Micra, not impressed

jzmtl · **on:** October 22, 2008, 09:27:25 PM

So local walmart has three of them marked $15 down from $33, can't resist but to get one.

After played with it for a while, I'm not impressed with the quality. It together with squirt, has the chisel grounded knife blade, which I simply hate. The scissor when closed, tip move past each other. While doesn't affect the functionality, it give the tool a poorly designed impression. The tweezer tip is poorly machined, the two sides are actually unequal in length. The back spring is almost useless, the whole thing is more like a friction folder. Last, the scissors doesn't open enough to be easily sharpened.

For the same size/weight, I think I'd rather get either a wenger or vic 58mm instead.

jzmtl · **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:03:06 PM

Well after half an hour of work with sandpaper, diamond stone, and sharpmaker, it's finally tuned up to my liking more or less.

Leatherman has great full size tools, but they still have some catching up to do on keychain sized tools quality wise over the swiss.

DaveK · **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:10:48 PM

Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion I guess.

american lockpicker · **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:16:24 PM

What do you think of the S4 squirt?

jzmtl · **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:31:37 PM

Only have P4 not S4, but it's improved over Micra a lot. Still has the chisel ground blade thou.

Quote from: DaveK on October 22, 2008, 10:10:48 PM

Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion I guess.

Compare to the Wenger pocket toolchest I have, the fit and finish just isn't as good.

It just occured to me, the micra came in a brown card board box, which I have never seen any leatherman in, could this be an really old batch that walmart dug up somewhere in their warehouse? It also says pat pending on the unpainted stainless handle.

DaveK · **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:58:19 PM

This term "fit and finish" does baffle me a bit. I have loads of Micras and they are all built exactly the same - no noticeable difference in the build quality between any of them - they are actually spot on. They are precisely made (the scissor tips crossing over is part of the design, not a poor "finish"), and are solidly made.

Now, you may well have a dud, and in my experience that would be a rare thing, but I can assure you that Micras in general are not "poor quality". I would think you would be in a very small minority if you claim that they are. Actually, it does bug me how quickly people start to refer to "quality", "fit and finish" etc, when what they really mean is they prefer a different design of tool.

I completely respect your opinion that you'd prefer a 58mm SAK, but I don't understand it. The Micra is (in my opinion) much better and stronger in just about every department than the 58mm SAKs I've seen. I know which one I'd rather cut card or cable ties with anyway!

I actually love the blade on the Micra / Squirt, escpecially when compared to a Vic Classic for example.

But as I say, everyone's entitled to their opinion, I guess.

DaveK · **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:59:56 PM

Just saw your edit:

The "Pats pending" is pretty standard, not sure about the packaging, I must have seen half a dozen different packs myself!

It should have date codes though!

jzmtl · **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:25:14 AM

0999

They still got two I believe if anybody wants a 9 year old micra.

DaveK · **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:31:54 AM

Lol.

The Micra I carry in my pocket every day is a '99 vintage, but to be honest I don't think they've changed the design at all. Except that where yours says "USA" on the scissor pivots, that was changed to "TOOL" after they got sued.

Seriously, it sounds like you got a dud as the tweezers should be even length, and the backsprings should be reasonably taught and snappy. They don't snap like an SAK, but you should notice a distinct click when you open them. Like the PST, they are designed to be used with the tool closed so that they can't close on your fingers, so they don't need to be that strong.

Any chance you could post a pic of the packaging? I'm curious now

american lockpicker · **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:03:03 AM

What does the date code 03 08 mean?

DaveK · **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:05:33 AM

March 2008 !!

jzmtl · **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:15:59 AM

Man I got ripped off, now there's only 16 years of warrenty left.

The tweezer tip on mine was like this

/\
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instead of

/|\
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but it's fixed now. There are also other minor problems that I need to fix.

Neil · **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:22:57 AM

Dave, how do you sharpen the scissors on the Micra?

Neil

jzmtl · **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:28:38 AM

Put a CD on edge of table with an inch or so hanging out with a piece of sandpaper (at least 800 grit) on there, now slip one half of micra's scissor on top one on bottom, tilt to approprite angle and sharpen.

DaveK · **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:31:32 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on October 23, 2008, 01:15:59 AM

Man I got ripped off, now there's only 16 years of warrenty left.

Nah - it's ok - it's 25 years from your purchase date!

Shame about the tweezers - what did you do, grind them down to align them? I noticed that they are ground like a chisel at the tips, did you manage to maintain that?

DaveK · **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:32:41 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on October 23, 2008, 01:28:38 AM

Put a CD on edge of table with an inch or so hanging out with a piece of sandpaper (at least 800 grit) on there, now slip one half of micra's scissor on top one on bottom, tilt to approprite angle and sharpen.

I've never had to sharpen any to be honest. I can get another for about a fiver

DaveK · **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:33:53 AM

Quote from: NKB on October 23, 2008, 01:22:57 AM

Dave, how do you sharpen the scissors on the Micra?

Neil

Are you using that one I gave you at the meet?

Were the scissors blunt?

jzmtl · **Reply #17 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:41:27 AM

Yep, I ground down the longer one, also give them a tiny bit of flat nose so it should be stronger.

Poncho65 · **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:07:53 AM

I take it Dave likes the Micra

I don't have 1 myself but I may have 1 before years end or not who knows

jzmtl · **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:50:50 AM

Quote from: DaveK on October 23, 2008, 01:32:41 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on October 23, 2008, 01:28:38 AM
Put a CD on edge of table with an inch or so hanging out with a piece of sandpaper (at least 800 grit) on there, now slip one half of micra's scissor on top one on bottom, tilt to approprite angle and sharpen.

I've never had to sharpen any to be honest. I can get another for about a fiver

I'm obsessive compulsive on keep every edged tool razor sharp, first thing I do with every factory edge is tune it to my liking.

american lockpicker · **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2008, 03:09:06 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on October 23, 2008, 01:15:59 AM

Man I got ripped off, now there's only 16 years of warrenty left.

The tweezer tip on mine was like this

/\
/| |
|| |

instead of

/|\
|||

but it's fixed now. There are also other minor problems that I need to fix.

Wow those boxes look nice! I wish the Micra I purchased today came in a box like that.

prime77 · **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2008, 06:42:44 AM

Quote

/\
/| |
|| |

My tweezer tip looked like that too. I just thought that's the way they were supposed to be.

Neil · **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2008, 11:00:54 AM

Quote from: DaveK on October 23, 2008, 01:33:53 AM

Quote from: NKB on October 23, 2008, 01:22:57 AM
Dave, how do you sharpen the scissors on the Micra?

Neil

Are you using that one I gave you at the meet?

Were the scissors blunt?

That's the one I need to sharpen

I don't hate you too much

Neil

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