how practical the glass break bit is, sine it took the place of phillip drive, which I think it is one of the most Frequently used tool.
Most LM only holds one bit, if you store the glass break bit in MT that means you will have to get out the bit kit often. Or if you store the glass break bit somewhere else, do you think there will enough time to get it installed in case of emergency?

It looks like the bit in the handle is the combo flat/phillips bit, like the one that comes in the Wave. The opposite of the glass-breaker also appears to be a flat. I think the idea with the RX, is to leave the glass-breaker in, and swap to the Phillips or flat as needed, and then switch it back afterwards. At least that is how I would do it, because you are right, if you were rocking the Phillips (which I use most of the time) while driving down the road and a car crash happens right in front of you, probably would not be good trying to fumble around with a tiny bit while responding.

I think probably EMTs, Police Officers, or other emergency responders would not use this, at least not as a primary rescue tool. Maybe a backup. They would all probably have access to something better. A ResQme is a better glass breaker. A strap cutter removes virtually ALL chance of accidentally cutting the victim. I think this is a pretty decent combo of an EDC mulitool and a ER tool, but it could have been a lot better.

[Padre]

Rusted pliers already on one of these?

Still looks sweet to me. Probably getting one.
 

[sawman]

That Skeletool is just KILLER!!!  Leatherman has out-done themselves, IMHO

 

[rescue4500]

I emailed leatherman and to my surprise they emailed me back.. they are...as of right now... unsure if they will be selling the breaker bit as a replacement part to put on other tools

[Kampfer]

I emailed leatherman and to my surprise they emailed me back.. they are...as of right now... unsure if they will be selling the breaker bit as a replacement part to put on other tools

No worries, they will.

[captain spaulding]

I emailed leatherman and to my surprise they emailed me back.. they are...as of right now... unsure if they will be selling the breaker bit as a replacement part to put on other tools

No worries, they will.

If they think they can make a profit doing it I bet they will. If they do not I doubt they will.

[WoodsDuck]

Rusted pliers already on one of these?

Still looks sweet to me. Probably getting one.
 

So Leatherman is finally making a multi you can customize by hand picking the implements to include... and it's the Tread.

[enki_ck]

Meh.

[AimlessWanderer]

Meh.

[Higgins617]

I won't be getting one, but I do like the idea of different colors and the blade shape with longer serrations looks like it would lend itself well to being a more heavily used tool.(Frequent use, not more difficult).

I enjoy my skeletool, not my favorite but I think it does make a good minimal carry with a blade on par with a lot of knives I have.

[rdub934]

As much as I believe they really half-arsed their effort on the Skeletool RX (sigh) I do still sort of want one.

 

[JJR512]

Some people have complained about the Skeletool RX's lack of an oxygen tank wrench. Although LM doesn't say it has one, the truth is that the RX can in fact be used to open oxygen tanks.

Assuming the RX has the same pliers and the regular Skeletool, I just used mine (the regular Skeletool) to open an oxygen bottle. The valve fits pretty well into the opening of the pliers.

[captain spaulding]

Some people have complained about the Skeletool RX's lack of an oxygen tank wrench. Although LM doesn't say it has one, the truth is that the RX can in fact be used to open oxygen tanks.

Assuming the RX has the same pliers and the regular Skeletool, I just used mine (the regular Skeletool) to open an oxygen bottle. The valve fits pretty well into the opening of the pliers.

Good to know. Thank you. 

[jday2727]

Some people have complained about the Skeletool RX's lack of an oxygen tank wrench. Although LM doesn't say it has one, the truth is that the RX can in fact be used to open oxygen tanks.

Assuming the RX has the same pliers and the regular Skeletool, I just used mine (the regular Skeletool) to open an oxygen bottle. The valve fits pretty well into the opening of the pliers.

Aren't the pliers harder than the valve material though? If so, wouldn't that scar up the tank?

[ducttapetech]

It could. But the valves are not cranked down like nut on a bolt. Or at least not the ones I have came across. 

