April 2008
More Uses than One Could Imagine
Now I'm sure there are stories describing how many uses someone has managed to squeeze out of their Leatherman. My story starts 10 years ago (I am 23 now) when I first discovered my mothers PST (Original). I had several pairs of pliers at my disposal, an entire armory of knives, and enough screwdrivers to drive you insane. This single item changed the majority of all I did at 13. It was virtually every tool I needed for any endeavor my tender mind could come up with. So began the start of my many uses of a Leatherman.
Now most people will tell you they used one in an emergency, clipping a wire, screwing down a panel, or restoring the function of medical equipment. My uses no more mundane were the result of ingenuity firmly planted in my imagination. One of my most memorable uses was as a nose picking device. Indeed, my nose, being picked by such a wonderful tool, keeping my fingers clean and bugger free. It took a few tries to work out the kinks and, a couple nose bleeds later, I felt I had secured my place as supreme nose-picker. On another occasion I had deemed my school locker’s locking mechanism inadequate for my needs, well too cumbersome for me to bother with. So using the knife blade I would jimmy my locker open with a speed and grace that could only be perceived by great scholars and my classmates, all the while keeping it well hidden from teachers as I felt they would become envious of my wonderful machine.
In more recent times I decided to return my mother’s PST and pick up a Kick. Most people say they don't like the Kick because it lacks tools, or feels flimsy. Neither of which has been a problem for me. Only just recently (in the last few months) I was helping a friend install a car stereo and sound system. With my one Leatherman I accomplished more in less time than he would have just looking for the proper tools. I stripped wires (16ga-6ga), crimped ends, removed trip pieces, cut carpet, ran wire, bent adapters AND removed and reapplied battery cables all with my one tool. Then as an added bonus, the hinge on his pop-up headlights had broken. I took this as a challenge. He had no replacement bolts that would work for the hinge, so I in a moment of genius, decided to use a nail, cut and bent it to shape to repair his headlight. With the cooperative effort of my Kick and his Wave, I got the nail to adapt and fit. Now his vehicle is safer than it was before.
These are only but a few of the uses I've managed to find for Leatherman tools. Be it cutting tin (sheets), clipping and cleaning fingernails, removing slivers and unwanted food from my teeth, to performing experiments with the cosmic energies that power Castle Greyskull's Lego set, I haven't found an end to them. Soon I shall retire my Kick, as it will be replaced with a Skeletool, who will no doubt, share just as many if not more adventures.
Daneil
Centralia, WA
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.