The times a multi tool has been exactly what I needed in a pinch are too high to count. I believe everyone should own a multi tool. Even someone with little experience in do- it-yourself, repairs, or any form of mechanics or construction can find value in having a multi tool around the house. In fact, if you aren’t going to keep a tool box in your home or apartment, then you should at the minimum have a multi tool handy.
With this being said it’s easy to make the mistake of buying the first multi tool you see in the dollar store. These are often cheap and break pretty fast, the knife and saw blades will dull and be nearly useless. The pliers will bend, the wire cutters will barely cut paper, and the screw driver will be a joke. A quality Leatherman packed to the brim with tools is a much better option for only slightly more than the cheapo tool.
The Leatherman Wave is the most popular multi tool Leatherman has. The Wave is the perfect representation of Leatherman products. The quality, tools, and price have made this a favorite Leatherman. This multi tool is a perfect jack of all trade style tools and it is not designed with a specialty use, but for any kind of use.
The Wave is a very solid tool, even when placed under stress it does not give the feeling of bending or straining. The tool is tough and solid. Because of the solid construction and frame, the Wave does come in at a hefty eight ounces. Eight ounces is slightly on the heavy side when riding in the pocket, but once placed in a pouch becomes much more comfortable. This tool is designed to be carried when it’s going to be used. As an everyday carry tool it’s a bit much. custom multi tool
The Wave features an impressive 17 tools. Basically, you have a small tool box in your pocket. Like I said, if you don’t carry a multi tool and you’re not too handy this is a great tool to keep in the drawer or the closet just in case. A major addition to this design is the fact all the tools lock. This is extremely handy, and much safer when dealing with sharp tools.
The Pliers are tough and the body of the multi tool makes an awesome grip. The pliers definitely feel strong and the ridges guarantee a sure grip. The solid construction of the tool gives me a lot of confidence when twisting, pulling, or bending with these pliers. The wire cutters are longer than earlier Waves models and work very well. I tested the wire cutter with some old wire hangers. First, I started with one to see the result, it was smooth and fast. Later, I began adding additional strands to test the toughness. They cut whatever I threw at them, and cut it quick. The only problem I had with the wire cutters is they aren’t replaceable. So you need to use them properly in order to avoid damages.
The tools also feature a double sided file, one side for wood and one side for metal. I didn’t have much to do for the wood file so I used it to smooth out a corner on my workbench and it worked well. Like all multi tool files its short so you have to put in some extra time. I used the metal file to smooth a burr on a revolver base pin that was bothering me. The file worked perfectly for the small job.
