Leatherman(New Wave) adapted to regular 1/4" hex bits.

[Benner]

Are the prices stupidly high "UK" prices though?

Unfortunately yes. However, I got my SURGE!! of eBay, picking it up from a US supplier for half what it would have cost here.

I use the banner members here, they are very good.  They sell stuff that is roughly half the price here in the UK and that includes the shipping over here. 

[Leatherman123]

Ice, do you sell those on eBay? I have seen many looking exactley like that!

[ToolManTim]

Here are some pics (hopefully I've done this right).  Yes, that's the ratchet gizmo.  The part with the knurling can be turned "free wheel" with your fingers while the screw/nut/bolt is fairly loose to make it a little quicker (just like you would with a socket on a socket wrench).  Then when you want to apply more torque with the tool, you press in on it a little and the other part engages to lock up to apply the torque to the fastener.  If you want to ratchet, you just push in, turn, then relax a little, turn the tool back, then push in, turn, and repeat.  It's kind of hard to describe in words, but hopefully this helps.  If you have any more questions, I'll be glad to try again.

[BIG-TARGET]

G'day all,

Posted this over on knifeforums, thought there might be some that would like to see it, that don't read over there.

I got to looking at the profile of the flat leatherman driver bits. They match regular 1/4" hex bits in width, and the angle to the corners. So, if you grind down two oposing flats on a hex drive bit, you can match the flat bits.


I picked up a 3"(2.75" gain) hex drive extention, figured since I was getting one for this, I'd get the one with the (ball detent type)lock on it to hold the bits.
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Its just deep enough to hold and grip the flat bits too, not the lock, but the magnet holds them in. Would work for an extended reach with the flat bits.

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5 minuites with the grinder, and I can now use any regular hex bit with my wave.

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Just wish I'd thought of it before I got the flat bit kit. Its OK in a way, the flat bits are more compact to carry in their holders than the same variety/amount of drivers in 1/4" hex.


G.

Now get it patented, offer it to Leatherman, and decide how to spend your royalties

[J-sews]

Thanks for the pictures ToolManTim, that little ratchet gadget is the smallest I've seen. What do you think about grinding the male hex down to fit into the Leatherman flat bit driver?

[ToolManTim]

It's probably possible, but it's pretty short, so it wouldn't "lock in" to the bit driver on the LM very well.  On the bit holder I ground down to fit the LM bit driver, I filed a little detent on the side to engage like the flat bits do, so it holds in there pretty well.  Then the ratchet gadget locks into the bit holder tightly as well (I had to shake it pretty hard to get it to come out).  It feels more secure that way than I think it would if you ground the ratchet and inserted it directly, but if you're not worried about it falling out, I imagine it would be possible.