Leatherman Rebar - The Sofirn of multitools?

chip100t

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It helps if you use the correct tool for the job.
Knives are for cutting, screw drivers are for driving screws and pry bars are for prying. When you start interchanging these tools and jobs it's a surefire way to lose a tip.

If you're in the middle of nowhere without the correct tool and the job has to get done, do it but at your tools peril. Otherwise go to your truck/shed/toolbox and get the correct tool.
 

dmenezes

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Otherwise go to your truck/shed/toolbox and get the correct tool.

But where would be the fun in that? :)

Seriously, of course you're correct. But I vividly remember the stories Leatherman published in their website by the time I bought mine (2000/2001) from people in dire situations using their Leathermans in the craziest and most inappropriate ways possible, much more so than what @fulee9999 did, and escaping unscratched (both them and their tools) to tell the tale.

I can't help thinking quality/robustness went worse since then.
 

fulee9999

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It helps if you use the correct tool for the job.
Knives are for cutting, screw drivers are for driving screws and pry bars are for prying. When you start interchanging these tools and jobs it's a surefire way to lose a tip.

If you're in the middle of nowhere without the correct tool and the job has to get done, do it but at your tools peril. Otherwise go to your truck/shed/toolbox and get the correct tool.

I completely agree with you, that's why I use my multitools as multitools. Good for everything, good at nothing, sort of jack of all trades, master of none. If I need to do a serious job, I go get my tool for the job, but I can't run around getting my screwdriver for the door handle then go get a knife for a box of tiles then go get a wrench for a nut/valve, you get the idea...

Also I wouldn't be complaining if
1, The knife wouldn't break apart when just cutting things... No knife did that to me before, hopefully none will do ever again
2, The screwdriver was used with the knowledge that it is not a pry bar, and I gave it waaaay less than a flathead screw of that size would have given it... So if god forbid I were to use it as intented it probably would have just chipped the end of the screwdriver sending small metal shards everywhere. It failed horribly, way before the reasonable amount of stress was applied to it, and it didn't fail safely, as in it should have bent ( in my opinion ).

Edit: Also it's worth mentioning, I've been using a victorinox multitool for a while now, and this Rebar got the same exact treatment. Used, but cleaned and oiled as necessary. On my vic the only obvious sign of use is the small scratchy sound the blade lock makes because of some residual dry wall powder I forgot to clean properly last time. Oh wait, no, I remembered, on the electrical stuff screw you can see a 2-3 degree deformation of the head as one time I got a bit overzealous tightening a door knob staggering screw to the point the screw started to deform, but I had to look really hard to see it. But that's it.
 
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dmenezes

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Also I wouldn't be complaining if
There's definitely something amiss here, I don't think your Leatherman should have broke even once, much less twice. I've subjected mine to much worse over those 20+ years and never had any issues. They're is supposed to be strong tempered stainless steel after all, and true good steel doesn't break like that.

Where did you purchase your Leatherman? Are you sure it's genuine? Crooks are faking just about everything these days, wouldn't surprise me too much if they're churning out fake Leathermans too...
 

fulee9999

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Where did you purchase your Leatherman? Are you sure it's genuine? Crooks are faking just about everything these days, wouldn't surprise me too much if they're churning out fake Leathermans too...

An outdoor/camping shop had an opening sale, it's a physical shop where they sell camping/hiking equipment but they have a webshop as well, which is where I bought it. Unfortunately I threw away the box, because from what I've heard I never figured I'd need to worry about warranty, but everything seemed legit about the packaging.
 

chip100t

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I don't wish to call you a liar. But I struggle to see how that knife lost its tip if you did not apply any twisting force..

I worked as a carpenter for many years and always carried a wave on my belt or in my pocket and used it hard but never broke it , I fact the only Tool I can remember breaking is the head of a pozi driver when I was putting way to much torque through it when I should of backed the screw out and put some dish soap on it.

My brother on the other hand, I don't think there is a tool he has not broken as he is both ham fisted and lazy when it came to going and getting a more appropriate tool.

He used screwdrivers as chisels. And chisels as cold chisels. And no nut or bolt remained unchewed as why use a set of spanners when a set of plumbers grips would do.

I was a regular on a multitool forum and one guy came on and after buying and breaking several multitools from several brands. I can only surmise he had unrealistic expectations of the strength of steel and also steel tends to flex before breaking so I don't understand how he could not judge that he was using too much force.
 

chip100t

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An outdoor/camping shop had an opening sale, it's a physical shop where they sell camping/hiking equipment but they have a webshop as well, which is where I bought it. Unfortunately I threw away the box, because from what I've heard I never figured I'd need to worry about warranty, but everything seemed legit about the packaging.
Don't worry about the box. Leatherman have an excellent no quibble warranty service.
 

fulee9999

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I don't wish to call you a liar. But I struggle to see how that knife lost its tip if you did not apply any twisting force..

I worked as a carpenter for many years and always carried a wave on my belt or in my pocket and used it hard but never broke it , I fact the only Tool I can remember breaking is the head of a pozi driver when I was putting way to much torque through it when I should of backed the screw out and put some dish soap on it.

My brother on the other hand, I don't think there is a tool he has not broken as he is both ham fisted and lazy when it came to going and getting a more appropriate tool.

