Paratool photos

Chako · **on:** December 04, 2015, 05:44:39 AM

Time to do a little more photography I think. I hope you enjoy these fresh paratool pictures just taken 20 minutes ago.

Kampfer · **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2015, 06:41:04 AM

Dan, how do you like the Paratool?
I always wanted to try one.
How does it compare to PPP?

David · **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2015, 07:50:41 AM

Great pics Dan as usual!

gregozedobe · **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2015, 08:17:39 AM

Thanks Dan. Such good, clear photos I can even see fingerprints on some surfaces

eamo · **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2015, 09:26:18 AM

Top quality images. Care to share a brief overview of the lighting/photo setup ?

ducttapetech · **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2015, 11:20:37 AM

As always, great pics.

@ Kampfer...They are more like a LM PST. The cutters on them are very good and tight. No compound pliers obviously. It one of the few multis you drop in you pocket and it carries like a knife or SAK.

Chako · **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2015, 12:31:33 PM

Now that you mentioned it, I should have wiped the subject clean with a cloth prior to the photo.

As for the Paratool, I am a big fan. Very compact, solid design that allows the pliers to be angled during use. I have found that design to be very useful in the past when I needed to hold something that a regular pair of pliers couldn't do. Neat interlocking design ensured that this will never open in your pocket. Little features like that tell me that SOG did put a lot of thought into this design.

eamo, I never use extensive setups. I would say 97% of all photos I publish here are done with a Canon compact camera with a top mounted hot-shoe. In this case, I used a Canon G12 with a Canon Speedlite 430EX II. For background on these, I used a black felt long skirt I found ages ago in a thrift shop for this purpose. I hand hold the camera, and bounce the light 90 degrees towards the ceiling perpendicular to the subject. I like to keep things simple, so I use a shiftable program mode on the camera that allows me to change the shutter speed and f-stops paired combination to what I want on the fly. That is about it. The trick is in the lighting...and I achieve that by using an external flash always bouncing off of my white ceilings. Hope that info helps you.

magentus · **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2015, 01:22:10 PM

Great pics of a lovely looking tool. I think if I didn't have my Spirit I would opt for a Paratool.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2015, 03:28:20 PM

I like the idea behind the Paratool, but I just couldn't get along with opening the pliers, abd then trying to close them. I just had too much trouble opening it without getting my fingers inside the plier jaws. Closing the pliers was just as bad. Trying to loosen the pliers to make it easier to open, but then it folds in me in use. It's too bad, because it's otherwise a great tool, with lots of space for inside tools. I just couldn't get along with it. It has since been passed on to someone who is very interested to try it.

magentus · **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2015, 04:06:22 PM

Quote from: sLaughterMed on December 04, 2015, 03:28:20 PM

I like the idea behind the Paratool, but I just couldn't get along with opening the pliers, abd then trying to close them. I just had too much trouble opening it without getting my fingers inside the plier jaws. Closing the pliers was just as bad. Trying to loosen the pliers to make it easier to open, but then it folds in me in use. It's too bad, because it's otherwise a great tool, with lots of space for inside tools. I just couldn't get along with it. It has since been passed on to someone who is very interested to try it.

Interesting...... How does it compare to the Spirit then? I won my Spirit in a GAW and it's the only MT I have had. I was told it would ruin me for all other MT's and having handled a couple of LM's a friend of mine brought in to show and tell I'm inclined to agree.

I thought the Paratool looked like a contender though.

eamo · **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2015, 05:08:36 PM

Quote from: Chako on December 04, 2015, 12:31:33 PM

eamo, I never use extensive setups. I would say 97% of all photos I publish here are done with a Canon compact camera with a top mounted hot-shoe. In this case, I used a Canon G12 with a Canon Speedlite 430EX II. For background on these, I used a black felt long skirt I found ages ago in a thrift shop for this purpose. I hand hold the camera, and bounce the light 90 degrees towards the ceiling perpendicular to the subject. I like to keep things simple, so I use a shiftable program mode on the camera that allows me to change the shutter speed and f-stops paired combination to what I want on the fly. That is about it. The trick is in the lighting...and I achieve that by using an external flash always bouncing off of my white ceilings. Hope that info helps you.

thank you, they're brilliantly lit. I've done some product photography and these are top notch.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2015, 06:56:52 PM

Quote from: magentus on December 04, 2015, 04:06:22 PM

Quote from: sLaughterMed on December 04, 2015, 03:28:20 PM
I like the idea behind the Paratool, but I just couldn't get along with opening the pliers, abd then trying to close them. I just had too much trouble opening it without getting my fingers inside the plier jaws. Closing the pliers was just as bad. Trying to loosen the pliers to make it easier to open, but then it folds in me in use. It's too bad, because it's otherwise a great tool, with lots of space for inside tools. I just couldn't get along with it. It has since been passed on to someone who is very interested to try it.
Interesting...... How does it compare to the Spirit then? I won my Spirit in a GAW and it's the only MT I have had. I was told it would ruin me for all other MT's and having handled a couple of LM's a friend of mine brought in to show and tell I'm inclined to agree.

