SOG Powerlock question? Your thoughts?

PropThePolecat

PropThePolecat

Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
3,292
Hey guys

Ive been thinking about getting a SOG Powerlock to replace my knifeless fuse. The reason ive been looking at the SOG is that one can customize it as one pleases. Local laws prevent me from edc'ing a locking blade hence the knifeless fuse. If i do get the Powerlock ill remove the knifeblade and add a wirestripper. I always carry a Spydie DKPK so ive got my knife needs covered. Size and weight dosent matter as itll be thrown in my backpack.

At work i used to carry a Leatherman Wave supplemented by the Tenacious, which is about to be replaced by a Swisstool X (havent received it yet). Im still keeping the Tenacious as primary blade though. Im not that fond of Leatherman anymore after having the pliers on my Skeletool break and reading numerous accounts of failing Leathermans. So no more Leathermans for me, just cant trust them anymore. Thats why i chose the Swistool over the upcoming Supertool 300.

The thing thats putting me off SOG is the handle-covers. Watching Youtube vids i can imagine that they must be real annoying everytime one needs a tool.

On the positive side are numerous accounts of build quality/ toughness and great plier leverage.

Nows here my question: Has anyone tried to remove the handle covers? Are the tools edges so sharp that it cant be used without the covers in place? Is it possible to maybe take a file and smooth the edges? Those of you that own or have owned one, what do you think about them? Major pain in the ass or what?

And how are the individual tools such as screwdrivers, scissors, can-opener compared to Leatherman's? Better, worse or just the same?

The fuse is still in excellent condition and has served me well, and the SOG dosent have that many more necessarry tools over the fuse. So what do you guys think, should i stick with my proven fuse or retire it and go for the SOG?

Thanks and regards
Mads
 
I for one love the PL:thumbup: Like yourself, I decided to pick one up a few years ago due to my disappointments with my post-2004 LM Wave and Surge. That said, my EDC tool is a standard Fuse. The PL gets the nod when I know I'll have heavy pliers related work to do, but the Fuse is so slim and light that I can just drop it my pocket or pack and not even think about it until I need it. To me, it's like a SAK with pliers and locking tools.

As far as using the PL without the covers, well it is usable without them. However, I would put it on par with using one of the old style LM PST's. Usable but certainly not comfortable, and with the PL being designed first and foremost as HD pliers that makes it pretty crucial to having them on there. The good news, they pop right on and off so try it either way. Honestly, fishing the tools out isn't that big of a deal. You already have a chunky tool in hand with clumping internals. It was never designed to be a speed demon.

Tool quality, they certainly aren't as polished as what you find on Victorinox. Furthermore, the finish probably isn't even as good as LM. However, as you have stated before, they are replaceable and quite inexpensive to purchase. Instead of selling a tool that REQUIRES you to baby the inner tools lest you have to send it off to the manufacture for repair, SOG has gone the route of letting you thrash the tool however you see fit. Actually use it, customize it, and repair it yourself in the field or on your work bench.

In short, if you are looking for a much heavier duty tool than your Fuse, check out the PL. However, if you REALLY don't need the compound leverage and don't want to mess with the wings stick with the LM. That said, buying a new multi-tool is never a bad thing;) I've got my eye on either the Power Assist or ST300 next:D
 
i'd go with the Powerlock. pliers fit for HULK usage, replaceable tools, customization options mean you can make it "safe," the flaps can be removed if you find them too much of a hassle, and even without them you can comfortably apply several times the pressure as with a Leatherman thanks to the patented compound leverage plier-head design.
i should really write this stuff down.
 
Well i ordered the Powerlock plus a wirestripper and a V-cutter. Plan is to remove the blade and install the v-cutter instead. Ill see about the wirestripper when i get it. Im real excited and cant wait!

The plan now is to retire the knifeless fuse to my gym-bag and give my Leatherman Juice to a friend as a gift. The SOG will reside in my backpack next to my Spydie DKPK as my edc-tool and at work ill use the Swisstool X supplemented by the Tenacious. Fullsize tools everywhere, just the way i like it.

Thanks for your replies fellas.

Regards, Mads
 
Glad this is working out for ya:thumbup:
I've dabbled in the mini-tools time after time, but I still just keep coming back to the medium/full size tools.
 
Well i got the Powerlock and im far from impressed.

The one i received was full of burrs, and metal residue from milling/working the tools, and for some odd reason it had a robertson drive instead of the socket drive. I doublechecked on SOG's website and not one multitool come with robertson drive as standard. Also the scissor's pianolock had a hard time engaging, like it needed som extra help to engage. So i contacted the shop were i had bought it, and they asked for pics. They replied later that id probably gotten a rogue tool and that if i returned it id get a new one.

So today i got the replacement and this one is even worse. While testing it out some washer fell out of the tool! And the scissors on this one are so gritty theyre almost unusable. And the piano lock on this wont engage at all.

