Leatherbad Squirt

[Blackbeard]

I had posted this in the Squirt thread but it's pretty old threadso not sure anybody even looks there anymore:

Disappointed with the one I just picked up PS4. I had sold my blue early version many years ago, had a glossier finish, I wanted the E version but could never find it on sale...any way I got one today 25% off, but the philips is very tight/difficult to extract and does not snap back into handle, kinda have to shove & force it in, the scissors open nicely but again wont snap closed into handle either.

I think the rivet on the philips is too tight and is squeezing scales too much causing these issues. It was also bone dry, oiling it hasn't helped, might have to exchange it if it doesn't improve with some fidgeting, I don't recall if my previous version had these issues, but this one is pretty bad.

Can anyone tell me if this is close to normal operation? I don't want to drive back to the store, exchange it and find the same issue and have to go back again  Honestly I've been getting a lot of duds/lemons lately and starting to get soured on new purchases unless it's a Vic which are always good...

[Wessaen]

Sounds like a dud to me. I would see if I could return it.

To be honest though, the new PS versions are nowhere as good as the old P/E/S4s. I sold my PS4 and bought a mint P4 on evilbay to replace the one I lost and never looked back.

Vic Rambler/LM P4 is just about the perfect mini EDC combo imho.

-Wes.

[Aloha]

 

Manager/P4 is one of my favorite combos.  It get tiring to keep getting duds.  I have a PS4 that I carry and no issue with the tools.  I did mod it to have better access to the nail nicks tho. 

[Blackbeard]

I will probably return it tomorrow, most likely won't exchange it, seems like some really poor quality control on these, quite a few complaints on amazon about similar and breaking problems....

On a more weird/disgusting note, while walking the dog just now I saw this crazy insect with a long body and weird legs...upon closer inspection it was a daddy long legs dragging a half eaten worm in its mouth and another DLL was trying to steal it from him....so gross and unexpected.

[gerleatherberman]

My vote would be to keep it. We all know some LMs take break in time and lube. Some more than others.
The PS4/ES4 are complex little doodads, and for them to exhibit the same level of QC as a SAK(much simpler design), it would add quite a significant amount of cost. Just food for thought.
Everyone sees it differently, but that's my $0.02, for whatever it matters.

And if it makes you feel any better, I have seen an increase in QC mishaps with Vic stuff lately as well, compared to their older stuff. So, it's not just LM trying to keep costs down, it is industry-wide(mostly because consumers don't want to pay more for things that constantly cost more to produce).

[Blackbeard]

I'll see if I can get it a little smoother, but I'm not sure its physically possible to get a rivet looser. I dont mind the phillips being too tight, it may actually work more like a locking tool in that condition, but the scissors not snapping back into the handle bugs me, I have a lot of saks and never have I seen one with a pair of scissors that didnt retract like a sprung mouse trap.

Just kinda dissappointed, regreted selling my old one years ago, this newer design seems like a step backwards.

[Blackbeard]

My vote would be to keep it. We all know some LMs take break in time and lube. Some more than others.
The PS4/ES4 are complex little doodads, and for them to exhibit the same level of QC as a SAK(much simpler design), it would add quite a significant amount of cost. Just food for thought.
Everyone sees it differently, but that's my $0.02, for whatever it matters.

And if it makes you feel any better, I have seen an increase in QC mishaps with Vic stuff lately as well, compared to their older stuff. So, it's not just LM trying to keep costs down, it is industry-wide(mostly because consumers don't want to pay more for things that constantly cost more to produce).

Are you talking about Swisstool/spirit or sak? I think the sak's are pretty well tested before leaving the factory, or at least the video I watched said so   

I was fortunate to get my spirits and swisstool back when they were reasonably priced, 5-8 years ago, and aside from crappy BO finish on my spirit, they are pretty awesome, my saks are more reccent. All my LM's before this are excellent as well, I'm just hitting a bad streak cause I can only afford cheap stuff right now 

My last 4 purchases all $20-$30 range:
LM Squirt: Meh
Acebeam UC15: Returned, UV/red light mode defective, would not turn on
Kershaw Atmos: awesome
Byrd Robin 2: So-so, Worked on it for many hours to get the action smoother, still kinda meh but it's sharp as hell

And also got the serrated Spartan Sir Vicalot posted in deals forum, but it was only $12ish, also awesome, kinda a steal at this price if you are near an REI store.

