4 Months Carrying the Leatherman Arc. (4 reasons for & against getting one)
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- The Leatherman Arc is not for everyone. Hopefully this video will save everyone some time on figuring it out.
Scale Stickers (everyone Asks)
rippsgaragetech.com/products/...
Pete's review (Cedric & Ada Channel)
• Leatherman Arc: The Mo...
DBK's Review video (shows a lot)
• Leatherman Arc The ULT...
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Maxlvledc is a channel dedicated to exploring the tools we carry every day. I will be discussing bags, flashlights, knives, multitools, pen, wallets, key organizers, pry tools, functional clothing, watches, electronics, and much more. Because I also love to modify these items, there will be videos on tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, scissor, wrenches, and power tools.
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Leatherman blade upgrade kits would be amazing for existing tools.
Ebay and etsy is how up graded my wave to s30v. Etsy has a shop "austinschoolhouse" and a guy from Ukraine I can't remember his shop but he has awesome customer service. Usps lost a package and he sent me a new blade 3 days later.
That would be pretty cool. I upgraded the blade on my free p2 by purchasing a non-serated blade on eBay and swapping out the stock partial serrated blade. I think the blade I got came from a free t4 (one of their knife based tools)
@@jon27d very cool
What are those, do you have a link?
@@deniznarin Like I said WOULD. They don't have them
Thank you for mentioning the left handed point of view! ❤
It may be nice, shiny, new, latest & greatest… but it’ll never replace my Surge(s).
Agreed! Surge is king I don’t see what all the hype is about for this arc. I can do all this and more with my surge. I don’t care about having a magnacut blade on my multi tool. I have premium blade steel on my edc knives
@@HorsepowerHeaven the Surge is awesome. I think the only tool that can say they're on par with is the SpiritX. But I don't have a Spirit X so i can't compare
my surge is collecting dust in the drawer. i use my arc & free p4 way more than it but my spirits are still the best
@@nitric75 - send it to me if you don’t want it!
@@jarvisskooge8602 i just keep it as part of my MT collection since its the silver+black version but i am not going to use it. A disappointment i would say
Got an ARC when they 1st dropped and had a bit of buyers remorse. However after using it these past months that regret is 100% gone, the ARC is without question a great multitool. Zero regrets owning and worth the money.
I don't see any actual test videos. Have you put it through its paces pretty good?
Can confirm the left handed swap works perfect. First thing i did when i got it. The pivots are two screws in the barrel. If you can get the correct screw to loosen, you dont need to remove every implement to swap the saw and knife.
The bits/holder complaint frustrates me. Normally, if you get a tool that comes with bits whether it's a drill, a driver, or a socket set, it will come with storage for those bits. And the storage is always able to hold ALL the bits, not all minus one that needs to be kept in the tool, ALL. The Leatherman Arc is not an exception, the holder has space for all 10 bits the tool comes with INCLUDING the standard #1/#2/Flat bit that comes pre-installed in the tool, and the precision bit that is also already in the tool. This means that if you take a bit out, it has its own slot to go into in the holder, it doesn't need to be put in the slot that belongs to another bit in a game of "musical bit holders" - each bit has its own designated slot, even if one of them rarely lives there it should have that slot available. It comes with a holder for 10 bits and a precision bit, and it comes with ten bits and a precision bit - exactly correct. Bit kits only come with no open slots because they can't make assumptions about what you do/don't already have, the kit needs to be a complete stand-alone product.
Also I don't buy the argument of needing a spare precision bit, idk what you're planning to do with it that might bend/break it but you probably shouldn't have been doing it. By the same argument, it should come with a spare set of wire cutters but none of them do.
I somewhat understand the complaint about the kit being a mix of bits between the two normal kits, but we have to assume Leatherman chose what they thought was the most useful assortment without assuming the customer is going to buy additional accessories to "complete" the set. If all you ever bought was this tool with those bits, is it a good set? That's the question to ask. It might not be the best set for a given user, but it's probably supposed to be "best over all" but that's very subjective.
