Style/Squirt PS4 scissors spring

enki_ck · **on:** February 07, 2015, 07:46:59 PM

Another one broke on me with no use what so ever.

Brian was looking for identification of some parts he had listed among which were some Style nail files. One of those was ground on the other side so I wanted to check the difference between the regular Style and the Style CS/PS nail files. I pulled the regular Style out of its box where it had been sitting since I got it. (That crazy UK Tesco sale) I didn't like it to much at the time so it just went into storage.

So a year and a half of sitting in the box got it a few rust marks

around the pivot screw and a broken spring. I just opened the box and turned it upside down to get it out. And along side the tool fell a thin piece of metal. As I've been down this road before I knew what it was. Didn't even get mad (explains why I post about it a week later

), just disappointed.

The same thing happened with my PS4 a few years back and as it's the original edition with the torx screws instead of rivets I didn't want to send it in as it would have gotten replaced with the riveted one. This time the crack happened a few mm higher along the spring.

What bugs me is that this was supposed to be an improvement on the Vic Classic's scissors, stronger, more substantial spring. Well I never broke a Vic Classic spring or any of the Wenger springs that these were modeled after. Never even seen a broken Wenger spring of any size ever. But I know off the top of my head of at least a dozen MTO members who had the PS4 or Style spring break on them with no or hardly any use.

I wish the Vic scissors had a bit more meat around the pivot so I could drop them in in this one. As it is I don't even feel like sending it in to have it fixed. Can't trust the tool anymore and I haven't used the scissors on the PS4 in years (even fear opening them up

)

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2015, 07:56:13 PM

This is a problem that won't go away till they change the design, and it's always at the same point. It always seems to be a fatigue (low stress) type failure too, just at low (or nil) cycle times. It's not just Leatherman that is afflicted with this issue. The Gerber Dime is an identical design which succumbs to the same problem - though mine have held up so far, and I've only had a Style PS crap out like this

av8r1 · **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2015, 01:23:33 AM

I had a Dime fail like that.

The problem with this design is that the spring is under bending load while the scissors are stowed. The Wave-type scissors unload the spring when stowed, and so do the Wingman scissors. I wonder if they could incorporate Wingman-like scissors onto a smaller tool? Or could they use a lever connected to the backspring like the pliers/scissors/wire strippers do?

captain spaulding · **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2015, 01:26:15 AM

Bummer. Not much else to say.

Syph007 · **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2015, 01:41:21 AM

Yep exactly a design problem. That is a very thin piece of metal for a spring and being under constant load its a guaranteed fail, just a matter of time.

I still say the P4 was the last good keychain pliers tool they made. I bought a PS4 and returned it, not a fan.

pfrsantos · **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2015, 04:05:43 PM

Don't use the scissors on my Style PS too much. Today I opened it and... well, pics below.

Syph007 · **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2015, 05:35:47 PM

Ouch! Ya thats a good fail.

I know some people dont like the replaceable Vic scissors spring system they use, but at least you can DIY fix it without having to waste shipping costs returning it.

pfrsantos · **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2015, 06:11:45 PM

Quote from: Syph007 on February 10, 2015, 05:35:47 PM

Ouch! Ya thats a good fail.

I know some people dont like the replaceable Vic scissors spring system they use, but at least you can DIY fix it without having to waste shipping costs returning it.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2015, 07:57:44 PM

I think Syph makes a really good point. It is interesting that the Wenger Scissors don't seem to have the failures that Leatherman and Gerber are having, however.

Syph007 · **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2015, 08:22:23 PM

The spring force for the wenger scissors though is the main backspring which is pretty strong and thick. The metal lever for the scissors it just a fixed piece that actuates the main back spring. So.. also a better design.

N_N_R · **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2015, 08:26:24 PM

That's really something they should work on. brb to remove my PS4 from my keychain - I think I'll let it live alone in my pocket before something happens to the spring AGAIN. lol. Though... seems these springs snap exactly when they are NOT in use.

enki_ck · **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2015, 09:11:30 PM

I think Chako needs to recheck all the scissors on his Squirts PS4/ES4 and Styles and report back too.

captain spaulding · **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2015, 10:44:00 PM

Quote from: enki_ck on February 10, 2015, 09:11:30 PM

I think Chako needs to recheck all the scissors on his Squirts PS4/ES4 and Styles and report back too.

I know right!

It seems as they would be better to store them with the scissors open as to not put tension on the spring.

pfrsantos · **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2015, 01:19:13 PM

The Style PS seems easy to disassemble. Maybe I'll try to find a small blade to put in the scissors place. I thought about improvising a new spring and add it to the scissors, too...

Werkzeug · **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2015, 07:53:48 PM

Hey all. Haven't been here for a while. Hope you're all doing well.

Resurrecting this old thread and adding myself to the list of PS4 spring breakers... And I haven't abused it at all. Honest!

Just mailed it back to LM this afternoon (and it cost me $9 to ship too. ouch!), so I'll be going back to the tried and true P4.

You know, all this has made me re-think my minimalist EDC. A P4 paired up with a Vic Compact covers just about all the bases for me.