I thought the Paratool looked like a contender though.

Unfortunately, I've never handled a spirit, so I have nothing to add in regards to comparing using the two tools. The SOGs finish is very well polished, ive heard it's as well if not better than a Spirit' s finish.

I do have to say SOGs inside tools are generally not as good as Leatherman's, but the ability to add specialty tools (v cutter, 1/4 inch socket driver) and configure however you want does have its advantages.

SteveC · **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2015, 08:22:04 PM

Great pics !

rdub934 · **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2015, 09:03:48 PM

Great pics, Chako! I especially like the fingerprints

Honestly, it highlights the polished finish of the tool.

Chako · **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2015, 01:23:16 AM

Happy to oblige.

Kampfer · **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2015, 02:53:21 AM

Quote from: rdub934 on December 04, 2015, 09:03:48 PM

Great pics, Chako! I especially like the fingerprints Honestly, it highlights the polished finish of the tool.

I like how sog tools are polished to a right amount. Shiny but only leave very little of fingerprints, unlike victorinox have figerprints allover.

derekmac · **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2015, 03:03:16 AM

Great pics Dan!!

The Paratool is something I've had a chance at getting many times, but haven't pulled the trigger. Not sure why, as I really do like it!

Kampfer · **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2015, 08:04:39 PM

A big test for Paratool yesterday.
My parents were locked out after their morning walk. Luckly i was near by, rushed to help after i got the call. After careful considerations seen like taking down the front metal door was the best way to go. The door frame was held in place by large wood screws and large hex bolts, so i pulled my Paratool to work on them. The #1 phillips driver was no match for those #3 wood screws, the driver kept slipping out and kept folding down when i apply pressure, also every time i twist the tool, the handles silde out from its locking tabs and openning itself. $:-\$ then same thing happened when working on the hex bolts, while angeled pilers head would be very helpful, but again the handles kept folding out under pressure. That clearly shown Paratool had reached its limits.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2015, 08:19:03 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on December 12, 2015, 08:04:39 PM

A big test for Paratool yesterday.
My parents were locked out after their morning walk. Luckly i was near by, rushed to help after i got the call. After careful considerations seen like taking down the front metal door was the best way to go. The door frame was held in place by large wood screws and large hex bolts, so i pulled my Paratool to work on them. The #1 phillips driver was no match for those #3 wood screws, the driver kept slipping out and kept folding down when i apply pressure, also every time i twist the tool, the handles silde out from its locking tabs and openning itself. $:-\$ then same thing happened when working on the hex bolts, while angeled pilers head would be very helpful, but again the handles kept folding out under pressure. That clearly shown Paratool had reached its limits.

To be fair, those #3 screws would defeat just about any multitool without a bit kit. However SOG really needs to get on board with the rest of their competitors and flip their drivers around, so they wont keep folding in use. Its actually one of my least favorite parts of of SOG tools, and why I am so considering raiding a PST II fir parts.

Kampfer · **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2015, 08:23:42 PM

Yea to be fair, taking down a metal door is a huge task for any MT. I am just glad that i EDC a surge and it was able the save the day with ease.

Kampfer · **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2015, 11:34:35 PM

Quote from: sLaughterMed on December 12, 2015, 08:19:03 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on December 12, 2015, 08:04:39 PM
A big test for Paratool yesterday.
My parents were locked out after their morning walk. Luckly i was near by, rushed to help after i got the call. After careful considerations seen like taking down the front metal door was the best way to go. The door frame was held in place by large wood screws and large hex bolts, so i pulled my Paratool to work on them. The #1 phillips driver was no match for those #3 wood screws, the driver kept slipping out and kept folding down when i apply pressure, also every time i twist the tool, the handles silde out from its locking tabs and openning itself. $:-\$ then same thing happened when working on the hex bolts, while angeled pilers head would be very helpful, but again the handles kept folding out under pressure. That clearly shown Paratool had reached its limits.
To be fair, those #3 screws would defeat just about any multitool without a bit kit. However SOG really needs to get on board with the rest of their competitors and flip their drivers around, so they wont keep folding in use. Its actually one of my least favorite parts of of SOG tools, and why I am so considering raiding a PST II fir parts.

Time for redemption:
I returned to my parents home to install a new metal door, this time with my P³.
Surprisingly the P³ was able complete the task, one thing I did differently was instead of using Phillis driver to deal with#3 screws I used the medium flathead/bottle opener. Hex bolts were dealt with by the pilers as well.