Daredevil Challenge 2021

[Alan K.]

The tip about the 1/4" bits 

They have to be extra long bits though.

[SurgeUk]

They have to be extra long bits though.

What are you implying 

[Fireman]

First few badges awarded !   

Yeah, baby!  Check out who's rocking the new badge, 

[Nix]

 

Congratulations to awl who finish with their sanity intact.   

[Alan K.]

What are you implying 

Certainly not that I was compensating for anything.  I did say the MP600 tools are rather short though, didn't I?

[Fireman]

Congratulations to awl who finish with their sanity intact.   

You're presuming we were sane to begin with.

[Adam5]

Daredevil Day 30!  We made it!   

Final pic for cody6268.  I have to take my wife to the eye doc today, so I doubt there will be any use.

(Image removed from quote.)

Final thoughts on the Swiss+Tech 13 in 1:
It’s neither as good as I had hoped, nor as bad as I feared. 
-I started to take it apart to smooth the blade swing and had to stop for lack of proper bits.  However, it was smoother after I did this.
-When I started taking it apart, I found the cause of its major weakness.  There is a pivot screw for blades, and two smaller ones at the other end.  The pins are held in place only by spring pressure.  The scales are thin.  Any torque on the tool, i.e. using screwdrivers, puts stress on the scales and pins, and it feels as though the tool will fail.  That doesn’t mean you can’t turn screws or pry with it, but I’d say it’s light duty.
-File works well enough on either side, but there is no way to use it as a metal saw.
-Center tool clumping is a pain.  If you want something other than the knife or file, you’re going to be separating all three center tools. 
-Lack of scissors and awl is a problem for me.

I think that the flexing while using the drivers would be a deal breaker for me at most any price and certainly at $18US. I would pay a little more money and get a SAK. I can buy a Tinker for $24US.

[Adam5]

DAY 30

After the parched looking ghost Chilli yesterday here's the OHT with a well hydrated Lily 

I think it's fair to say that this has been a struggle for us awl.

For me it has been less of a struggle simply because I had chosen a LM (albeit one I just can't get on with  ) Therefore, it's well designed and well constructed.

However, I find the OHT blades too short and the plier locking mechanism too fiddly (it just moves on its own) Moreover, it's VERY bulky and has no scissors  It's mostly done everything asked of it but, due to work demands, I've not needed to use it as I used my O/G Surge during July (which is just typical  )

I guess that if push came to shove I could use it for work, but I wouldn't choose it over my Surge or, if I'm honest, my original work issue MP600. I guess it's just ok 

If I had to choose just one LM MT it would be my O/G Surge (not had a chance to use my new B/O one yet because of this challenge  )

However, I do like my MXBS and if they made a Surge sized one....    

Well done AWL....

My lack of desire to own an OHT has not been changed one iota by your experience. I would choose a Surge over the OHT ten out of ten times. Not as certain if I would choose a MP600 over the OHT, but I have never handled either one.

[SteveP]

OK Steve in the name of science or something

As all my cans have ring pulls so had to turn it over. This disadvantages the Hammerhead as the lip on the can is a little smaller, however have tested other MT’s this way so a level playing field in that regard

Conclusion: not great but doable, both the tool itself and the handles feel too long and kept folding up

Had to give up two thirds in and was getting a bit painful to use and slipped a lot…but if it’s all you had you wouldn’t starve…give me a SAK opener any day, but no surprise there

Hammerhead over and out

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Thanks, Echotech. You could always use the hammer claw for the rest of the opening. 

You and the Hammerhead have been great sports throughout the challenge. I've appreciated the use photos and stories.

[SteveP]

Day 30 - I'm done!

The S557 waving out the end of the challenge.

So how did it do for the month?

Well, it did nearly everything I asked it to do. I don't hate it. It won't be relegated to the Drawer of Shame. But...

