Surge! :D

[Cogito]

So I got my Surge and I'm really happy with it, I only wish it was a little bit bigger   I would totally buy a Surge XL.

But here is my question, I have play in the handles and I didn't expect that with the surge.  With my Sidekick it's understandable because of the low price point, but on the Surge it seems strange.  Is it normal and can I fix it myself without voiding any warranty.  I don't want to trouble anyone at Leatherman because the tool works fine and everything just there is play in the handles.

[kkokkolis]

Yes. They have play. I tightened mine (had to buy two sets with safety torx drivers) and the OHO blades became stiffer. After some use play was back again. Pins (such as with Swisstools) are so much more precise.
But, play or not, it works.

[sawman]

So I got my Surge and I'm really happy with it, I only wish it was a little bit bigger   I would totally buy a Surge XL.

But here is my question, I have play in the handles and I didn't expect that with the surge.  With my Sidekick it's understandable because of the low price point, but on the Surge it seems strange.  Is it normal and can I fix it myself without voiding any warranty.  I don't want to trouble anyone at Leatherman because the tool works fine and everything just there is play in the handles.

You got to be smurfting me....

[ducttapetech]

Is it a bunch or very little? If it is just alittle play, its the plier head joint which is nothing to worry about. Even the some Swisstools and any other model I have used. Or mine did anyways and they worked just fine. If it a lot of play and the OHO blades have play too, then it the pivots that need tightened and you will have to send it in or tighten them yourself.
that's us mobile

[ducttapetech]

So I got my Surge and I'm really happy with it, I only wish it was a little bit bigger   I would totally buy a Surge XL.

But here is my question, I have play in the handles and I didn't expect that with the surge.  With my Sidekick it's understandable because of the low price point, but on the Surge it seems strange.  Is it normal and can I fix it myself without voiding any warranty.  I don't want to trouble anyone at Leatherman because the tool works fine and everything just there is play in the handles.

You got to be smurfting me....

Nothing wrong with that. Bigger in some cases is better.

that's us mobile

[Cogito]

If the Plier heads were 2x as big and there was a 5 inch blade and bigger scissors that would be a full toolkit, the flat driver would end up being a decent prybar at that point too

[captain spaulding]

Sounds like you need to get your hands on a Sog Blacktip. Not a lot of tools in it, but the things a beast.

[Cogito]

Sounds like you need to get your hands on a Sog Blacktip. Not a lot of tools in it, but the things a beast.

I didn't even know about the blacktip.  What an awesome sized tool!  I wish there was a Surge XL that size.

When I saw it I was thinking I would get it and mod the crap out of it with surge like tools, but then I saw that there aren't replaceable wire cutters in the head and that the early ones that did were recalled so I don't think they would be safe to use if I got one.

I can't even find any for sale

[Goatlord666]

Sounds like you need to get your hands on a Sog Blacktip. Not a lot of tools in it, but the things a beast.

I was going to say the same thing. The only downside is the loadout. But man that blacktip sure is huge

Sent from my Cruize W280 using Tapatalk

[gregozedobe]

Sounds like you need to get your hands on a Sog Blacktip. Not a lot of tools in it, but the things a beast.

I didn't even know about the blacktip.  What an awesome sized tool!  I wish there was a Surge XL that size.

When I saw it I was thinking I would get it and mod the crap out of it with surge like tools, but then I saw that there aren't replaceable wire cutters in the head and that the early ones that did were recalled so I don't think they would be safe to use if I got one.

I can't even find any for sale

In the well-established tradition of MTo enabling (and all you had to do was ask) 

http://www.westmarine.com/multi-purpose-tools/blacktip--fisherman-s-ii-multi-tool--11752177

Currently only $49.99 and with the bonus of compound leverage for easier cutting and gripping.

And if you are cutting stuff that is going to wreck the wire cutters on these then you should definitely be thinking about using a dedicated cutting tool.

[Cogito]

Thanks for the link Greg   Maybe instead of saving up to get a New Surge I will get those instead seeing as how they are almost half the price.  But then to mod it I would probably end up spending $100 more.

It's a really tough call.  What do you guys think?

[gregozedobe]

Thanks for the link Greg   Maybe instead of saving up to get a New Surge I will get those instead seeing as how they are almost half the price.  But then to mod it I would probably end up spending $100 more.

It's a really tough call.  What do you guys think?

What mods do you want to do (and why) ?

[captain spaulding]

Honestly the Surge will be much more useful, but the SOG is just badass. Have you ever handled a SOG multitool? You did say you already have a Surge right? just wondering why you are looking to get another one. I completely understand if you want two Surges.

