What do you HATE about multitools?

[JBW1]

The Scissors on the Sprit x was a big let down. Also the weird pleather / Velcro sheath. I will go for the swisstool next time!

[NKlamerus]

Lack of rust prevention. I realize there is a lot of moving parts, but in most cases you lose specific qualities in order to gain better rust protection.

[JBW1]

Well that salt water you deal with gives your tools a challenge I'm sure.

[Smaug]

I hate that none of the plier-based ones have toothpicks. It's my most often-used tool. Sad, but true.

[alexTOOL]

I hate that none of the plier-based ones have toothpicks. It's my most often-used tool. Sad, but true.

You can put a pair of toothpick and tweezwers in your wallet

None multitool nor SAk must have all the tools, you can complement it with others

[AimlessWanderer]

I hate that none of the plier-based ones have toothpicks. It's my most often-used tool. Sad, but true.

You can put a pair of toothpick and tweezwers in your wallet

None multitool nor SAk must have all the tools, you can complement it with others

  Combos rule! 

[JBW1]

 Enablers!!

[kaput]

I know they're can be allot of things we dislike, but when you're thinking "multitool", sacrifices will typically be made. 

 

[getahl]

Lack of diversity. Pliers , knife, Philips and flat drivers, can opener, file and wood saw. Check. Wouldn't mind seeing standard quarter inch hex adapters, not attachments, Xacto blade holders, dikes, and stub nosed pliers floating around. That's my Shan Gri La.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[gregozedobe]

Lack of diversity. Pliers , knife, Philips and flat drivers, can opener, file and wood saw. Check. Wouldn't mind seeing standard quarter inch hex adapters, not attachments, Xacto blade holders, dikes, and stub nosed pliers floating around. That's my Shan Gri La.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

There are several MTs with built-in 1/4" hex adapters (Leatherman Crunch, Schrade ST5, Kutmaster and quite a few no-name ones as well), and Gerber still sell Blunt-Nose plier versions of their MP600, and there are several other discontinued MTs that also have BN pliers.

[Dean51]

Don't hate but there are things I would like to see changed especially with Leatherman.

These days dedicated cap lifters would work better for most people than the can/bottle combo tool..

Get rid of the mini driver the charge is to big for it. Mini drivers would be better if they were incorporated into smaller tools like the Juice or Squirt.

Just remembered, one for the hate list.
I hate for the crimping pliers head, the regular pliers are much better for general use. It's very rare that I'll use a crimp on a electrical repair & when I do I use a dedicated tool.

[Kev D]

I don't hate anything about multitools, what I hate are the uk knife laws preventing me from carrying the tool I'd like to all the time.

[Oxford_Guy]

I don't hate anything about multitools, what I hate are the uk knife laws preventing me from carrying the tool I'd like to all the time.

^^^^ This!!! Grrrr....

[cody6268]

No one makes a carbon steel, blunt nosed head that's drop forged--most MT heads are just cast. This compromises the  strength of the head   Gerber MP1 is drop forged carbon, but needlenose don't help me much, and secondly, the other bits leave a lot to be desired. 'Till then, guess I'm just gonna keep my Proto 267 lineman's pliers in the pliers pocket of my carpenter's jeans when I need tough pliers. I'd love to see an entirely carbon steel M/T. Barnett did it over a century ago with the Plier Knife, whose cutters could cut barbed wire.  Inside opening tools do bug me a bit, but not as big a deal if I have a pocketknife, or even better a thin Vic or Scout knife on me too, since I use the blade a lot.

Other than that, nothing really.  I do prefer an SAK over a multitool, however, but I've carried Bear and LM products (plus traditionals) far more in the past few months than SAKs.

[AimlessWanderer]

No one makes a carbon steel, blunt nosed head that's drop forged--most MT heads are just cast. This compromises the  strength of the head

The only one I know of is the discontinued Wichard tool. The head size is quite small though, and the accompanying tools are just a bottle opener, can opener, V notch wire stripper, and combo edged blade

[WoodsDuck]

Doesn't the Gerber MP1 have forged pliers, or am I having a brain problem?

[aurabattler]

Oh yes. One thing I really hate is single use flat head screw drivers. Look at those in leatherman..... Vic does a better job in utilizing flat head drivers.

[cody6268]

I'm with Aloha007 on the sheaths... I pay $100 for ANY tool and it had best come with the best quality sheath/case/carrying implement ever. 

The weight of most tools bothers me, as does the inclusion of too many of one type of tool (how many flat blade drivers do I need?), or low quality ones.  It also bugs me that the clip on the Wingman/Sidekick is on the wrong side... or at least that they didn't put the locking tab hole on the other sides as well, so that the user could move it to whichever of the 8 corners he/she wished.

