Go to Post It is much harder for someone to misuse the labor you do than it is for them to misuse of the dollar you pledge... - IKE [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > Technical > Technical Discussion
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 01-08-2016, 18:55
Greg Woelki's Avatar
Greg Woelki Greg Woelki is offline
FRC Alumnus
FRC #1768
 
Join Date: May 2014
Rookie Year: 2013
Location: Bolton, MA
Posts: 97
Greg Woelki is a glorious beacon of lightGreg Woelki is a glorious beacon of lightGreg Woelki is a glorious beacon of lightGreg Woelki is a glorious beacon of lightGreg Woelki is a glorious beacon of light
Re: Best multi-tool for robot/field use

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctt956 View Post
I'm seriously considering a multitool of some sort for FIRST and just general use. But there are so many different options here, so I'm wondering this: what tools are the best to have/most often needed for this purpose? I'm thinking it would be used for robot work and maybe field setup and teardown.

I think I want something that can cut zip ties; I know a knife can do it, but there's a high risk of damaging what the zip ties are near as well as injury. Do the Leatherman scissors work for this? Not sure if I need a saw, but for some reason I'm thinking I do, but most multitools only have wood saws. They would probably cut plastic/PVC, though. The Leatherman Super Tool 300 EOD has a metal saw, but cutting metal(or anything) sizable with a hand saw seems to take a while, though wood isn't too bad. But at the same time, I'm thinking I may not need it, as a hand or power saw can't be too far away at a FIRST event. I can see how a file would be useful, and needs for a screwdriver seem to arise often.
I have a Leatherman Surge and it's worked great for me for robotics. The tools I use most often are the unserrated knife, the pliers, the scissors, the file, and the screwdrivers. The tools all work well as intended, and the flat-head drivers also make great prying tools (and with an awesome 25 year warranty, it's just fine to use them as such!).

Zip ties are a breeze with the spring-return scissors. As for sawing, I wouldn't recommend doing much with any multitool; unless you're cutting a wooden dowel or something else small its best to just grab a dedicated tool.

The Surge is the heaviest-duty of all the Leatherman tools, so it's larger and heavier than alternatives like the Charge TTI and the Wave, but I carry it all the time without complaint. I would highly recommend a multitool like the three I've mentioned that has an external knife for easy one-handed opening without having to unfold the entire tool.
Reply With Quote
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 01-08-2016, 20:21
BJT's Avatar
BJT BJT is offline
uh, should that be smoking?
AKA: Ben Thorsgard
FRC #0876 (Thunder Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Northwood ND
Posts: 249
BJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond reputeBJT has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Best multi-tool for robot/field use

I have had all of the leatherman tools at one time or another. I have carried a Wave a lot at work. At robotics I usually like the Skeletool CX clipped to my belt loop, its light and easy to handle, and I'm usually close enough to real tools if anything big comes up that it can't handle.
Just got an OHT which looks like it might be a new favorite. haven't used it much yet.
__________________


2016 Central Illinois Winner. Curie Division finalist
Reply With Quote
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 01-08-2016, 23:33
gblake's Avatar
gblake gblake is offline
6th Gear Developer; Mentor
AKA: Blake Ross
no team (6th Gear)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: May 2006
Rookie Year: 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,934
gblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond reputegblake has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Best multi-tool for robot/field use

The best multitool is obviously the one that is cheap enough for you to not mind losing it, or loaning it.
__________________
Blake Ross, For emailing me, in the verizon.net domain, I am blake
VRC Team Mentor, FTC volunteer, 5th Gear Developer, Husband, Father, Triangle Fraternity Alumnus (ky 76), U Ky BSEE, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, Kentucky Colonel
Words/phrases I avoid: basis, mitigate, leveraging, transitioning, impact (instead of affect/effect), facilitate, programmatic, problematic, issue (instead of problem), latency (instead of delay), dependency (instead of prerequisite), connectivity, usage & utilize (instead of use), downed, functionality, functional, power on, descore, alumni (instead of alumnus/alumna), the enterprise, methodology, nomenclature, form factor (instead of size or shape), competency, modality, provided(with), provision(ing), irregardless/irrespective, signage, colorized, pulsating, ideate
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 16:13.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi