The Truth About Multi-Tools...

As a tool nerd, tradesman, handyman, sportsman, all around manly man. I love everything about them. They speak to me on every level.

Until I use them, awkward to use, pinch points, hot spots, every tool is a compromise. The tools themselves are miniature yet they are bulky at the same time.

I don’t know a single tradesman who carries one. I’ve never seen one on anyone’s belt at a supply house.

As far as Knipex pliers go, Luckily I don’t have that addiction. For water pump pliers I’m a channel lock guy. Electrical pliers and cutters have to be Klein. Klein adjustable wrenches are the best on the planet by far. Hammers are Estwing. Pipe wrenches are Ridgid.
 
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I don't expect multitools to be on the same level as dedicated tools. And as some have mentioned, those who have jobs in the various trades will likely not find them as useful.

Back when I used to install rain gutters I didn't expect my MP600 Pro Scout to be able to snip rolls of aluminum. I kept the snips and all of my dedicated tools in my tool belt. The multitool didn't see much use on the job back then.

When I worked in grounds maintenance and road maintenance, I didn't wear a tool belt or carry a tool bag. Pliers, screw drivers, saws, knives, etc., found in good quality multitools were perfectly capable of the great majority of tasks I came across in those jobs.

That's just my experience. Everyone is different. :)
 
It's funny, I use the knife blades the least on my Surge. I work in Rental equipment and party tents, I've used just about every tool on it at one time or another out on a job. I've had to cut branches to put up a tent, use the awl and scissors to make repairs to tents and bounce houses. Used the pliers for everything from tightening bolts, to pulling vines/roots out of roto tillers, used the can opener (because I don't use it for cans) to chip dirt out of tracks on skid steers. The file gets used to quickly touch up the knives of the guys at work, or to fix burs on table and chair edges, etc... the list goes on. In the area we work, we can be anywhere from a mile to 35 miles from the shop and improvising comes into play often. The reason the knives get used the least, I carry a dedicated plain edge (rotate through my collection) and a fully serrated Delica, this one does all the dirty work and nothing cuts zip ties better. I cannot say I use all these tools very often, but they do get used enough that it is worth it for me to carry it.
 
As I've said befor when I need to cut something a pair of pliers is the last thing on my mind, I don't carry my multitool as a pocket knife and only use it's beater blade on very rare occasion for harsher tasks.
Hell I even removed the blade from my PST, mostly a work related issue but I did receive it near mint and the blade is not already beat up like my trusty fuse so I'm even more reluctant to beat up an unused knife blade I don't prefer in the first place.

I have tools everywhere and a total of probably 9 toolboxes so I no longer carry a full size MT when I'm not at work but multitools in general I find handy and at home the little ones are just the ticket sometimes.
There are just certain minor tasks like loose switch covers and such that a little multitool is perfect for, real proper tools are best most often but there are times it just doesn't matter and a little multitool is perfect.
 
Only thing on mine I’ve never used is the awl. Everything else has come in handy at one point or another. Multi tools are just so darn useful, especially with the bit kit.
 
GWashington1732 said:
Same, I'd prefer a multitool with no knife and something more useful in its place. I work in conservation, I routinely have to carry a chainsaw, brush cutter, gas, ppe, wedges, hatchet, and herbicide a mile into the woods; full tool box isn't on the menu most days.
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I think some how the manufacturers should pay attention to this. I also never use a knife blade on a multi-tool (other than a SAK) and would prefer another tool in its place. The little Leatherman Style PS does not have a knife blade and I have been considering switching out the Squirt for it on my keychain.

I bought the SOG PowerPint because I wanted the flexibility of using the bits with the multi-tool however rarely that would happen.
 
jideta said:
Well, my multi tool anyways.
I've only used the knife blade and the pliers.
Okay, maybe the scissors. Once.
There's even a blade on it that I don't know what the hell it's for!
Probably because I'm right near a tool box most of the time.
Still, I could've saved me some bucks by just carrying a box cutter and cheap pair of pliers.

What about you? Honestly, how many tools on that thing have you actually used?
Oh, Swisstool here.

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I carry a MT mostly for the pliers and it is the tool that use most so my MT is doing its job just fine. I have used the other tools too, the bit drivers coming in quite handy.
 
Lesknife said:
Some people are known to use their knife for a screwdriver or pry bar, an adjustable wrench as a hammer or a screwdriver as a scraper. So that’s why multi tools were invented. Lol I’ve known some who could break an anvil with a rubber mallet so don’t underestimate the ingenuity of humanity . Lol
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Apparently you know my brother I guess.

You wouldn't think changing the batteries in a flashlight could result in the need to get your hand Xrayed, but tests my brother for ya.

I would have to agree about multitools being the thing you use within the limits of your imagination, though I'd probably rather damage a regular screwdriver that's less expensive and more easily replaced than the driver on my leatherman.

That and your common freebie Alexander pocket screwdriver, my grandfather always had one in his pocket and I'd wager that these and other promotional freebie tools were good reason why people abused their pocket knives less back in the day.
Why would you when free pocket or keychain screwdrivers were everywhere.
 
