My SOG EOD multitool experience

by **Dabster** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:56 am

(TL:DR? Relevant part of this post starts in the fifth paragraph.)

Is 'multitool' a generic term? Apologies in advance if it isn't..

I have and am completely satisfied with a Gerber multi, however I have wanted another for EDC. Lo' and behold one of those retail sites had a deal. I quickly placed my order.

When it arrived, I asked my wife to hide it until my birthday because I knew we would be busy moving to a new house and it would probably be the only present I'd get.

Do you recall the move? Last night we were getting the clothes dryer set up -this required some re-wiring. Wouldn't you know it: no $&(#* tools! Finally my wife realized my present was nearby and brought it out. I kind of like presents and surprises, so I left it to her to finish the job.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how this turns out) it was on top of the dryer with the screw driver out when she pushed the dryer into place, It fell onto the ground and broke the screw driver!

The fall was about 36 inches onto linoluem over concrete but we were both appalled that it broke.

Is anyone else shocked by this or is this typical for a light-weight multipurpose tool? Perhaps a deeper question: Would you look into replacing it or try to fix it?

If I keep it, I will update this thread with my SOG experience.

Thanks,

by **Frank** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:05 am

I bought the same model, had it for about a week...then i got rid of it.

the pliers were pretty good, but everything else sucked major ass.
the little covers that went over the tools always shifted whenever i applied pressure to the handles.
the knife was practically just for show, i'm not too much of a knife snob, but the grind was horrible. (and hollow ground)
it was heavy as shit.
the saw blade was too small too accomplish anything.
blade play.
and i had to apply pressure to the locking mech. to make sure the tools weren't going anywhere.

by **aus.templar** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:09 am

Shouldn't have broken in my opinion... My Leatherman Wave got left on the top of an armoured vehicle, vehicle took off and the LM.Wave fell off (2 metres-ish) onto hard rock... then got driven over by a truck. It had some scratches on it and was a little dusty but nothing broken.

here · by **oldsoldier** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:38 am

I personally carry the Leatherman Supertool 300. I picked up an aftermarket case for it, that has 2 side loops for holding small items. I have a Maratac flachlight in 1, and the other is currently empty. This is probably the biggest leatherman they make-but, it gets used a lot. I have it on my hip, so, weight is not really a factor. Granted, I wouldnt carry it in my pocket though. But, I wanted something robust, with a good philips head, a useable saw, a decent file, and great pliers-and got exactly that. To be honest, I could do without the blade, as I always have a pocketknife on me. If that were an option, I certainly would have gone with that. I have owned Gerbers, SOGs, and Leatherman tools-by far, I am a fan of Leatherman ones.

by **Shroud** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:04 pm

I have an SOG multitool but I haven't given it enough use to really judge it. I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere though about someone having a problem with one of the tools and SOG sent them out a replacement (not the whole thing, just the tool in question). You might try giving them a call and see what they say.

by **ninja-elbow** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:44 pm

The screw driver should not be breaking after a 3 foot drop onto a linoleum floor. Send it back to SOG and see what their CS has to offer you.

by **Dabster** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:15 am

My wife already called and purchased a replacement part. I will fix it and report back on its performance. Guilt certainly is a motivator...

Holding it and playing with it, I am impressed. It seems like the kind of tool Darth Vader would carry, if he carried tools.

More later,

by **kcor_77** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:21 pm

aus.templar wrote:Shouldn't have broken in my opinion... My Leatherman Wave got left on the top of an armoured vehicle, vehicle took off and the LM.Wave fell off (2 metres-ish) onto hard rock... then got driven over by a truck. It had some scratches on it and was a little dusty but nothing broken.

Sounds like my wave been through two deployments and has survived. I have a sog not sure which model and not a big fan. The sog is a good tool don't get me wrong way better than a gerber by any means. I just can't keep an edge on the blades. I have a hard time believing it broke from a short fall. I mean it doesn't sound possible at all. There could have been a flaw in the metal. I have no way to explain it at all. It does suck in a bad way that your tool broke.

by **squinty** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:47 am

kcor_77 wrote:
aus.templar wrote:Shouldn't have broken in my opinion... My Leatherman Wave got left on the top of an armoured vehicle, vehicle took off and the LM.Wave fell off (2 metres-ish) onto hard rock... then got driven over by a truck. It had some scratches on it and was a little dusty but nothing broken.