Honestly, the better argument is that they shouldn't have included the bits at all. Just sell the tool for less money, and let the customer buy a bit kit if I want it.
You’re opinion is not gooder than his one.
I have the Leatherman Arc and several other Leatherman multi-tools. I keep these in many of my different bags that I've set up to go for many-many years. For whatever reason however, the one Leatherman that I have carried for years and years...and years, is the the same Leatherman Surge. I'm a long-haul truck driver for a very long time, and a week does not go by where I haven't use this wonderful tool several times. I keep this in a Deadskin leather sheath (with its accessories), and the patina (on both the blade and the sheath) is really wonderful at this point, it really is a one of a kind look now, and I find it really cool to look at, and super functional now that it is so very well broken in. Of course it is a to each their own situation with these tools (as is the case with everything in life actually), and whatever tool an individual has dialed-in to their work situation every day is clearly the tool that works for them. For me, the Surge has handled the stress of jobs that may or may not be a bit more harsh on ones tool, and after all of these many-many years is still going strong... even after dealing with some of the wire locks on the back of the trailer upon arrival at some of the consignees across the country. At any rate, great review sir, I found it to be very thorough and informative. Please take care, and be well. 🤔
Truly honest long term review, thank you!
Thanks for the video Dominic! Personally the single handed deployment and the tool range did it for me.
Thanks for making this! Really appreciate the pros and cons. Too expensive and not enough of an improvement over my well worn Wave.
I thought this was really fair and balanced. The section on the pricing at the very end was well thought out. Nice done.
You're exactly right Dominic. I lost the micro bit from just using the pliers fencing. Also just like you said the new cutters are awful, when I'm cutting electric wire multiple times I don't want to waste time looking at where to position the wire in the cutters. I'm back to carrying the Spirit MX Clip, it's hard to beat and is my favorite.
Thanks for this review. It helped me to decide to wait on the arc, and hopefully in a year or two they will have worked some of the bugs out!
I've had countless Leathermans and this is by far my favorite. Rides clipped in my pocket, Bark River Bushcraft Scout on the hip. All my bases are covered. Worth every penny
Great video my man!!
Boy was I excited when the arc was coming out. I really thought I was going to turn in my old super tool 300 and get this new end all top tier tool … I’m glad I held off to hear what people thought on it first haha
Sure the super steel is a plus but I have a folder that I pair with my MT.
I can’t believe leatherman would not only give half sleeve missing sets of the bits but also the tremendous fail of the wire cutters. Such a damn shame
I will stick with my trusty ST300 for now haha.
I enjoy wearing this every day clipped to my kilt straps. No worries about pocket space and equally easy to grab at a moment's notice!
I reckon with a kilt all your tools are easy grab... lmao.. sorry couldn't resist the lob
@@ORVONTON64 lol I appreciate it, but I wear underwear at all times because I don't need HR on my ass lol
@@Hexsyn Just tell women not to look like they do to men.
Now after 3 years as the owner of a Leatherman, I have to say that the alloy of the metal used there is really inferior because after breaking the pliers several times, regardless of the model, I am not convinced of the quality of these multitools! I will buy and use Victorinox again in the future because their quality is much better.
which pliers vic u carry?
@ngwithipad : The last thing I wore was the Wave, where one of the jaws broke off the third time, even after the free repair from Leatherman Germany. Three times in a row doesn't speak for quality.Now I prefer the Victorinox Spirit X Plus.
I think whatever your doing requires a forged plier. You may be one of the people that would be better served carrying a dedicated plier like knipex 125 cobra.
Probably the most thoughtful, thorough, and honest review on the ARC. On another note, you are a little heavy-handed and overdramatic on the whole “you MUST carry this on your person” for it to be worth it. Really? People buy art that just sits on their walls and can cost thousands of dollars. We all do this with certain kinds of purchases, even the most no-nonsense blue-collar worker does this in their own way. There’s more to life than just pure function and value. Sometimes just fit and finish and the beauty of an object is enough to justify the price. $230? Literally just go out to eat two times less this year and you’ve paid for it. Now I agree that if a persons goal is pure value-to-usage ratio than you 100% correct. But as I said, that’s not the only factor that’s important when making a purchase. Also, “expensive” is completely relative and subjective based on a number of factors. Expensive compared to what? Many of the reviewers who balk at the ARC’s price have no problem dropping $200+ for a single fixed blade. I think we need to keep things in perspective.
