SwissTech Microtool

King_Gorilla · **on:** November 16, 2019, 02:24:41 AM

I just bought a SwissTech Microtool. This little tool has a LOT of history for me. If you are not interested in the back story, feel free to skip down to the thoughts on quality control differences.

I first bought a SwissTech Microtool for $20 in the late 90's. (If my memory serves me correctly) It was the simple one identical to the one on the right in the pictures. This was the first multi tool that I would actually EDC, well before I had ever heard that term. Took it to school with me every day. The build quality on these things was absolutely amazing. I would torque the hell out of it to tighten snowboard bindings while out on the slopes and it worked like a champ. I used to cut those strands that hold hay bails together when I worked at the zoo. I eventually bought the next iteration that had two smaller drivers that would flip out. I gave my original one to my brother who loved it until he lost it a few months later. I managed to keep my second one for years before it to was lost in a mosh pit. Once out of high school, I started carrying a knife everywhere and got into leathermans and other great multitools.

Quality Control
Several years later I tried to buy some of the new stuff that SwissTech was making. They had all kinds of new microtools but they seemed to be going for maximum widget count rather than usefulness. I bought a silver microtool that fell apart within weeks of getting it. Then I saw a black 6in1 or whatever they were calling the original tool I got all those years ago. But rather than finding it in a quality sporting goods store, this one was $9.99 by the register at an O'Rielys autoparts. After buying it it was very clear that it was not the same as my original one.

Hopefully, you will be able to see the details in the pictures provided. The one on the left is the from around 2010-2014 or so. It is the cheap $10 one. Not sure if this comes out in the pictures or not but everything about it looks and feels cheap. The black is like a painted on coating of some sort. I only carried this tool for about a week before the black coloring got scratched and scuffed up. Also the drivers got loose and started spinning freely. I can grab the drivers and wiggle them left and right while the tool is closed, creating a rattle sound if you shake it.

I don't know what happened to SwissTech as a company. But I have seen similar quality decay in many of their products. I had given up on finding a good SwissTech microtool years ago and bought a leatherman Style PS which I have been very happy with. But the other day I checked Ebay (for the 231st time) just to see if any of them looked like the original ones. I was really happy to find one that had the original plastic box that they came in many years ago. So I took a risk and it paid off. The tool on the right is the one I just got and it is solid as a stone!
Even though I LOVE my Style, I might start carrying this thing again.

stugumby · **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2019, 05:10:36 PM

The micro max is a good edc tool,same for the utilikey. Gotta be careful opening bottles with the utilikey though. Screws all is another handy thing combo with a sak. Best way is use them as part of a layered system.

King_Gorilla · **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2019, 08:31:08 AM

Quote from: stugumby on December 02, 2019, 05:10:36 PM

The micro max is a good edc tool,same for the utilikey. Gotta be careful opening bottles with the utilikey though. Screws all is another handy thing combo with a sak. Best way is use them as part of a layered system.

It's interesting that you mention the Utili-key. I bought one of those when they first came out as well. It was like $10 in a store. Quality was fantastic. (obviously a super-lite duty tool but useful for how tiny and easy to carry) I had it on my key chain for over 15 years. I had to get another after the TSA took it. I bought two off ebay, both were terrible. The quality control on those has dropped as well.

ddogu · **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2020, 08:43:33 AM

To me the pliers are not practical to use. The handles are simply too short for my hands and the flat and phillips screw drivers dig into your hand when you apply a little pressure on the pliers