I’ve been carrying my Leatherman Super Tool on my belt at competitions. At REI on Sunday I got to thinking that there might be something more adapted to robotics and field use*. Not that there’s anything wrong with the Super Tool – it’s in great shape after 20 years.
The Gerber Cable Dawg and Groundbreaker seem too specialized. Other Gerber tools don’t seem differentiated enough from the Super Tool to make it worth switching.
I’ve been carrying a Leatherman Skeletool CX for the last eight years, and haven’t even considered anything else. The only time I use a multitool over the correct tool for the job is when something needs to be done NOW, and the Skeletool is the only one that is fast enough to the hand to work well for me. Only having the tools I need, and being super light weight for daily carry makes it perfect IMHO.
At SVR I brought both my Leatherman Crunch and Wingman. I found myself carrying the Crunch over the Wingman 100% of the time. The Crunch is a fantastic tool, the locking pliers are simply great. In addition to the pliers, the Crunch also has a nice set of other tools. I would definitely go for the Crunch over any other tool for FRC use. That being said, the Super Tool is still a very nice multi tool, so don’t feel compelled to replace it if you don’t want to.
I carry my Leatherman Micra in my pocket because it’s small and will do minor stuff. I gave up the full size Leatherman it was always in the way and I’d snag stuff when it was in the belt holster.
For events I wear one of those runners belts / waist / fanny packs. I have a different use case since I need special tools.
Mine has in it:
3/32 & 5/64 hex wrenches
11/32 nut wrench and nut driver
Needle nose pliers
Auto - Manual control switch
Wire ties
Small set of nuts and bolts
Bearing block
Axle collars
Band-aids
– They are small and light and I’ve found that having the right tool is better than tool that’s not quite right. You could match yours up to your robot (torx drives, fuses, etc.) and have the right stuff. Plus I can take it off so it’s not snagging seatbelts and other stuff. YMMV
I also have what roboteers call my “Mary Poppins Bag”, it’s along the same line as items listed above, except there are 2 of each item, a full sized pair of scissors and one of those small hacksaw blade things. It’s good for working with a team so more than one person can do things at a time.)
I use a Gerber Flik because I find pliers to be the most useful tool to have easily accessible. It has a good pair of scissors and a solid knife, hasn’t broken on me in two years of pretty hard use, and is always fun to open
I have carried about everything by leatherman and also swiss army multitools.
Presently I carry a Crunch and an Squirt ES4 (labeled “bomb defusor”). I also have in my pocket a small set of allen keys and a double end wrench in 3/8 and 7/16.
The Squirt has mini wire strippers and is perfect for emergency electrical work.
I recommend the Leatherman wave, but more generally any Leatherman that accepts the Leatherman bit type, Then you can buy the bit set, and have any type of bit you will generally ever need for robotics in you pocket or on your belt, most people on my robotics team have this knife and we all love it, it has most any tool you will ever need, from screw drivers to wire cutter/strippers, and pliers. Great tool, never had any problems with it
I have carried a Leatherman Juice Cs4 for the past four years, and it’s my baby. I’ve thought about replacing it but it’s been through so much that I would have a hard time doing so. It’s small, fits perfectly in the lighter pocket of my pants, and always gets the job done. I find myself mostly using the pliers/cutters and the knife most often, but the scissors come in handy for small stuff and there are also some screw driver bits that I tend to avoid using if possible.
I also carry a 5/32" allen key and a 7/16" driver bit, as those are the most common sized allens/bolt heads on our robot, as well as a dual tipped sharpie and a pen and pencil. And you won’t catch me without my clipboard for notes (my short term memory is terrible) and a pit map.
Foster- Your sizes seem like they are for very small fasteners
Hex Key 5/64" is for a #2 Cap head
Hex Key 3/32" is for a #4 Cap head
11/32 Nut Driver is for a #8 Nut
If your team has standardized on one or two fastener sizes it makes it easier to carry less items, but the correct specialized tools for the job rather than a multi-tool.
Klein 68236 Fully Ratcheting and offset 3/8 & 7/16 Box wrench - Exact fit for Size 10 & 1/4 fasteners locking nuts that we have standardized on.
Kleinor other Hex Key Folding Set - Make sure it has 7/64, 9/64, 5/32 and 3/16 to cover all standard cap heads #6-1/4 in size.
I used to carry a Paladin PT-540 until they stopped selling it and I foolishly snapped the pliers in half trying to twist something with them. It’s a modified SOG multi-tool, so it’s customizable. Mine was customized with a leatherman bit holder, V-cutter, and extra wire strippers. I think the most useful thing on it was a 7/16 and 3/8 nut-driver on the outside of the handles. Man I wish I hadn’t broken it. Or that paladin hadn’t stopped selling it.
Currently I’m packing a leatherman Surge, but the Crunch does look awfully tempting.
I’ve generally used a Leatherman Wave without much thought about it. With the exception of electrical work, it generally has anything I need. I do wish the scissors were a bit stronger, but otherwise no complaints.
For electrical work, that Cable Dawg looks tempting. In particular for some of my non-FRC applications.
+1 for the leatherman wave. I pretty much have it on me whenever im in the shop and commonly find it works better than the tools we keep in our toolboxes.
I carry a Leatherman Charge TTi with the bit kit. Just having pliers and a knife is incredibly helpful. The tool is a reasonable size and weight to carry everyday. The addition of the bit kit makes it usable for a quick bolt check if there aren’t proper hex keys around. It is nice that the newer leatherman models have tools early accessible without opening the whole thing up.
Yep, I split my time beween VEX and VEXIQ. All the fasteners in VEX are either 6/32 or 8/32 cap or socket heads screws and 8 nuts. So my world is lots simpler. Sadly they don’t make multi-tools with that in mind. (Looking to do a Kickstarter? Over 10,000 VEX teams to sell to!)
When I was doing FRC full time we tossed all the screws that were not cap head ( multiple sizes of Phillips head, torx, -, Robeson, etc). OEM stuff that came with other than cap heads got reassembled with caps. It really cut down on the number of different tools needed.
Standardization of fasteners is an amazing thing. But I think that’s another thread too.
My Leatherman Wingman has been a life saver. Came in handy every competition. That said I am buying the OHT at the facore store right before CMP because, 1) fast draw pliars 2) I camp a lot and I need the saw and 3) it has everything in want and nothing I don’t.
After using the Wingman I can not imaging ever using a Leatherman without spring loaded pliars.
While just barely a multi-tool I really like my Gerber Curve mainly because the knife is small enough that it doesn’t look weird carrying it in a school environment. It’s also cheap enough that I don’t mind abusing the blade. The flat head screwdrivers are also perfect for pushing down Weidmuller connectors and ground sharply for prying.
Except for the part that my pliers aren’t snapped in half, I am in agreement with this multitool. As an electrical person, I find myself using this when the proper tools can’t be found (happens too much on our team, I don’t know where 3 pairs of wire strippers can go to when only 3 people know how to properly use them), and for any last minute queue repairs.
The problem is that Paladin got bought by someone else (I forget who) and they are no longer manufactured, and you now would have to spend a good amount of money on eBay.
