SOG Powercut Project Closed

David Bowen · **on:** March 05, 2009, 06:02:18 PM

Chris@SOG mentioned this to me about the Powercut:

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. The PowerCut has been discontinued. We could never manage to get the plierhead performing the way we wanted. I was not an easy decision but we figured that it would be better to cancel the product than release something that didn’t work up to our specifications."

Man that sure sucks, lease we can all move on with our lives and stop waiting.

gafftapegreenia · **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2009, 07:36:33 PM

Sad, but I saw it coming.

BUT what about that wire stripping implement they developed?

David Bowen · **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2009, 07:44:14 PM

I will ask and find out.

J-sews · **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2009, 11:22:14 PM

Dang, that really sucks. I was SO looking forward to this tool.

RIP PowerCut

Benner · **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2009, 11:29:36 PM

I wonder what the problem was

Leatherman123 · **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2009, 11:30:44 PM

I think was something about the plier head; I want to say that the cutters kept deforming.. $:-\$

jzmtl · **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2009, 11:35:07 PM

I must say I'm not suprised, anvil cutter is difficult stuff, I damaged my tool steel cutter cutting a fishing leader, so I'd 420 stainless will hold up even worse.

David Bowen · **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2009, 01:42:04 AM

Chris's word on the Wire Stripper tool is this: "I would think so, but I don’t know for sure."

Real definitive huh? Well at least there is a spark of hope in there, lets keep our fingers crossed.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2009, 01:43:44 AM

I think the wire stripping implement is an excellent idea; and they're crazy if they don't go about producing them! Imagine one of those on a Wave/SURGE/Charge!

ufox9al · **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2009, 03:37:59 AM

Sucks. Powercut was supposed to be my first SOG multitool. For a plier-based multi I am perfectly happy with my Swisstool X.

Neil · **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2009, 04:00:29 AM

Not good news

Neil

Medic82 · **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:04:51 AM

Lucky person that can get the prototype. That would be worth some big bucks

prime77 · **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:38:26 AM

Quote from: Medic82 on March 06, 2009, 06:04:51 AM

Lucky person that can get the prototype. That would be worth some big bucks

I agree. I think we just found Bob's White Whale. http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,9701.msg179107.html#new

J-sews · **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:44:33 AM

Quote from: prime77 on March 06, 2009, 06:38:26 AM

Quote from: Medic82 on March 06, 2009, 06:04:51 AM
Lucky person that can get the prototype. That would be worth some big bucks
I agree. I think we just found Bob's White Whale. http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,9701.msg179107.html#new

Aye, tis true! $:-\$

prime77 · **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:49:49 AM

Quote

Aye, tis true! Undecided

Happy hunting!!!

gafftapegreenia · **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2009, 07:29:10 AM

I wonder how many exist?

J-sews · **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:10:00 PM

I saw two different ones at the 2008 Shot Show. Looked at them, handled them, fondled them. Even had one in my coat pocket for a moment.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,3667.0.html

...but then the long haired guy with me made me put it back.

J-sews · **Reply #17 on:** March 09, 2009, 12:06:03 AM

Quote from: DavidBinGA on March 05, 2009, 06:02:18 PM

Chris@SOG mentioned this to me about the Powercut:

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. The PowerCut has been discontinued. We could never manage to get the plierhead performing the way we wanted. I was not an easy decision but we figured that it would be better to cancel the product than release something that didn’t work up to our specifications."

Y'know, the more I think about this the more it sounds like a load of BS.

I mean, I do know a thing or two about stainless steel, and so can see what the problem is: the stainless steel cutter head cannot be made as hard as some of the steel wire folks will try to cut with it, and so "notching" is inevitable. $:-\$

Why not use the same principle as the hard wire notch found on other multitools you say? Because that only works with a bypass style cutter (where each jaw bypasses the other) not in an anvil style cutter like the PowerCut has.

Maybe print a disclaimer on the package telling folks to only cut soft copper or aluminum wire? No way will that work; on Christmas morning, dads will be grabbing their new PowerAssist and trying to snip the steel twist-wires holding little Susie's new doll to the display box it came in. The steel wire will leave notches in the jaws, the Dad will complain, and SOG will get 10,000 requests for their customer's money back. Not a good scenario.

So what to do? Simple; just make the jaw head out of high carbon steel, the same as any other set of side cutters in your toolbox. The carbon steel CAN be made hard enough to cut steel wire, so no issues there. The only down side is rust, and who cares about a little rust? I'm sure the pliers and cutters out in your garage have rust on them, just as mine do. Big deal, its a small price to pay. The rest of the tool can be made from stainless just as it is now. So come'on SOG, whats wrong with that idea?

Benner · **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2009, 12:07:55 AM

Perhaps SOG need a bit of encouragement.

Mike · **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2009, 12:27:15 AM

Like Bob said, an inexpensive pair of side cutters can be made to hold up, so why not something from SOG?

Mike

gafftapegreenia · **Reply #20 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:39:33 AM

I've used alot of inexpensive diagonal cutting pliers made in china and expensive ones by companies such as Klein. While the expensive ones are certainly sharper and cut easier, I've put the cheaper ones through their paces and they have performed.

Just make the head out of carbon steel. Carbon steel only rusts if you don't use it. With use it gets a nice patina just like a carbon steel slippy.

AndyTiedye · **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:57:08 AM

Couldn't they make the hard wire cutters replaceable?

It is the nature of "hard" wire cutters to get damaged because there is always something harder,
and most end users are not metallurgists so we cannot know in advance how hard the wire is.

J-sews · **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:03:59 AM

Quote from: AndyTiedye on March 09, 2009, 02:57:08 AM

Couldn't they make the hard wire cutters replaceable?

It is the nature of "hard" wire cutters to get damaged because there is always something harder,
and most end users are not metallurgists so we cannot know in advance how hard the wire is.

Gerber is trying to respond to that fact in two ways; On their latest 600 tools, they use indexable wire cutters, made from tungsten carbide. Only problem is the carbide is so hard and brittle it tends to chip easily.

Maybe indexable cutters made of hardened steel?

max6166 · **Reply #23 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:04:35 AM

Those are all great ideas. Are we sure that damage to the cutters is what the ultimate issue was though?

FWIW, I was looking forward to the Powercut as well...

Leatherman123 · **Reply #24 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:05:35 AM

If SOG can make a MT with assisted opening blades, than they can surely make a PowerCut with good cutters!

J-sews · **Reply #25 on:** March 09, 2009, 03:08:56 AM

Quote from: max6166 on March 09, 2009, 03:04:35 AM

Those are all great ideas. Are we sure that damage to the cutters is what the ultimate issue was though?

FWIW, I was looking forward to the Powercut as well...

Not 100% sure, but news we got from Chris@SOG back in late 2008 suggested this was a problem they were struggling with. $:-\$