Leatherman Surge

J-sews · **Reply #30 on:** July 18, 2008, 04:19:13 AM

Great review Ryan.

Hmmmm, it seems to me that there's really nothing seriously wrong with the Surge, it just doesn't live up to some people's expectations. Does that mean maybe those expectations were unreasonably high? Could be.

The Surge apparently isn't an "everyman's" tool. Instead it seems to appeal to a niche of folks with certain extra heavy duty needs who don't mind a little extra weight and unrefined edges.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #31 on:** July 18, 2008, 04:34:52 AM

Quote

The Surge apparently isn't an "everyman's" tool. Instead it seems to appeal to a niche of folks with certain extra heavy duty needs who don't mind a little extra weight and unrefined edges.

BINGO!

duckman1975 · **Reply #32 on:** July 18, 2008, 05:34:36 AM

Quote from: Hoghead on July 18, 2008, 04:13:50 AM

Quote from: duckman1975 on July 18, 2008, 12:19:40 AM
its sometimes brute and unweldy, but it works like women.
Hey thats not what I said...... but nice twist of word

Tarrodemierda · **Reply #33 on:** July 18, 2008, 08:30:30 AM

Quote from: J-sews on July 18, 2008, 04:19:13 AM

Great review Ryan.

Hmmmm, it seems to me that there's really nothing seriously wrong with the Surge, it just doesn't live up to some people's expectations. Does that mean maybe those expectations were unreasonably high? Could be.

The Surge apparently isn't an "everyman's" tool. Instead it seems to appeal to a niche of folks with certain extra heavy duty needs who don't mind a little extra weight and unrefined edges.

gotta agree.im a heavy duty user,although i like little mt´s,im most likely going to use the rugged ones that can take a bit of punishment without falling into sad pile/(small pile that is)of broken pliers and blades.
and as iam big guy myself,i just carry around small tools as they look bit like toys in my belt.its visual and childish way to look at,i know

.

Hoghead · **Reply #34 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:00:59 AM

Quote from: duckman1975 on July 18, 2008, 05:34:36 AM

Quote from: Hoghead on July 18, 2008, 04:13:50 AM
Quote from: duckman1975 on July 18, 2008, 12:19:40 AM
its sometimes brute and unweldy, but it works like women.
Hey thats not what I said...... but nice twist of word

That is the power of creative editing. I learned it from my wife, only with her it's selective hearing.

What can I say, I'm twisted. I just have a warped sence of humor.

MultiMat · **Reply #35 on:** July 19, 2008, 07:31:11 AM

I think it is a classic case of individual taste . My Surge was my first MT & a gift from my wife so in my eyes it is more valuable than my NIB sideclip & a infinitely better MT, but the sideclip is always going to be more collected. BTW I really really hate the way Vic scissor springs can come out of their groove and can get in a nasty tangle on closing , this has happened on numerous times on my SAK & once on the Swisstool X I gave a friend . The spring on my SAK is badly out of shape due to this happening once too often . So for me the Surges slightly kooky engaging mechanism is a small price to pay for the best pair of scissors I have on a MT or SAK IMHO

. But this is just my opinion & it is what makes the forum so great . So thanks for the great review Roadie & keep them coming . Long live the Surge & Swisstool .

Roadie · **Reply #36 on:** July 30, 2008, 11:24:34 AM

Quote from: J-sews on July 18, 2008, 04:19:13 AM

Great review Ryan.

Hmmmm, it seems to me that there's really nothing seriously wrong with the Surge, it just doesn't live up to some people's expectations. Does that mean maybe those expectations were unreasonably high? Could be.

The Surge apparently isn't an "everyman's" tool. Instead it seems to appeal to a niche of folks with certain extra heavy duty needs who don't mind a little extra weight and unrefined edges.

I think you're right there, it has been hyped up a lot by a few people who really enjoy it and i feel i was let down when i got it in my grubby little mitts. $:-\$

J-sews · **Reply #37 on:** July 31, 2008, 06:08:04 AM

Quote from: Roadie on July 30, 2008, 11:24:34 AM

Quote from: J-sews on July 18, 2008, 04:19:13 AM
Great review Ryan.

Hmmmm, it seems to me that there's really nothing seriously wrong with the Surge, it just doesn't live up to some people's expectations. Does that mean maybe those expectations were unreasonably high? Could be.

The Surge apparently isn't an "everyman's" tool. Instead it seems to appeal to a niche of folks with certain extra heavy duty needs who don't mind a little extra weight and unrefined edges.

I think you're right there, it has been hyped up a lot by a few people who really enjoy it and i feel i was let down when i got it in my grubby little mitts. $:-\$

Ah-HAH!! So its all their fault then!

