Disapointed in the Skeletool

[daemonza]

Been carrying a normal little victorinox swiss army knife(http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=outdoor&product=53861&) as my EDC for years now, but decided to swap to the leathermand skeletool
when it came out, as it's small, and the one hand opening of the blade is very nice! as well as the opening of the blade without
opening the tool, and the pliers is very usefull for me. However I am starting to think I should swap to a swisstool instead, as I don't really use the
skeletool close to water but it's already showing signs of small rust spots, and the screwdriver bits are loose colour, I have probably used the bits
less than 10 times so far. Also and I suppose this is a minor issue, I have noticed when the skeletool is closed the side of the tip of the plies digs a little into the
tool and have made a little dent there, nothing serious, but IMO it should not happen. Have to say a bit disappointed in the quality of the tool, and I have
only used it for small things, that said when I needed it, it preformed flawlessly and worked like a champ, just cannot see it surviving very long.

[hawkchucker]

Daemonza. First of all welcome aboard and as you now notice there is no single multitool that will do all you need to.
However the Sak you used to carry certainly had the tools that you used more over the years and the Skeletool has no saw file or actually a bunch more of the tools you are used to carrying. So actually as it kills me Maybe you should look back into the Sak. I actually use my pliers more than any other tool I carry so a single SAK would not work in my life. Sorry it did not work out, but still look into a belt carried smaller multi tool. Like the spirit from Vic. I think you would like it more.

[daemonza]

It's not really the tools of the SAK that I miss, althought the saw was usefull at times, the blade, bottle opening, pliers and screwdriver with bits on the skeletool is perfect for me, but rust and the rubbing of the pliers on the inside of the skeletool puts me off a little.

[Nikos]

Rust spots is something you get with carbon steel; sweaty hands are enough to do that. Just clean and oil the tool once in a while and you should be ok. As far as the bits are concerned, they also do lose color with use but never ever had one rust on me. The thing with the pliers, though, sounds like a warranty claim issue. I've used and abused mine and don't see what you mention. The pliers head has at least a mm of space around it in all directions with the tool closed:







I'd suggest you contacted LM about it...

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Welcome to the forum mate

Sorry to hear your not liking the Skeletool, but your not alone , it's very hard to go from true stainless tool's to ones that rust . I know I couldn't no matter how many tool I bought

[Smitty44]

Welcome to the forums Daemonza,South Africa sounds like a beautiful place to live,are you close to the coast,if you are close to a lot of salt air,it might have an effect to your multi.Hope to hear more from you and where you live.

[zepla]

Hmm, rust you say? I've a wave and a skeletool and work in plenty moist places. (work with boats and it's alway raining over here  ) Never had rust on my tools. The trick is, and I'm just guessing here, is to use the tools a lot. I once found an old screw driver after years. It was covered with rust, never cleaned it but the part that have  lots of contact, hand, srew and just bouncing around in the tool box gets cleaner and cleaner after time passing by. So like my mom always told me when I was a little boy; rest rusts. (hope the translation makes sence  )

Sorry to hear about your Skeletool, love mine and no rust. If you think the assamble is not done proper, take it up with Leatherman. Never used the customer service myself, but hear good things about it.

Good luck!

[max6166]

Welcome aboard, daemonza. 

Sorry you are not happy with the Skeletool. Perhaps you could trade it to someone here for something you might like more? Can't hurt to ask and see what offers you get...

[daemonza]

Rust spots is something you get with carbon steel; sweaty hands are enough to do that. Just clean and oil the tool once in a while and you should be ok. As far as the bits are concerned, they also do lose color with use but never ever had one rust on me. The thing with the pliers, though, sounds like a warranty claim issue. I've used and abused mine and don't see what you mention. The pliers head has at least a mm of space around it in all directions with the tool closed:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

I'd suggest you contacted LM about it...

Mine does not look like that at all, the one side of the pliers are al the way in. Will take some photo's this afternoon when I have access to a camera and post it.

[donvito]

I got a small gap in the pliers on my skele as well when closed, doesn't bother me and seems like part of the design. Since I'm new to leatherman MTs I have yet to encounter the rust issue. I do supplement my skele with a sak. I am an long term owner of a Swiss Toll and I do recommend it, carry it as a multi + ether a folder, OH (one hand opening) sak, or plain old sak to fill in most of the voids and you'll be covered. Will try to take some pics.

[donvito]

Skeletool with my current edc sak tourist (84mm spartan).

[daemonza]

Welcome to the forums Daemonza,South Africa sounds like a beautiful place to live,are you close to the coast,if you are close to a lot of salt air,it might have an effect to your multi.Hope to hear more from you and where you live.

Nope I live inland in Gauteng. So no salt water anywhere closeby.

[AndyTiedye]

Rust spots is something you get with carbon steel

Carbon steel?   It doesn't look like carbon steel, and LM says it's stainless.   

[Nikos]

The Skeletool blades are definitely made of carbon steel (420HC and 154CM). For the rest of the tool, just have a look at LM's maintenance tips...

[Benner]

The Skeletool blades are definitely made of carbon steel (420HC and 154CM). For the rest of the tool, just have a look at LM's maintenance tips...

420HC and 154CM are both stainless steels.

[Nikos]

Oops... I stand corrected (had to look it up). Sorry for that.

[hawkchucker]

Yup Stainless, however stainless still contains carbon in it so you are both right. However a little rust never bothered me. And to clean them Ignore the page on LM'S site. Just run it through the dishwasher.

[duckman1975]

Spray a little WD40 wipe and your good to go 

[donvito]

Spray a little WD40 wipe and your good to go 

I second that, got a can of WD-40 by my desk.

[J-sews]

.....and the screwdriver bits are loose colour, I have probably used the bits
less than 10 times so far.....

Leatherman uses a dark coating on their screwdriver bits. It rubs off after the first use. I don't think its intended to stay dark very long.

Hmmmm, knowing full well that was going to happen, I wonder why they didn't just leave a shiny metal finish on the bits? Why dark coat them at all? They would have stayed looking good longer.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

.....and the screwdriver bits are loose colour, I have probably used the bits
less than 10 times so far.....

Leatherman uses a dark coating on their screwdriver bits. It rubs off after the first use. I don't think its intended to stay dark very long.

Hmmmm, knowing full well that was going to happen, I wonder why they didn't just leave a shiny metal finish on the bits? Why dark coat them at all? They would have stayed looking good longer.

Probably so they don't rust on the shelves (being serious)

[NeitherExtreme]

The bits are tool steel, so I don't think you could give them a shiny finish. The black's just a little extra protection. They will age just like a regular high quality screwdriver I would think, which means if you give them reasonable care they'll develop a nice grey patina and never any real rust.