Most of the people I talk to feel that $230 is massively expensive..but like you I think amortization, and If I use it regularly..I can probably justify it.
Thanks very complete. Ive carrird a leatherman in my pocket every day for years. Kids got it for me for fathersday. Recently misplaced. Just cant be without. Just orderd mine luckily my son in college & 30% discount was awesome. Cant wait. Start every day with surefire in left pocket & leatherman in right picket.
Hello. Really enjoying your videos. To me as a Canadian this is way too expensive. It is listed at $299.00 Cad and with taxes it would be $338.00 Cad. As a Canadian I would have to earn $500 at work to get enough after tax dollars to pay for this. I could buy a lot of tools for that kind of money. Who cares about Magnacut. To me it means nothing. A regular blade steel will last me a week of work and then sharpen the damn thing. No way I would pay that kind of money for a tool to perhaps be lost or stolen at work. Shelf Queen only if your a collector.
Go buy them tools then, any of them come with a 25 year warranty?
When you break it down it's costing less than 15 a year. For a tool that's going to.last and has a great warranty. Sorry your comment doesn't make sense, if it wasnt for the warranty I would agree with you.
fantastic. you helped me dodge a bullet. the cutters and Txx bits are among my most used tools. i'll pass until Leatherman gets this sorted.
Speaking as a man with an arc on his hip most of the time, I dont regret my purchase
i second this, i keep an arc on me for work at all times and its an absolute life saver
I third this. I use the Arc at work, I honestly don't think I can go back to my other plier multitools.
I agree. I had a hard time giving up my tti, but the Arc has found a home on my hip as well.
Have you been able to really test it since you've had it?
@@tophr2710 test? I use it daily
I feel like they had to discontinue the free p4 and p2 just so that people have to buy the 100 more arc
I’m starting to think the exact same thing considering it’s been out of stock on their website since before Christmas and hasn’t be in stock since and even stores that would sell them are out of stock
Went with the Garage 005 for the color scheme mostly. Do not like the gold colored blade, nor the stupid can opener. Everything else is decent, although to get a freely opening toolset one must keep the dust, grime, and stuff out of the channels and keep it oiled up or the toolsets do not freely rotate out. More so for those of us with wider fingers.
Most likely. The Arc's not worth the extra. I had one, used it for a week, and then sold it for the $120 they should be selling it for. I'd rather just get a Surge or something that doesn't flex like an Ozark Trail tool and break wire cutters on easy wire and have a custom blade maker make me Magnacut blades at 64+ HRC for it
Not buying the arc. The Surge blows it out of the water
Yes exactly this lol they just filling markets at this point
Great video, I carry a multitool on my hip every day at work . I have carried a Gerber Diesel for almost 8 years before the plier tip broke, I filled out the warranty page on the website but have heard nothing back. The price has gone up a great deal , so before I just instantly replaced it I started shopping around for newer better options. 200+$ seems high until you look at 5 work days a week times 52 weeks= 260. So it is less than a dollar a day , the first year. After that it is paid for. as long as the warranty holds. As a Technician/mechanic I have spent far more on tools I have used twice. I am concerned about the cutters as I don't need a notch to properly strip wire. Thanks, for your video.
Wife got me the arc as a Christmas gift. I will not leave my bedroom without that thing in my pocket. I’ve owned many multi-tools this in my opinion was the best one ever made.
Great review. Between my surge, wave, P4, Rebar, MUT, 3 different Juices’…i think i got it covered.
Thanks for the video! I love my P4 and would like to buy the Arc but with all my other Leatherman tools this is gonna wait…..but probably not for very long.
