Another one for the Broken Multitool Thread

[Teofilo]

I tried to use the flat screwdriver as a prybar and this happened. Anyway, I'll not going to send it in yet, I use the pliers more often and the other implements are still ok.

[sawman]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

[captain spaulding]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

I love my Wave as well, but very single Wave or Charge I have ever owned (probably 10 or so) has always had some sort of problem or poor fit/finish.

My OG Wave is perfect though.

[sawman]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

I love my Wave as well, but very single Wave or Charge I have ever owned (probably 10 or so) has always had some sort of problem or poor fit/finish.

My OG Wave is perfect though.

It's a really nice tool and I'm actually a little afraid when LM does "upgrade" the Wave that they screw it up somehow.

[captain spaulding]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

I love my Wave as well, but very single Wave or Charge I have ever owned (probably 10 or so) has always had some sort of problem or poor fit/finish.

My OG Wave is perfect though.

It's a really nice tool and I'm actually a little afraid when LM does "upgrade" the Wave that they screw it up somehow.

With the Juice "upgrade" I would say that is a very valid concern.

[sawman]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

I love my Wave as well, but very single Wave or Charge I have ever owned (probably 10 or so) has always had some sort of problem or poor fit/finish.

My OG Wave is perfect though.

It's a really nice tool and I'm actually a little afraid when LM does "upgrade" the Wave that they screw it up somehow.

With the Juice "upgrade" I would say that is a very valid concern.

Hit the nail on the head!  I actually wouldn't change much about the Wave except to add better scissors and maybe an Awl.

[captain spaulding]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

I love my Wave as well, but very single Wave or Charge I have ever owned (probably 10 or so) has always had some sort of problem or poor fit/finish.

My OG Wave is perfect though.

It's a really nice tool and I'm actually a little afraid when LM does "upgrade" the Wave that they screw it up somehow.

With the Juice "upgrade" I would say that is a very valid concern.

Hit the nail on the head!  I actually wouldn't change much about the Wave except to add better scissors and maybe an Awl.

While I don't mind the current scissors I would not mind a scissor upgrade and a awl would be excellent. Get rid of the can opener and add the awl. I like having can opener capability, but why oh why does every single flipping tool need a can opener on it. 

[BASguy]

Dump the locking tool nonsense to make it lighter, dump the mini driver and bit driver nonsense and go with real drivers, and add an awl in place of the can opener.  Upgraded OG Wave......perfect


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[BASguy]

Sadly, broken tool and Leatherman seem to go together.


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[SteveC]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

[BASguy]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[AimlessWanderer]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

Personally, I'd consider it OK for light prying tasks. I wouldn't use it for anything heavier than opening a paint tin though, and even then, if it was a stubborn tin I might go for another tool if I felt I was using too much force on the driver in the "wrong way". It seems I do tend to take a slightly more cautious approach to others, as to what tools should be capable of achieving though.

As to this particular tool, only the OP knows how much force was being used, and can make the judgement as to whether he was pushing the boundaries or not.

[Mextreme]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

Personally, I'd consider it OK for light prying tasks. I wouldn't use it for anything heavier than opening a paint tin though, and even then, if it was a stubborn tin I might go for another tool if I felt I was using too much force on the driver in the "wrong way". It seems I do tend to take a slightly more cautious approach to others, as to what tools should be capable of achieving though.

As to this particular tool, only the OP knows how much force was being used, and can make the judgement as to whether he was pushing the boundaries or not.

Thats the way I see it too. I consider myself fairly accurate in judging a tools capability by judging the build of it. If something, most of my quality multitools are stronger than expected the few times I've had to ask more of  them than my judgement of reasonable expectations.
Ive had few dramatic failures with multis. A Gerber key chain tool spat out a back spring under normal use of a package opener is what i can recall.

[Teofilo]

Yes, I used force in changing the little plastic wheels of  a 100 gallon plastic box.
Excessive force for me means using a hammer or using your full weight when prying or opening something but I used my right hand only and the driver snapped!. These are multitools designed for light to medium tasks. Not unless makers put warnings on the box of every multitools something like ..'for light use only, or not designed for heavy use'
But these things happen, no regrets here. Btw, the tool I  edc is a Charge tti.
 

[zoidberg]

Can I send you a replacement large driver part mate?

[Teofilo]

Can I send you a replacement large driver part mate?