My camera is crap, but I can take a comparison picture of the blacktip next to a Wave or ST300 or whatever else I have handy if you like just so you can see the size.

The Blacktip is a tool I would personally never use, but it's fun to have. 

[gregozedobe]

The Blacktip is a tool I would personally never use, but it's fun to have. 

+1

I think the designers followed the design philosphy: "If much is good, even more is better ! "   

[Romanoat]

Will regular sog parts fit in the blacktip?

[Cogito]

I bought an Old Surge, because I thought the Plier heads would be stronger because there is no missing metal.  But the more I thought about it I felt that I missed out by not getting the New Surge with the replaceable wire cutters and upgraded jigsaw holder.

I would basically want to get the Blacktip and upgrade everything to be more Surge like.  Scissors, longer knife, jigsaw holder, Awl, replaceable bit driver.  Basically a Surge XL, I think I would have to give up on the serrated blade to do it though which I think I would be okay with.

But the problem is if I accidentally ding up the pliers on the Blacktip or something goes wrong I've heard of sog having cs problems and even if they did cover it, I don't think they would be able to fix the tool because of the limited number that they made they probably won't have parts.

I feel like if any tool could open a macadamia nut though it would probably be the Blacktip.

[captain spaulding]

Here it is next to a Wave.

[Cogito]

If you don't mind, can you put pics of it next to a Surge?

[kkokkolis]

And they say it's a fisherman's tool. What is it for? Whales?

[captain spaulding]

If you don't mind, can you put pics of it next to a Surge?

I don't have a Surge, but can grab my ST300 out of my car if you want. 


Honestly I would just buy the Surge and then decide if you want a Blacktip after that, but its all up to you. 

[captain spaulding]

And they say it's a fisherman's tool. What is it for? Whales?

 

Better to have more and not need it than have less and need more.

[gregozedobe]

Will regular sog parts fit in the blacktip?

Only on the side with the cover, the other handle is "special" with those weird SOG locks from the Powerassist and a large black spacer in the middle. 

There is room for two quite long blades or other tools in the "special" handle, and if you ditched the cover you could fit longer tools in that handle as well (but to be longer they'd have to be custom, as SOG only sell one size components to fit all their tools).

The std Blacktip blade has a working length of 71mm.

I don't think the BlackTip would be any good for cracking macadamia nuts for two reasons:
1  The large wire cutter section would push the nut too far away from the pivot point
2  Because of the compound leverage the handles would have to be about 8-9" apart (much too wide for any human hand to grip with any strength).

[Cogito]

Don't worry about taking the pics with the 300, thanks for offering though

I think you could use 2 hands for the Plier if they were 8-9 inches apart.

It sounds like the Blade is even smaller than the Wave blade.

Does anyone what kind of metal the blacktips are made from?  I feel like they might have gone with something a bit more rust resistant than usual.

[captain spaulding]

No idea what kind of steel they used. Maybe someone else has that info.   

[Cogito]

Captain if I end up getting one to mod, how large of a blade do you think I could reasonably fit into the tool?

[captain spaulding]

Hold on let me check it out. 

[captain spaulding]

I pulled the blade out so you can see where it stops. I also took some pictures from the side so you can see how much room is left. Not a whole lot. You could add half a inch. Maybe a tiny bit more.

[Cogito]

Hmm so it would end up being pretty much the size of the Surge blade after modding.  I think the only real benefit to the Blacktip then is the Plier head size and the little bit of extra handle length.  I don't think I'm going to get it then it doesn't seem worth it.

By any chance did Leatherman have like an xl surge as a display model or something?  like a Surge that is twice the size? I would totally edc one if it existed

[captain spaulding]

Yea. I would say pass on the Blacktip unless you just wanted one to mess around with. The only reason I got it was to fiddle with and I just wanted to see one in person. I doubt I will ever use it. Its not comfortable to carry and I hate the sheath plus the tool selection isn't great for my needs.

Sadly I believe it is the largest "production" multitool that I know of. I think your out of luck with getting anything as big or bigger unless its a one off or a custom or something, but even then I have not seen anything like that either. Maybe someone else has more info than me.

[Cogito]

The cost of making a truly custom multitool would probably be really high.

I don't have the time or money to do it, but would it be legal to take a Surge into a metal shop of some kind and ask them to duplicate it, but scaled up in size.

I really like the Surge but since I've been playing with it all day my hand hurts and I think it's because there are random pokey bits on the tool.  I haven't had that problem with my sidekick so I think it's strange.  I wonder if the new surge is pokey like that too.