Leatherman Squirt PS4

A

Alnamvet68

Joined
Mar 26, 2013
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Post a foto if you have one or more, and why you like or don't like them. I just ordered one for $22.00, and it does appear the online reviews are most favorable.
 
Frankly, when the PS4 was introduced to the market as a replacement for the Squirt S4 and P4, I was not pleased. The pliers were okay, but the PS4 gave up the P4 small screwdriver and awl, and the S4 tweezers. Instead of the sturdy larger ones on the S4, they stuck on some dinky little scissors on the PS4. Poor move. I had no incentive to give up my P and S Squirts for this inferior model.

Then last March, I sent a Style PS to Leatherman Warranty for repair, and one week later received back a new black PS4 instead, without explanation. Well, since I had it, might as well put it to use replacing the Style. After a couple of weeks using it, I got to appreciate the PS4. It turned out that the small screwdriver was no loss because the ph driver fit the same size eyeglass screws, and somehow I wasn't missing the other implements, either. The scissors were surprisingly more useable than I had thought, are very sharp and have cut everything I have needed to so far. They passed one of my tests, cleanly cutting tissue paper, but have yet to be tested on tough material.

So as I settle in with this keychainer, I'm starting to like it. Maybe you will, too.
 
Though I replaced mine with a Juice S2, the PS4 is my favorite keychain tool and I carried one for quite a while.
 
The PS4 packs a ton of utility into 2 ounces. There have been some reported scissor spring breakages, which Mrs. Powernoodle also experienced, but its an awesome pocket MT.

IMG_7710_zps633a8249.jpg
 
powernoodle said:
The PS4 packs a ton of utility into 2 ounces. There have been some reported scissor spring breakages, which Mrs. Powernoodle also experienced, but its an awesome pocket MT.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's my concern. The Style PS I sent to LT Warranty was for that same reason. My speculation was they were having too many issues with the Style scissors spring, which was why they sent me the PS4 instead. The new PS4 has a scissors spring that seems more robust, but the experience of Mrs. P puts that into question. Time will tell.
 
This is my standard backpacking carry.
Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

The pliers are used for equipment repairs, most commonly to push a heavy needle through thick nylon/webbing. The scissors are used for bandages and such like that.

For EDC carry, I vastly prefer the Micra.
EDC Pair by Pinnah, on Flickr

I rarely need pliers in my day to day life and when I do, I'll walk to get a full sized MT from my day pack. I do use the scissors all the time and the scissors on the Micra are among the best of any pocket tool I've carried.

<mini rant/testimonial>
IMO, the place for these tools is in the off pocket opposite your EDC knife. They add tools and functionality for next to no weight and you don't have to walk about looking for your keys. More importantly, you don't have the foolish keys flopping about like a dead fish when you're trying to use the tools.

The Micra goes in the pocket.
</rant>

As a pocket tool, I like the extra set of tools and the thinness of the Micra over the PS4. I also find the pen blade (mine has been modded) on the Micra is much better for whittling. Open the tool full length for a better grip in my XL hands.

Micra whittling by Pinnah, on Flickr

My dream pocket tool would be a Micra the size of a PS2, only thinner and lighter. It would have the PS2 plier heads and the tools of the Micra, with the addition of the PS2 scissors and a 2 sided diamond file/hone (to touch up the Opinel, when needed).
 
I agree about the Micra as a tool, but as a pocket item it is problematical. Those sharped edged pivot caps abrade cloth. I used to carry a Micra in my jeans 5th pocket, and all the ones I wore then have holes in them. I carry mine in a cell phone belt pouch. Just wrapping my hand around the Micra in a pocket is a prickly experience. Leatherman makes great tools, but not so much hand or pocket friendly.
 
Znapschatz,

I suspect the wear you are seeing has more to do with the way denim and canvas wear in the face of repetitious folding and bending. Witness the standard round wear on jean jackets or back pockets from round, non-sharp cans of snuff.

Tis' true. The Micra (and the rest of Leatherman's heritage line) have been lauded as the epitome of rational beauty at the Vulcan Academy Museum.

But in all seriousness, they've not done a lick of damage to my front pocket linings and, in fact, carry a lot more nicely than the thicker, stubbier PS4 (at least for me).
 
GooberBoober said:
What's not to love about the little Squirt?
Click to expand...