FYI I have the original Wave (not the +), and it is made in USA. It's nice to see stuff stamped with USA on it. =) Thank you for providing this video. I am contemplating on getting this. Currently have 3 Leathermans: Supertool (original), Supertool 200, and Wave (original). Personally none of my 3 tools can be considered one-handed. Even my Wave is difficult for 1-handed operation. ST 200 and it's unlocking mechanism is something to be desired. Original ST is rough on the hands when using the pliers. Of my 3, Wave is my favorite, and maybe adding the Arc may change my mind.
For that price, the Arc better be near-enough to perfect, and it doesn't look close.
Surge clones for the win!
I own almost every leatherman multi tool, some in duplicate. They will forever be shelved after receiving the arc as a gift from my wife for Christmas. Absolutely love it. But yes I agree, you have to be a person that carries a leatherman tool every day to appreciate it. I cannot say enough about the blades edge retention compared to the regular 420c. Even far superior to leathermans 154cm that's on my skelatool cx.
I bought 2 the day they were released and fidgeted with one I opened quite a bit. The biggest issue keeping me from carrying it around was the heavy weight. It’s excessive unless you wear a belt, and I never do. I sold one and the other sits on the shelf. The crappy cutters definitely helped take the fun out too. Nice vid covering extended use.
You never wear a belt???? Lol, even my bathing suit has a belt lol.
My first leatherman was a wave. The old one, without the bit driver. I upgraded to a surge. The old wave compared to the surge looks like a toy, the surge is meant for working.
If you actually use the saw a lot, the surge is king because you can change to any t-shaft saw blade. Also to the hss blades vor cutting metal. This is a feature the arc doesn´t have. I put some hss saws in the holster.
I have no idea if the magna cut is so much better than the blade steel used by the surge, but if it starts to become dull, i just sharpen it.
Yes, the arc is lighter, but i dont care. Got used to the weight of the surge on my belt and feel naked without it.
carried a leatherman, every single day of my life since my first one, bought on a visit to the US in 1984 carried one ever since. at home at work. have the original, wave, supertool and surge, and MUTnever seen the need to replace the surge still use it daily
well done, very in-depth review
Great video, thank you for your time.
I'll wait to see what Roxon has next before swiping my card
On a plus side is ammount of 3rd parry addons that i dont think any other LM has. Hehe. Keep em coming! (Like my studs from Kristen Van Patten)
It may be nice, shiny, new, latest & greatest… but it’ll never replace my Wawe(s).
Imagine if Leatherman would make a left handed tool. What a game changer. Putting that out there…
Im staying with my Surge, Knipex set and Esee Fixed blades.
Unless I'm mistaken, the gap at the bottom edge of the cutters (in the pliers) is designed to be a wire stripper?
I've had my arc about as long as you have, and I carry it every day, though in my bag. maybe that doesn't count, I don't care. I didn't even realize the problem with the wire cutters because I hardly ever use them, but I now know I've got the bad ones and will replace them. I haven't needed to use the hammer end, but I'll definitely be wary of the bits coming out. overall very helpful review even for someone already carrying one
I have carried a leatherman daily for the last 20 years. Wave, Charge, Charge Ti, Free P4, and now the Arc. I say I love the Arc. It reminds me of why I loved the Charge so much. The tool set. I have moved my P4 to my EDC bag so it's available but my Arc is my new daily.
The tool set and the one handed access is what does it for me. If it was $100 cheaper and it had the regular steel blade that would be even better❤
If the ARC want to be the Charge of Free platform and leave the Wave platform in the past, Leatherman needs to get Wave and Surge substitutes in Free platform.
Ive replaced my Charge TTI with the ARC a few months ago. My only complaint is the pocket clip is weak. I broke 2 by snagging it on something while just walking around. Im now belt carrying it with a lanyard. Still annoyed about the clip, though.
I see that the P2 and P4 are zvailable on amazon canada at least.
Great review of the pros and cons!
For the bit kit (this is just a thought/guess), i wonder if only some of the bits are made in USA which is why theyre not a full half of the set.