Sounds like my wave been through two deployments and has survived. I have a sog not sure which model and not a big fan. The sog is a good tool don't get me wrong way better than a gerber by any means. I just can't keep an edge on the blades. I have a hard time believing it broke from a short fall. I mean it doesn't sound possible at all. There could have been a flaw in the metal. I have no way to explain it at all. It does suck in a bad way that your tool broke.

I want to get the leatheman charge tti 'cause of the cool titanium handles, gut hook and S30v knife blade. But I haven't been able to break my Wave, and if I do, I've still got 15 years of warranty on the sucker.

Save up. Get a Leatherman.

by **spyderco monkey** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:16 pm

The SOG tools are apparently suffering from catastrophic failures:

http://mail.myptsmail.com/mercop/blog/?p=1701

Mercop's pliers snapped off!! Just from trying to extract as shell casing.

I'm sorry your gift was a lemon man, that sucks. I'de try for a refund; if not, get a replacement and sell it immediately.

Leatherman is really the only name in the game when it comes to pliers based multitools.

by **Benbrutal** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:35 pm

I bought the SOG multitool with the cutters instead of pliers. First time I went to cut something, in this case a 1/8th inch tie wrap, one of the jaws broke off! :evil:

Then I contacted SOG, and they just ignored me, after 4 emails, I just gave up and will never get anything from them again, nor will I be recommending them to anyone I know.

by **URBAN ASSAULT** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:56 pm

oldsoldier wrote:I personally carry the Leatherman Supertool 300. I picked up an aftermarket case for it, that has 2 side loops for holding small items. I have a Maratac flashlight in 1, and the other is currently empty. This is probably the biggest Leatherman they make-but, it gets used a lot. I have it on my hip, so, weight is not really a factor. Granted, I wouldn't carry it in my pocket though. But, I wanted something robust, with a good Phillips head, a usable saw, a decent file, and great pliers-and got exactly that. To be honest, I could do without the blade, as I always have a pocketknife on me. If that were an option, I certainly would have gone with that. I have owned Gerbers, SOGs, and Leatherman tools-by far, I am a fan of Leatherman ones.

I believe the Leatherman Surge(which I own and pocket carry every day... yeah, I'm stubborn :lol:

), is currently the largest Multi-tool they sell.

Love the heavy damn thing, literally use it every day for something.

-urban

by **mystic_1** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:03 pm

Only tangentially related but I'm not too thrilled with SOG these days

Turns out the "Fusion" in "Sog Fusion Fixation Bowie" refers to the fact that the tangs are welded onto the blades.

mystic_1

by **Dooms** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:23 pm

I'll echo what's been said here, in that, after owning multi-tools from all the major manufacturers, I like Leatherman. My Supertool 300 fell from a scissor lift ~30ft in the air onto concrete with only a small scuff.

The caveat to that, though, is the Juice line. For some reason I haven't had any luck with the Juice models, and I've owned four of them.

by **dustycanuck** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 8:03 pm

Gerber 600 - has always worked fine. Used it to try and fix the power window switch in the van last night. Tool was fine; switch was toast.

SOG Powerlock - no probs yet, but still 'new'. Pliers are hard-core, but less then impressed with the 'V' cutter. Really had to yank on a pc of 55o to cut it, but haven't tried it on webbing yet.

Like everything about my Leatherman Wave, and it's been flawless.

EDC a Juice X6 - no one seems to blink at a purple multitool, so that's good, but I was a knob and over-squeezed the pliers. Still work, but I'm worried they give up.

Leatherman squirt, plier, scissors, or the wire stripper version are all good. Gave the scissors versions out as groomsmen gifts at our wedding.

I think that's it.

My name is dustycanuck, and I am a multi-tool geek.

by **Kabong30** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:51 pm

SOG's fusion line is pretty low end crap.

I was shocked to see those broken pliers though, and the screwdriver is the same story. Hit up SOG, I'm sure they'll replace it. For my part I carry two multitools in my EDC a Leatherman Surge and a SOG Power Assist, both really awesome in my estimation. I'd trade 'em both for a MUT though LOL.

by **KaceCoyote** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 2:58 am

I've had 2 powerlocks, and both have withstood significant abuse. The first one finally died after maybe six years of daily abuse, and it was the first model with the exposed gears and the longer handle covers ect. I've never experienced any failures of any kind, and swear by mine. I've looked at the leathermans, but its tough for me to get the tools out with my fat fingers.