November 2007
It's a LeatherMAN
I had carried another brand of multi-tool closely associated to baby food, and was rather disappointed by the short life expectancy of its various tools. (In all fairness I have been accused of being able to break an anvil with a rubber mallet.) I simply expect a tool to exceed my expectations. And I excel in surpassing "limitations".
I received my first Leatherman (Wave) as a gift when I was an electrician. First to go was the saw, but not till it had given me a full day’s work cutting out 2x4 holes in 5/8" treated plywood. That was incredible! Totally impressive. Next was the last half inch of my drop point after many hours of stripping heavy gage wire and a knife sticking contest. I lost the flat blade lifting the edge of a 2'x4' wrought iron grate that was jammed in its hole with sand. Hey, a crow-bar would break the grates wouldn't fit in the crack between the edge and the side walk. It got the job done. Next was the file. Just flat wore it out sharpening drill bits for our hole hogs. The last straw was half of my plier jaw breaking off at the pivot trying to shut off a gas valve. Had to finish that job with a pair of 12"channel locks. I think my Leatherman broke it loose though.
The Wave was retired for a CHARGE TI. It, after a couple years of faithful service, was donated to some fortunate soul in a Wal-mart parking lot in Texas after I left it on the front of my van when I used it to change wiper blades. No-Multi-Tool withdrawals lasted only two days thanks to my friends at a Bass Pro shop in Louisiana where I upgraded to the CHARGE TTI. I have had this one for less than a year and the first tool has sub come to my rigorous testing.
I was only trying to break off the threaded male portion of an in-ground light stand that had broken off inside the female portion; without cutting or damaging the wires passing through it. I knew that if I could crush the 1/2" cast aluminum pipe a few times on alternate sides, the pipe would stress break and I could then remove the broken threaded end and re-thread the whole end with my file. I stressed the jaws of my Leatherman, snapped it off at the pivot again. I'm not fanatical about my Leatherman but loyal enough to drive 190 miles round trip just to have a sales man tell me he needs my receipt to exchange my tool. They didn't understand the urgency of the situation. (That was yesterday).
By the way, I have four boys; two of which carry Leatherman Wave, the oldest is too cool right now but after he is in the military I'm sure he will come around; the youngest can't carry one yet, the belt clip kept pulling his diaper off and irritating his mother when she nursed him. I mentioned duck tape and she rolled her eyes at me. Its fine for her, she carries hers in her purse. I'll have a new tool soon and look forward to sharing more life’s adventures with Leatherman.
Glen B.
Chesnee, SC
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.