Pros:

• I like the 85mm size vs. the larger 91mm SAKs.
• I found the contoured scales comfortable.
• I liked having the nail file in a larger SAK. (Though I did  miss having the smaller second blade.)
• I did appreciate the locking knife blade a few times as a safety feature. Especially as the blade on this new SAK is plenty sharp.

Cons:

• The blade lock release lever was always getting caught on my pocket or in my belt pouch. Why Vic would keep something sharp that sticks out that far is beyond me.
• The finicky scissors that struggle to cut anything pliable. I use scissors regularly so not knowing if the Wenger-designed ones would cut the item was pretty frustrating.
• The useless "Universal" wrench. I couldn't come up with a use for it the whole month, not with it stuck in the middle of a five-layer SAK so there's no way to get a grip on anything remotely flush with the surface. I'll stick with my Swiss+Tech Micro-Slim or Leatherman By the Numbers 3 flat wrenches in my pocket EDC kit.
• The fiddly pliers. Seems like everytime I opened the pliers the slip joint slipped to the wide position (or just part way), unless I opened them very carefully. I could rarely just open and use them.
• The very tight and very short inline Phillips driver. Yes, it works, but it's hard to use.
• I don't understand why Victorinox didn't give the bottle opener and inline Phillips the 90 degree stop like the mainline Vic-branded SAKs, unless it has something to do with the push-locking feature.
• No magnifying glass. I use the ones on my mainline Vic SAKs regularly so missed having that on me. I could break apart the S557 and replace the wrench with a 91mm mag glass, but I'd still be stuck with the finicky scissors, fiddly pliers, short inline Phillips, and in-the-way blade lock release lever.

For a concept, the S557 is great. But for execution, I'm not so sure.

Several of you have said that your challenge tool was OK, but not in comparison to what you usually use. I'm in the same boat. If I didn't know there were better choices out there, I might think the S557 a great SAK. But the tools (scissors, pliers, inline Phillips) are executed far better in mainline Vic SAKs or just don't work at all as part of a thick SAK (wrench).

For me, the S557's main competition is my Swiss Champ or my Deluxe Explorer mod (Explorer + pliers), and it just doesn't match up to them. I'll be going back to them, with a useful small wrench in my pocket.

Thank you, Comis, for putting together this challenge. Though frustrating at times, it was fun. Hearing everyone else's stories easily offset my own frustation.

Best of luck to y'awl. I hope none of you need therapy from this month's experiences.

[cody6268]

Day 30: Retrospectus.

I honestly don't know why I didn't use this tool more. It will be seeing a lot of use in the "Not an SAK" challenge we're doing next month too (though that is mostly to be filled with an Adler/Schrade Camper clone)

There are some things that annoy me:

Phillips is smaller than that on Vic, which means that for some recessed screws, you'll have to get another tool

No toothpick

Completely bass-ackwards compared to that of an SAK. I don't mind it being left-handed (which being left-handed, I love) but my problem is the reversed openers. I'm used to: fat end=bottle opener skinny=can opener. Annoying when I go to open up the cap lifter to pry something, and get the can opener.

The lock. The knife is laid out for LH use, but lock is RH (well, 111mms have that same problem, but backward--they're RH, but LH lock; which makes it super-evident in my Dual Pro which has an RH belt cutter that I can't open with my left-hand, but I can't unlock the PE regular blade with my RH

Rubber. It's just a pet peeve because it doesn't age well. Look at 3/4 of the Gerber Gators that have seen real use. Those that see no u

Cost. MSRP was much more than that of a Tinker (more than $50. I got mine Tinker-priced about a year, maybe two after Swiza commenced making knives. To compete with Vic, you gotta match their prices.

Can opener is thicker than the bottle opener, again backwards that of Vic or Wenger. Logic states that a tool used primarily for screwdriving and prying needs to be thicker.

Too thick behind the edge. My SAKs are typically sharper due to their thin geometry.

Lock. The button lock is decent.I personally would have preferred a backlock, since Swiza, to this date, only has a single backside tool on all models; and thus the blade backspring is empty.

