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Multi-tools |
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Leatherman Juice C2. Comes with
needle-nose pliers. Straight knife, wire cutters, hardwire cutters extra
small, medium, large and Phillips screwdrivers. Bottle/Can opener,
lanyard attachment and corkscrew
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You know
what it’s like, you’re in the middle of a field and you suddenly need
a pair of pliers, scissors or a knife for that emergency repair. Many of
us used to carry something like a Swiss Army knife around for all the
various tools they included: such as screwdrivers, scissors, saw, file
etc.
However
these knives never had a pair of really good pliers, a means to grip and
turn things. With the arrival of the multi-tool you can now get a combined
full size needle nose pliers (some with wire cutters and a conventional
gripping area) plus the most essential tools found in a typical Swiss Army
style knife. What’s
more these tools will fold all together in a pocket sized package that
fits into pouch carried on your belt. The multi-purpose tool market is
awash with an array of models to choose from. All of the manufacturers
have produced different models from four to fourteen functions in them and
you can pay accordingly. The
average multi-purpose includes in a single package at least one knife
blade, pliers, and other tools such as multiple screwdriver blades, file,
tin opener, and possibly scissors. These tools now come in a range of
sizes and colours to suit the workshed or the handbag. The
multi-purpose tools we’ve looked at are capable, well made, and are
handy around work and home. However with such a massive variety to select
from it’s important to identify what features are most important to you,
then select the one that has those features included. They
also come in different sizes so if you don’t want one hanging on your
belt you can keep it in your shirt pocket.
Do make sure you have a locking function for the blades and
implements. This prevents the blade from folding when in use and causing
serious injury. We found too
during the tests that a Phillips screw driver blade incorporated in the
tool made an awful lot of difference. Some
of these tools have what is known as one hand opening which means you can
flick them open with one hand whilst the other holds a piece of wire or
line. The bottom line is that how useful a tool is to going to be to you
depends upon the type, number, size, and design of the blade(s) and other
implements.
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