Leatherman Bond Owners Club

[LoopCutter]

Sounds more like you RESCUED the BOND.

If rusted it definitely was abused or neglected.  The SS, on the handles should clean up very well. The implements can require more attention if started to rust.

The 420HC blades should as well.

Good luck. Please share before and after pictures, it make your efforts more gratifying!

[madfishcat]

One twisted screwdriver, some surface corrosion and the blade needs sharpening. Easy. I have some experience in restoring several PST, kick/fuse/blast and old SOGs, which became better than new ones.
It will be fine, the tool is not old, spare parts can be easily found, I'm not even worried about it, this is not a made in the USA oldest SOG paratool with a cracked frame and jammed pliers, yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

I'll take a photo if I remember, but the photo will not convey the smoothness of the polished tools, right?

[LoopCutter]

Wow!  That does sound as if it is project!

State side. $50 would have been overpriced.   DI can get new one for $60 direct from LM now with a sheath.

Can not wait to see your completion hybrid Bond🤪

I have a couple SOG paratools, my 1st MT. They were well built then in the day, just difficult to access implements.

[Bigshep]

I will say it....I like the green. The other colors not so much but that green works for me.

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[Rich_SD]

I received my reminder from Leatherman letting me know that, as an Insider, I'll get the first look at these on Tuesday 

[Poncho65]

Me too I know a few peeps on FB that already have them as well

[Chako]

I got them all ordered, but I fear that was a given.

[Bigshep]

I may order the green, I like the green

[LoopCutter]

Am I loosing it???

First, wasn’t a blue hued model, making 4 color options.

Second, was the price $59.xx for color?  Today it is 69???!

[grouch]

I wish Leatherman would have spent 5 cents to put the tool in a plastic bag. My cranberry bond showed up today with scuffs on the handles from shifting around in the factory box.

[powernoodle]

I got them all ordered, but I fear that was a given.

  and  .   

[Bigshep]

I wish Leatherman would have spent 5 cents to put the tool in a plastic bag. My cranberry bond showed up today with scuffs on the handles from shifting around in the factory box.

 

Pictures?

I was hoping for better paint durability than that. Bummer.

[grouch]

I’ll get some later in better lighting. Nothing went all the way through but it’s easily visible in the matte coating coming right out of the sealed box. They could have easily done better on the packaging so I could put the first scuff on it myself

[grouch]

It’s real hard to get them to show up on camera but both sides of both handles came with the damage. I’m guessing the coating doesn’t handle how hard the formed cardboard/paper material is that holds it in place in the box.

[friendliestdoggo]

I neither own a Bond nor was this my idea. But I found a pretty cool way to store an extra micro screwdriver bit on Reddit so I would share it here  may some of you guys find it useful

[Rich_SD]

Cool idea    but I wonder how practical it is.  It looks like tape, so you couldn't use the micro screwdriver too often without constantly changing tape.

[friendliestdoggo]

Cool idea    but I wonder how practical it is.  It looks like tape, so you couldn't use the micro screwdriver too often without constantly changing tape.

It looks more like a thin cooper plate bended into a sheath. The bit can be slided in and out so no tape is needed 

[LoopCutter]

@Grouch

You are correct, the packaging care by Leatherman is very poor.

I ordered a Sienna and it arrived today. The back side of the tool has wear scrapes at points it contacted the tray liner it rode. Plus the tray had the evidence of coating dust.
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Also, the tray is molded to allow the pocket clip to be included 🥹 but it is not.😩

The wear is noticeable if looking for it, but not if you are not. 

I like the color, yet I like the curved sheep foot blade.   This BOND will be assigned in a second waist pouch for my 2nd vehicle.   

[JonesE]

Congrats on the new Bond LC! I hope it gives you years of faithful service.

JonesE

[LoopCutter]

Thank you JonesE.

I am pretty certain this Bond and every other tool I own has more days in their future than I will have.
Really I have no business buying new MTs or even new knives.   

Should just cut out photos and fondle those.

[Chako]

I posted these in my Leatherman thread a short while back.