But, what I do like

More left-handed guy friendly.

Ergonomics are so much better than that of a SAK. It's more the taper than it is the rubber, however.

Tweezers are a bit higher quality than Vic's.

The slots are better than nail nicks for opening, and as I demonstrated more than once, usable as tools in their own right.

Awl. It is actually sharp. It has proved that it can do 3/4 of what a pen blade can do.

I opened and installed a new fridge filter. Also pried the O-rings off the old one. I keep them in a box as "just in case". I have used them as spares before.  Yeah, they're a "two cent part" but better having them and not needing them than needing them and not having them.

These things have went up quite a bit in the couple of years since it was last replaced. The old was $30 from Lowe's. They're now $45; and Amazon's price, for once, was the cheapest.

[Poncho65]

Congrats to everyone that is finished

This has certainly been one of the harder and more interesting challenges for me

Glad to have participated with all of you and glad that many obstacles were overcame in this past month

[SteveP]

I made a slight modification to the bottle opener profile, and now, when opened with the small flathead, the two can accommodate the square-hole bit adapter. This expanded the Flik's usefulness immensely. Gerber sold their own version of this bit adapter. Why not be able to use it by default? It took so little effort to do this, that it could have been a feature. Open both flatheads, put the bit adapter on there. It fits well enough to be used. There is no reason for the flathead to have that little belly by default. It still opens bottles perfectly well after my mod.

I'm a big fan of the Gerber/Ganzo hex bit adapter also. It fits great on the inline Phillips on SAKs (with a slight shim) so I carry it and some bits in my pocket EDC kit.

I first discovered the adapter on a Winchester mutitiool, then tracked down the bit kits with adapters on AliExpress.com for less than $3 US.

[Sos24]

Day 30

After a month of carrying and using, my opinion of the Minimaster hasn’t really changed.  It is not a bad tool, but there are just better options out there. 

The Minimaster also has to flaws that are common in lots of tools but iritate me nonetheless -
- having to open something to access the tool you want vice just opening the tool you want
- tool clumping - I can’t stand when I’m trying to access one tool and multiple open.

I also realized the Minimaster missed on a few things that just don’t make a lot of sense to me
- File and Phillips only being one sided.  This makes them less functional for no reason.
- Then wrench holes did not include a 1/4in that could have been used for bits.  This one change would have increased functionality a lot.

[Sos24]

Aren't you guys going to finish the month off with one more day  ?   


 

Nope.  I’m going to gladly enjoy carrying my favorite SAK for one day, before the SAK-a-like challenge.

[Adam5]

Day 30

The end 



Pliers:
The pliers are needlenose (I think I erronously stated that they were blunt nose in a previous post) combination pliers with bypass wire cutters. The pliers open farther than most other MTs, allowing it to engage larger diameter nuts. However, the wire cutting edges are not beveled as with typical bypass cutters. While this may allow the MT to withstand cutting harder materials (it lacks a hard wire cutting notch), that means it actually shears materials in two, often with a sudden snap as the material fails due to the shear force. In other words, it does not cut materials smoothly. Also, the lack of sharp cutting edges allows the material to be pushed foward while closing the pliers. Sharp edges would penetrate into the material and grab it. It is especially aggravating when trying to cut Romex cable.

Handles
The handles are close together, making the tool feel compact in hand. They are just far enough apart that I did not pinch myself badly, even when the handles snapped shut while cutting wire. But they could be anoth centimeter farther apart in my opinion. Also, the closeness of the handles hindered me somewhat while trying to manipulate small items. But the closeness became an advantage while working with larger diameter items.

The handle also featured a 1/4" bit holder with magnet. I had no difficulties driving screws with the MT.

Finally, one of the handles has a L shaped tab that serves to lock the tools in place when closed. There is no danger of having a blade close on you if used properly.

