Blunt nose or Needle nose? your say....

[theonew]

Blunt nose for me. I've had way too many fails where I wasn't able to turn a nut or bolt because it was too close to a nearby surface and the long needle nose was in the way. Also if you try to turn something using just the tip it often doesn't have enough purchase. I can't think of a single instance, in my use, where a needle nose would have been capable of completing a task that a blunt nose was completely incapable of doing but many instances of the reverse.

[Happy Gilmore]

Blunt nose for me. I've had way too many fails where I wasn't able to turn a nut or bolt because it was too close to a nearby surface and the long needle nose was in the way. Also if you try to turn something using just the tip it often doesn't have enough purchase. I can't think of a single instance, in my use, where a needle nose would have been capable of completing a task that a blunt nose was completely incapable of doing but many instances of the reverse.

really??? That is quite surprising.

Blunt nose really accel when it comes to loosening and tightening nuts, but the issue I find to be true is that many recessed or hard to access nuts wont work with any type of plier and instead need a socket wrench. However, for most fine tasks a NN is going to do things that the BN can't really achieve.  The nuts you are talking about need to be close enough to an obstruction to not allow the needle nose to pass, but be far enough that a BN would still work. Most of the tasks I want a BN for require locking pliers or a socket set. As far as I know the Crunch is the only MT that has all these covered, but still can do the job of a socket set in any instance (although because the Crunch has a 1/4 inch driver it can also work with a socket set).

Cheers,
H.G.

Also neither the BN or NN can replace a diagonal cutter in electrical work.

[theonew]

You'll will not likely find a bigger fan of the Crunch than me. Try this with a Wave:

My friend's porch umbrella had a broken arm.

[Sam Lim]

You'll will not likely find a bigger fan of the Crunch than me. Try this with a Wave:

My friend's porch umbrella had a broken arm.

(Image removed from quote.)

  that would be a unfair comparison. It's the locking feature that comes into play.

I am leaning towards needle nose on a MT as well. Like AW said before, everyone's real world is different. Most task I encounter can be tackled by a needle nose. If it cannot perform the task, I will go off to get a proper set of tool and come back. No biggie. Its a choice. I am a big fan of the Gerber's BN but let's not bluff ourself that a BN on a MT can match the capabilities of a Lineman plier.

[CeHo]

Needle nose for me

[Huntsman]

Blunt nose for me. I've had way too many fails where I wasn't able to turn a nut or bolt because it was too close to a nearby surface and the long needle nose was in the way. Also if you try to turn something using just the tip it often doesn't have enough purchase. I can't think of a single instance, in my use, where a needle nose would have been capable of completing a task that a blunt nose was completely incapable of doing but many instances of the reverse.

You know this did resonate with me. Blunt nose maybe are better?   
For sure one 'problem' for me with this evaluation is that of familiarity......
- I am just so used to all MTs having needle nosed that I don't question it too much
Although, in my early days, I did  wonder why they were all NN (I only really knew about Leathermans in those days)

And as I said earlier needle nosed rarely fail me so again I don't question it
I think they both have 'fail' jobs - Fine stuff for BN and big grabby stuff for BN
Also for NN grabbing a nut vertcally from above (eg due to restricted access) is not poss.

So now, for me, I am thinking either are OK - And maybe with a slight preference for BN

I think the LM desgners go with NN as they believe that NN can do everything BN can do - and not vice versa
ie BN cannot do the fine stuff.

[LoopCutter]

For me, my MT that is on my belt or pocket on any given day is a “Stop-Gap” to assist me.  The Hybrid Needle-nose plier head on my Leatherman MTs provide ME with the most versatility.

It is always important to use the correct tool for the job being done. 

I also use my pliers to hold small/fine nails while using the appropriate hammer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Syncop8r]

Not the pic I was looking for but close enough:

Here's something I wouldn't have been able to tighten/loosen before with the MUT.

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,50578.msg852500.html#msg852500

[Happy Gilmore]

Not the pic I was looking for but close enough:https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,50578.msg852500.html#msg852500

For sure, as I said BN has its place but I'd rather pull out my set of vice grips if I am truly dealing with a lot of recessed nuts. Most of the nuts I encounter are quite small and usually require either a socket set to reach, or a flat wrench because of their location. Basically all of the tasks I need BN for demand real tools designed for the job. I could use my MT in an emergency, but really you need the right tool. I carry a NN because I work small scale most of the time and need the strong finger like pressure they can create to bend and torque items. I think if I worked on larger items like bikes/mechanical equipment/Vehicles I might prefer a BN but then again I'd likely be using real wrenches at that point.