20241002_191200A by Chako, on Flickr

20241002_191056A by Chako, on Flickr

20241002_190952A by Chako, on Flickr

[LoopCutter]

Very nice Chako 👍

Do you prefer one color over the others ?


And, as a public service message;
My new Sienna Bond arrived Friday. 10/11, and I had suspected some issues as experienced with my BO MTs,
And the this Bond was very gritty, difficult to deploy the blade, almost impossible to extract the Phillips, and can opener.   And that was one handle.

The other side  I could deploy the drivers and AWL, clumping was the name I would describe.  However, when seperating the gritty feel was present. 

A light oil on the pivots and between layers had little effect, in fact it increased the feel of a rough grinding between metal on metal.

So, I prepared a flat tub of very hot water and Dawn Blue,  opened the tools implement s and let it soak overnight.

This morning while brewing my coffee, I pulled the Bond out of its bath, and was amazed, the tools on the knife side, moved separately, no grit feel.
The same on the file side.
I rinsed and now it is drying.

This tool will not require a break in😎

When dry the pivots will receive a light drop of lube.

I forgot to mention, Dawn bath water did have a tint of yellow color. 😉

[Chako]

20241002_191020A by Chako, on Flickr

 

[LoopCutter]

or w I am so sad. 🥲

While placing oil on the pivots, and working the Phillips tool, the handle friction plate feel onto my work surface.

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Since I ordered via the River site,  a was completed, address label provided, so packaged up and will drop at a UPS store Monday.

My replacement ETA is 10/14!

[Chako]

Ouch.

[LoopCutter]

Kudos to Amazon!
Yesterday I reported my new  Bond was broken,  requested a replacement and that I would return via UPS the broken.

Original reply indicated the arrive 10/14 (Monday). 

Instead last night a message was received indicating it would arrive 10/13, today.

It arrived around 1:30PM EST.

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This one is gritty, so now sitting in hot water and Blue Dawn.

[LoopCutter]

My replacement Bond Sienna arrived yesterday, a day earlier than promised.

Just as I reported in the above message and picture.

It did get a warm water bath as well and was removed and rinsed clean of the Dawn and left to dry until I would have a chance to lubricate the pivots.

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Well, I was impressed how. Grit free the file side implements were, and then checked the knife side by  exposing the Phillips driver, it too was not gritty, and as soon as it was open, this occurred😩

The second Bond with the same break, in the same point!!!

No pressure, no torque, not multiple implements, not the blade deployed, plunk and thud on the table.

I am beyond disappointed.  The handle is stamped 0224.  The other handle is 2   24, (no 0, just spaces), the stop appears normal, but did not try bending.

To me the broken handle does not appear to be stainless steel that has been folded or stamped shaped, instead it appears to be cast and has no, tensel strength.   It reminds me of the Scottish steel that was used by my first employer on the frames of computer mountings for pivots and hinges that constantly broke on equipment I serviced.

I am now through with obtaining a COLOR BOND😄
I may just opt for a SS 2nd gen version.  But, will think about it, since these newer units do not have the stamped tab to hold the blade up in the handle. These handles I do believe can be stamped. To rigid. !!!

Please check your newer BONDs! 
 Hate to have anyone hurt using the tool, and have any pressure applied to a screw driver or blade, even can/bottle opener and have the implement extend backwards further.

[Rich_SD]

WTF!?  I just received a red one that I engraved for a Christmas present.  I would test it out, but if it breaks, the engraving isn't warrantied.   

[LoopCutter]

I hear you!!!

I was handling this one as if it was like China  or porecelin doll.
 I tested the flat driver bits, one at a time, the file, the awl,  opened and friction present when closing. Oiled pivots. No issues.

The moved to the blade handled, oiled pivots and between the implements, open each half way, some clumping, closed the three items, open the Phillips, only the Phillips, extended and then noticed a gap between pivot and the blade, when I closed the tool the pieces just feel from its handle. No flex, just broke. I think it cracked when the tool was extended the very first time.

I am totally bummed.
I liked the color, I liked the new blade, I had studied the first one. This time was never extended.

[Poncho65]

Oh wow! that is so awful, LC the Bond has been around for a few years now and that should definitely not be a problem with a new one