That's us mobile

[JJR512]

In all honesty, is it really that big of a deal if this tool doesn't have an oxygen bottle wrench?

When I'm at work, I typically have four oxygen bottle wrenches at my disposal. I wear a Leatherman Tread, I carry a Leatherman Raptor and a Gerber Hinderer Rescue, and last but not least I have the company-supplied oxygen bottle wrench that's on the unit's key ring.

Now I will admit that I tend to carry more stuff in my pockets than a lot of people do. But even if you ignore the first three wrenches I mentioned, what about the last one? If you work or volunteer for an agency or company that still uses oxygen bottle that need a wrench to open (rather than the newer ones with toggles that can be turned by hand), then you should be supplied with the appropriate tool. You NEED that tool to change oxygen bottles, and they should not be sending you out there without the tools to do your job. And more importantly, you should not be letting them do that.

That being said, another oxygen bottle wrench wouldn't be unwelcome. I've looked at the standard Skeletool, though, and honestly I just don't see where one can be incorporated into the design as it is now. There's just no viable place. I believe a substantial design modification would be necessary. But I know that for some of you, that's exactly what you want.

[Poncho65]

If you look at this as just a MT which happens to also function as a emergency tool in case of an emergency (perhaps for off duty rescue personnel) then it is a great tool and not to bad looking. I think that if they were to carry this tool with them at work it has the possibility to fail though The stress of just turning a screw with the bit driver when the Skeletool first came out was enough to cause at least some of them to fail as did the Wave (Leatherman may have fixed this problem because I have not heard of it happening in a good long while).  That being said I hope they sell the bit separately because that would add a great function for someone to have just in case of an emergency

[Fortytwo]

With the countless holes the Skeletool has one of them should have been possible to reshape into an oxygen wrench but I'd say a worse problem is that the glass breaker requires you to fold the tool out, taking time and limiting the grip you can have on the tool.

[JJR512]

With the countless holes the Skeletool has one of them should have been possible to reshape into an oxygen wrench but I'd say a worse problem is that the glass breaker requires you to fold the tool out, taking time and limiting the grip you can have on the tool.

It's not just finding a place for the whole; there also needs to be enough support around the area for the tool to not deform. For example, you can fit the frame opposite the carabiner opening over an oxygen bottle valve, but turning it results in substantial flexing of the frame. The Skeletool was meant to be light more than robust.

In truth, it may not have been the best platform from which to create a rescue variant, for that very reason.

The concealed glass breaker is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that it's not out in the open to poke you, or wear through a sheath. The curse is, of course, that it takes a moment to deploy it. But how much of an issue is that really? Yes, moments matter in an emergency. But maybe you can take it out a moment earlier, start getting it ready sooner.

[alexTOOL]

With the countless holes the Skeletool has one of them should have been possible to reshape into an oxygen wrench but I'd say a worse problem is that the glass breaker requires you to fold the tool out, taking time and limiting the grip you can have on the tool.

It's not just finding a place for the whole; there also needs to be enough support around the area for the tool to not deform. For example, you can fit the frame opposite the carabiner opening over an oxygen bottle valve, but turning it results in substantial flexing of the frame. The Skeletool was meant to be light more than robust.

In truth, it may not have been the best platform from which to create a rescue variant, for that very reason.

The concealed glass breaker is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that it's not out in the open to poke you, or wear through a sheath. The curse is, of course, that it takes a moment to deploy it. But how much of an issue is that really? Yes, moments matter in an emergency. But maybe you can take it out a moment earlier, start getting it ready sooner.

I want to buy the Skeletool Rx bits (drivers and glass breaker)

Is It already possible.

Thanks

[gregozedobe]

I want to buy the Skeletool Rx bits (drivers and glass braker)

Is It already possible.

IIRC Leatherman refuse to sell the glass breaker bit separately.   I think it was something to do with the bit holder on some LM MTs not being designed for the possible impact when used as a glass breaker.  I'm pretty sure it was mentioned somewhere here on MTo.