Its too bad cause i really wanted to like the SOG. Loved the compound leverage, and the flaps werent as bad as i thought they'd be. But im not getting anymore Powerlocks, im sticking to Vic's and LM's.

Check out the pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/km-m/sets/72157622278012365/
 
Robertson drive? are you in Canada?! one way to get you to buy/switch out for more tools doh.

I didn't have any of problems your having :eek: everything was smooth and worked nice, could it be the place your getting it from?

one tip for switching out the tools, make sure to make a check list or picture of how the tools are spaced with washers and such,
I have heard of people getting "extra" washers like you did, you "could" need those! some replacement tools are thinner/thicker
and you will need to use washers/spacers. you can use theirs (best) or your own but they have to fit in!

so keep a pic or drawing of washers/tools on yours "before" you take it apart and when you exchange/replace something it will be easier.

I hope it's just newness gritty or something simple (you can clean it out nice when you've got it open)
and you enjoy and use it. I think it's a really nice MT.

good luck and give us pictures when your done ;)
 
Maybe it's just a problem with the piano lock:confused: I have the pre-Piano style and haven't had any issues short of tool clumping (which is normal).

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with your tool. I've been more than pleased with mine.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Maybe it's just a problem with the piano lock:confused: I have the pre-Piano style and haven't had any issues short of tool clumping (which is normal).

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with your tool. I've been more than pleased with mine.
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Its not the pianolock, it the scissors themselves. The notch dosent line up with the pianolock so it just slides past the lock. Its annoying as f**k, cause i liked the construction of the tool. But after 2 tools i think im done with the Powerlock.
 
I am sorry to hear about your bad luck with the powerlock. I have an old powerlock (PL)(before the piano lock) and one of the main reasons I purchased it was because I was so impressed with fit and finish of the tool. I did buy mine from a brick and mortar store so I got to handle mine before purchasing. I agree that their scissors have alot to be desired but I never used them enough to really care, fortunately tool changes are easy with the SOG tools. Personally I feel that SOG's tools are too heavy duty to make the scissors a nessisary implement, the strap cutter is a much better fit for that type of tool. I would really like to see a " build your own multitool" option added to their website for special orders. I just recently purchased a power assist(PA) directly from SOG. So far I am loving this tool. The needle nose on this one are more pointy than my PL. Although I carry a dedicated folder, the blade size on the PA is very substantial. My only complaint was the nylon case that it came with, but that is no big deal because I use a leather combo sheath. I really like the leather sheath that my PL came with (which also fits the PA). I like the concept of the clip on the back, however I wish it was spring steel instead of plastic. I did add a snap closure on the nylon case, just incase I want to use it, because I think SOG's tools are to heavy to trust velcro.
 
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kmm said:
Well i got the Powerlock and im far from impressed.

The one i received was full of burrs, and metal residue from milling/working the tools, and for some odd reason it had a robertson drive instead of the socket drive. I doublechecked on SOG's website and not one multitool come with robertson drive as standard. Also the scissor's pianolock had a hard time engaging, like it needed som extra help to engage. So i contacted the shop were i had bought it, and they asked for pics. They replied later that id probably gotten a rogue tool and that if i returned it id get a new one.

So today i got the replacement and this one is even worse. While testing it out some washer fell out of the tool! And the scissors on this one are so gritty theyre almost unusable. And the piano lock on this wont engage at all.

Its too bad cause i really wanted to like the SOG. Loved the compound leverage, and the flaps werent as bad as i thought they'd be. But im not getting anymore Powerlocks, im sticking to Vic's and LM's.

Check out the pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/km-m/sets/72157622278012365/
Click to expand...

A Robertson driver isn't typical configuration for a PowerLock sold in the US but it's not a defect. In what country did you buy the PowerLock?

The Robertson driver is available in the US as a separate purchase direct from SOG: http://sogknives.com/store/200-101.html

If you are unable to buy a PowerLock with a 1/4" drive in your country, you might try ordering one from SOG: http://sogknives.com/store/QTR-DRV.html

Can you point out the location of the burrs and metal residue in your photos? I've never experienced any "burrs, and metal residue" on any SOG multi-tools. SOG does put a white lubricant on the joints though.

I've never seen a stray washer fall out of a SOG multi-tool, but I'm not really surprised. Those things are really thin and tend to stick to things. If its an extra, then consider it a bonus! ;)

Is it only the scissors that aren't locking? That's my understanding from your description. You say "The notch dosent line up with the pianolock so it just slides past the lock". Did you try pushing the scissors into the lock. If that doesn't fix it, then I'd try removing and reinstalling them.

No manufacturer is perfect (there's also a photo of a broken Leatherman in your Flickr photo stream) but I think your experience is atypical. I'd give them another chance but I'd go to another store first.
 
supratentorial said:
A Robertson driver isn't typical configuration for a PowerLock sold in the US but it's not a defect. In what country did you buy the PowerLock?