Hey! Out of interest, how old were you when you started EDC-ing a multitool in '99? Also I was wondering if you'd seen Jon Gadget's new video on leatherman accessories?
Definitely! Jon is amazing. And I was just a teenager
@@maxlvledc ah right haha that makes more sense. You look young bro! I was imagining a 5 year old bringing in a leatherman wave to kindergarten every day lmao
I’ll stick with my Wave+ and Swisstool Spirit X. Both together including a Rebar bit kit that works with both, cost me less than the Arc.
Right my Wave is a beast I replaced the pliers for the Rebar pliers and it's unstoppable. Also I bought the s30v blade from a guy on esty and leathermans s30v is better than my Benchmade's
I am so happy with my 2nd gen Wave for edc. I also use the st300 for work(got the bad cutters and replaced them for the good ones and now it cuts welding wire like a dream).
I was tempted by this tool, but honestly, a magnacut blade is not justification enough for me to replace my Wave as my edc. I'll stick to 420hc since is just so easy to sharpen back to shaving sharp. I don't need such an overkill steel for cutting open silly stuf like small boxes or packages.
For outdooring I have my F1x in Elmax and my freep4 so... yeah, no reason for me to spend 300€ in this tool.
I've carried a Leatherman Kick since 2006, and was planning on saving up to finally replace it with one of these. However, I am now thinking custom SAK. I don't use the pliers heavy enough that pliers on a custom Cybertool with a spyderco blade. I'd rather have Spydercos heat treat than Leatherman, I think... Thanks for the great info!
I know a lot of people will complain about that gap on the bottom of the cutters but honestly I think it's some type of wire stripper I use it all the time for stripping wire and it's the easiest way to take the plastic off the wire
Sorry, not letting them off the hook for bad design.
I like the toolset on the arc, probably would fit me almost as well as the rebar/supertool does. Definitely better than the wave/charge. A Surge i think would be ideal for myself as well but idk if I want that big of a tool on me all the time. I think if they also gave the option for a less premium steel, even just their 420 as an option on the arc for 40 or 50 less dollars, id be more inclined to get one. I dont need a fancy steel even on my regular pocket knife, theyre nice to have and i do have them. I dont need it, and sometimes dont want to pay for it. I understand the pricing on the Arc as well and it isnt bad considering the knife, plus the combination of other tools each adding some money on their own plus the magnets for the free architecture cost something. Probably be down to wave-ish pricing if you tool all that away and made it a regular 420hc non magnetic model. Plus it being actually made in the USA adds quite a bit of cost too with todays economy and wages and inflation and stuff constantly changing. That said it probably is worth it either way even if it is expensive, and i still want one and would definitely use it as a single edc item. Although I do use the serrated blade on my rebar enough to want to keep it, so maybe a small serrated spyderco dropped in the pocket just in case, or deal without it i suppose. No one multitool will ever perfectly match everyones needs and the tool itself or amy multitool is a bunch of compromises rolled into a pocketable form.
very good video! i would love a video about mods for the arc! greetings
As an arc user, I would keep this any day over the surge and other leatherman tools I have.
They're still selling the Free K2 series of knives, so it's not the only LM that's made in the USA. Oddly enough, LM is selling their Free P2 & P4 on Amazon Canada as I write this, may 22nd/'24.
I want the Arc for the thumb stud on the blade. Finally they made a tool where it's easy to open the blade.
I love my Arc, been carrying it every day, but I've been having nitpicks with the blade ever since messing around with it. Like you said, since it's Magnacut it does not need to be nearly as thick as it is, but I feel like they could also lop off a huge portion of the spine so it's not sticking out of the handle so much. The thumbstud also feels like it should be way closer to the pivot to get a more consistent action when flicking the blade open, as opposed to slow-rolling it. Everything else about the Arc's tools I've been able to enjoy, but the blade right now is just a shoddy backup for my primary blade 😅
The Wave is the best. I’ve had it for 15 years and sent it back twice for warranty. They sent me back a new one.
