My boyfriend is a technical theater guy who had his leatherman stolen when he took his car in for repairs and left it on the back seat.
I want to buy him a new one, especially after seeing how cheap they are on amazon.com. But, hell if I know which one I should get him, and I don’t want to ask him which one he used to have cos it’s supposed to be a surprise.
Should I go for a saw or scissors? Does he need an awl? what the hell IS an awl? Regular file or diamond-coated (ohh, pretty!)? I like the wave, but does it have TOO many things on it? How many screwdrives does one typically need? SO many choices. I cannot do this on my own.
I know they’re popular tools so If I can get some opinions (even one) that would be super. If by some odd chance there is a theater techie out there who can give me their two cents that would be really super (I honestly have no idea what he does, but I know it will get used there).
Here is the list of all of them, if needed for reference.
I actually own a Schrade, which for most intents and purposes is the same thing. Looking at this list, I see they have brought out a few new ones since I bought mine, which frankly is making me drool with the prospect of getting a new one.
But enough about me.
The absolute best things in a multitool for theatre are pliers and a really sharp knife. The pliers (or wrench) are integral for hanging and focusing lights - an extremely common task. It’s really frustrating to get into position on a big ladder or whatever and discover you left your lighting wrench on the ground. Having a little wrench on your multi is convenient - especially if you keep it on your belt or in your pocket. The knife is for cutting zap straps, rope, wire, etc. which is nessecary all the time. It’s nice if the pliers (or somewhere on the tool) has a wire cutter too, for many theatre fly systems use wire rope.
Looking at that list, you can cross of Squirt and Micra right away. Scissors seem kind of cool, but with a knife they are unnessecary (I have never seen a guy use the scissors). The Crunch is appealing because of those big locking pliers but it’s a bit overloaded and bulky. I’d say the same of the Wave.
If it were me, I’d go for one of the Juice models. I’ve seen them in a few stores, and they look good to me. The S2 and the C2 are both nicely equipped and still light and thin. The other thing to realize is that when your working in a theatre, everyone and their donkey has a multi of some sort - many look the same. A lot of people I know carve their name into the handle, but still, they go missing. Getting one in red or orange is a way to keep track of yours better - also easier to find on a dark catwalk at 2 AM when your eyesight gets a bit blurry from lack of sleep! Unless he’s one of those guys who only wears black.
Also, its good to get a case that threads on a belt for it (I can’t see anywhere on this site if they come with cases) - especially if he wears a belt regularly. If he’s not a belt wearer you can get a little carabiner and lanyard for it - this is the system I use. Go to a hardware store and ask, they will know what you want. If its a gift, it might be a nice idea to have it engraved with his name or initials (not in flowing girly script) - I always thought that was cool.
Anyways, that’s it. Don’t know if its helpful advice. Tell us what happens.
Before buying any pocket tool, please examine the Victorinox model. It is light years ahead of all others in quality. It is a little pricey, but its performance more than makes up for it. All the blades lock, this alone makes it a far safer tool to use.
My GF, the stage manager, has an ‘original’ leatherman (PST), but laments the day her SuperTool was stolen. She thinks the locking mechanism is the bee’s knees.
I have a Wave leatherman - and although I use it mainly for cutting the packing tape off of courier delivery boxes it has all the essentials you would need, without being too bulky…
I have a Wave too. It’s excellent. Highly recommended. I had the ‘original’ before it was stolen (I’m noticing a pattern here…), and I deem the Wave far superior.
I did a lot of outdoor maintenance work during my summer job in college and went through several original models. I had to replace each one because they broke but each time I broke one I was using it in a way they were never designed to handle. But I abused them heavily and 99.5% of the time they put up with it.
I now have a Pulse model and I love it - much better than the original model and it is always handy to have a basic set of tools on hand all the time. Beats having to run to find a tool if I just need to do something quick.
I went with the Pulse because it had a good assortment of tools without being too bulky. The Wave looked cool but it kind of scared me to have some blades sitting on the outside since I carry it in my pocket now instead of on my belt.
My dissenting voice on this philosophy: the Wave, while looking cool, has all the functionality (IIRC) of the supertool, but has rounded edges, which is more comfortable on the hand than the supertool for using the screwdrivers, etc.
