Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)When I found out Leatherman makes a tool with locking pliers, I had to have one. So I bought one. Impressions follow:
1. Usually things are larger than I expect, but this one was smaller than I expected. Maybe it's just the fact that I've used big, bulky Vise-Grips all my life, but I really expected this tool to be hefty. It's not bad that it's small, and the plier jaws open nice and wide despite their small size, but I'm nonetheless surprised that it's no bigger than my Wave, even when open.
2. It's not as hard to prepare for use as I had expected. Yes, you have to unfold the plier jaws, and yes, you have to clip the handle into place on the jaws; but, considering that with ANY locking plier you will have to stand there and adjust the force screw until the jaws clamp down with just the right amount of force anyway, the extra "assembly" needed to use the pliers isn't significant.
3. The craftsmanship isn't as good as I expected. Everything is plenty strong, but the fit and finish isn't up to par with the newer, "post-Wave" tools. The plier jaws aren't the exact same width, the folding tool lock is hard to push and doesn't give a lot of feedback, thefolding tools themselves flop around a bit, the hinge on the jaws is just a little too tight, the folded-sheet-metal handle is just a tiny bit too wide for the stuff it holds and so it got crimped a little when the rivets were driven into place, etc. It's not crappy by any means, but it doesn't have that laser-cut, precision-machined feel that my Wave has.
Three stars for doing what it says it does without having any noticeable weaknesses. If they improved the design spec so everything fits just right, it would get four stars. If it were the tool of my dreams with everything I want and nothing I don't, it would get five.
-- UPDATE 5/15/2008 --
I've had my Crunch now for several months, and I feel compelled to bump my review up a notch. Why? Well, it isn't because I've come to appreciate the not-quite-perfect fit and finish of the tool -- that still bugs me a little bit. Rather, it's because over the past few months I've discovered that the Crunch is THE most useful multi-tool ever created.
I took a gamble when I bought my Crunch, because I had serious doubts about how useful a mini-size lockjaw plier could be, even when combined with a token assortment of tools. All I can say is, "boy was I wrong". If anything, the small size of the lockjaws make them even more useful than full-size Vise-Grips, because they can be used in so many more places than Vise-Grips can. Also, given that multi-tools tend to have crappy leverage compared to full-size pliers, the ability to clamp the lockjaws onto something and then focus all your attention on moving the thing instead of keeping the jaws from slipping is unspeakably convenient.
I was initially concerned by the relatively small selection of fold-out tools that the Crunch has, compared to other multi-tools...but to be honest, most other multi-tools just have 50 slightly-different sizes of flathead screwdrivers anyway, when all you'll ever need is one. Well, the Crunch has three, two of which are combined with a can opener and a metal file, which means that there's really only one flathead screwdriver worth mentioning. So there's no unnecessary duplicity there. Meanwhile, the knife and the crosshead screwdriver are predictably indispensable, and the metal file is handy from time to time. So all told, the tools that the Crunch has are more than adequate.
My complaints about the fit-and-finish of the Crunch still stand; Leatherman could do a better job of making everything fit together just right, and I wish they'd put in the time to do so. But that said, the Crunch is definitely THE Leatherman to buy if you're actually going to use it for real work.
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Product Description:
The Crunch folds down to just 4 inches, but it packs a full range of useful tools that are ready for work. Leatherman's Hardy Crunch Multitool
Made for the most demanding professionals and do-it-yourselfers, Leatherman's Crunch multi-purpose tool features locking pliers that spread wide enough to clamp a 1-inch pipe, but it folds up into a tidy 4-inch, 6-ounce package for convenient storage in a pocket or bag. Remove the adjusting screw and you'll find a 1/4-inch hex-bit adapter built right in. The pliers lock into position like vise grips, leaving both hands free for other work, and all the interior blades lock too, for optimal safety and power.
Key User Features
To open the interior blades, all you have to do is partially open the handles and use the nail nick to rotate the selected blade out and into the ready position. Extend the blades fully to engage the locks, and to release a locked blade, simply push the lock release button located on the outside of the handle.
The regular and hard-wire cutters are located in the plier jaws. The hard-wire cutter is the small notch at the base of the wire cutting area. The regular wire cutters are ideal for softer wire grades, and the hard-wire cutters are great for sturdier materials like fish hooks.
The Crunch is made from 100-percent high-grade stainless steel, and it can be cleaned, dried, and re-oiled periodically -- which is recommended, especially after it's used in a damp environment.
The Crunch can clamp pipe up to 1 inch in diameter.
Leatherman makes a full range of complementary accessories and add-ons for this and other Leatherman products.
Multitool Capabilities:
Leatherman crunch
Locking pliers
Wire cutters
Hard-wire cutters
Serrated knife
Metal/wood file
Ruler (inch/metric)
Bottle opener
Small screwdriver
Medium screwdriver
Large screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver (#1/#2)
Hex bit driver
Wire stripper
Lanyard attachment
Optional Accessories (not included)
Replace that worn sheath you've had on your belt all these years. Or show that you're part of the Leatherman World with a new T-shirt or cap. Leatherman makes a wide variety of complementary accessories for this Crunch and many other Leatherman products.
Warranty
All Leatherman products are covered by a 25-year limited warranty. If within 25 years from the purchase date of your genuine Leatherman tool you find any defect in material or workmanship, you can count on the manufacturer to make it right with fast warranty service. To obtain warranty service, return your tool to Leatherman Tool Group. Depending on the tool defect, they will decide whether to repair your tool or replace it with a product of equal or greater value. No variations, upgrades or refunds are offered.
The Leatherman Tool Group and its History of Quality
In 1975, Leatherman Tool Group founder Tim Leatherman was inspired by leaky pipes and a cranky car on a budget trip to Europe -- and thus the idea for his first pocket survival tool was conceived. Since then, Leatherman has become an internationally recognized company with hundreds of employees and a wide variety of durable, versatile, stylish products. Created with bold designs and truly rugged construction, Leatherman products are a perfect addition for tool kits, emergency sets, and glove compartments everywhere.
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