Thumbstud was my reason to buy it... magna cut was the bonus... because i was very happy for a long time with the 134cm from the skeletool...
Damn, good points, useful.
- I think the bit kit logic is that the 10th bit is the one placed inside the tool. Still, missed opportunity.
- 240 dollars? Right now I'm looking at 300 EURO at the German Store :D
- These damn cutters..... mine have a visible gap between the blades by now (old Signal model), so I'm used to the incomplete cuts ,-)
- Sounds like they use new cool materials while they mess up basics like heat threatening (twice!)
I haven't looked for a while at the sortiment. Now I'm gifting my Signal to my mentee and it feels awkward looking for a new one. All choices are "ok", but don't feel really much better than the Signal, for almost literally twice the price. Arc vs. Signal.
Which one would you buy or recommend these days? Or what are the arguments, besides the specific use cases?
Atm, my only sure goto is the swisstool spirit mx clip
Here is another thought, I like the fact that you can use a bit in the plier head on the sog power pint. What if Leatherman made it so you could just use the bits and the extension in this way and put the t shank holder in it instead. Now that would be a game changer.
Victorinox swiss champ with knipex pliers all I need.
I bought so many different multi tools but when I got a Victorinox the rest seemed not worth it. I still like them though and do carry them. Just not as much as my Victorinox.
Still waiting for roxon flex though to try it out.
I've used the MUT for about 15 years, mainly for the gun specific bits.
Now I'm back to being an unarmed civilian, I'm considering a new multitool...
Looks like a nice upgrade... but expensive!!!...
PS: where did you get the camo scales?
Link in Description
I was looking this, but I have a Surge. I like the one hand opening, but not sure if it would be worth it?
Does the magnacut blade from the Arc fits the Free P4 ?, can it be swapped??? I really like the P4 personally big time….
The Leatherman warranty is now 40 years!
Had to double check, got my rebar at the end of 2020, If I ever need a replacement cutter I hope it’s not the worse one
I love my Leatherman ARC It's everything I wanted in the free series, but after Leatherman has given us everything we wanted I have a better appreciation to what the Leatherman free P4 was going for.
I’ve had a leatherman for years 20 plus but can not take it out side in the UK as it safety feature (locking blade) makes it illegal. I apparently need a REALLY good reason lol.
Hey, Maxlvl, I have a question. How do these compare to the GOAT tool? I don't remember the price of that one, and it looks like a worthy competitor.
Very different
I’ve been carrying a multitool on my belt since 1995, almost 30 years. I agree, if you aren’t going to carry this tool and use it everyday, don’t buy it. For me, it is everything I ever wanted in a Leatherman tool.
I don’t even own a leatherman. I’m more of a victorinox+dedicated folding knife guy. But I appreciate your critique of leatherman as it currently stands. I think the arc and other plier based multitools are cool but they are too heavy and bulky for my taste.
My homemade multiplier uses standard driver bits from any hardware store. Is big enough for my hands , has excellent leverage with the full size pliers to easily use any socket set to drive 3 to 6 inch lag bolts into wall studs. I find i slightly larger homemade multiplier is much better than multipliers made smaller that are the whole market
I hadn't carried a multi-tool in over 20 years and back then it was a Gerber.I kept seeing ads for the Arc on Facebook and decided to take the plunge. With the 30% discount Leatherman offers for first responders/teachers/military/medical staff it brought the cost down to about $170. Without the discount after tax is closer to $250. So far I love the Arc and how easy it is to open the pliers and tools. What I hate is the sheath......well all of their sheaths. I want to carry the Arc horizontal/scout vs vertical. I ordered the XL molle sheath and it arrived today which I thought would work but the molle straps are just too narrow to fit a 1.5" belt through the loops. Also the elastic on the sides is so big you can't fit the bit extender into it. It's like tossing a hot dog down a hallway (I heard that from a comedian about a different subject years ago hehehe). I tried using velcro belt keepers but they're so flimsy I'm about to try and make my own from thicker nylon and actual Velcro brand hook & loop to go through the belt loop on the original sheath and attach it to mt belt.