Benner · **Reply #38 on:** July 31, 2008, 02:07:58 PM

Quote from: J-sews on July 31, 2008, 06:08:04 AM

Ah-HAH!! So its all their fault then!

Not their, his!

DaveK · **Reply #39 on:** August 01, 2008, 01:06:22 AM

Lol. I agree with most of what's been said in defence of the 'rattle'. In all honesty, I don't find it any more than say, the split ring on an SAK for example - and mine has no play when you're using any of the tools - I just think the forces in play given the sheer weight of it means that it isn't as 'tight' as smaller tools.

And the blade exchanger is a very good innovation too!

Poncho65 · **Reply #40 on:** August 03, 2008, 07:22:31 AM

Quote from: J-sews on July 31, 2008, 06:08:04 AM

Ah-HAH!! So its all their fault then!

As not to start a war some might also say that about the Swisstool

I like the Swisstool (that's why I bought one) but it seems no more special to me than my Wave. I guess it all boils down to preference and what 1 gets use to

I think I would probably think the same about the Surge $:-\$ no more special than my Wave as well

Just me I guess

duckman1975 · **Reply #41 on:** August 03, 2008, 10:53:12 AM

SURGE is American as to Swisstool is to Europeans

Poncho65 · **Reply #42 on:** August 03, 2008, 09:22:28 PM

Quote from: duckman1975 on August 03, 2008, 10:53:12 AM

SURGE is American as to Swisstool is to Europeans

Good example duckman

Sea Monster · **Reply #43 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:48:47 AM

I don't like my Surge, though not for the reasons I thought.

Initially I assumed the reasons I would not want a Surge were due to the size & exchangeable blades/screwdrivers (I don't believe in loose parts & accessories)

Most if the reason I got one was because it had a reamerspike where the Wave did not.

It turns out it is not near as hard to handle as I thought, I've had no issues with the larger size, but the fit & finish is rubbish, none of the inside tools come out easy (lubricant & use may alter this), the scissors are not fine enough to comfortably cut my nails, the blade-changer consistently fails - allowing the saw to fall out when I try to open the blade. The Plier heads jam open when I try to close the handles & the ruler is even more of a joke than the one of my PST.

I'm disappointed entirely.

I sincerely hope my next LM purchase is of greater satisfaction.

(Some may say I am a nancy cry baby. The Surge is not designed for fine finish & personal grooming, it is for manly, industrial tasks, like gutting sharks & installing intercontinental pipelines, but I don't see why you can't have fine precision quality with robust function & brutal indestructibility.)

Roadie · **Reply #44 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:53:30 AM

Quote from: Nomad on August 08, 2008, 11:48:47 AM

I don't like my Surge, though not for the reasons I thought.

Initially I assumed the reasons I would not want a Surge were due to the size & exchangeable blades/screwdrivers (I don't believe in loose parts & accessories)

Most if the reason I got one was because it had a reamerspike where the Wave did not.

It turns out it is not near as hard to handle as I thought, I've had no issues with the larger size, but the fit & finish is rubbish, none of the inside tools come out easy (lubricant & use may alter this), the scissors are not fine enough to comfortably cut my nails, the blade-changer consistently fails - allowing the saw to fall out when I try to open the blade. The Plier heads jam open when I try to close the handles & the ruler is even more of a joke than the one of my PST.

I'm disappointed entirely.

I sincerely hope my next LM purchase is of greater satisfaction.

Well said Mr Nomad

Quote from: Nomad on August 08, 2008, 11:48:47 AM

(Some may say I am a nancy cry baby. The Surge is not designed for fine finish & personal grooming, it is for manly, industrial tasks, like gutting sharks & installing intercontinental pipelines, but I don't see why you can't have fine precision quality with robust function & brutal indestructibility.)

Like a Swisstool!

Sea Monster · **Reply #45 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:56:38 AM

For those who feel I am being prematurely unfair, I will confess these views are based on only a short time of handling.

Further opinions, possibly more positive, with be forthcoming as I carry the Surge over the following week(s?).

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #46 on:** August 08, 2008, 03:38:58 PM

Keep us updated mate

Tarrodemierda · **Reply #47 on:** August 08, 2008, 03:51:04 PM

says the man who keeps the swiss tool as the one and only decent plier based mt

yes keep us posted,i use surge too and its fun to hear opinions from other heavy users.

Benner · **Reply #48 on:** August 08, 2008, 06:31:59 PM

Quote from: Nomad on August 08, 2008, 11:48:47 AM

...but the fit & finish is rubbish

My thoughts exactly.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #49 on:** August 08, 2008, 06:33:32 PM

Back on a friends cpu.. Why do you guys think the fit and finish is so bad?

