KevinL
Flashlight Enthusiast
I've owned a couple of Micras and a SAK in the past but nothing really prepares you for the solid engineering of something like the full size Wave that I got today. It's a slightly older Wave, not the 2004 edition, but it's LNIB and it looks great.
The moment I took it out of its packaging I felt that it was a real SOLID chunk of metal, you don't even need to open it to get the feeling you are handling a serious tool, not some wimpy little thing.
Popping it open, the pliers look more rugged than the ones on my workbench. They look like I could put them through hell and they'd come back looking better than I would. The rounded handles are a really nice touch, they enable you to put full force on the tool without shredding your own hands. This was one issue I discovered with the Micra, when using the scissors, the edges of the tool handles would bite into my fingers slightly - didn't hurt me but did prevent me from using more force on it.
The screwdrivers are everything I need. Dedicated screwdrivers with long reach - the thing I didn't like about the SAK is that some of the smaller screwdrivers are really the tips of other tools, making them too fat to reach into small corners. The Wave has long screwdriver bits. This is particularly useful when dealing with screw-down terminals that are sometimes used to connect AC lines, or shrouded 48VDC telco power connectors for DC powered networking equipment, both of which have recessed screws because the screws are live. Plus, you can open the tool, extend the screwdriver and fold the tool up so it handles just like a traditional screwdriver with a fat handle. My current SAK Tinker's Philips bit takes the place of the corkscrew, but operates like a corkscrew - you have the large handle running perpendicular to the Philips bit. Lots of torque yeah, but not the most convenient configuration.
I'm no knife expert (in fact I'm a complete knife n00b) but I like the locking system of the Wave a LOT better than the SAK. The SAK requires a lot more work to open and push into place, because of the spring loaded lock. The Wave has a push-to-unlock system which requires much less effort to open the knife, and less chance that you'll chop off a finger trying to close it.
A previous advantage the SAK had over tools like the Micra is that to access the Micra's knife, you have to open up the whole tool, whereas the SAK has it on the outside (it has no 'inside' like the Leatherman tools do).. well, the Wave now has the 4 blades on the outside for fastest access.
The scissors are very impressive as well. Extend them fully to activate the spring. At first, I was hunting for the spring, until I snapped it into place. Very impressive, to put a spring loaded system into such a small amount of space!
The only thing about it is that it's BIG. It's three times heavier than the SAK Tinker. I don't expect to be EDC'ing the Wave, but when serious work needs to be done.. that's what it's for. It'll probably end up in the work bag.
My benchmark for new technology to impress me is pretty high. Specifically, for it to get my highest approval, it must evoke the "Why didn't I have this earlier? It could have saved my rear/made my job easier/saved me a lot of pain" feeling.
Well now I'm going WHY THE $#*() didn't I know about the Wave in 1997?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif I could have used it for hundreds and hundreds of times in the years since then, it would have saved me hundreds of times where I have had to beg/borrow/steal a screwdriver, it would have replaced an entire bag of tools at one go when I was on the move, never forget a tool again (show up at a site and realize you are short of pliers at the worst possible moment) and screw-down terminals wouldn't have made my life as difficult as they have had.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif why is it we only discover the good stuff so much later? Guess I was young and stupid once.. older now, still stupid, but at least I'm better equipped now!
Well, at least I know there won't be a next time I'm caught short... and even though the Wave has only been here a few hours, I forsee a Charge Ti in my future.. and not too distant future at that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(No, I do not have a U2-Winelight, I think the black background is throwing the camera off a little. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
I think I've gotten my tools figured out. For the 'small' set of tools, the E1e+KL1 and the Leatherman Squirt (coming soon), for the 'big' set of tools, the U2 and the Wave for the moments where compromise is not an option. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Having discovered these, I can't figure out how anybody can live without them. Highly recommended.
Also, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanks.gif to Marty W. for getting me a great deal on the Wave. Can't believe nobody grabbed it before I did!
The moment I took it out of its packaging I felt that it was a real SOLID chunk of metal, you don't even need to open it to get the feeling you are handling a serious tool, not some wimpy little thing.
Popping it open, the pliers look more rugged than the ones on my workbench. They look like I could put them through hell and they'd come back looking better than I would. The rounded handles are a really nice touch, they enable you to put full force on the tool without shredding your own hands. This was one issue I discovered with the Micra, when using the scissors, the edges of the tool handles would bite into my fingers slightly - didn't hurt me but did prevent me from using more force on it.
The screwdrivers are everything I need. Dedicated screwdrivers with long reach - the thing I didn't like about the SAK is that some of the smaller screwdrivers are really the tips of other tools, making them too fat to reach into small corners. The Wave has long screwdriver bits. This is particularly useful when dealing with screw-down terminals that are sometimes used to connect AC lines, or shrouded 48VDC telco power connectors for DC powered networking equipment, both of which have recessed screws because the screws are live. Plus, you can open the tool, extend the screwdriver and fold the tool up so it handles just like a traditional screwdriver with a fat handle. My current SAK Tinker's Philips bit takes the place of the corkscrew, but operates like a corkscrew - you have the large handle running perpendicular to the Philips bit. Lots of torque yeah, but not the most convenient configuration.
I'm no knife expert (in fact I'm a complete knife n00b) but I like the locking system of the Wave a LOT better than the SAK. The SAK requires a lot more work to open and push into place, because of the spring loaded lock. The Wave has a push-to-unlock system which requires much less effort to open the knife, and less chance that you'll chop off a finger trying to close it.
A previous advantage the SAK had over tools like the Micra is that to access the Micra's knife, you have to open up the whole tool, whereas the SAK has it on the outside (it has no 'inside' like the Leatherman tools do).. well, the Wave now has the 4 blades on the outside for fastest access.
The scissors are very impressive as well. Extend them fully to activate the spring. At first, I was hunting for the spring, until I snapped it into place. Very impressive, to put a spring loaded system into such a small amount of space!
The only thing about it is that it's BIG. It's three times heavier than the SAK Tinker. I don't expect to be EDC'ing the Wave, but when serious work needs to be done.. that's what it's for. It'll probably end up in the work bag.
My benchmark for new technology to impress me is pretty high. Specifically, for it to get my highest approval, it must evoke the "Why didn't I have this earlier? It could have saved my rear/made my job easier/saved me a lot of pain" feeling.
Well now I'm going WHY THE $#*() didn't I know about the Wave in 1997?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif I could have used it for hundreds and hundreds of times in the years since then, it would have saved me hundreds of times where I have had to beg/borrow/steal a screwdriver, it would have replaced an entire bag of tools at one go when I was on the move, never forget a tool again (show up at a site and realize you are short of pliers at the worst possible moment) and screw-down terminals wouldn't have made my life as difficult as they have had.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif why is it we only discover the good stuff so much later? Guess I was young and stupid once.. older now, still stupid, but at least I'm better equipped now!
Well, at least I know there won't be a next time I'm caught short... and even though the Wave has only been here a few hours, I forsee a Charge Ti in my future.. and not too distant future at that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(No, I do not have a U2-Winelight, I think the black background is throwing the camera off a little. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
I think I've gotten my tools figured out. For the 'small' set of tools, the E1e+KL1 and the Leatherman Squirt (coming soon), for the 'big' set of tools, the U2 and the Wave for the moments where compromise is not an option. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Having discovered these, I can't figure out how anybody can live without them. Highly recommended.
Also, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanks.gif to Marty W. for getting me a great deal on the Wave. Can't believe nobody grabbed it before I did!