I forgot to mention that I had signed up for the Leatherman Insider Rewards so that gets me the 40 year warranty vs the 25 year warranty. 40 years from today I'd be 92 years old so this Arc may very well outlast me.
Nice! And yea, the sheaths are trash
Great honest review. I have just ordered one, where did you get the customised handle covers?
Link in Description
@@maxlvledc I should have checked there first, thank you for responding :D
I bought an ark, and for a little over a month I went with it instead of my old Surge.
1) It clicks cool, the sounds are divine, a very cool “toy”
2) very easy movement of the tools, almost everything is as easy as on an old, already slightly “loose” multitool.
but I resold it, simply because:
1) the magnets collected so much debris that, with a lighter weight, it was not possible to carry the ARK in a work pocket, I had to forget about this pocket for everything else
2) It literally feels more flimsy and has a little play (I noticed this back in the store, having tried several copies, I realized that this minimal play is the norm for them)
3) price....Yes, I can’t say that I don’t have the money to afford an ARK, no, that’s not the point.
It’s just that the very essence of multitools is - pragmatism, as for me. And why do I need a multitool at double the price if it’s almost the same as the old Surge that can do everything the same? get promblems with cleaning(coz magnets) for the sake of sounds and toys + pay double the price for it? I don't see the point.
Thanks for this. A GOOD, RELIABLE wire cutter is one of my major needs. I don't need it often, but it would be worth the price if the cutter was better. However one of my cutting needs is for high tensile stainless steel electric fence wire which is about twice the diameter of a clothes hanger wire, so unless multitool cutters can come in cobalt like the dedicated cutter we have I likely will have to spend for another dedicated cutter. I have yet to see a multitool cutter which will even dent the stuff. Other than that it total tool inventory is just about perfect.
I was also reminded of a video you did maybe a year ago about a patent Leatherman had filed in Australia for a more Wave like tool. Did that ultimately result in the Arc, or is that still coming somewhere down the line?
What do you think of the Dual force??
Looking at it. I wish the cutters had replaceable blades and that they were at the base of the other side of the hinge. I need to call Gerber and point blank ask them about the pure cutting ability. Maybe even offer to send them a piece of that wire.
@user-hk7ej1ft7r you can get speedsteel cutters for the Gerber that will kick but
I was not aware that the Dual Force has replaceable cutter. Not apparent in pics or reviews. Must have missed something
For cutting twice the size of a coat hanger i´d recommend the Leatherman surge.
If you cant cut it with the pliers you still could change the wood saw to a hss saw blade and use that on your thick wire.
Not gonna lie, ever since I picked up the OZT Multiforce, on your recomendation I will add :), its really hard for me to look at $150 - $200+ tools with any kind of serious interest. I am not the target market for these things, and I MUCH prefer the full 1/4 bit driver without modding my tool.
I love my ARC. It replaced my Charge TTi. I had a Free P4 that I just didn't like that much and it donated its cutters for the cause. I have Zapwizard's holster and the 711L ratchet and the bit extender. All that stuff makes for a really nice EDC tool kit on my belt. Would buy it all again if I lost it somehow.
How hard is it to swap tools between a Free P4 and the ARC? I've never used the saw in my P4, I use the 420HC Serrated Knife more. I'd want to swap those, and somehow swap the Package Opener from the P4 for something in the ARC.
100% possible. Quite easy
Holy crap! 230 bucks is ridiculous.. coming from buying waves and supertool for under 100..nah... going with that other thing you've demo'd on your channel if i need a new one.. glad i still have my other two.. they are still in perfect shape after 10+ years
I’ve had a Leatherman Wave on my belt for years. I even took up leather working to make my own Sheaths, one that held one of the bit kits, a Flashlight and a pen. Issue is I’ve had one stolen and I’ve miss placed another.(work hazard) Replacing them becomes quite costly. I don’t even want to think about how pissed I’d be if a $200+ dollar tool was lost or stolen. I just got a previously owned Free P2… I wish it were an Arc. I miss my bits. Still on the fence.😊
Is the pouch capable of carrying the complete bit kit if i were to by the whole kit?