[gerleatherberman]

Doesn't have to be scissors. Vic does that well and consistently. Example: Nomad main blade liner lock isn't long enough, so there is front to back blade play - same goes for driver lock. Example: Split ring attachment on my Pioneer X has rough edges. Example: Mag frame in my new Explorer allows the lens to pop out quite easily. Example: Spring tension on back tools on some of my newer SAKs is much to tight and risks breaking a fingernail. That doesn't include the pliers tools, since you made the point that SwissTools aren't SAKs.
All things I can overlook, because they aren't detrimental to the tool's overall operation.

And I fully understand the buying cheaper gear thing. Got a lot of cheap & cheerful tools that can attest to that.

[Blackbeard]

Doesn't have to be scissors. Vic does that well and consistently. Example: Nomad main blade liner lock isn't long enough, so there is front to back blade play - same goes for driver lock. Example: Split ring attachment on my Pioneer X has rough edges. Example: Mag frame in my new Explorer allows the lens to pop out quite easily. Example: Spring tension on back tools on some of my newer SAKs is much to tight and risks breaking a fingernail. That doesn't include the pliers tools, since you made the point that SwissTools aren't SAKs.
All things I can overlook, because they aren't detrimental to the tool's overall operation.

Yeah I mentioned that bad back tool fingerbuster in the pet peeve thread, so yeah I agree, I dont have a nomad, and havent used the PX much, but hope you get the issues squared away

[gregozedobe]

I will probably return it tomorrow, most likely won't exchange it, seems like some really poor quality control on these, quite a few complaints on amazon about similar and breaking problems....

Maybe return the PS4 and use the money to buy a decent s'hand P4 ?  The spring for the PS4 scissors are quite prone to breaking, and if you usually carry a SAK with scissors as well, then you have no need for the PS4 scissors.

[temo]

Tested as well. Phillips makes some sort of clap sound but flat not so much. I think that closing sound is more vics area. But that is annoying if opening is too tight. I don't have that issue with squirt. In my squirt tools are easier to open then example champ back tools. But yes short tools are hard to open if too much tension. I complained this with dime. And did some filing with that. Though would not file more expensive squirt.

For scissors I think spring as well slow down closing. So with small scissors there is no vic clap effect.

In one video some tuber used pencil (lead) to "lubricate" opening of tools for SAK. But if tension is just too high I could think that won't help. Maybe should be some abrasive paste to speed up loosening.

Kind of similar I have with vic pliers. Light spring works much better and more fluent with old pliers. New pliers are quite stiff.

I could think using will speed up loosening more then just opening and closing. With some torque sure joints will loose a bit compared to new.

Sent from my VIE-L09 using Tapatalk

[Happy Gilmore]

Def a dud, although I dislike the scissors on it, I had none of those issues with my ps4

[Blackbeard]

Thanks for the responses guys, It seems to be getting better after sitting overnight with fresh oil and open/closing a bunch, I don't think phillips will ever snap shut like the rest of the implements, will give it a few more days and see if it comes around some more 

[gerleatherberman]

Leatherman break-in.

On the silver-lining side of it all; better tight and get normal over time, than normal and get loose over time.

[Blackbeard]

It has gotten a bit better in the past few days, and not having the phillips retract 100% is actually ok due to the questionable design of nail nick and no cutout to access it, its kind of easier to get at.

[Blackbeard]

  I exchanged it, will open it up later and report in.

[Blackbeard]

    
The replacement works normally, good closing snaps and easy to open all tools, glad I didnt keep that POS example 

Also give a mention to REI, exchanged it with no questions asked, very pleasant to deal with.

[zoidberg]