I also prefer the Wave over the Supertool. It’s very nice to be able to access the blades without opening the tool, and the locking mechanism works very well.
The Gerber Multiplier was more popular with the theater technicians when I was in college. Mostly because of the way you can “flick” the main plier open, and pliers are what techies use an awful lot. (I minored in theater on the technical side in college, that makes me Techie Lite, I think)
The Gerber now comes in both needlenose plier and blunt-nose plier models. I think the needlenose is preferred.
He does not need a saw or scissors. A small sharp blade is useful. Wire strippers are very useful. A screwdriver is useful. A bottle opener makes you popular.
There is a big difference bewtween the tools you use camping and the ones you use backstage.
Do all of the blades lock?[ul]This is critical because of the safety factor. A blade folding up on your hand can maim you by cutting tendons or severing an artery.[/ul]2) Does each blade pull out without bringing others with it?[ul]This feature makes the tool ten times more usable. No time is wasted having to select an individual blade from a group of them that clump together while being withdrawn.[/ul]3) Are the knife edges shaving sharp?[ul]A simple measure of the manufacturer’s quality level is whether the knife comes out of the box with an edge that smoothly shaves hair from the back of your arm. If a blade cannot pass this simple test, it is often not worth buying in the first place. Remember, a sharp blade is the safest blade, it cuts when you want it to. A tool should work as hard (or harder) than its owner. It must perform on demand without repetitive motion or being forced.[/ul]4) Does the leatherman have a hacksaw?[ul]The Victorinox tool has a cold steel blade that is edged with a metal cutting saw. The sides of the blade are faced with a coarse and fine metal file. This single feature can save you numerous trips to the tool box.[/ul]5) Does the leatherman have a wood saw?[ul]As a theater stage hand, wood is an extremely common construction material. Having an extremely sharp saw that will cut wood, plastic pipe and other composite materials saves yet another trip to the toolbox. The Victorinox saw blade is designed for hunters to cut through bone.[/ul]6) Is the Leatherman made from high finish chrome steel?[ul]Stage hands work in a dark environment and a nice bright silver blade is easier to spot in dim lighting. It is also more resistant to corrosion and easier to clean.[/ul]7) Does the Leatherman have scissors?[ul]This is an extremely useful function and one that often justifies purchase of the tool all by itself. Heavy fabrics, scrims and drapes are common elements of prop design and often require trimming.[/ul]8) Does the Leatherman have inch and centimeter rulers scribed into its handles?[ul]Making a quick measurement without having to reach for a tape measure is extremely useful.[/ul]9) Does the Leatherman have a “coltsfoot” blade[ul]This roughly serrated blade will rip through the most recalcitrant materials. Normally used to trim the hooves of animals, it is able to serve where a knife is too slow and a saw is too messy.[/ul]10) Are all of the blades available without having to open up the body of the tool?[ul]Unfolding a single blade without opening the toll means you have a solid handle to grip. There is not interference with your job and your work is done more quickly.[/ul]
With respect to the Victorinox pocket tool, the answer to all of the questions listed above is a resounding, “YES!” Here is a picture of the item in question (please click on the left hand link labeled 3.0327.N to see all of the different features). I have owned both Leatherman and Gerber pocket tools. None of them ever measured up to the Victorinox model.
I just looked at the Leatherman wave online. I do not see any locking mechanism or mention of it (save for four of the blades). I also see external knife and saw blades that appear to be an accidents waiting to happen. All edged blades should fold up into complete concealment in order to protect the user. It also looks like you must open the knife to extract other blades. These are really big issues. Here is a link to the Leatherman Wave.
It would also be good to know what field your bf works in. Most electricians I know (myself included) prefer Gerber for the slip-lock opening, while most carps like the Leatherman for some damn fool reason. Needle nose is much better than standard for an elec. Also, the Gerber has a place to crimp connectors on it, something I have yet to see on a Leatherman.
