Lever action question.

[Jors]

I am currently using a Leatherman Surge as my EDC.
I am very happy with this tool, but I am still hunting for more / better / more tool options.

I gave thought to modify a ST300 to compound leverage handles like the SOG because I want the ST300 head so that I can cut thicker wires. See my post

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,26097.0.html

and why it seems unlikely to succeed.

There is another option: If I make bigger (Fatter) handles I will be able to fit a bit more tools in, and still have the strong pliers head.
I will have to give up the one hand opening of the surge if I switch to this new modded ST300, but I don't use a knife so often that it will bother me. The most important is to have more tools available (eg. scissors, bit holder of SOG, blade changer, wire strippers of SOG, etc) and still have a super strong pliers.

If:
I make the handle fatter to take more tools; and
Where the handle is made of 1mm thick sheet, I change to 1.6 mm thick sheet; and
make the handles 10 - 12 mm longer ( up to half an inch); and
make provission for folding the sharp edgen over to save your hands / or attach a small edge with spot welding and grind it round or mill it round,

will this stronger, but longer handle make the pliers pressure noticeable stronger because of the longer lever action?

[CENTURION]

Yes, if you gripped the handles by the back ends of the handles, it would put out more leverage, but not a whole lot, and not as much as the Compound Leverage system.

[J-sews]

Yes it would definitely help. However, it would cause the handles to be farther apart when the pliers gripped a certain sized object. (this may or may not be a concern for you, depending upon how big your hands are)


And speaking of far-apart-handles, this is the biggest problem with compound leverage SOGs in my opinion.

[Gareth]

great pic Bob, perfectly shows my worry about SOG's design (though it has obvious benifits as well).