looking hard at a Crunch

[lurkee]

does anyone know of negatives about it? thanks

[kaput]

does anyone know of negatives about it? thanks

For me Price.

And, I have this. $13 and it probably performs better. Albeit, doesn't have a knife or screwdriver. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Irwin-Vise-Grip-Fast-Release-Locking-Pliers-Steel-1T-10R/881584489?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1122&adid=22222222228073277718&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=184854741803&wl4=pla-312570249754&wl5=9033002&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=101593696&wl11=online&wl12=881584489&wl13=&veh=sem (I did not buy it from Walmart)

I also would like to own one, and probably will someday. But really I don't NEED it, but would LIKE it 

[ThePeacent]

it's unique, 



it's versatile,   



it's compact, 



it's excellent,   



but it's expensive...and has no scissors!! 

[MusicMen]

it's unique, 

(Image removed from quote.)

it's versatile,   

(Image removed from quote.)

it's compact, 

(Image removed from quote.)

it's excellent,   

(Image removed from quote.)

but it's expensive...and has no scissors!! 

But isn't that what modding is for? So you can have what you want/need? 

[cody6268]

Not many, but I prefer the Tough Grip made by Schrade and Petersen Vise Grip. It's basically nothing more than a regular pair of Vise Grips with the "Quick Release" lever replaced with a handle with the tools in it.

[gregozedobe]

does anyone know of negatives about it? thanks

As mentioned, they can be a bit expensive.

Limited toolset

A bit fiddly to deploy the pliers

Some owners don't realise there is a 1/4" b it driver in one handle.


And that's about it from my viewpoint.  The Crunch is one of my all-time favourite multitools.

[Yadda]

does anyone know of negatives about it? thanks

As mentioned, they can be a bit expensive.

Limited toolset

A bit fiddly to deploy the pliers

Some owners don't realise there is a 1/4" b it driver in one handle.


And that's about it from my viewpoint.  The Crunch is one of my all-time favourite multitools.

+1

[Mike 56]

+1 To me the Crunch is a must have tool. I am also a big fan of Vice grip tools I use them all the time. Why not get both. 

Mike

[ThePeacent]

Not many, but I prefer the Tough Grip made by Schrade and Petersen Vise Grip. It's basically nothing more than a regular pair of Vise Grips with the "Quick Release" lever replaced with a handle with the tools in it.

I can't decide which I like better, the A100, the Crunch or the Schrades...all vise grip MTs are awesome!



the big plus of the Crunch is it's compact size, but it also takes longer to deploy

[ddogu]

Not many, but I prefer the Tough Grip made by Schrade and Petersen Vise Grip. It's basically nothing more than a regular pair of Vise Grips with the "Quick Release" lever replaced with a handle with the tools in it.

I can't decide which I like better, the A100, the Crunch or the Schrades...all vise grip MTs are awesome!

(Image removed from quote.)

the big plus of the Crunch is it's compact size, but it also takes longer to deploy

That Kershaw looks hot! 

[theonew]

If I had a penny for every time I've used my Crunch, in the last five years, in a capacity that regular multitool pliers would not provide, I'd probably have about 25 cents, which doesn't sound like much, but would enable me to purchase a piece of bubble gum from a vending machine.

[Biker_Bob]

Get one and hang the expense!
I've got 25 of them now, it's the only MT I own.
Look through some of my posts on customising the Crunch - there's no other tool can do what the Crunch does.
If you're a biker it's especially useful. I can remove the wheels from my Honda using just my Crunch and socket adaptor..

[Don Pablo]

Get one and hang the expense!
I've got 25 of them now, it's the only MT I own.
Look through some of my posts on customising the Crunch - there's no other tool can do what the Crunch does.
If you're a biker it's especially useful. I can remove the wheels from my Honda using just my Crunch and socket adaptor..

   25? 

[Biker_Bob]

Get one and hang the expense!
I've got 25 of them now, it's the only MT I own.
Look through some of my posts on customising the Crunch - there's no other tool can do what the Crunch does.
If you're a biker it's especially useful. I can remove the wheels from my Honda using just my Crunch and socket adaptor..

   25? 

Heh heh, the way I figure it - Leatherman will eventually stop making them and now I've got enough that if I lose or break one every couple of years they'll last me the rest of my days....

[Padre]

The blade could be plain edge.
When using you have to construct it first.
Thats all bad I can think of.