Very little. But the scissors on the Victorinox 58mm lineup (like the Classic SD) are more precise than those of the PS4 (for skin boo boos, etc.), and the PS4 would benefit from tweezers. But that is nitpicking. The only MT/SAK I have on me right now is the PS4, but I often pair it on a split ring with a Classic SD for the reasons stated. The Classic SD adds another whopping 0.75 ounces.

20131119_120027_zps656e980f.jpg
 
I had a PS4, in fact there was a time I had a few keychain tools, bu they slowly got gifted out to people as I realized that the micra live don my wife's keys and the S4 lived on mine without ever wanting to change them out. I always found while i liked having the mini pliers they weren't very functional because of their size, where as the scissors in this size were very handy for my life anyhow. :)



 
pinnah said:
For EDC carry, I vastly prefer the Micra. . . . I rarely need pliers in my day to day life and when I do, I'll walk to get a full sized MT from my day pack. I do use the scissors all the time and the scissors on the Micra are among the best of any pocket tool I've carried.
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This ^^^ :thumbup: In my case, I keep a pair of pliers in my desk drawer, so I don't even have to walk to my day pack to get them when I need them. I use pliers maybe once or twice a year. On the other hand, I use the scissors on my Micra at least once or twice a week. So for me, it's the Micra for the WIN!!! :)
 
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Still trying to like the Squirt PS4, but not making much headway.

What bothers me are (1) the squarish blockyness of the thing, which ill suits for pocket carry, and (2) the difficulty in "orienting" on it when you pull it out of a pocket to use. By this, I mean getting it oriented in your hand so that you can immediately open the tool which you decided to use in the moment when you chose to go diving for the wee thing.

If this sounds complicated, it isn't really. I bet most of us, consciously or not, always place a (clipless) knife into your pocket in the same orientation, even if it's done with a pull cord or lanyard. For example, when I have a scout/camper aboard (jeans watch pocket), the main blade pivot is always to the right. That makes opening that blade smooth, easy, and fast. I don't have to fumble with the knife to find the tool I want. The same kind of drill goes even with the SAK Classic.

Long story short, I find the lack of visible and tactile differentiation with the Squirt makes it harder to do this. Thus the tool evokes a small attitude in me which acts to discourage its everyday carry and use.
 
Maybe I should try that (lanyard). Anything would help at this point, as I've largely retired it from use.
 
AreBeeBee said:
Still trying to like the Squirt PS4, but not making much headway.

What bothers me are (1) the squarish blockyness of the thing, which ill suits for pocket carry, and (2) the difficulty in "orienting" on it when you pull it out of a pocket to use. By this, I mean getting it oriented in your hand so that you can immediately open the tool which you decided to use in the moment when you chose to go diving for the wee thing.

If this sounds complicated, it isn't really. I bet most of us, consciously or not, always place a (clipless) knife into your pocket in the same orientation, even if it's done with a pull cord or lanyard. For example, when I have a scout/camper aboard (jeans watch pocket), the main blade pivot is always to the right. That makes opening that blade smooth, easy, and fast. I don't have to fumble with the knife to find the tool I want. The same kind of drill goes even with the SAK Classic.

Long story short, I find the lack of visible and tactile differentiation with the Squirt makes it harder to do this. Thus the tool evokes a small attitude in me which acts to discourage its everyday carry and use.
Click to expand...

Good points. Blockiness is no issue for me because I carry the PS4 in a cell phone belt pouch, along with a SAK, EO1 flashlight and Sharpie, but orientation can be a challenge. Mine replaces a Style PS I sent to Leatherman warranty and they returned the PS4 instead. I liked the Style because of its flat form factor, but the scissors spring broke from doing nothing, I just found it that way one day.

I've only started using the PS4 a couple of weeks ago. I believe that in time, orienting the little beast will become second nature. If not, I'll switch to something else. There was a time I thought the small Squirt pliers were all but useless, but lately I have several times found it more handy than expected. This morning I used it to pull out the flexible filler spout from a 5 gallon gas can.
 
I'm converging on the idea that there are people &#8212; suspect I'm one of them &#8212; who just don't like minitools. I never haul one out with feeling that I'm about to pinch something.

Minitools are dense and stiff and complicatedly hard to open. Plus it's never obvious (to me at least) which little catch you use to open it and which one will simply break a fingernail if you try to pry it open. Add to this the fact that a minitool offers nothing for me that a scout/camper/SAK Classic doesn't also have &#8212; and is easier to work with besides. (Perhaps it's not surprising that I have no patience with 3D puzzles, either.)

I'll keep my PS4 as a reminder of why I should never buy one of these things!
 
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