I found an inexpensive (~$40) Chinese multitool that had a hammerhead and a small axe head. It just has a basic tool set but when I know I might need to pound something it is good enough to bring with. Using an expensive multitool as a hammer does not feel right.
Thenks Mate , for explaining the pros and cons of Arc, rhe learherman Arc is overpriced in Australia 500 $, for a Multitool.
I Have the leathermans Surge ,Wave ,Charge TTI and Sogs power assist ,they are the best to work in field ,also no issues of attracting iron fillings etc ,I think . Created a Overpriced product ,posibly due to competition's from Sog ,Gerber ,walmart and cheaper chinese clone versions. 🤑
Do you know anything about the steel hardness in the file ? As much as I believe Victorinox doesn’t make a bad tool
I was very disappointed to find there files are not hard enough to sharpen the edges of an ax or any tool steel. This
got me wondering if Leatherman files have the same problem ? Obviously the diamond side would be hard enough
but of limited use because of the fine grit.
I've used them to literally modify hardened steel knife blades...they are much better..in large part because of the diamond files
I love the free series. I have the wave, surge and other variants. Once I put the free series in hand I loved it. I’ve been considering upgrading to the ARC, but I don’t know if it’s worth the cost of 2 free P2/P4’s. lol. However I really do miss the bit drivers (used to on the wave/surge. I would love to have that again with the free series.
I only paid $160.96 on Leatherman's site with a military discount. For that price, it is well worth it!
Good vid I replaced my wave+ with the arc. It’s leagues ahead of the wave+. It doesn’t even compare. Also, in regards to the cutter point.. I mean, it makes sense. Why would they replace something that isn’t or didn’t break?
No idea...so dumb
I wish they would get rid of the serrated knife on the Rebar,....and replace it with a big scissors like this one....Will the ARC scissor fit on a Rebar?
Nope
The Magnacut will cost a lot more to process if it's heat treated to a high rockwell hardness. This soft heat treatment -- does it cost any more to process? Don't know, but I'm not seeing why it would.
I wasn't factoring in increasing cost of HT, only coating, material, belts, and labor for working with high vanadium steel. I agree it would have been even more expensive with a good HT.
It will never cut anything in that notch. And it's not a wire stripping notch either. I work with wires and you're right, i don't want to have to stop and line up a piece of wire to cut. It should be a no brainer. I got $10 pliers that will cut a coat hanger
I came from the Gerber Center Drive. You talk about junk cutters, that thing was terrible. I knew they would be fragile and never used them for anything but copper wire and they still broke. The Arc is $80 or so more and worth evey penny.
I carry a multi tool to feel like macgyver.
I carry the Surge every day on my belt and that'll be the one till the day I die.
I bought the charge tti love it i was going for toughness durability when i got it over the convince of the free series works good for what i use it for and alot of things at home and work
As a Charge user with that exact single bit kit (instead of the double one) I must say it's actually very good. It's good enough for 99% of the work and I must say that I actually find the double bit kit (which I bought for myself last Christmas) more annoying than useful - it's just more things to be careful not to loose and those additional bit are not that needed on everyday basis.
Still love the SOG power plier head. Can't wait until the patent runs out on that.
I just had a thought. What if you could get an arch with two blade. One in the magna cut and another in the regular steel but in a different shape like a tonto or another shape. And add the hook on top like the charge. That hook is such a good package opener.
I can never tell for sure in the video because it's so quick, is he actually flicking the blade open? Or is his thumb on the stud the whole way? I can't get mine to flick open, and I don't really see how one could manage it, but I keep seeing videos where it looks like that's what's happening. Am I crazy?
I'm flicking it..but I admit it's not super easy to do.
@@maxlvledc Wow. How are you overcoming the resistance from the lock bar? The harder I try to flick the closer my thumb comes to getting cut open, lol.