Drywall saw
Utter smurf unless you only need to cut straight lines that you started with another saw or knife blade.

Awl/reamer
Robust, works well starting holes in wood. Was able to make a hole in a PVC conduit. Probably can be used as a conduit reamer.

Serrated blade
Sheepsfoot shape. Cuts well enough.

Plain edge blade
Clip point. Sharp edge and point. Tends to ride out along with file, which has caused me to lose a little blood a couple of times.

File
The star of this MT in my opinion. Multipurpose, with two file sides, a chisel-ground scraper edge, and wire stripper notches that actually work well.

Overall impression
Robust tool. Not as easy to manipulate as other MTs. As a tool marketed to electricians, it has one major selling point (the multipurpose file) and two major drawbacks (bad drywall saw, poor wire cutting ability).

Can I go back to my Super Tool now?

[Adam5]

I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge. Not so much the MT I carried (though it could have been much worse), but I definitely enjoyed interacting with all of you 
Thank you for the pleasurable experience 

And now, if Poncho does not mind:

                                

[Poncho65]

I am finally at a computer instead of a phone and can see who has badges and who doesn't

Badges awarded to SteveP and Adam5

Congrats to everyone that has the badge and if you still lack it, just go and request it and we will get to you as soon as we can

[Echotech]

Nope.  I’m going to gladly enjoy carrying my favorite SAK for one day, before the SAK-a-like challenge.

SAK, buck 112 and rebar for me

[Echotech]

You should have used the claw on the hammer. 

probably would’ve worked just as well

[Echotech]

Congrats on finishing!    


I think your choice of tool is rather interesting, of all those "hammer tools" I often see on Amazon and elsewhere, not one in a million would I think I would get one and let alone carry it.  Thank you for stepping up to the plate and show us it is 'doable'.

Thanks comis

Being stuck at home for almost 10 weeks now made it a bit easier, if I’d have had to properly EDC it think my reaction would have been different.

Glad a gave it a go though, it’s just been in a box since a mate gave it to me.
Like you I’ve always thought of these off brand hammer tools as junk really and while not great, was much better than I thought it’d be, hence me not giving a proper critique.
We all know they’re a bit smurf but for what it is, it’s actually not bad, the hammer itself is good and strikes me as better than the type that incorporate pliers too… double the unusable tools!

[Echotech]

I was quite surprised about how well Hammerhead worked for you. I had very low expectations, but it greatly exceeded them.

See comment above Adam but yeah, and I really enjoyed something totally different for a change

[Echotech]

Day 30 - I'm done!

The S557 waving out the end of the challenge.

So how did it do for the month?

Well, it did nearly everything I asked it to do. I don't hate it. It won't be relegated to the Drawer of Shame. But...

Pros:

• I like the 85mm size vs. the larger 91mm SAKs.
• I found the contoured scales comfortable.
• I liked having the nail file in a larger SAK. (Though I did  miss having the smaller second blade.)
• I did appreciate the locking knife blade a few times as a safety feature. Especially as the blade on this new SAK is plenty sharp.

Cons:

• The blade lock release lever was always getting caught on my pocket or in my belt pouch. Why Vic would keep something sharp that sticks out that far is beyond me.
• The finicky scissors that struggle to cut anything pliable. I use scissors regularly so not knowing if the Wenger-designed ones would cut the item was pretty frustrating.
• The useless "Universal" wrench. I couldn't come up with a use for it the whole month, not with it stuck in the middle of a five-layer SAK so there's no way to get a grip on anything remotely flush with the surface. I'll stick with my Swiss+Tech Micro-Slim or Leatherman By the Numbers 3 flat wrenches in my pocket EDC kit.
• The fiddly pliers. Seems like everytime I opened the pliers the slip joint slipped to the wide position (or just part way), unless I opened them very carefully. I could rarely just open and use them.
• The very tight and very short inline Phillips driver. Yes, it works, but it's hard to use.
• I don't understand why Victorinox didn't give the bottle opener and inline Phillips the 90 degree stop like the mainline Vic-branded SAKs, unless it has something to do with the push-locking feature.
• No magnifying glass. I use the ones on my mainline Vic SAKs regularly so missed having that on me. I could break apart the S557 and replace the wrench with a 91mm mag glass, but I'd still be stuck with the finicky scissors, fiddly pliers, short inline Phillips, and in-the-way blade lock release lever.

