The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Forestry and Logging => Topic started by: horselogger50 on January 09, 2013, 03:55:29 PM

Title: Leathermen
Post by: horselogger50 on January 09, 2013, 03:55:29 PM
Looking to buy a leathermen tool and was wondering which one would be to purchase.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Jay C. White Cloud on January 09, 2013, 03:58:54 PM
The "Wingman," is the one on my belt or in my pocket most of the time.  I regrind the pliers tip, they often snap.

Good Luck,  jay
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: wildbill on January 09, 2013, 04:04:29 PM
for my last birthday raider bill bought me a leatherman wave.  i love the thing.  the knife and serrated blade can both me opened only using one hand.  the saw and file require two but neither get little use.  it fits my hand pretty well and is not awkward to use at all.  so far it has held up to use and abuse by me since mid october.

the only bad thing about it is the holster it comes with.  because mine 5-10 times a day the velcro was pulling away from the fabric.  i made a leather holster for it and that problem was solved.

raider bill has a SOG power assist.  he will have to fill you in on the details on that one as ive never really used it.  im trying to make a leather holster for it now.  (the leather and tools are to the side of the laptop and as soon as i finish here ill keep working at it)
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: beenthere on January 09, 2013, 04:17:27 PM
Quote from: Icefisher47 on January 09, 2013, 03:55:29 PM
Looking to buy a leathermen tool and was wondering which one would be to purchase.

Guess it would depend on what you plan to do with it. Got an idea,  or is "Icefisher" clue enough?
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: snowstorm on January 09, 2013, 04:30:08 PM
i have the charge and it stood up better than the others i had. the pouch it rides in isnt much tho. the Velcro dosent last long. took one back to LL BEAN the kid at returns says is it broken? ya so he gives me a new tool pouch everything while taking it out of the plastic he pokes a staple in his finger then disaperes  for 15 mins to stop his finger from leaking and write up the accident report
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Raider Bill on January 09, 2013, 04:47:18 PM
Quote from: wildbill on January 09, 2013, 04:04:29 PM
for my last birthday raider bill bought me a leatherman wave.  i love the thing.  the knife and serrated blade can both me opened only using one hand.  the saw and file require two but neither get little use.  it fits my hand pretty well and is not awkward to use at all.  so far it has held up to use and abuse by me since mid october.

the only bad thing about it is the holster it comes with.  because mine 5-10 times a day the velcro was pulling away from the fabric.  i made a leather holster for it and that problem was solved.

raider bill has a SOG power assist.  he will have to fill you in on the details on that one as ive never really used it.  im trying to make a leather holster for it now.  (the leather and tools are to the side of the laptop and as soon as i finish here ill keep working at it)

My SOG power Assist is a pain to deploy and close the tools including both knives [pretty much needs 2 hands] but works real nice once you do. That said I pretty much only wear it when riding [cause it looks cool  8)] so really I haven't got proficient opening it up.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: isawlogs on January 09, 2013, 05:05:00 PM
Quote from: Jay C. White Cloud on January 09, 2013, 03:58:54 PM
The "Wingman," is the one on my belt or in my pocket most of the time.  I regrind the pliers tip, they often snap.

Good Luck,  jay

Did you know that leathermen tools are warantied  and will be fixed or replaced if broken, just saying...  :P

I have four of half a dozen of them of different models, one is flair, wave, fuse and the original the others are in the shop tool boxes. All are good , they have a good knife and a good set of pliers. I always have one on my belt, yes even at weddings  ;D, never know when you will be in need of some MacGyvering!!

Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: 1270d on January 09, 2013, 05:05:38 PM
It. Might be a bad word on the leatherman thread, but I have a gerber diesel.  I love it. Easy one hand open for the pliers. All the other tools are on the outside so you don't have to unfold it to get at everything.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Maine372 on January 09, 2013, 06:05:19 PM
I love my wave. thumb holes to open the knife blades are awesome. eventually something breaks and I get it replaces. I also go to llbean cause its close and I usually have an excuse to go there.

I order leather cases from the leatherman website. they are better than the one the wave comes with and cheap enough. they have a snap not Velcro
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Jay C. White Cloud on January 09, 2013, 06:31:07 PM
Thank's Isawlogs, I have used it a few times.  I now just keep them stubby, since I have snapped the tips off a few times.

