I disagree, that is not how markets work. Look at anything from computers, to cell phones to cars. New features are introduced at premium prices, often times on product lines that are considered luxury items. Then over time, as production costs are lowered and development costs are recouped, the new tech becomes more available at lower price points. Forty years ago air conditioning was considered a luxury in cars. Now I don't even know if you can buy a car in the US without it. If you don't want to buy it, that's fine, you likely aren't the target market for these tools. I'm honestly kind of surprised by some of the comments about how well the tool does its job. If unqualified, those statements seem to imply that MT development could have stopped at the PST. I realize that's not the intent, but there is nothing inherently wrong with incremental refinement that does not significantly impact a tool's basic function. That is much more common in the development of new technology that sudden, great leaps in development.
I agree that new features are implemented in the premium lines of manufactureres for a high price. Then once they figure out how to produce it cheaper, it also comes to the standard line. That is my problem with the Free though. Imho the free series is not a premium line. For a premium line mt i expect bit holders, 3D Phillips, maybe a diamond file or something your other lines do not offer.I don‘t see any of that in the free series and yet they want me to pay premium prices. I just cannot shed the feeling that they are trying to screw me, and that is a feeling a product should never invoke if you want to sell it.
It is just the feeling i get looking at the tool and the advertising around it. I know that might not be rational, that's why i tried to describe it as a feeling.The high price creates a certain expectation, and and least from what i have seen so far it does not live up to it.
You are right of course. But we wouldn‘t have so much fun arguing about it, if there was a perfect mt
Well, my presumption of tools not being safely retained seems to have some early supporting evidence. I don't care if I get labelled a hater, or by whom, as some of my concerns already appear to be legit.I will add another prediction.Following on from my rambling post after seeing Monrogue's pics (might have been in the other thread), I now feel confident enough to say that I expect to see failures of the force transfer lugs that nestle into the cut outs on the handle when the pliers are clicked into place. I do not expect this to be as vulnerable as the original Switchplier, but I do expect similar fractures leading to total pliers failure for hard users. The cross section is larger than that of the peg on the Switchplier, and there are two pegs per jaw. Much stronger than that SOG. However, I do think there is a very real risk of fractures there, either through fatigue, or impact loading from pliers slamming shut if they sip off something while being gripped hard.This will partially depend on the tensile strength that they have managed to produce with the castings. I know from experience, that some stainless castings, with the right heat treatment, can actually be quite ductile. I've managed to successfully cold work straighten some castings up to maybe 2 tonnes in weight on a 500 tonne press in the past, so I do have first hand experience there. (I've also seen some fracture with very low force applied, and it was important to refer to a mechanical test certificate, to see which components were suitable). However, those castings were for an entirely different application and industry, and whether the same ductility can be produced on a casting sufficiently hardened for use as pliers, is beyond my metallurgical knowledge. Also, We're taking about frequent loading, every time the pliers are used, which may be susceptible to creeping cracks.
I'm trying to follow here... so it is possible that the free is neither safe opened, or closed?
To put things into perspective as far as premium prices go the Crunch is now going for $109.00 on the LM website. With the high cost of steel and wages I wouldn’t expect prices to drop any time soon with American made tools, unless the quality is total garbage. Regardless of whether the Free series is your cup of tea or not the tool required a great deal of research, development, new machining and casts, and still requires more quality control. Could they have added better implements? Sure, and I think that they will. Just expect to pay for it.
Well, my presumption of tools not being safely retained seems to have some early supporting evidence. I don't care if I get labelled a hater, or by whom, as some of my concerns already appear to be legit.I will add another prediction.Following on from my rambling post after seeing Monrogue's pics (might have been in the other thread), I now feel confident enough to say that I expect to see failures of the force transfer lugs that nestle into the cut outs on the handle when the pliers are clicked into place. I do not expect this to be as vulnerable as the original Switchplier, but I do expect similar fractures leading to total pliers failure for hard users. The cross section is larger than that of the peg on the Switchplier, and there are two pegs per jaw. Much stronger than that SOG. However, I do think there is a very real risk of fractures there, either through fatigue, or impact loading from pliers slamming shut if they sip off something while being gripped hard.This will partially depend on the tensile strength that they have managed to produce with the castings. I know from experience, that some stainless castings, with the right heat treatment, can actually be quite ductile. I've managed to successfully cold work straighten some castings up to maybe 2 tonnes in weight on a 500 tonne press in the past, so I do have first hand experience there. (I've also seen some fracture with very low force applied, and it was important to refer to a mechanical test certificate, to see which components were suitable). However, those castings were for an entirely different application and industry, and whether the same ductility can be produced on a casting sufficiently hardened for use as pliers, is beyond my metallurgical knowledge. Also, We're taking about frequent loading, every time the pliers are used, which may be susceptible to creeping cracks.EDIT: I expect such issues to be infrequent, and more likely to occur over a longer timeframe. So I wouldn't expect to see many, if any, cases within lets say the first 12 months, but wouldn't be surprised to see a couple reports of failure in that area within two or three years.
good write up GLBM, have you used it on anything yet? Also, do you feel those little tabs on the handle at all(In plier mode)?
Those little tabs don’t effect me on the p2 To me they are there to stop handle movement especially when using the screwdriver’s
That's cool, I had gotten a Rev very cheap a few months ago on clearance from walmart, and it has a very sharp hot spot on it that could easily slice you if your'e not careful, I can't afford this tool ATM but definitely want one.
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