If ever there was a product guaranteed to elicit masculine grunts from the most sensitive, new age guy it has to be the multi-tool. A Swiss army knife on steroids, the multi-tool takes off when the going gets really tough.

• Where it all started
• Why use a multi-tool?
• Which component tool is important?
• Taking care of your multi-tool
• Multi-tools at Bivouac Outdoor

Where it all started

 

The multi-tool category was born in 1975 when an American called Tim Leatherman found his trusty pocketknife wasn’t up to the challenges of regular car repairs on his low budget trip through Europe. On his return home, using his engineering background, he spent eight years designing his dream pocket tool. The result: the original Leatherman Tool – the PST or Pocket Survival Tool (shown left).

The Leatherman Tool Group still produces the best known multi-tools and have a range to suit just about every situation from big grunty ones to small tough keychain models. They’ve also spawned a number of imitators and innovators, all hoping to produce that one feature that will give them the edge in the market.

Why use a multi-tool?

Pliers are the reason most people choose a multi-tool over a Swiss army knife. Even the pliers on smaller models can tackle jobs that would be impossible barehanded: wire-cutting, loosening rusty bolts, and fixing everything from bike chains to cars. Add to this a range of gadgets from screwdrivers to saws and you have the answer to a handyperson’s dream.

Which component tool is important?

Each tool has its own area of focus and you can save time by deciding what features are most important to you before you go shopping.

• Pliers, either needle-nose or blunt-nose, are the main feature of all multi-tool models. If the pliers are your most important feature then look for a pair of locking grips like on the Leatherman Crunch. For smaller jobs, or if weight and size are an issue, Leatherman mini tools would be a better choice. If you use the pliers a lot it is important that the grips feel comfortable in your hand. Most tools these days have rounded edges so you can really crank on the pliers.
• The blade is one of the most frequently used features. A serrated or partly serrated option makes short work of tough tasks such as ropes. A locking blade is a sensible safety feature.
• About half of the models will include scissors and it’s surprising how often a sturdy pair of scissors comes in useful.
• Screwdrivers are essential and most tools come with more than one. If you use a screwdriver often the Leatherman Bit Kit includes an additional 42 tool bits.
• Wire cutters are standard in nearly all models and are invaluable to all good Kiwis keen to apply number eight technology in the backcountry.
• A wood saw tackles jobs a standard blade would shy away from.

Another, handy, feature of some multi-tools is the ability to access component parts with the tool in a closed position. Some like the Leatherman Juice models allow access to all of the tools in the closed position, others like the Leatherman Wave allow access only to the most used components while closed and you need to open the tool the access the rest.

As a general rule of thumb, chose the lightest and smallest tool that fits your needs.

Taking care of your multi-tool

Warranties on multi-tools have been very strong since Tim Leatherman laid down his 25 year Warranty Period, however no warranty will cover rust. All quality multi-tools are made of high-grade stainless steel. A common misconception with stainless is that it won’t rust. Not True. Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion but in a damp environment for long enough, especially around salt-water, it will corrode. Grades of stainless which are exceptionally resistant to rust (like kitchenware) tend to be soft and will not hold a good edge and are therefore not suitable for quality multi-tools.

The easiest way to protect your multi-tool is to avoid rust appearing in the first place. Periodically clean (with mild detergent/water solution), dry and re-oil it (using a light machine or penetrating type oil, e.g. WD-40 or CRC). If you use your tool in damp environments often then you should clean your multi-tool more often. Concentrate on cleaning and lubricating the pivot points of the tool.

• If rust staining does occur use a polishing cloth or non-metallic abrasive like a soft bristle brush on the stain.
• If you often use the blade with food use a very thin layer of cooking oil on the blade instead.
• If your tool is exposed to salt water/air at any time rinse it thoroughly in fresh water before drying and oiling.
• If your blade becomes blunt sharpen according to whether the blade has a straight or serrated edge. Straight-edged blades can be sharpened using any standard equipment but to sharpen a serrated blade use a sharpening system specifically designed for serrated edges.
  Note: sharpen serrated blades only on the edged side because sharpening the flat (back) side of the knife will cause the serrations to wear away, reducing the blade's effectiveness.
• If your tool becomes very dirty or rusted you can take your tool apart but be advised to draw a plan of exactly how it all goes together or you will end up with a nice and clean yet non-working multi-tool!

Be warned – you‘re likely to become extremely attached to your multi-tool and whip it out at any excuse to try and attract admiring comments from friends. A well treated quality tool will become a good friend for life. You may even collect a tale to submit to Leatherman’s collection of “tool tales”. So far they include true stories of tools ranging from freeing stuck aircraft wheels in flight to cutting loose boat anchors from sounding whales.

Multi-tools at Bivouac Outdoor

Our online and in-store multi-tool range features Leatherman and Gerber. We also stock Victorinox tools although, because they have no pliers and tend to be smaller in size, they are usually considered a “pocket knife” or “Swiss army knife”.