Gerber Flik review is posted

[Grant Lamontagne]

Gerber Flik

Just thought I'd give a heads up!

Def

[hawkchucker]

Thank you!

[Roadie]

Nice review there Def, i'm still a little disappointed with the size of the implements but that looks to be my only complaint about it. The video was cool, but would have been nice to see a bit more of the blades/tools rather than just the pliers.

Roadie

[Leatherman123]

Great review Def! BTW, I really like the vids under the review! I think it really would aid someone into buying the MT! BTW, I need to get a Flik soon!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks guys- I figured we all know how an OH blade works, but I suppose I could try and add something in.

I like the videos too, but only when there's a good reason for it.  I hate to torture the dial up guys for nothing!

Def

[Leatherman123]

LOL, but I think product reviews showing you each implement/function would really aid in making a purchase on a high quality tool rather than a ten dollar POS!

[Grant Lamontagne]

With all the tools we have reviewed, how many times does one need to see a screwdriver in action?

It's way too easy to overuse a gimmick like video and I don't want to seem like a one trick pony!

Def

[Leatherman123]

Very true indeed! 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great review there boss, if it had a file it'd be perfect, even so, I still want one

[EM745]

Great review! 

If I may, a few comments from a fellow "fliker"...

First off, that video helped a lot in showing me what the big deal was with Gerber's "fliking" pliers mechanism, especially when it comes to closing them. Of course, it made me feel like an idiot in the process  (seeing as I thought that closing the pliers could only be done two-handed), but what the hey, I feel like an idiot most of the time anyway. 

Speaking of, I can confirm the somewhat "temperamental" nature of the pliers' double-lock mechanism. Suffice it to say, it's not always easy to close them with the same "finesse" demonstrated in the video. That's why I pretty much always do it two-handed. My idiocy notwithstanding, aside from reducing any "jamming," methinks it'll make the whole mechanism last longer in the long run.

Also, good point on the no-hand pinching when using the pliers. This is another reason why I chose the Flik over the Wave (aside from the latter's crappy scissors). Some have attributed the Wave/Surge/Charge hand pinching mishaps to "stupidity" as much as bad design. Trust me, you'd have to be brain dead to pinch yourself with the Flik.

Anyhoo, like I said, great review, though I'd like to bring up a couple of minor things that weren't mentionned. One is the really, REALLY poor placement of the nail notch on the philips driver  . That notch is so much better placed on the other three inner tools. I'm at a loss trying to figure what posesssed Gerber to screw up the notch placement on the philips head  . The other thing worth mentiong is the fact that the Flik is virtually rattle-free in its closed position. From all indications, it's a very tightly assembled tool. 

i'm still a little disappointed with the size of the implement

As mentionned in the review, that's a direct result of the pliers' sliding mechanism, and the fact that Gerber kept the tool at a reasonably short 4.4 inches (closed). Perhaps the can opener could stand to grow a couple millimeters, but that's it. There's NO other room for "growth," unless you lengthen the whole tool... or get a Diesel. 

if it had a file it'd be perfect

Well, at least they put a saw instead of a stupid "ruler/pry bar" (like the Freehand).

I wonder how long the eggheads at Gerber reflected on that very conundrum: Dedicated straight and serrated blades, or a combo blade and a file (like the Diesel). Opting for a puny pair of scissors like the Wave to make room for the file was out of the question, given the pliers' sliding mechanism (the scissors would've had to be REALLY puny). Of course, they could've ditched the scissors altogether to make way for a file and thus keep the two blades.

Personally, I prefer large scissors over a file, though I must admit having a file would've been nice... and I would've had no real problem living with a combo blade. Alas, that's just the way it is with the Flik. Though I'd be curious to know if the Diesel's file and combo blade would fit the Flik. Any takers? 

[Roadie]

i'm still a little disappointed with the size of the implement

As mentionned in the review, that's a direct result of the pliers' sliding mechanism, and the fact that Gerber kept the tool at a reasonably short 4.4 inches (closed). Perhaps the can opener could stand to grow a couple millimeters, but that's it. There's NO other room for "growth," unless you lengthen the whole tool... or get a Diesel. 