Benner · **Reply #50 on:** August 08, 2008, 06:36:11 PM

Quote from: Leatherman123 on August 08, 2008, 06:33:32 PM

Back on a friends cpu.. Why do you guys think the fit and finish is so bad?

Because it is.

The edges are rough and jagedy, it rattles (but we have discussed this) and it just doesn't have a quality feel like other LM's.

TBH, I thought the Surge felt like it was unfinished.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #51 on:** August 08, 2008, 06:47:00 PM

I guess I have gotten used to it..

DaveK · **Reply #52 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:40:46 PM

I really don't get this "fit and finish" criticism. I have mine in hand as I type this, and I can see precisely no flaws in it at all. It's tight, and perfectly well put together.

I can understand that people simply don't like it, but rubbishing on the basis of quality I find bizarre.

Quote from: Nomad

It turns out it is not near as hard to handle as I thought, I've had no issues with the larger size, but the fit & finish is rubbish, none of the inside tools come out easy (lubricant & use may alter this), the scissors are not fine enough to comfortably cut my nails, the blade-changer consistently fails - allowing the saw to fall out when I try to open the blade. The Plier heads jam open when I try to close the handles & the ruler is even more of a joke than the one of my PST.

Are you sure you've got a real one, as these points could not be applied to any Leatherman Surge I have ever seen? And I've seen a few.

I can't actually figure out how the blade exchanger could fail as you open it - it doesn't seem possible as the pivoted "housing" for the exchanger would have to to be opened into the tool's handles from the closed position, which obviously isn't possible, yet there's no way the blade could fall out without the "housing" being opened, there simply isn't the tolerance.

I can't find any problems with the scissors either. The plier sticking open is typical of all Leatherman extra-large/full-sized tools, and even the Juice range, but will disappear with use.

Benner · **Reply #53 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:44:55 PM

I can't say I noticed what Nomad is saying about the tools smoothness etc, but the edges of the Surges handles were rough and felt very shoddily done IMO.

Older tools such as my Supertool have a far better finish (IMO) than that Surge that I handled.

DaveK · **Reply #54 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:58:30 PM

Quote from: Benner on August 08, 2008, 09:44:55 PM

I can't say I noticed what Nomad is saying about the tools smoothness etc, but the edges of the Surges handles were rough and felt very shoddily done IMO.

Older tools such as my Supertool have a far better finish (IMO) than that Surge that I handled.

What my Surge? I have it here now and the handles have no rough / shoddy features at all. The area of the handle that you grip when using the pliers is folded and rounded, so there's actually nothing there to "fit" well or otherwise.

I've commented on this forum before that the Surge isn't really to my liking, but I think that suggesting that it's quality is lacking or that it is shoddy is well wide of the mark.

Benner · **Reply #55 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:03:55 PM

Quote from: DaveK on August 08, 2008, 09:58:30 PM

Quote from: Benner on August 08, 2008, 09:44:55 PM
I can't say I noticed what Nomad is saying about the tools smoothness etc, but the edges of the Surges handles were rough and felt very shoddily done IMO.

Older tools such as my Supertool have a far better finish (IMO) than that Surge that I handled.

What my Surge? I have it here now and the handles have no rough / shoddy features at all. The area of the handle that you grip when using the pliers is folded and rounded, so there's actually nothing there to "fit" well or otherwise.

I've commented on this forum before that the Surge isn't really to my liking, but I think that suggesting that it's quality is lacking or that it is shoddy is well wide of the mark.

Actually I was referring to Def's one (sorry Def!

) and what I was referring to was the roughness of the handles up near the plier head. It was actually one of the first things I noticed as even compared to my original Wave it felt rough and like I said "unfinished". Every other LM product I have been impressed with the quality, but this I have to say I found disappointing.

Still, it may have just been a one off (although Nomad seems to have similar issues as well) and it certainly would not put me off buying from them in the future.

DaveK · **Reply #56 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:14:43 PM

Quote from: Benner on August 08, 2008, 10:03:55 PM

Still, it may have just been a one off (although Nomad seems to have similar issues as well) and it certainly would not put me off buying from them in the future.

Maybe you're right. I'm not really the type to blindly defend something and I there are some characteristics of the Surge that I'm not overly impressed with (like the rattle) but I honestly cannot see any quality issues with mine or the half dozen or so I've bought / sold.

I just feel the Surge get's a bit of unfair stick, maybe as has been said - it was overhyped in the first place! I recall seeing the Swisstool at the meet for the first time, and whilst I wasn't exactly disappointed, I wasn't excited either! I'm not sure what I expected it to do, but needless to say - it didn't!

Maybe we should adopt a policy of not talking about tools on the site in case we prejudice people's opinions of them ............ oh. Ah.