The Gerber MP1 Thread

[clown]

So I'm just going to go ahead and start a thread for all things MP1.  I've been posting a few pics of the one I just got and figured a dedicated thread was in order.

Today was my first day carrying it to work.  I'm giving my trusty ST300 a vacation for a week to see how the MP1 fairs at my job.  It did pretty good today.

The pliers stood up to some moderate twisting.


They also popped some staples out with ease.


Did fine stripping low voltage wire. 


I usually pair a Spyderco with my ST300 for an easy access blade but the one hand blade on the MP1 allowed me to leave the Spydie at home too.  It performed well and although I can appreciate this blade shape from a durability standpoint, I find myself wishing it had a bit more of a point.


I also got to use the long driver a bit.  Before actually getting this tool I was a little suspect of this implement and wondered how durable it could possibly be.  Well I didnt really push it today but I was able to tighten these screws up nice and snug and I didn't feel any flex or twisting that made me nervous.




I do like how the pliers have a side cutter.  Makes it easier to cut zipties off cleanly.

The G10 handles are nice and grippy but I've decided that I prefer non-sprung pliers.  The jaws on the MP1 open up nice and wide but the spring makes the tool take up a lot of real estate when you set it down on top of a ladder. 

The sheath seems pretty durable but I hate Velcro and wish it had a snap instead.   I also wish it had a spot to tuck my trusty Olight AAA.  I was forced to pocket carry it today.

All in all I was happy with the MP1's performance today.  I'll try to share some more as the week goes on. 

I hope some other MP1 owners (all variants) will jump in here as well.   

[gerleatherberman]

Looks like a good start and warm up to get a feel for it! Nice pics too!
I'll be watching from the sidelines to see how yours holds up.

[clown]

Looks like a good start and warm up to get a feel for it! Nice pics too!
I'll be watching from the sidelines to see how yours holds up.

Don't stay on the sidelines!  I hope if yours gets some more use you'll share your thoughts here.

[gerleatherberman]

OK. You convinced me. I will give the MP1 a fair shake for a few days. 
We will see if the MP1 has actually earned the MP prefix.

[Padre]

 
I hope you enjoy it.
I have given my mp1 a fair bit of pain, but it has endured (unlike LM tools). It does feel much flimsier than it really is!

I hate the pouch too, not even spare room for extra bits.

[ThePeacent]

interesting read and most beautiful pics! Do you use your phone for them  ?
The tool seems really nice from the outside and I'll follow with interest to see if it delivers

sad for the sheath, an element as important as the tool it carries IMO

[clown]

interesting read and most beautiful pics! Do you use your phone for them  ?
The tool seems really nice from the outside and I'll follow with interest to see if it delivers

sad for the sheath, an element as important as the tool it carries IMO

Thanks!  Yes I use my phone for all my pics.  Samsung Galaxy S7.

[gerleatherberman]

Got an old slim LM PST sheath?

[Ravenroost]

I bought a the premium Leatherman sheath for the Wave size (4.0 tall) because I hate velcro.

Requires a little user work (blow dryer or alcohol) to stretch to carry the mp1, the 4.5 surge size would fit much better, since it's 4.3 tall.

Genius use of the PST sheath grant.

I wonder how difficult adding a snap to the Gerber sheath would be? Anyone ever try?

[Gareth]

Good thread folks.

[clown]

Good tips! I can't imagine adding a snap would be too hard.

[gerleatherberman]

Thanks Raven!

Indeed Clown. A simple kit for adding the snap buttons can be found online.
You know, the Strata and BullRush have the same sheath design and have button snaps. I wonder why Gerber went with velcro on a MSRP $110 tool when the Strata and BR are much less MSRP.
Oh well. We'll figure something out. I think it is high time certain aspects of the MP1 are taken seriously. It seems to be a well designed tool with just a couple of hiccups overall. Peening the plier joint seems to have helped the plier play and being drop forged, it should hold up a little better than standard internal spring cast pliers. I do like the fine point needle nose too for delicate work. And the nearly flush anvil cutters are a much needed feature in the MT world. The anvil style takes stress off the pivot to a large extent. Bypass cutters have caused me a lot of time pressing the pivot back on many tools.
IMO. It is one of the best looking MTs out there! 

[clown]

I was replacing broken springs most of the day today so the MP1 didn't see much action.  Did have time for a quick pic tho.

[clown]

Used my MP1 to split and strip wire while replacing some safety eyes today.  Used the prybar to pop the cover off this door opener and then used the larger flathead to adjust the travel limits.



Used the blade to cut open the packaging around a piece of replacement glass.  Used the pliers to remove and reinstall the master link on the drive chain of a commercial door operator. 

I'm really enjoying using the MP1 this week.  So far I think my biggest complaint is the sprung pliers👎.  I almost dropped it off the top of a 12 foot ladder today trying to balance it on there with a set of vice grips, a hammer and a wrench.   Can't really just drop it in you pocket for a minute either or you'll spend the next 10 min trying to get back out.

[MusicMen]

I appreciate the info as I have been thinking about getting one.
Keep posting and I will keep reading.   

[clown]

I appreciate the info as I have been thinking about getting one.
Keep posting and I will keep reading.   

Will do!   

[Ravenroost]

I put my MP1 through a few trials I put all my new multitool EDC prospects through.