[cody6268]

I'm another looking at the Crunch.  I'm torn between three different locking plier tools:  Crunch, Kershaw A100 (too expensive, but for some reason, I like it the best), and the Schrade Petersen Vise Grip Tough Grip.   The Crunch is the most compact.  Unlike the others, you have to assemble it upon unfolding.   And without practice, that can be tricky.    The Petersen/Schrade is your best bet, as it's just a regular pair of Vise Grips with tools added.   Unlike the others, it was offered in many jaw types as well--you could get it in huge curved jaw for pipes, plain old curved jaw, and long nose at least.


 One I strongly recommend avoiding is the one recently put out by Irwin--it's an utter piece of garbage.

[Poncho65]

Don't carry mine much but I did today The Crunch is one of those gotta have tools to me though

20170322_133305 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

20170322_133657 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

[ThePeacent]

Don't carry mine much but I did today The Crunch is one of those gotta have tools to me though

20170322_133305 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

20170322_133657 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

+1 especially if you don't have a Vice Grip tool per se.
Until last year that I bought some proper tools all my locking pliers were multitools, the Crunch, A100 and Vise Grip models from Schrade

[gregozedobe]

I used my Crunch today to fix a lock on the door to my dog club's agility equipment shed.  Regular pliers wouldn't have worked for the job.

[lurkee]

thanks guys. For what I want it to do, I'd have to swap-out the bit driver, all the screwdrivers but the big flathead, and bring in a carbon steel regular blade, and an awl with sewing hole. That should be feasible, tho. To me, multitools are for the woods. Any other place, I'll have access to a box of real tools, and the ability to either just leave the problem, go get what I need, or pay somebody else to do it.  When me and the wife are in the woods, me and what I can do are pretty much it. She's just along cause I ask her to be and she worries about me. We take a rental satellite phone, and pistols, so it aint likely that anything all that serious will occur.  Thanks again.

[gregozedobe]

swap-out the bit driver,

I'm a bit curious as to just how you are going to do this (and why) ?  The bit driver is built into the handle of a Crunch, and isn't in the way at all - it's just there if you need it.

[Padre]

swap-out the bit driver,

I'm a BIT curious

Oh the puns.
 

[chrono]

The only negative thing about my Crunch is 1/4" bits does not fit the 1/4 drive. I think I have a lemon. I will send it it together with a few others tools to save on postage. Other than that, Crunch is a cool tool, a class of its own.

[Dwest]

I have one and carried for a while job site use, shop maintenance etc.. Its a niche item and if it can fill a particular role for you it works well. But as generel carry it is very limited in comparison to other multitools available.

[ToolJoe]

I have a Crunch and it's the only LM I own. It does have a limited toolset and I don't use it all that often but when I do use it, it is worth its weight in gold. When it grabs onto something, it can bend it like no other. Even though people either love or hate the serrated blade, I think it is a good solid blade. If you can find one at a reasonable price, is strongly look at it. It really is a unique mt..

[Dwest]

I have a Crunch and it's the only LM I own. It does have a limited toolset and I don't use it all that often but when I do use it, it is worth its weight in gold. When it grabs onto something, it can bend it like no other. Even though people either love or hate the serrated blade, I think it is a good solid blade. If you can find one at a reasonable price, is strongly look at it. It really is a unique mt..

I agree with you, mine lives in my tool bag and i would not trade it  it has s good set of tools and options

[lurkee]

I"m not sure if swapping out the bit driver will let me mod it as I want, but I know that the bit driver will be no help to me for the intended purpose of the tool

[gregozedobe]

I"m not sure if swapping out the bit driver will let me mod it as I want, but I know that the bit driver will be no help to me for the intended purpose of the tool

My point is that you can't really "swap-out" the bit driver in a crunch, it is an integral part of the handle and you can't replace it.  Besides, the grip adjustment screw goes in there when you are using the pliers. 

So I still don't understand how you can "swap" it for anything else.  If you aren't using bits it is no handicap, it isn't occupying space where you could put another component in its place.  Have you had a good look at where the bit driver actually is and how it works on a Crunch ?  If you have you will soon forget about swapping it for anything else.

http://www.moontrail.com/knives/k-ltg/crunch.html   (scroll down to see pics of the bit driver in the handle)

[Chako]

Yes, I like locking pliers type multi-tools myself.

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,66395.msg1272003.html#msg1272003