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The Ultimate Leatherman?
numbski asks: "I have long been a fan of the Leatherman tool and its act-a-likes. I have never bought one, however. I keep looking for just the right one with the tools that I would actually use on a daily basis. Sure, the pliers, knives, phillips and standard screwdrivers are nice, but there's always been a few things lacking. A t-10 and t-15 torx (security torx preferred) for the Compaq systems that torment me, or how about a USB2 Flash Drive? Hex wrenches, or a socket tool that fits machine screws (in case the phillips has been stripped out)? What would you put on a Leatherman? Even better, seen anything that matches what I'm looking for?"
I'd make a Leatherman without a knife, so I could have it behind the "secure" areas of an airport.
I never use the knife off my multi-tools anyway. I keep a dedicated knife on me for cutting things.
i work comm maintence for the usaf and i use my wave letherman almost daily...
but for what you are talking about...i have neither seen, nor heard of anything like that. i think your best bet would get a smal toolbox and go buy the tools you desire/require.
lethermans werent made for use in specialzed areas...they are just a general purpose tool that was designed for quick fixes. it was never intended to replace the quality or flexibility of a good set of tools.
Rather than having one "ultimate leatherman" as big and clunky as that humongous swiss army knife they make, what about a customizable one? Make it a little easier to take apart (I've had to do it, to switch out broken blades; it's annoying and it'd be a lot easier if the heads were hex or square) and then offer optional replacements and sets of replacements. That'd let people build ones that suit the jobs they need them for.
Um, what was the question?
I've had a Leatherman Micra on my keychain for almost 5 years now. It's the best thing I have on this keychain next to the keys.
Get one of those and one of those quick release dual keyrings, remove the one ring and attach the Micra (or a Juice if you want pliers. Wish they had pliers that small when I bought mine) in its place to quick detach the tool from the ring, and it's all you'll ever need for most computers, even the compaq onen since those Compaq nuts have slots to accept a flathead screwdriver (outside of the security ones.)
Right now, I got a Micra and a Mag-Lite Solitare flashlight on my keyring. The only thing I wish would happen is that Maglite would make an LED Flashlight that took AAAA size to be even smaller, other than that It's the most portable all purpose toolkit you can use.
In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
Think Geek's Tool page has most of the things you want on a swiss army knife, or a leatherman tool. You just have to go look for it.
Kirby
The Mini-Tool is the ultimate Leatherman:
t ools/mini-tool/default.asp
http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/retired-
Very compact when completely closed, yet you get a full sized pair of needlenose pliers when open. The size of the needlenose is perfect for most electronic applications.
I've been raiding various local independent tackle stores, bait houses, and gun shops and buying all that the have in stock.
So far I've got a dozen pair of Mini-Tools.
Now when you combine the Mini-Tool with a VICTORINOX WorkChamp you've got a lot of 'firepower' in just a couple of tools. I don't leave home without them.
"Oh drat these computers, they're so naughty and so complex, I could pinch them." --Marvin the Martian
Swiss now makes an Army Knife with a USB Drive on it. I'm not sure if they have one with the exact features you're looking for, but you still can't go wrong with a Swiss army knife.
Don't think that a small group of dedicated individuals can't change the world. It's the only thing that ever has.
One word, and that is Cybertool, the greatest Swiss Army knife ever made. T10, T15, phillips, flat, knives, saws, pin, toothpick, pen, there's nothing it doesn't have, besides a magnifying glass(they have one on the Camper but not the Cybertool where I'd think it would be more useful) and a USB drive.
At some point, if you find yourself regularly working on things, you should just get a real toolkit.
my sig's at the bottom of the page.
how about a girlfriend
The best "Leatherman" ever made:
SwissTool Plus made by Victorinox. Look for the "3.0337.L". Made of Inox Steel, more durable than a Leatherman and every function you need.
When is the Leatherman going to include a fleshlight?
Might look funny strapped to your waist, though.
--- We are not in the 8th dimension. We are over New Jersey.
Here's one, albeit a bit on the heavy side. Oh, and you might have trouble pocketing it. Didn't see a belt clip option either.
to a Leatherman was the new Charge that came out about 8 months ago. You can get the Compaq bits, it has a nice quality knife blade and even a pocket clip. I got the one with the scissors instead of the second bit driver. It has been very handy.
Oh and for the USB drive, the mini Swiss-Army knife with the swissbit key is the way to go. Light, knife, file, memory. That stays on my keychain all the time.
Be nice to everyone, they out number you 6 billion to 1.
http://www.victorinox.com/newsite/en/produkte/prod uktdetails/swiss_tool/swiss_tool.htm
http://www.equipped.org/ has lots of detailed reviews of thiss sort of tool.
~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
A stiletto switchblade.
Every time I unpack boxes, I wish that I had a stiletto switchblade. To have one on a Leatherman tool that can do everything else I need would just kick ass.
-Turkey
it would be nice if it contained a fresh set of condoms
www.vanheusden.com - home of Multitail, HTTPing, CoffeeSaint, EntropyBroker, rsstail, bsod, listener, nagcon, nagi
The ultimate Leatherman would be the Gerber Multi-Plier. I've had mine for 15 years. It's a true tool, not some flashy gadget that you don't actually use. Leatherman is like McDonalds and Multi-Plier is like steak grilled in your backyard.
USB Flash Drive? Hex wrench? Fuck that gay bullshit. I've had my orignal Leatherman PST (Pocket Survival Tool) for around 15 years now and I've never missed a USB Flash Drive.
here ya go torx-pen- whatever... it's here
s schamp_1_6795_xxlt.pdf
http://www.victorinox.com/newsite/images/news/swi
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
I would most definitely not want a USB drive on a leatherman tool. Leatherman tools are designed to be robust, and most USB drives certainly are not -- what would you do if the drive broke? You'd be left with a crippled tool.
But very funny!
Leatherman's ChargeXTi includes many of the OP's wants. There's also a bit kit available that adds a bunch of additional screwdriver bits, including more Torx drivers.
I spent a long time looking at all the options that were available (looking especially hard at the Gerber and Swisstool), and ended up with the ChargeXTi. It does what I need it to do, and is great for quick fixes where I don't want to bother getting my real tools.
That said, real tools are a must -- removing or installing more than a half-dozen screws with the Leatherman gets annoying pretty quickly, not to mention its bulk being a issue with any screws that are accessed via a tunnel or with bits of bracing in the way.
The SOG multitool is designed with this in mind, but I'm not sure how easy it is to get all the different parts. All of the blades are swappable with a regular hex wrench, and there are specialty kits available, notably lockpicks, explosive ordinance tools, and emergency rescue kits. I know a few military people who have them, but a quick google search did not find anyplace to buy them online.
I know you Yankees like slipping and slicing when you drive screws, but some smaller markets are more enlightened: I refuse to buy a multitool until I can get one with a built in Robertson #2 driver, because that's what all the screws are up here.
Even flathead screwdrivers can deliver a nasty puncture wound. One of my neighbors needed to get quite a few stitches due to an accident with one. Philips screwdrivers are even more dangerous.
retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
I could slip and cut myself if I try and unscrew a Phillips screw, so it's safest if I don't have the driver just in case I get tempted.