New heavy duty leatherman needed

Deano3 · **on:** August 05, 2016, 10:57:49 PM

Hi everyone I am looking for a edc at work I am auto mechanic on heavy vehicles and want a leatherman to match was also looking at saks for edc when not at work but think I should have one at work, was looking at wave ,charge tti and surge etc what's the most heavy duty and practical in your opinion ? One thing is I think the surge is to London and large I want one that will fit nicely in pocket or on my work pants and that seems quite large

One thing I did like was option to replace wire strippers when worn or bent etc

Thanks dean

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gregozedobe · **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2016, 11:10:31 PM

Heavy duty with replaceable wire cutters (not strippers) = New version Surge

Poncho65 · **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2016, 11:15:20 PM

Quote from: gregozedobe on August 05, 2016, 11:10:31 PM

Heavy duty with replaceable wire cutters (not strippers) = New version Surge

Yep he is right

Also of the three the Surge is the most heavy duty and the other two are in the medium or regular sized tool range

The Charge and Wave also do not have replaceable cutters but may come put with them in the future

I don't know what all you want in a LM MT but the Supertool 300 is a very heavy duty tool and the Rebar is the smaller version of it

Plenty of choices and I am sure you will get many other options as well

kkokkolis · **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2016, 11:33:30 PM

It's the Surge of course. The Crunch might be a secondary option.

zoidberg · **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2016, 12:39:12 AM

If you think the Surge is too large then you'll need to remove heavy duty from the title.

If you're not going to modify the tool but still want replaceable cutters then you'll left the OHT, Signal and Rebar.

OHT - spring loaded pliers and flicky action good, but it's the same size as the Surge.

Signal - comfy pliers and comes with a pocket clip, limited tool set no scissors or diamond file.

Rebar - nice and small, but thin blades and no scissors or diamond file.

Of those three I would go with the Signal.

Modifying can change all this up though, for example Charge handles are more comfortable than Rebar handles.

chrono · **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2016, 12:41:26 AM

OP said he wanted the tool to fit in the work pants too. IMO, the Wave/ Charge size is borderline of pocket-friendly. What he needs probably a Wave modded with a Rebar plier head. A little sacrifice on the heavy duty size, but a good gain on weight reduction and the replaceable plier head. A regular Rebar is probably too light duty. I don't know how easy it is to put the Rebar head in the Wave frame. $140 should be enough to get a mint Wave, a Rebar, pair of T10 security bits, and a pair of loki's tool to go to town.

kaput · **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2016, 12:56:40 AM

Can I throw the 300 into the mix...

Poncho65 · **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2016, 12:59:58 AM

Quote from: zoidberg on August 06, 2016, 12:39:12 AM

If you think the Surge is too large then you'll need to remove heavy duty from the title.

If you're not going to modify the tool but still want replaceable cutters then you'll left the OHT, Signal and Rebar.

OHT - spring loaded pliers and flicky action good, but it's the same size as the Surge.

Signal - comfy pliers and comes with a pocket clip, limited tool set no scissors or diamond file.

Rebar - nice and small, but thin blades and no scissors or diamond file.

Of those three I would go with the Signal.

Modifying can change all this up though, for example Charge handles are more comfortable than Rebar handles.

Mine has scissors and a diamond file now

kkokkolis · **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2016, 01:01:30 AM

Surge can be clipped. And it has a nice pouch, where it fits in closed or opened position. Clever and ergonomic.

Poncho65 · **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2016, 01:23:15 AM

Quote from: kkokkolis on August 06, 2016, 01:01:30 AM

Surge can be clipped. And it has a nice pouch, where it fits in closed or opened position. Clever and ergonomic.

Good point kkokkolis

Also the Wave and Charge do the same thing if the Surges weight is what is throwing you off it

Aloha · **Reply #10 on:** August 06, 2016, 01:56:14 AM

Heavy duty to my mind when talking LM are the Surge, ST300 and MUT. Of the three the Surge is the most versatile noting that you will be carrying accompanying bits and blades to access this tools full potential IMO.

No question its the big boy when talking LM tools.

The Wave could work given a plier head swap. Then you're talking medium duty.

OHT is nice but then we're talking brick in pocket.

To me the Surge and other heavy duty MTs are best sheath carried or in a bag. Pocket carry of a Surge can be done but its quite comfortable in a sheath on a belt.

Sea Monster · **Reply #11 on:** August 06, 2016, 08:40:19 AM

"Heavy Duty" is already "medium duty" when talking Multitools, but anyway.

The Wave or Rebar will probably be fine for you - It'll cover all your bases and quite pocketable (with clip) or depending on your work trousers, might fit nice into one of the weird accessory pockets you get.

Given you're a mechanic, you'll have the *actual* heavy duty tools on standby, and the LM is just a convenience for when you need to snip a cable tie, bend a split pin, tighten a hoseclamp, or scrape some gunk away so you can see what you're looking at.

I have no issues with recommending a Wave or Rebar for your needs. (I've never used a Rebar, but if it's a match for the old Blast model, then it has my confidence)
The Surge and ST300 are essentially "the same but bigger", and (personally) I see it as personal preferance (ie - mass-in-pocket tolerance, and hand size) as to whether you go up a size.

The MUT is sort of a niche and while the pin punch is always handier than people expect, the weight/utility ratio probably is not for you.

Kev D · **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2016, 12:19:31 PM

I'd go with the surge everytime. Apart from the fact it's big and robust; for engineering tasks the saw/file combo makes it so versatile. You can put any T shank blade in so can cut anything, and with the file being a metal/diamond combo you can dress it up afterwards.

The replaceable cutters are a must, I've wrecked a set cutting things that I wouldn't have dared with another tool. Once I wrecked them I just put a new set in and its new again.

Don't worry about the weight, you'll soon get used to it and not even notice it.

I like it so much I've got 3 of them now. I might have to get a BO seeing as I don't have one yet.

Gohard · **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2016, 12:42:03 PM

As a fellow mechanic I wont go bigger than a wave. Like seamonster said. Its only there for your own convenience. For me if I'm up on the top of a truck or digger and need a pliers or screwdriver. It's only there cause I'm toooooo lazy to get down. Also knowing the limits of what the tool can and shouldn't do. So ask yourself what do you see as heavy duty. As a mechanic any leatherman is LIGHT DUTY. It's there for my convenience only and because I feel NAKED without one.

Humppa · **Reply #14 on:** August 06, 2016, 01:39:20 PM

I´d go with the ST300...

But it should be for the heavy mechanic duty. I´d get myself a Knipex Combination pliers ... and a Vic Swisschamp. And a pouch for my belt to put the two tools and a flashlight in there.

But that´s just my opinion.

Gohard · **Reply #15 on:** August 06, 2016, 04:11:57 PM

Quote from: Humppa on August 06, 2016, 01:39:20 PM

I´d go with the ST300...

But it should be for the heavy mechanic duty. I´d get myself a Knipex Combination pliers ... and a Vic Swisschamp. And a pouch for my belt to put the two tools and a flashlight in there.

But that´s just my opinion.

I like your opinion. The wave or sidekick does it for me. Quicker to open a blade once needed. Also the friction sheath makes it hell of a lot easier to remove and put back.

G-Dizzle · **Reply #16 on:** August 06, 2016, 06:16:21 PM

If you think the surge is too large, try the rebar and just get an inexpensive kershaw for when you need a knife more quickly. The rebar is just as stout as the st300 and has the replaceable cutters but it is smaller and i believe its only 6.7 oz!

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