Best multi-tool for robot/field use

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

This thread is going to make me spend my entire tax return on multitools.

Surely at some point you're limited by space on your belt. Or the load carrying capacity of said belt.

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by Arkive

Anyone know about the OHT from Leatherman? It looks like the spring action pliers would be really helpful when you have a part in one hard and have to quickly use a tool in another.

http://www.leatherman.com/oht-49.htm...sz=37&start=16

I have handled one and I liked it so much that I am going to pick one up before Champs.

[GeeTwo]

I never cared much for multitools beyond a modest Swiss Army knife. That said, I usually have in my pockets (including at work, which is mostly in an office setting):

• Swiss Army Knife (camper model, which includes saw and corkscrew).
• Slip 'N' Snip folding scissors
• Combination #2 phillips & 3/16" straight blade screwdriver about 5" long
• Tape measure (most commonly 10' x 1/4")
• Flashlight (usually 3 AAA cell, 9 LEDs)
• Magnifying Glass (folding, about 2 1/4" diameter)
• Pill container with a microfiber cloth to clean glasses and magnifier
• comb
• car keys
• House/office/church/workshop keyring, which also has a 5/32" allen key from a muliti-tool which I use to secure crash bars at church and school (and occasionally tweak robots)
• wallet

That's my primary morning checklist - cell phone is optional. I have added other things from time to time, but keep coming back to this basic list. The slip 'n' snips were the latest addition that stuck, about 3 years ago now.

I have pliers, multimeters, and other tools stashed in my briefcase, car, desk, and of course the garage at home.

[TheModMaster8]

I've always got my trust ball peen and rubber mallet, best on only tools you need

[ctt956]

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.

[Greg Woelki]

Originally Posted by ctt956

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.

[BJT]

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.

[gblake]

The best multitool is obviously the one that is cheap enough for you to not mind losing it, or loaning it.

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by ctt956

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.

Never use the scissors for cable ties. I recommend the either the leatherman OHT or the sidekick. Both have spring pliers both handle abuse like a camp. I personal love the OHT because of the steel inserts on the wire cutters. Never used the saw but I bet it is good.

[Paul3161]

The tool I used was the leatherman wingman. The reason I liked it was because it had the things I needed and nothing more. It saved me time by not needing to flip through all the other useless tools that I did not need. The spring action needle nose pliers where extremely useful and made it even easier to fix our bot before the next match. Sad thing is I forgot it at the Mongolian grill after Waterloo :'( . Looking into getting a new one asap.

http://www.leatherman.com/wingman-11.html#start=2

[Greg Woelki]

Originally Posted by Munchskull

Never use the scissors for cable ties.

Care to explain? That's a rather broad statement. While it may be true of some multi tools, the scissors on my Leatherman Surge are sturdy, comfortable, and can cut zip-ties all day.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Munchskull

Never use the scissors for cable ties. I recommend the either the leatherman OHT or the sidekick. Both have spring pliers both handle abuse like a camp. I personal love the OHT because of the steel inserts on the wire cutters. Never used the saw but I bet it is good.

My Micra scissors snicks through the 4", 8" and 11" ties with no problem. The 36" ones that are an inch wide are a problem so also wondering why you said that.

[ctt956]

I haven't limited my search to just Leatherman, but they seem to have the best selection of tools for robot/electronic/mechanical use. I think the Surge might be best, as it has the most tools. I've seen others recommend the Crunch and the Skeletool; while the Crunch does look useful, I'm not sure it's worth sacrificing other tools for locking pliers, though at the same time, I'm thinking "less is more". I'm also considering the Leatherman Piranha 2 or the Gerber Shard for my keychain. I like that the Piranha has wrenches, but its reviews are mixed. Anyone used a Swisscard or a Wallet Ninja? The Swisscard seems good, but it's plastic and I worry about it breaking in my wallet...the original Ninja seems unavailable, though with its wrenches I may not need the Piranha.

[ThaddeusMaximus]

You and your multitools.

Boxcutter, small sidecutters, and a jewler's screwdriver, and sometimes I'd run with a pair of robogrips and allen set. Separate items which work better than multi-tool equivalents, and don't break down. "Where do you hold all that?" Carpenter jeans, doi

Can't get a leatherman in tight spaces like a jewler's screwdriver, can't cut as well as a boxcutter, and you can't snip zipties worth a $@#$@#$@#$@# with a leatherman. Leathermans also don't tend to work very well for holding onto hex heads... or any bolt heads... and don't have allen heads...