So nice of you Zoidberg. Thank you!
But no thanks. I have other tti's/LMs I can use.
And besides I want the tool to stay that way..I real user!
Thanks again, buddy!

[zoidberg]

Can I send you a replacement large driver part mate?

So nice of you Zoidberg. Thank you!
But no thanks. I have other tti's/LMs I can use.
And besides I want the tool to stay that way..I real user!
Thanks again, buddy!

Just let me know if you change your mind. 

[Zed]

I'm sure they know (perhaps even expect) people will use that flat driver for prying. I know I do. Looks like you've gotten another one with bad heat treating.

That said, I still love my Wave 

I love my Wave as well, but very single Wave or Charge I have ever owned (probably 10 or so) has always had some sort of problem or poor fit/finish.

My OG Wave is perfect though.

The og wave is perfect   

[SteveC]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

It depends on how much force was applied, it sounds like it wasn't a lot so maybe it was a defective part.

[BASguy]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

It depends on how much force was applied, it sounds like it wasn't a lot so maybe it was a defective part.

Agreed.  In general I'd say it's an anomaly for the Wave series, but it does bring into question whether QC is slipping regarding production method or quality of steel being used. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[SteveC]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

It depends on how much force was applied, it sounds like it wasn't a lot so maybe it was a defective part.

Agreed.  In general I'd say it's an anomaly for the Wave series, but it does bring into question whether QC is slipping regarding production method or quality of steel being used. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

Hard to say, only Leatherman would have the numbers on how many come back for warranty. I think we need to remember that they sell thousands of the Wave and we only hear about a few here on the forum. So who knows maybe it's one in a thousand that have a tool break or one in a hundred. Or it could be more, only LM would have those stats.

So is it a slip in QC or bad materials or just normal failure rate due to the #'s involved ?

[sawman]

I guess I would be more disappointed if it broke being used as intended as a screwdriver.

So am I to understand that someone using a Wave's large flat driver shouldn't expect it to be a fairly sturdy prybar?  That's news to me because I've been using mine that way for over 15 years.  I don't know it for a fact, but I wouldn't expect the OP to post this had he been doing something that would have been considered excessive force for the tool. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

It depends on how much force was applied, it sounds like it wasn't a lot so maybe it was a defective part.

Agreed.  In general I'd say it's an anomaly for the Wave series, but it does bring into question whether QC is slipping regarding production method or quality of steel being used. 


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

Hard to say, only Leatherman would have the numbers on how many come back for warranty. I think we need to remember that they sell thousands of the Wave and we only hear about a few here on the forum so who know maybe it's one in a thousand that have a tool break or one in a hundred. Or it could be more, only LM would have those stats.

So is it a slip in QC or bad materials or just normal failure rate due to the #'s involved ?

These are multitools. I learned long ago with my SOG Powerlock that these things can and do break. I have heavier-duty tools I use for much heavier jobs. This is not to detract from LM's obvious problems with quality control.

[AimlessWanderer]

I personally don't think Leatherman's quality is as reliable as it once was. Some problems however can't easily be foreseen without cost prohibitive NDT inspection on all components. That's why toolmakers have warranties. It's hard to see the break clearly in the pic with my phone, but any metallurgical defect would likely not be detected even if Leatherman upped their monitoring and tightened their parameters of acceptance.

If you feel that the tool should comfortably been able to do the task which caused it to fail, and you have other tools you can use in the meantime, I'd certainly recommend sending it in. If that comes as a cost to you (as it seems to in some places), I'd take Zoidie up on his kind offer and swap in the replacement part yourself. Leaving the tool broken just means you can't do what you need to, next time a similar task arises 

[lowtech]

I have yet to break a LM tool implement, but I mostly use my Gerber on a daily basis.
But I think offering variants of the Wave (like SOG does with some tools or Vic with their MTs) might attract new customers without having the need for new tooling or anything else - Except for a bluntnose plierhead, maybe...
They could equip the handles with different loadouts (like they already do with the Charge!) instead of powdercoating the handles....

[Sheradin]

I sent a Skeletool CX with a broken plier jaw in for warranty last thursday, it was back in my mailbox yesterday. Coast to coast to coast. I've never had grief with their warranty support. The CX is my only Leatherman from the last 10+ years, so I have no idea of slippilg QC. I think we all tend to over- guess what they are capable of. Me being the biggest offender...