Multi tools that work

JonathanRyan

JonathanRyan

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I'm looking for a multi tool that I can chuck in the car glove compartment as a "just in case" but if it gets used ti will be used in a house/garden rather than a car.

It needs knife, scissors, cross point screwdriver and flat blade small enough to be used to rewire a plug. But I want to (1) to be strong enough to be reliable and (2) be cheap - I was hoping maybe £20 which rules out all Leathermans and Gerbers :(

Any ideas? preferably something that you know won't bend at the first breeze.
 
JonathanRyan said:
I was hoping maybe £20 which rules out all Leathermans and Gerbers :(
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Not necesserily, I've got a Gerber which Homebase were selling off half price after one christmas, £25 I think, and a Leatherman which was on special offer at Millets something like half price and on a store-wide buy 2 get 1 free so we got 2 as presents and kept one. Keep an eye out for special offers.
 
Leatherman do one with scissors, bought my wife one years ago for her to use at work, still going strong (wife and multi tool)
 
tijuana taxi said:
Leatherman do one with scissors, bought my wife one years ago for her to use at work, still going strong (wife and multi tool)
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I have a Wave that I must have had 15 years now and it's great.

Expensive to leave in the car though.
 
The only brand I've owned is Leatherman. They're pretty bulletproof, but a bit pricey unless you find a special offer. $29 is very good, if shipping isn't going to be too expensive. I doubt if there's much to choose between brands at the lower end of the market, and they should be okay for light use.

One thing to be aware of though. Many multi-tools have locking knife blades, and that's a potential problem if you plan to carry it in the car.
 
MartynK said:
The only brand I've owned is Leatherman. They're pretty bulletproof, but a bit pricey unless you find a special offer. $29 is very good, if shipping isn't going to be too expensive. I doubt if there's much to choose between brands at the lower end of the market, and they should be okay for light use.

One thing to be aware of though. Many multi-tools have locking knife blades, and that's a potential problem if you plan to carry it in the car.
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including p and p and prepaid import fees its £29.63
 
For my bike I carry Topeak multi tools and they are brilliant - would one of these doc the trick as they are small enough for a glovebox

Crank brothers also do them ?
 
Gsrai said:
For my bike I carry Topeak multi tools and they are brilliant - would one of these doc the trick as they are small enough for a glovebox

Crank brothers also do them ?
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are these not just alun keys or spanners rather than what the op wants (knife, scissors etc.)?
 
Gsrai said:
For my bike I carry Topeak multi tools and they are brilliant - would one of these doc the trick as they are small enough for a glovebox

Crank brothers also do them ?
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I can see some with screwdrivers (which I need) but also hex keys (which I don't) and no cutting tools (which I need). Am I missing some?

MartynK said:
One thing to be aware of though. Many multi-tools have locking knife blades, and that's a potential problem if you plan to carry it in the car.
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I think technically locking knives are totally illegal in the UK. But yeah, good point.
 
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Yeah the reviews on the DeWalt one look a lot better. I suspect neither firm is making their own. Wish they would put the actual size somewhere.
 
It would probably be cheaper to make up a small tool wrap.
A couple of decent screwdrivers, a Stanley knife and a pair of scissors.
I could never get the hang of using a screwdriver attached to a pair of pliers and other obstructions.
 
kendo1 said:
It would probably be cheaper to make up a small tool wrap.
A couple of decent screwdrivers, a Stanley knife and a pair of scissors.
I could never get the hang of using a screwdriver attached to a pair of pliers and other obstructions.
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Very true. I like the idea of an all in one but like you say a kit is easier to use.

Most (probably all) pre pack kits I've seen are rubbish though. Buying separately always seems pricey.
 
kendo1 said:
I could never get the hang of using a screwdriver attached to a pair of pliers and other obstructions.
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I must admit that I have two, a Leatherman Tti, and when I looked at the new price :eek:
I paid about 1/3 of that from the USA a few years back, that's inflation for you!
And a Gerber suspension that was on special offer on Amazon a couple of years back, for about 20 quid.

The Leatherman is kept in a draw for emergencies when I CBA to go to the garage for a screwdriver or pliers etc,
the other is kept in the van, its surprising what I find to use that for :D

But of course neither replace the full sized tools, but I certainly wouldn't be without either now ;)
 
Sorry my bad I thought the larger ones had scissors etc. I only have the small ones and they're great.
 
kendo1 said:
It would probably be cheaper to make up a small tool wrap.
A couple of decent screwdrivers, a Stanley knife and a pair of scissors.
I could never get the hang of using a screwdriver attached to a pair of pliers and other obstructions.
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Fair enough, but I regard my Leatherman as a more capable version of my SAKs. Proper tools are better and easier to work with, but I don't always have them handy, and I normally have the multi-tool or one of the knives.
 
Cobra said:
I must admit that I have two, a Leatherman Tti, and when I looked at the new price :eek:
I paid about 1/3 of that from the USA a few years back, that's inflation for you!

But of course neither replace the full sized tools, but I certainly wouldn't be without either now ;)
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Yip. I bought my Leatherman Wave in SA when my son was managing an outdoor shop. The sales rep offered 50% discount if I'd let them engrave my name on it, which was just fine by me! Not a problem carrying it there either, no restrictions on lock blades in public.
 
I normally have a couple of tool boxes/totes/bags in the car. Who needs a Leatherman? :)
 
Come to think of it my old Swiss army knife has all that you mention, donkeys years old and still solid.
 
I got one of these, does everything i need it to, make sure you order the "oriental" version and it'll just fit in your glove box

japanese-maid-costume.png
 
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StuartH said:
You ordered yet? Lol
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Not yet. Still umming and ahing about whether the illegal nature of the blade is a problem or not ;) Also work.

The Gerber Dime looks nice. Very cheap here and there.
 
Its not illegal if you have good reason to be using it mate;)
Guessing you wont be mugging anyone with a multi tool?..lol
 
StuartH said:
Guessing you wont be mugging anyone with a multi tool?..lol
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Oh I dunno, the pliers are pretty useful for pulling out finger nails :D
 
beyond the blue said:
I've got a Gerber Suspension lying around doing nothing, never been used, give me a PM if you want. Probably get a bollocking of the mods but I'm only trying to help.
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I saw nothing ;)
 
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