Regards,  jay
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: gspren on January 09, 2013, 06:52:31 PM
  I have been using the Wave for several years and have done like others and got the leather sheath after the velcro died. I think you can buy it with either the leather sheath with snap or the nylon sheath with velcro, get the leather!
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Magicman on January 09, 2013, 09:22:07 PM
I am still partial to the Original Leatherman.  I have tried a couple of the others, but they are so much larger.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: caveman on January 09, 2013, 10:10:46 PM
I have been carrying a Gerber multi-tool for many years.  It is easy to open and close with one hand and I probably use it 15 times a day.  The company has replaced broken ones for me in the past with no hassle.
Caveman
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: thenorthman on January 09, 2013, 10:44:47 PM
Go with Gerber, better quality, easier to use, easier on the palm... have had both over the years, will go with Gerber from now on...
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: samandothers on January 09, 2013, 11:05:04 PM
Wave! lost one but got another
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Ken on January 09, 2013, 11:16:52 PM
I've been carrying a leatherman for many years and could not do without a multitool such as this.  After breaking a few of the implements I just return it to the shop and they send it away.  For the price of shipping I get a new one.  They are also quite a bit cheaper than they were a few years back but the quality is not as good. 
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: mad murdock on January 10, 2013, 07:43:06 AM
I have been using a Leatherman tool since about 1994. I have tried Gerber but just didn't like it near as much.  The wave is nice, like the contoured handles, don't cut into the fingers when squeezing the pliers. I carry the Surge now, it seems a bit big at first, but it is NICE!!
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Ed_K on January 10, 2013, 08:14:24 AM
 Kick, got a yr before breaking the needle nose.There long enough to grind new points.I won't buy a velcro pouch ever again.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: barbender on January 10, 2013, 10:17:24 AM
The velcro pouches are junk, I had to buy one when my last leather one died as it was all the store had at the time. I have 2 Waves right now so that when one is broken and sent in for repair I still have one on my hip ;) I feel like I'm missing a limb if I don't have my leatherman. I do wish they would just sell the repair parts so I could have them on hand and not have to send the tool off.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Bogue Chitto on January 10, 2013, 10:25:43 AM
I have used both Gerber and Leatherman.  Both are good but I never leave home without my Gerber.  I even have it on when I go swimming.  You never know when you will need it.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Bogue Chitto on January 10, 2013, 10:25:45 AM
I have used both Gerber and Leatherman.  Both are good but I never leave home without my Gerber.  I even have it on when I go swimming.  You never know when you will need it.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Tree Killer on January 10, 2013, 04:49:57 PM
Ive always used a leatherman, I have 3 broken ones rite now tho. I have to return them for replacements. I got a SOG Twitch II for christmas its pretty slick.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Phorester on January 10, 2013, 07:13:43 PM
Wearing a SOG Power Lock right now.  Got it for Christmas 2011 and wear it most days.  It has a thick sturdy leather sheath with a snap closure.  I had a Victorinox with a nylon sheath also with a snap closure that I really liked.  It was about the same size as the SOG, but it was slimmer. Lost it a couple years ago, doggone it.

Used to wear a Buck folding knife with leather sheath years ago until the multitools came along. Wore an Old Timer 2-blade folding knife a little while when I was in Boy Scouts in the 60s, but although it was a good knife for that era it had a very thin leather sheath which didn't last long.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Dave Shepard on January 10, 2013, 08:43:28 PM
I have the Wave. I like having the choice of the straight blade that I can keep sharp, or the serrated that I can use more for scraping or rootin' around in the dirt type activities, such as digging the dirt from around grease fittings. Being able to use either blade one-handed is very important to me.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Woodboogah on January 11, 2013, 09:14:23 AM
I bought a gerber recoil a few years ago and I will not go back to anything else.  It is designed to open with one hand and that feature alone has been worth the money (which wasnt much, but i am cheap).  It is rugged and reliable.  I think just like everything else it comes down to personal preference. 
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Krieger91 on January 11, 2013, 07:10:50 PM
I don't know how many have said it but you can't go wrong with a Wave.  I've been carrying one for the better part of 10 years, and have never been dissapointed.  Especially the newer ones with interchangable driver bits.  It's an incredibly useful tool.  Also, all Leatherman's come with a lifetime warrantee, can't go wrong with that!
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Offthebeatenpath on January 12, 2013, 11:35:57 AM
Like Phorester, I've had and lost a Victorinox with Nylon sheath and snap closure.  I bought another just as soon as I realized mine was never to return.  After using a number of different multi-tools, I don't think I'll buy anything but Victorinox.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Bobus2003 on January 12, 2013, 11:49:49 AM
I have a Gerber.. Absolutly love it.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: Dave VH on January 12, 2013, 08:14:56 PM
I've carried the same gerber for 6 or 7 years now, and use it everyday.  Ofcourse I'm on my 2nd holster
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: SLawyer Dave on January 22, 2013, 05:59:07 AM
I've used both Gerbers and Victorinox, but I always return to the original Leatherman.  I think they are all quality tools, but the Leatherman knife keeps a better edge and for longer than any other knife I have ever bought.  The leather pouch also seems industructable.   I just used it today when I had a chain come off my Stihl.  The chain guides got dinged up, (they did not want to fit into the groove in the bar).  So the flat fold out file was a life saver, as it smoothed out the edges and dings that my round sharpening file was unable to do.  I think it is really a matter of what tool and options seems to fit your needs the best, so I would go into a cutlery/sporting store that has samples of at least these 3, and see which one you like the best in a head to head comparison.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: simonmeridew on January 23, 2013, 09:19:57 PM
check out the 'Skeletool':   all stainless, blade opens one hand, contoured handles for the pliers, pocket clip instead of a case, cuts hard and soft wire. a little pricey
simonmeridew
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: barbender on January 23, 2013, 11:05:39 PM
I love my wave, but I don't think the knife blades hold an edge at all. It is really soft steel in those blades.
Title: Re: Leathermen
Post by: OneWithWood on January 24, 2013, 09:19:45 AM
Just got my replacement Letherman tool from the company in the mail yesterday.  I am gald I came across this thread.  The pliers snapped off over a year ago and I just tossed the tool in the drawer and forgat about it.  I downloaded the warranty form from the Leatherman website, filled it out and sent it in.  No questions, no problems, they just sent me a replacement!  I have had the tool for close to ten years so I was surprised they even had one to replace it with. 8)