After peening the pliers pivot, to be clear.

I used the pliers to open the pipe plugs on a handful of 55 gallon drums of oil we had at work and to close the hydraulic cylinders on large jack stands.

This is about the most grueling test I could come up with to test resistance to torsional load (I've snapped pliers on 3 skeletools doing this as a note, and one wave pliers)

The mp1 withstood the sideload without gaining any slop.

Next I used the regular pliers section to hold onto a 20 x 2.5 stud while I ran a die down some bothered up thread.

Again no slop gained.

I then used the needlenose to place and remove .003 (width of a hair for reference) shims underneath some large steel weldments we needed to make fine leveling adjustments on.

I've used the bit driver on high feed milling cutters to back out torx insert screws. Without antiseize on the screws, it did twist a little but removed the screws. Have repeated that test multiple times on different sized cutters and screw sizes. All the way up to T30 torx screws in large diameter spade drills.

Used the pry tool and screwdrivers to shimmy out stuck collects and cutters. Which is a ton of torsional force on the pivots/tools

Maybe I got a good one, but If you can break the bit driver or pliers.

I'd like a video.

For me and my purposes as an EDC this is the "Wave" killer and I'll be sidelining my MUT, atleast for now.

[Gareth]

All sounding very good gents.    Clown; I'm with you on sprung pliers though, the times they are a real advantage are hugely outweighed by the times they are a PITA. 

[clown]

All sounding very good gents.    Clown; I'm with you on sprung pliers though, the times they are a real advantage are hugely outweighed by the times they are a PITA. 

Agreed.  Look much space this thing takes up.


I watched the pliers tips misalign themselves while twisting open this cotter pin.  But they went back to normal.


I also noticed the handles 'squish' a little while squeezing hard on the pin to straighten it before reinstalling it. Nothing to cause worry as of yet though.

[MusicMen]

Those are the two things I was worried about as it is not a heavy looking tool.
Keep the info coming. 

[clown]

Those are the two things I was worried about as it is not a heavy looking tool.
Keep the info coming. 

I got a great deal on this tool and I hear Gerber has a good warranty so I won't baby it!   

[clown]

Been carrying the MP1 to work again this week.  Ive been enjoying it.  Especially the bit driver and the OH blade.  It keeps me from having to carry a folder clipped to my pocket.

Three negative observations after about 8 days of use.
First, as reported by others, some rather noticeable slop has developed in the head.  I guess I will have to try to peen the pivot.

Second, there is a significant amount of handle flex when squeezing hard on the pliers.   I noticed it today when trying to pull some small staples out of a 2x6.  It seriously diminished the gripping force at the plier tips.  That coupled with the tiny amount of ungrooved area the very tips of the pliers made it impossible for me to pull the staples out.  At least the pointy needle nose tip was small enough to get under the staple so I could pry it out.

Third, as I expected, the tiny piece of Velcro used to hold the sheath closed is already starting to loose it's grippiness.   I suspect in another couple if weeks it will quit grabbing altogether.  Why manufacturers insist on using Velcro instead of a vastly more durable snap is beyond me. 


To be continued....

[Padre]

Is the handle flex getting that bad? I found it disturbing at first, but it hasnt been issue while working with mp1?

I should send some extra velcro to Gerber as they might run low with their own stack. This pouch having 10mm x 10mm piece is ridicilous.
 

[Gareth]

Shame to hear that the head has developed some play mate.

[clown]

[Ravenroost]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/158487066@N05/shares/XXe54E

I used a ball end peen (pictured)

The semi circle peen marks are a pin punch held up on edge so only part of the diameter is engaged.

Used a center punch to make a single punch in the lowest spot.

I can't twist them hard enough to get them to loosen up now.

Not pretty but effective.

The ball end peen is very effective at material displacement in the direction of force, but you could probably do it without one.

[clown]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/158487066@N05/shares/XXe54E

I used a ball end peen (pictured)

The semi circle peen marks are a pin punch held up on edge so only part of the diameter is engaged.

Used a center punch to make a single punch in the lowest spot.

I can't twist them hard enough to get them to loosen up now.

Not pretty but effective.

The ball end peen is very effective at material displacement in the direction of force, but you could probably do it without one.

Awesome. Thanks for the instructions!

[Jaypeebee]

Was thinking about getting one of these so wondered how they were holding up.
I like the idea of the "side cutter"pliers and the bit driver but not so sure on the spring action pliers!
I would appreciate any updates that would sway me one way or the other.......
     Thanks..

[Sam Lim]

Was thinking about getting one of these so wondered how they were holding up.
I like the idea of the "side cutter"pliers and the bit driver but not so sure on the spring action pliers!
I would appreciate any updates that would sway me one way or the other.......
     Thanks..

While I do not use mine frequently, I did play around with mine and put them back on the shelf..

These are pretty my impressions rather than experience.

I am just going to talk mainly on the pliers, they seems rather "soft" to me. Twisting is def not something I would consider doing.. While the side cutters are a great idea, the sprung pliers pivot are built to a lesser tolerance. In long term use, I would think they will go misaligned faster than a cross over cutter. Making cutting a bit of challenge..

The rest of the tools are quite ok-ish.

[Jaypeebee]

Thanks Sam for the comments 

I really need some heavy duty pliers so you might just have swayed me to the "nay" side