Multitool.org Forum
Tool Talk => Leatherman Tools => Topic started by: ManAtArms on October 27, 2018, 07:40:53 PM
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Hi all,
So I got my first leatherman a few days ago from a hardware shop nearby (there are quite literally no other places to find leathermans in my area). Prices are a tad higher in my country and after much deliberation I settled on either the Wingman or the Sidekick. Both being nearly identical I felt a preference for the sidekicks saw blade over the tiny scissor of the wingman. So I purchased the sidekick. It came in leatherman box which was somewhat scuffed up. They had no others in stock. The tool was in a small unsealed plastic bag next to the carabiner and a nylon sheath.
There was no card or leatherman pamphlet in there. I got home and was fiddling around breaking in my new multitool when I noticed that the knife was annoyingly stiff and absolutely impossible to actually one hand open. The saw was much more loose. So after a couple hours of oiling and opening and closing the blade I can now open it with one hand with some difficulty.
Soon after I noticed a few specks of rust between the hinge of the pliers which is really quite hard to reach. I'm out of WD40 so I'll have to wait a bit till I restock. So now I don't exactly feel great about my leatherman. Granted I still love it and its beautiful opening mechanism. The store members are quite friendly and told me as I was leaving about the 25 year warranty.
So what do you guys think I should do? Go return it or scruff out the rust and break in the stiff parts slowly over time? :ahhh
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Welcome! :cheers:
Unfortunately, it’s a known problem that leathermans rust. :-\ Usually in warm humid and/or wet salty conditions.
The stuffness will probably work out, but you can loosen it if needed.
Could you post a pic? We like pictures! :cheers:
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Welcome! :cheers:
Unfortunately, it’s a known problem that leathermans rust. :-\ Usually in warm humid and/or wet salty conditions.
The stuffness will probably work out, but you can loosen it if needed.
Could you post a pic? We like pictures! :cheers:
But I think this came out of the box with the rust. I mean. It has been a bit over 24 hours at most since I got it. And of course. How could I forget the pictures. I want to throw in some of my beautiful artistic vanity shots in there as well but theres a file size limit :cry:
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Unfortunately it's standard, especially old stock like that. IMO the best thing to do is clean it out the best you can and keep it oiled. (With mineral oil not WD40)
Every LM I own rusted while I was in Florida. Salt water, sweat, and a busy schedule was not a good combination.
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Thanks NKlamerus. That makes me feel a lot better. Actually working on it and getting it clean is something I'm going to love doing. Working on something to improve just makes it that much better for me.
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Not sure what country you are in but I believe Ballistrol is the EU equivalent of WD-40. Might be easier to get a hold of. Personally never used it but based on other people’s reviews seem to work well.
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As you indicated the bag was open, missing documentation and box scuffed, would indicate this has been exposed well before you bought it.
Yes, LM tools will rust, yet easily cleaned.
Good choice, the Sidekick, if the saw will be used or required.
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I agree with the rest. It sure is annoying when u buy something new and there's rust on it. But that can be sorted out easily. Regards the blade, I suggest u loosen the screw a teeny bit. If its tightened too tight, no amount of breaking in is going to help. And it's the blade.. Your thumb can slip if it stops opening halfway..
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As you indicated the bag was open, missing documentation and box scuffed, would indicate this has been exposed well before you bought it.
Yes, LM tools will rust, yet easily cleaned.
Good choice, the Sidekick, if the saw will be used or required.
All the Leatherman Tools I bought in the last 10 years came in an open (blue coloured) plastic bag ... (not the older tools, like my PST, my Sideclips, or my first year of production Crunch, ... ).
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Sorry about the rust issue :-\ but it is stainless not rustproof :salute: Hope you can get it off easily enough and after an oil down should fair much better :tu: I don't know if I have ever had any of the LM I have bought over the years come in a bag :think: but I do buy second hand mostly or in blister packs, so that may be the reason :cheers:
Also welcome to :MTO: :cheers:
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:iagree:!!
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Sorry about the rust issue :-\ but it is stainless not rustproof :salute: Hope you can get it off easily enough and after an oil down should fair much better :tu: I don't know if I have ever had any of the LM I have bought over the years come in a bag :think: but I do buy second hand mostly or in blister packs, so that may be the reason :cheers:
Also welcome to :MTO: :cheers:
The bag thing has come up before, turned out that it was mostly the case on Leatherman Tools for overseas (European market).
Click here (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,46242.msg753125.html#msg753125) for the topic in which the plastic bags were mentioned before.
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As you indicated the bag was open, missing documentation and box scuffed, would indicate this has been exposed well before you bought it.
Yes, LM tools will rust, yet easily cleaned.
Good choice, the Sidekick, if the saw will be used or required.
All the Leatherman Tools I bought in the last 10 years came in an open (blue coloured) plastic bag ... (not the older tools, like my PST, my Sideclips, or my first year of production Crunch, ... ).
**NM just say top gears link to the bags
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Ah that does make sense TG :salute: thanks for the link as well :like:
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The bag being "open" is normal, it's just a packaging sleeve (bluish in colour, if I remember correctly)
as for rust spots on the unpolished area of the tool - pretty standard for anything that has been in stock for a while, (whether you think that is acceptable or not is up to you)
as far as the blade opening goes, factor in the presumably lower QC for their entry level tools (ie, wingman, sidekick, rev) and that if it is getting rust spots, there could very well be some bind up in the pivots as well, then a bit of a clean oil and manipulation might be required.
I would not be overly concerned by your experience,
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The bag being "open" is normal, it's just a packaging sleeve (bluish in colour, if I remember correctly)
as for rust spots on the unpolished area of the tool - pretty standard for anything that has been in stock for a while, (whether you think that is acceptable or not is up to you)
as far as the blade opening goes, factor in the presumably lower QC for their entry level tools (ie, wingman, sidekick, rev) and that if it is getting rust spots, there could very well be some bind up in the pivots as well, then a bit of a clean oil and manipulation might be required.
I would not be overly concerned by your experience,
:iagree:
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Thanks for all the help guys!
The blade is much better after loosening and oiling it a bit. This is my first leatherman so I was a tad concerned. I've only used SAK s before and they were pretty much perfect right out with only needing to be oiled after the pivot got gunked up. I could have gone for the rebar as well but I was put off by the lack of an outside opening blade. Again, thanks for the help :woohoo:
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Sorry about the rust issue :-\ but it is stainless not rustproof :salute: Hope you can get it off easily enough and after an oil down should fair much better :tu: I don't know if I have ever had any of the LM I have bought over the years come in a bag :think: but I do buy second hand mostly or in blister packs, so that may be the reason :cheers:
Also welcome to :MTO: :cheers:
Alright so I got a fresh batch of WD40 and I scrubbed it down. The rust stain on the side from the first picture is all but gone but the rust spot near the hinge seems to be stubborn. It's hard to find anything small enough to scrub that that area so I'm not having much success in getting rid of it. Any suggestions?
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I have several leatherman tools, my wingman serves full time while I'm working for marine rescue.
It has been dunked, used to cut salty rope, screw things under water and even been swimming.
But there is little rust as when I get home I give it a wash and some INOX spray.
The one here (picture) is my wingman, I have had it now for 4 or 5 years.
Still going strong
Other skippers, are not so fastidious, and one when asked, could not even open his pliers.
Like any tool, you get rust, wear , damage and abuse from time to time.
If you want it for show only, that's OK, but I like to use my tools.
Its like my chisels.
They are used all the time, and all of them have some rust.
But the working edges are razor sharp, oiled and ready to go at any time.
I hone them and oil them after every use, but they are still rusty on the non-working surfaces.