Yeah I know the mechanism defines the length of the tools but they managed to get reasonable ones on the MP4/600 tools, but then again the plier head does stick out the end on them. Not that the sticking out annoys me, i'd rather have that than the shorter tools.

Some good comments on the Flik though, thanks for the follow up.

[Benner]

The lack of a file really bothers me.  I often use a file so I would be more tempted by the Diesel.  The Flik does look like a real nice tool though. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Anyhoo, like I said, great review, though I'd like to bring up a couple of minor things that weren't mentionned. One is the really, REALLY poor placement of the nail notch on the philips driver  Huh . That notch is so much better placed on the other three inner tools. I'm at a loss trying to figure what posesssed Gerber to screw up the notch placement on the philips head

I actually mentioned that in another thread somewhere- I thought I'd mentioned it in the review too, but I guess I forgot!

I'll probably edit that in somewhere, as it is an important point.

Def

[prime77]

Def did you get a instruction sheet with your Flik? None came with mine and I was wondering about the end of the saw. Is angled like that to stab into dry wall or something? Also say what you want about those stubby drivers. IMHO the Flik has one of the finest scissors of any multi out there. I also noticed that when trying to get the drivers out if you pull the lock release down it pushes out the drivers just a little and makes them easier to get to. All in all I really liking the Flik.

[Grant Lamontagne]

No instruction sheet with mine unfortunately.

I also noticed the bit about the lock opening the drivers a bit, and the drivers are very functional for what they can reach.

The scissors are indeed very good, but considering that Gerber's parent company is Fiskars, a scissor company, you'd bloody well hope they'd get that much right!



I'll update the review when I get a chance...

Def

[EM745]

IMHO the Flik has one of the finest scissors of any multi out there.

Well, like Defender says, it's from Fiskars.

Yes, the Flik's scissors are A+, as far as multitools go. For me, if a pair of scissors--ANY scissors--can make clean cuts through one-ply toilet paper, THIN plastic bags and thick felt sheets WITHOUT ANY "CHEWING," then it's a winner.

You'd be surprised how many seemingly "good" scissors fail at least one of these tests.

I also noticed that when trying to get the drivers out if you pull the lock release down it pushes out the drivers just a little and makes them easier to get to.

There's actually a note about this feature on the back of the packaging (the cardboard liner inside the blister pack). They refer to it as "small tool access assist."

[Grant Lamontagne]

I finally got around to updating the Gerber Flik review and video if anyone is interested:

http://www.multitool.org/gerber/3.5-to-4.5-inches/gerber-flik.html

Def

[J-sews]

Great video! Looks like you had a bit of work putting that whole sequence together. It came together nice though. Seems like you've covered every one of the Flik's functions. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah- I noticed a few screwups after I posted it, and I probably should have re-shot the whole thing with the same camera so it didn't go from full to wide screen constantly.... but for now it'll do!

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

The Video's looking good boss

[Benner]

Looks good to me mate. 

[EM745]

So, when's the DVD coming out? 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Don't tempt me- I thought about releasing an outtake video where you guys can laugh at my outtakes from this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-lSboOeX78

Bear in mind that when I showed a friend of mine, Carolanne, she insisted on a copy of it, and called me from home some time later and couldn't stop laughing.  I was on the phone with her for ten minutes, and she never managed to say anything because she was laughing and couldn't catch her breath.

 

Maybe I'll produce it as a DVD and sell them to support the site!

Def

[Benner]

I wondered how long it would be before that snuck on the boards. 

[J-sews]

Bunch of goofy looking buggers in that clip. What are you trying to do, scare everybody away?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I never go anywhere without my SOG Powerlock! 

Def

[Benner]

I never go anywhere without my SOG Powerlock! 

Def

Hehehe! 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Don't worry, there are lots of amusing catch phrases in my outtakes...

 

Def

[jock1]

Cheers Boss
Thanks for the review I acn see a Gerber in my future

[Grant Lamontagne]

No problem- my raison d'etre is teasing folks with different tools!

Def