He used screwdrivers as chisels. And chisels as cold chisels. And no nut or bolt remained unchewed as why use a set of spanners when a set of plumbers grips would do.

I was a regular on a multitool forum and one guy came on and after buying and breaking several multitools from several brands. I can only surmise he had unrealistic expectations of the strength of steel and also steel tends to flex before breaking so I don't understand how he could not judge that he was using too much force.

Ok, so to paint a full picture here. A tile was silicone caulked to a bathrom drain cover. I removed the draincover with the tile glued to it. Held the unholy tile/steel sandwhich in my hand, got my multitool out, did the reverse sword in the stone, started cutting away the caulk, the blade deep into the small hole between the two surfaces, handle deep into it . Started cutting, removed the blade, hulk on the two pieces, not coming apart. Insert blade handle deep, cut some more, remove blade, hulk on tile, rinse and repeat. At one point I removed the blade without the tip... I couldn't even physically twist the blade because it was tight between a steel plate and a tile and I wasn't rotating it, I was cutting with it. So even if the blade would've experienced a longitudinal stress, meaning the tip and the handle prying towards each other, it shouldn't have just broken off like a lego piece.
 

chip100t

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Ok, so to paint a full picture here. A tile was silicone caulked to a bathrom drain cover. I removed the draincover with the tile glued to it. Held the unholy tile/steel sandwhich in my hand, got my multitool out, did the reverse sword in the stone, started cutting away the caulk, the blade deep into the small hole between the two surfaces, handle deep into it . Started cutting, removed the blade, hulk on the two pieces, not coming apart. Insert blade handle deep, cut some more, remove blade, hulk on tile, rinse and repeat. At one point I removed the blade without the tip... I couldn't even physically twist the blade because it was tight between a steel plate and a tile and I wasn't rotating it, I was cutting with it. So even if the blade would've experienced a longitudinal stress, meaning the tip and the handle prying towards each other, it shouldn't have just broken off like a lego piece
I don't know in which country you are based but leatherman and Whitby (uk distributers) are excellent to deal with. Just send them an email.

The only gripes I have heard are when people have sent in old long since discontinued models and have been sent an equivalent brand new model from there current line up. A similar criticism I have seen of surefire here.
 

fulee9999

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good news everyone!

listening to your advice I went in to the local retailer, showed them my broken tool and the proof of purchase, asked for a steel one, and they handed me one, no questions asked. so now I have a brand new Rebar, hopefully this will be more permanent than the previous one :)
so maybe the quality (control?) took a dive in the recent years, but the warranty process is still great

thanks guys!

1656331614500.png


ps.: Once I was there I played around with other models, I was told previously that the P2 and P4 has the best, lightest opening action, and I gotta say fellas, I'm not really a fan of the retention and the plier action, but that's just my preference
 

fulee9999

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Now don't break this one 😂

you're not gonna believe what happened... I was working on the construction site, I was just using it as a screwdriver, being so fkn careful not to pry with it, and boom... the handle was in my hand and the screwdriver head was on the floor like the sad piece of steel it is...

1660941073238.png


it broke off right at the handle, this is ridiculous, on monday off I go to the leatherman store AGAIN
 

thermal guy

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God I have and old 12-15 year old 300 something. Not sure of the exact mode. I have literally done crap with that thing that never should of been done. Nothing has broken or even loosened up. Maybe they are having hardness issues with the new stuff
 

dmenezes

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you're not gonna believe what happened... I was working on the construction site, I was just using it as a screwdriver, being so fkn careful not to pry with it, and boom... the handle was in my hand and the screwdriver head was on the floor like the sad piece of steel it is...

View attachment 31097

it broke off right at the handle, this is ridiculous, on monday off I go to the leatherman store AGAIN
What the F ?! :-/

I've had a Supertool for over 16 years which I've used for just about everything, and a Micra for over 20 which I EDC on my keyring, and apart from blunting the edge on the Micra's scissors (and having to get it resharpened) every few years, they work and look just as good today as they did on Day 1.

What the Heck is going on with Leatherman?!

It's good to know their warranty process still rocks, but having a tool that could break on me during an emergency in the middle of nowhere is not something that contributes to my peace of mind...
 

coffeecup66

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Wooooooow ! ! ! I was planning on a Rebar in the not too distant future... No way José ! That is some really bad quality !?!

I've had a black Leatherman Core for 10 or 12 years now, and I've only busted the small flat head screwdriver's tip. I could shorten it down a mil and make it work again but I can't be bothered. I've put it through some nasty, tough sessions and everything else has held up great. Never even had to re-sharpen the 2 blades. Sad their quality has dropped so low ! I was also wanting a Crunch, but forget that too !!

Bought a pair of Victorinox's a couple years ago (Work Champ & Explorer) that are very good, not a single issue. I guess I'll be only buying the swiss stuff from now on...
 
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dmenezes

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Bought a pair of Victorinox's a couple years ago (Workman & Explorer) that are very good, not a single issue. I guess I'll be only buying the swiss stuff from now on...

My first multi-tool was a Victorinox, many many years ago.

Its 'handle' (the red plastic things covering both sides of the tool) broke the first time I dropped it to the floor. Shortly thereafter I bought my Leatherman Supertool as well as a Micra, and carry both to this day with no issues.

Also, Victorinoxes have no pliers, right? At least they didn't the last time I visited a reseller...
 
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