The Robertson driver is available in the US as a separate purchase direct from SOG: http://sogknives.com/store/200-101.html

If you are unable to buy a PowerLock with a 1/4" drive in your country, you might try ordering one from SOG: http://sogknives.com/store/QTR-DRV.html

Can you point out the location of the burrs and metal residue in your photos? I've never experienced any "burrs, and metal residue" on any SOG multi-tools. SOG does put a white lubricant on the joints though.

I've never seen a stray washer fall out of a SOG multi-tool, but I'm not really surprised. Those things are really thin and tend to stick to things. If its an extra, then consider it a bonus! ;)

Is it only the scissors that aren't locking? That's my understanding from your description. You say "The notch dosent line up with the pianolock so it just slides past the lock". Did you try pushing the scissors into the lock. If that doesn't fix it, then I'd try removing and reinstalling them.

No manufacturer is perfect (there's also a photo of a broken Leatherman in your Flickr photo stream) but I think your experience is atypical. I'd give them another chance but I'd go to another store first.
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I bought the Powerlock from the UK, and the store contacted SOG and they said that not one Powerlock is sold with the robertson drive as standard. I guess the guy at the assembly line must have been sleeping or something.

I didnt take any pictures of the burrs or metal specks, but i can tell you that the awl had a big burr that would have take a file to remove. The saw and the inside of the tool was filled with metal too, not alot but enough to make me want to disassemble the tool and clean it. Didnt take any pics of it as its nothing i couldnt have fixed myself.

I dont know where the washer came from, it might have been an extra or it might be one that SOG forgot to mount. Either way i wouldnt know cos i dont have another Powerlock to compare it with, so i wont be able to tell how a "good" one would look. But i can tell you that the knifeblade is so loose that it almost falls out of itself. Its on the same side as the scissors as u probaly know so i dont know if those two problems are related.

And yeah, its only the scissors that arent locking. With abit of fiddling and maneuvering i can lock the scissors. But it requires me to push the pianolock in with my thumb. Theres no way its locking by itself.

Ive been playing with it since i got it and i really like it, but i cant live with the scissors being the way they are. Ive read a bunch of reviews and testimonials including on bladeforums and almost all speak very highly of SOG multitools so im sure ive been unlucky and gotten 2 lemons. Im not that crazy about getting a 3rd one too.

I havent sent it back yet, but i probably will, might see if i can do anything about the scissors this weekend.
 
I was never crazy (as in didn't like) their scissors and I've read about a few who feel the same.

They look fine but didn't cut fine! I switched out mine for the "V" cutter and am much happier.

I would contact Sog (directly) and see what they say, not the place you got it from and go from there.
 
Dantor said:
I was never crazy (as in didn't like) their scissors and I've read about a few who feel the same.

They look fine but didn't cut fine! I switched out mine for the "V" cutter and am much happier.

I would contact Sog (directly) and see what they say, not the place you got it from and go from there.
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I like scissors on my multitools and i use them alot, i agree that the Powerlock scissors arent that good.

Cant see the point in contacting SOG, im sure theyll take care of it but theyll probably ask me to send it back and i dont feel like paying for a shipment to the US, besides the UK online shop i got it at has excellent customer service. I have shopped at them for years now, and have never been let down or disappointed in them.
 
I'm not saying they will do it, but I have heard of companies (Sog, LM, and others) paying for shipping both ways (sometimes), it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Make sure to tell them of your dealer problems and how you've tried to take care of it locally, worst thing they can say is sorry-charlie.
 
The knife shouldn't be loose. That very well could be related to the "spare" washer as well as the alignment of the scissors. Also, the scissors have two pieces (in addition to the spring) and the pieces need to align correctly to fit the lock. Pushing them into the lock could align the two pieces but it doesn't sound like it helped.

SOG payed return shipping on a PowerLock that I sent back but I don't know if that is typical or if they would pay for international shipping. You could ask them in an email.

Exchanging may work but you have 2 bad ones from the same store. Maybe they have a bad lot. Since their customer service is good, they may want to check out their other stock and then work out the problem with SOG themselves.
 
I've had a few flirtations with SOG's , and found that they aren't quite ready for prime time . Good concept , execution isn't all there !

Chris
 
I recently bought a PowerAssist, and LOVE it.
Popped the handle cover off, and have that side face my palm and the knife side (which is rounded) toward my fingers. Also added a pocket clip via a ClipDraw.

Fit and finish are great, blades are pretty tight, and with a little practice you can close both blades without switching hands or using two hands.
 
huh, that's wierd. i got my powerplier in 06, never had any problems. the scissors aren't my favorite either, but that's really my only gripe. i haven't looked at new SOGs lately, but i'm thinking you just had a run of bad luck here.
 
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