For a concept, the S557 is great. But for execution, I'm not so sure.

Several of you have said that your challenge tool was OK, but not in comparison to what you usually use. I'm in the same boat. If I didn't know there were better choices out there, I might think the S557 a great SAK. But the tools (scissors, pliers, inline Phillips) are executed far better in mainline Vic SAKs or just don't work at all as part of a thick SAK (wrench).

For me, the S557's main competition is my Swiss Champ or my Deluxe Explorer mod (Explorer + pliers), and it just doesn't match up to them. I'll be going back to them, with a useful small wrench in my pocket.

Thank you, Comis, for putting together this challenge. Though frustrating at times, it was fun. Hearing everyone else's stories easily offset my own frustation.

Best of luck to y'awl. I hope none of you need therapy from this month's experiences.

Good write up Steve and pleased to see you found good in it. Don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone have a good word to say about the wrench…hoping you’ll join the Delemont challenge in October with it if you can stand it…or any Wenger/Delemont

[/list]

[Echotech]

Thanks, Echotech. You could always use the hammer claw for the rest of the opening. 

You and the Hammerhead have been great sports throughout the challenge. I've appreciated the use photos and stories.

Thanks Steve

[Echotech]

Great write ups everyone, been most enjoyable seeing your pics and uses, thanks for a very entertaining challenge



Quite a few of you are already signed up, but don’t forget the Delemont challenge in October and the Delemont GAW which I’ll be picking the winners for next week…love to have you all on board

[Adam5]

I am finally at a computer instead of a phone and can see who has badges and who doesn't

Badges awarded to SteveP and Adam5

Congrats to everyone that has the badge and if you still lack it, just go and request it and we will get to you as soon as we can

Thank you sir 

[Alan K.]

Pretty sure I won't need therapy although this month has been emotional.  I could probably use a hug.  Thanks to all who participated. It was interesting seeing so many different tools that most of us wouldn't normally chose to carry.  A big thank you to Comis for creating this challenge and getting it started and to SteveC and Poncho for issuing badges to everyone.
 

[SteveP]

I am finally at a computer instead of a phone and can see who has badges and who doesn't

Badges awarded to SteveP and Adam5

Congrats to everyone that has the badge and if you still lack it, just go and request it and we will get to you as soon as we can

Thank you, Poncho!

[SteveP]

Good write up Steve and pleased to see you found good in it. Don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone have a good word to say about the wrench…hoping you’ll join the Delemont challenge in October with it if you can stand it…or any Wenger/Delemont

[/list]

Thanks, Echotech. Don't hold your breath for my joining.   

The S557 will hang on my display for a long time, I think. I did find the scissors to be good for cutting tough stuff. The backspring-based scissors spring just feels like it will take more pressure than the Vic springs.

I like the looks of my Wenger Traveler, but I'd still be stuck with the finicky scissors and no mag glass, plus lose the Phillips driver. The Vic Climber is the same idea, but with a bit more utility.

And I'll be coming off a month of Swiss Champ carry (one of my favs) as on Wednesday I join the second half of the Go BIG Challenge for a 30 Day Stacked badge. Not sure I want to take steps backwards on October 1st.

Maybe I'll change my mind, but don't hold your breath.


Day 30 - Bonus Shot!

I managed to sneak a few uses in before day's end:
- Beer bottle opening
- Pot handle tightening
- Dessert opening
 

[ReamerPunch]

Sorry for being slightly late, just submitted the design for the badges to Steve, and hopefully they should be up soon!