On a side note..nice mod to those pliers! I think a BN on a tool like a surge or ST300 would be sweet.

Cheers,
H.G.

[Syncop8r]

Yeah I'm going to BN my Surge but I wouldn't do it to any of my other MTs. Especially not the OHT as they are really good NN pliers.

[Happy Gilmore]

Yeah I'm going to BN my Surge but I wouldn't do it to any of my other MTs. Especially not the OHT as they are really good NN pliers.

I think most of the NN pliers Leatherman makes beat 99% of the dedicated NN pliers out there for functionality. Show us some pics after the mod.

 

[SirVicaLot]

Needle Nose for me. If i really need Blunt Nose because a task requires higher torque, i grab a dedicted tool, because a MT won‘t cut it  - regardless of nose type.

[KBM3]

The ST 200 has helped me out with numerous projects both at home and back when I was in the military. The needle nose pliers have never failed, broke, or even been damaged with hard use and torquing. When you was in the Navy, I was issued the blunt nose Gerber. I still have it and it is pretty much brand new because the ST has been my go-to tool of choice. I have never needed anything else.

Ken

[Sea Monster]

Though I am often reaching for a pair of "lineys" for tasks the Multi can't do (ie - I need the blunt nose pliers, or better side cutters) I don't necessarily agree that the LM pliers are simply "not up to it"

They've served relatively well in my experience, and I am not one to shy away from torque.

Having said that - my Wave pliers are "shortened" due to snapping a tip and grinding down the other to match, and there is a lot of appeal in that too (although they are obviously still a lot narrower than linesman pliers, due to the OHO blades that dominate the Wave frame)

It is plausibly in LMs interest to offer a "stubby" plier option....but since I can't seem to convince them to go back to the old cutting blades,  I'm not sure that idea will get anywhere until or unless they have it for themselves.

[ThePeacent]

What even Tosh's ?          

Tossh is the OP, all the other following replies and posts -except one- are from members other than Tosh, and it's those I was referring to   

[Syncop8r]

Tossh is the OP, all the other following replies and posts -except one- are from members other than Tosh, and it's those I was referring to   

So you agreed with all the above replies, rather than all the above comments.     

[MTFool]

Though I am often reaching for a pair of "lineys" for tasks the Multi can't do (ie - I need the blunt nose pliers, or better side cutters) I don't necessarily agree that the LM pliers are simply "not up to it"

They've served relatively well in my experience, and I am not one to shy away from torque.

Having said that - my Wave pliers are "shortened" due to snapping a tip and grinding down the other to match, and there is a lot of appeal in that too (although they are obviously still a lot narrower than linesman pliers, due to the OHO blades that dominate the Wave frame)

It is plausibly in LMs interest to offer a "stubby" plier option....but since I can't seem to convince them to go back to the old cutting blades,  I'm not sure that idea will get anywhere until or unless they have it for themselves.

I like to see a pic of that wave SM,  Sounds interesting.

[Sea Monster]

It's just a few mm shorter - it really was just the tip that snapped (And I was a few weeks away from home, so I had to make do with mismatched plier tips for a while before the chance game to "even" them up)

I'll see if I can get a picture.

[MTFool]

SM, That happened to one  of my MP 400. I had to grind it down to match. I thought it made them better. (especially when closed)

[Syncop8r]

  Same with my MP400.

[Sea Monster]

It was just a few mm, but it makes a remarkable difference in use, feels significantly more "solid"

here it is in comparison to normal wave (these tools are c 2006ish, so relevance to current plier heads in the range might be limited)

[Raoul Octav]

Needle Nose for me as i do fine repairs and often i use the pliers as tweezers

[Happy Gilmore]

those shortened NN make me want to revisit the spirit X..maybe they have something with that hybrid shape and its my preconceived notions that is the issue... Seriously though, If the Spirit had the standard 91mm Scissor, OHT blade, and pocket clip.  I'd probably hang up a 90% of my Leatherman tools. But I don't see that every happening unless I mod it myself.

Cheers,
H.G.

[MTFool]

It was just a few mm, but it makes a remarkable difference in use, feels significantly more "solid"

here it is in comparison to normal wave (these tools are c 2006ish, so relevance to current plier heads in the range might be limited)

Thanks for taking the time to take pics SM.     I really  the looks of it   
It kind of looks like my MP400.

[Syncop8r]

(Image removed from quote.)