I'd also like to see the inclusion of some sort of maintenance, or care kit with tools above a certain price range/quality level.  You buy a nice enough firearm, you sometimes get a cleaning kit, or at least a cloth and some lubricant for it... why not on a $50+ MT?  Some pivot lube, a tiny cleaning brush, ceramic honing tool (even just a cheap plastic one).  That would be nice, and is irritating that it already doesnt happen.

You know, many makers have provided some sort of sharpening stones over the years. Schrade and Camillus did, with Camillus often selling their knives with steels, and Schrade often added a small stone and some oil for "Free" as a promotion.  and many others offer one as part of some sort of gift set, which usually includes the knife, sheath, and oil. But none of the MT makers have.

[Alan K.]

What I hate about MTs is that the best MT is still a compromise that will never do whatever job you needed it to do as well as the right, dedicated tool, which you would have had with you if you had known you were going to need to do that job.

Multitools are just second best at best.  You know, it is like driving around a track in a top of the line Camaro, and you're having a fantastic time, but in the back of your head there is always the nagging voice saying that it would have been better if you were driving a Corvette.

[zoidberg]

What I hate about MTs is that the best MT is still a compromise that will never do whatever job you needed it to do as well as the right, dedicated tool, which you would have had with you if you had known you were going to need to do that job.

Multitools are just second best at best.  You know, it is like driving around a track in a top of the line Camaro, and you're having a fantastic time, but in the back of your head there is always the nagging voice saying that it would have been better if you were driving a Corvette.

I'm not about to replace my work tools for MTs but I do find plenty of jobs around the house that a MT can do without feeling it's a second class tool.
Heck, there are times when my MT is better than other people's dedicated tools.

[Alan K.]

What I hate about MTs is that the best MT is still a compromise that will never do whatever job you needed it to do as well as the right, dedicated tool, which you would have had with you if you had known you were going to need to do that job.

Multitools are just second best at best.  You know, it is like driving around a track in a top of the line Camaro, and you're having a fantastic time, but in the back of your head there is always the nagging voice saying that it would have been better if you were driving a Corvette.

I'm not about to replace my work tools for MTs but I do find plenty of jobs around the house that a MT can do without feeling it's a second class tool.
Heck, there are times when my MT is better than other people's dedicated tools.

I agree with you too.  Multitools serve a purpose. They are convenient and that is their purpose.  There's nothing like the relief you feel when, for example, you're at the top of a ladder and your tools are someplace else and you realize that you can get the job done with the tool on your belt without having to dismount the ladder to retrieve the proper tool.  I'm having a hard time doing without them this month for the minimalist challenge. 

[zoidberg]

What I hate about MTs is that the best MT is still a compromise that will never do whatever job you needed it to do as well as the right, dedicated tool, which you would have had with you if you had known you were going to need to do that job.

Multitools are just second best at best.  You know, it is like driving around a track in a top of the line Camaro, and you're having a fantastic time, but in the back of your head there is always the nagging voice saying that it would have been better if you were driving a Corvette.

I'm not about to replace my work tools for MTs but I do find plenty of jobs around the house that a MT can do without feeling it's a second class tool.
Heck, there are times when my MT is better than other people's dedicated tools.

I agree with you too.  Multitools serve a purpose. They are convenient and that is their purpose.  There's nothing like the relief you feel when, for example, you're at the top of a ladder and your tools are someplace else and you realize that you can get the job done with the tool on your belt without having to dismount the ladder to retrieve the proper tool.  I'm having a hard time doing without them this month for the minimalist challenge. 

One week down, three weeks to go.      

[SteelRaven]

If I buy a MT plier based tool that is made by a company that MAKES KNIVES....

SOG!!

Then why in the name of all that is steel with a freaking edge...does the KNIFE BLADE ON THAT TOOL SUCK MORE a** than a vacuum at a donkey convention??

Well SteelRaven...we wanna sell you a knife!

Well dumb***..what if I've bought 20 of your knives and they kicked butt, so I decided I wanted a SOG PP??

And those floppy handle cushion things...?? Just smooth the edges..I bought my brother one, and the first thing he did was take em off the tool. He said if it gets that dang nasty, ya need to spray it out with WD40 anyway...

And I love the heck out of my old SOG PP, except for the slow locks, the flaps, and the knife blade. PUT a serrated and straight edge outside opening set of cutting tools in it, and if i pay more for it, we both WIN!!

The day of dedicated drivers is OVER unless you need gunscrew hollow ground drivers etc.

Well guess what guys like Dale Dye have used repairing more movie gun crap in more Hollywood extravaganzas than anything else...that's right...a plier based MT...put a bit driver in the thing that takes any screwdriver bit you can dream up...

Files?? Well...will you need one? Yeah...you will. Make them more durable.

Even lightweight DMT folding sharpeners have dropped in quality in the past 20 years, and yet they cost more.

If I'm out in the field and I need a file to fix the edge on a knife in a scurry, I need a file, period...no excuses and I don't want to carry files when I can carry extra ammo etc for that weight!