Not to hijack the thread, but Zenster’s list of concerns strike me as a bit much. Pocket tools are generally used as a CYA tool, as in getting to the top of a ladder and realizing you forgot your wrench, screwdriver, etc. They really shouldn’t be used as the tool for any job. For the record, I completely agree with numbers 1 - 5, 8, and 10. #6 - Actually, most techs I know have dulled down their multitools so they don’t reflect light while backstage, and especially during scene changes. #7 - The scissors I’ve seen on multitools are usually too small to be of much good. Going and getting the right tool for the job will result in a much better finished prouct, as well as probably taking less time. #9 - I’ve never encountered anything that I needed to cut through that badly. If I can’t cut it with my little saw-blade, I’ll go get the right tool for the job. Of course, all that is just MHO, and you should just ask your bf what kind he wants, as us techs tend to be pretty picky about our tools. Good luck!
Oh, and in response to the OP’s question about how many screwdrivers does one person need? A true technician never has enough screwdrivers (esp. an electrician).
I’m just bummed they got rid of my Leatherman, which was an attempt to appeal to a certain higher class customer. It has a cheese spreader, a little fork, and gold colored corkscrew stuff. Plus an engraving of grapes. Very chic!
Sharp enough to cut a drunken Pergau’s thumb down to the bone.
The PST is a resounding ‘yes’ on all questions except 2 and 10 (and possibly three: we took the tool off Pergau before he sliced himself up any more or decided to start shaving his arms).
And the Wave is quite safe AFAIK when the external blades are in a closed position They are concealed apart from the fingernail sized notch required to open them, kinda like a Swiss army penknife.
(My wave was stolen BTW, and I had to demand that my GF give me back my PST, even though the idea of a GF who uses a Leatherman at work was nerd heaven for me).
meyer - you were very helpful! If I get him a juice I’ll have a hard time resisting the temptation to get him a purple one, however.
Zenster - I have to admit that the Victorinox SwissTool is quite nice, and I did find one for about the same price here - but I don’t see anything about a locking mechanism so I’m not quite sure if it’s the same thing. Is there only one main “SwissTool”? (heh heh)
Anyone else have an opinion on this one?
I read an amazon review that said the parts are very hard to get open. Hm.
lightingtool - um. I think he does the lights. I also think he’s mostly just jealous that everyone else has one. I did forget about the Gerbers - he knows someone who has one and seems quite fond. Also - all the techies I know call themselves techies, so you’re gonna have to take it up with them.
Pergau - read the OP.
To everyone else - thanks for your help.
As of right now I have no idea which I’m going to go for.
Actually, I think I’m slightly more confused than when I started this thread.
Bre’r Lappin, the tool you linked to does not have the scissors but the price is relatively competitive. The chrome finish of the Swiss tool can be covered with utility tape if needed. Anyone with a good thumbnail, should have no problem extracting the blades. A fresh tool will give some resistance, but that is so it does not become too loose after extended use.
At the back end of the tool, farthest from the pliers, you will see two little knurled tabs. Dragging one back with your finger tip will unlock the blade. This can be done easily and all blades can be refolded with one hand. The Victorinox tool also has an excellent assortment of screwdrivers, ranging from near jeweler’s to a large slot tip, plus there is a good Phillip’s head as well.
I’ve just noticed that they traded the coltsfoot blade for the scissors. The RS model seems to have both and may be the best choice. For regular personal use, I’d go with the scissors. For stage work, I’d stick with the coltsfoot blade. You can beat the snot out of it and reserve the main knife blade for when you need a razor edge. I will certainly admit that Leatherman has made great strides over the last ten years. I just do not see where they have the quality to match Victorinox. I’ve been using Victorinox knives for over thirty years and their reputation is well deserved.
As an aside, I’ll mention that the Gerber tool I owned had one cool feature. The pliers deploy with a “stiletto” type action that can be done with a flick of the wrist. Past that, the edges were no better and none of the blades locked. Worst of all is the trashy hinge pin on the pliers. They have more play than an entire kindergarten class. I would never buy another Gerber tool unless they resolve these glaring defects.
Hey Zenster - my Gerber does have locking blades, and I’ve never had a problem with the hinge pin. As you can see here, they have added locks to the blades. They also have added scissors. Also, Gerber makes a big honkin tool that looks pretty cool. YMMV
it has all the essentials you would need, without being too bulky…
