looking for a good multitool i cannot break.

I am wondering what jobs do you use your multitool on that make it break so fast. Wanna share? :slight_smile:

like changing an alternator on a duramax diesel.
almost collapsed the handles getting grip on the bigger bolts.
i expect the tool to take whatever i can give it.
i got it changed but thought this would send the gerber back to the scrap pile at the gerber factory.
its slightly sprung but still usable.
there was a $5 ratchet set in the truck but the socket split on the first try on the long mounting bolt.

I recently got a Gerber center drive, and at first I wasn’t very sure because I had bad experiences with Chinese made gerber products in the past. However the center drive seems to be holding up fine, what’s nice about it is that it can drive screws with ease as the axis is centered and can take standard 1/4 hex bits.

Do you have to do these jobs out in the wild where you have no place for a real toolbox?

Otherwise I learned the lesson the hard way to always use the right tool for the job…

I work heavy construction in ironwork. I swear by the Leatherman Surge. It’s a Wave on steroids. It gets used and abused every day. Yes, I have broken screwdriver blades off when using them as prybars. But those huge strong pliers have held up to just about everything. It’s heavy for a MT, but…I’ve got 30 pounds of bolts in my bags and 2 spud wrenches and a sleever bar and bullpin and 6 pound beater on me also. Weight is very subjective………

Have you tried buying proper tools that you use for the job? Lets face it a multi-tool is not designed for heavy or rigid jobs.

Came here to say this, multi tools are not meant for regular heavy duty use, they are meant for light duty very occasional use

i;m pretty sure no multitool is designed for heavy use
just convenience , basically
wle

I think I remember an episode of MacGyver where he removed the lug nuts from a deuce and a half with the bottle opener on a Swiss Army knife. So he has that going for him, which is nice.

I have carried the same one for over 10 years. I have broke blades and tips but the plier is a strong as when it was new. Get one of them with replaceable carbides and never look back! They have even seen time in the US military. I hated multitools before I got one of these on a WalMart close out for 20 bux!

I have multi tools from Gerber, Leatherman, and Victorinox and I would have to say the Victorinox is the highest quality of them all. I only have the Spirit X model from Victorinox but the SwissTool X which is a little bigger and heavier duty might be a better option for you.

I have had many different multi-tools, and the Leatherman Supertool is the only one that can survive my abuse. ( both gerber & Sog failed me)
if you break that, then i’m guessing a crowbar as mentioned above. :smiley:

Have a look at the Leatherman Charge ALX. Not as heavy as the titanium Charge and tough as nails. The optional expanded bit kit and bit extender are also well worth the money.

I have an old Gerber (Made in USA) that thing is a tank, A Leatherman Surge, I snapped the jaws on this one, was replaced under warranty, but haven’t broken it since. It stays at work. I also have a Skeletool CX that I have snapped the jaws on, also replaced under warranty.
I’d look at something built like the Surge, I am sure there are other models that are as beefy. The Vics also look like a decent option.

A quick look on leatherman’s site:

Unless I were stuck out in the middle of no where I don’t think I would even attempt that with a multitool. They just aren’t great to use.

You can pick up a Husky socket set with wrenches from Home Depot for around the price of a good multitool. I’ve had a set for over 10 years and nothing has failed with them and I don’t baby them. If anything goes wrong I believe it can be replaced at any Home Depot. I paid extra for black to make them harder to misplace. If you go with chrome you can get it a lot cheaper.

I don’t abuse my gerber mp600, so I can’t attest to how well it would hold up under extremely heavy use. However, it all comes down to what features are most important for you. I was curious about some of the options mentioned here, so I started looking some up. I didn’t see it mentioned here, so it probably warrants some further research, but it looks like the Leatherman Crunch might be one to look at. It’s something I hadn’t seen before, having a vice grip instead of a traditional plier.

I have both Leatherman & Gerber… but unless it is an emergency I use them within their capabilities. It has been my experience, anything can be broken.

Both of mine are still going strong…. even after a few emergency uses.

I have this barely used first gen Leatherman Skeletool CX for 6 or 7 years. It’s still in just about perfect condition. I might end up selling it to get the Leatherman Surge. If I end up selling it, I’ll only ship it within the continental USA.

doing building maintenance for about 20 years , i use wave, for at least 10 years, it did brake few times, but was replaced under warranty no questions asked. before i used gerber, vix, and other no name tools, leatherman beats all of them,

i got the surge after trying some victorinoxes

never looked back since

one needs big hands for the surge pliers though. one cannot get a firm grasp with small hand