22-rimfire said:
For what? The pliers is generally inconvenient and its easier just to have a pair of needle nose pliers.
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Pliers, knife, bottle opener, can opener and screwdriver. Compact size fits in a lure space. But then I have a small tackle bix for easy carry and mostly use live bait.
 
brownshoe said:
Pliers, knife, bottle opener, can opener and screwdriver. Compact size fits in a lure space. But then I have a small tackle bix for easy carry and mostly use live bait.
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I use my two layer Vic SAK for everything you mentioned other than the needle nosed pliers. I use the pliers a lot fishing. Only recently have the manufacturers learned that a eye let/hollow pin to attach a lanyard or something so you don't drop it in the water. For reel maintenance, I keep spares and generally would tackle any maintenance at home or back at my vehicle. I don't do much "lake" fishing and not normally in a boat unless I am puttering around in a kayak. The circumstances may change a bit in a boat.
 
eveled said:
I don’t carry one at work. Because I think eventually I’ll electrocute myself.

I prefer a dedicated blade, real pliers, and a 6 way driver.

The multitools are good for emergency kits. That’s about it.
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I carry a Gerber Suspension NXT, but I hardly ever use it. If I ever replace it, I would probably replace it with a cheap light screw driver.
 
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Blackf77t said:
I have a Gerber Suspension NXT that I carry in my backpack, which goes pretty

I have a Gerber Suspension NXT, but I never use it.

I carry a Gerber Suspension NXT, but I hardly ever use it. If I ever replace it, I would probably replace it with a cheap light screw driver.
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I think we got the Gerber carry. :D And you don't use it much. :D I have the same experience with my full sized pliers based multi-tools. I seldom use them to the point I forget about them. I always have my SAK with it's phillips and flat head screw drivers on me. If I dropped the SAK, I would probably move to a very small set of pliers which is what I did 30 years ago. My old boss (first job out of college) showed me a small pliers from his pocket and said it was quite handy. I took his advice then.
 
I use my MT at least 5 times a day. Im a contractor by trade but spend more time in sales than labor. I find a use for pretty much every tool on my MT. The one I dont use much is the file, but every flat head has been used for something, the pliers get the most use, a one handed blade on the tool is handy for opening up packages or cutting the insulation off wires after I clip them.

I have hundred of dollars worth of hand tools. I have a literal truck full of them for work on the jobsite. However, where a multitool shines for me is that it augments my options to a minor problem. With some imagination and a few basic tools on my belt, there aren't many problems I can't think and or work my way out of.

In full truth, I would give up every other knife I own before I forgo a multitool. It's pocket tenacity. It's a way out of a pinch. Quite frankly, I feel way more panicky when I don't have a tool as opposed to a dedicated knife.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
... I have a literal truck full of them for work on the jobsite. However, where a multitool shines for me is that it augments my options to a minor problem. With some imagination and a few basic tools on my belt, there aren't many problems I can't think and or work my way out of.

In full truth, I would give up every other knife I own before I forgo a multitool. It's pocket tenacity. It's a way out of a pinch. Quite frankly, I feel way more panicky when I don't have a tool as opposed to a dedicated knife.
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Augmenting regular tools is the primary purpose of the multi-tool or for small jobs that you don't want to retrieve a regular tool for. I get panicky if I forget my smartphone (sort of) or my SAK, but not the multi-tool. I find it interesting how we develop a dependence on things/tools. I bought a Gerber pliers based multi-tool around 1990 at the Blade Show and it was the first time I saw one at that time. Never really developed a dependence. Now I prefer Leatherman, SOG, or Vic MT's.
 
I've carried a Swisstool daily for some years now, and I find MT's quite handy. I've used pretty much every tool on it at some point or another, and I've always been glad to have it when I use it. I've gone periods in my life where I find myself reaching for it daily and I've also gone weeks at a time without using it. To me, it's not so much about how much you use a MT, but more about having something right there when you need it. If I'm doing a specific project, I'd obviously just prefer to have proper tools, and even beyond that real tools are rarely further away than a short walk to my vehicle even when I'm away from home. However sometimes it's just nice to tighten/loosen that one screw, or grab ahold of something right quick with the pliers, pry something, scrape something, file something, cut something with the scissors; or better yet, lift a cap ;)
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I use my MT at least 5 times a day. Im a contractor by trade but spend more time in sales than labor. I find a use for pretty much every tool on my MT. The one I dont use much is the file, but every flat head has been used for something, the pliers get the most use, a one handed blade on the tool is handy for opening up packages or cutting the insulation off wires after I clip them.

I have hundred of dollars worth of hand tools. I have a literal truck full of them for work on the jobsite. However, where a multitool shines for me is that it augments my options to a minor problem. With some imagination and a few basic tools on my belt, there aren't many problems I can't think and or work my way out of.

In full truth, I would give up every other knife I own before I forgo a multitool. It's pocket tenacity. It's a way out of a pinch. Quite frankly, I feel way more panicky when I don't have a tool as opposed to a dedicated knife.
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I wear mines EDC and I do feel naked when I forget to strap it on. Even though I sometimes go weeks without ever using it.

I've been thinking about alternatives. Then I remembered that it's my excuse for bringing a knife to work (teacher). No one's ever called me on it and I've never asked it it's okay.
 
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