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Leatherman Skeletool Fails

Sometimes, when you need it, your equipment will fail.

I have long gone on about how much I like my Leatherman Skeletool. Well, after years of fairly hard use, mine finally failed:

IMG_20131007_170742

It was no match for a stubborn whirlpool tub drain. A pretty clean break:

IMG_20131007_170854

It says it has a stainless steel body but it looks to me like the stress point there is made of the same material that Matchbox Cars and Walther P22s are made of (I’m no metallurgist though):

IMG_20131007_171004

They have a 25 year warranty so no worries. And it looks like I’ll get a decent knife out of the breakage:

IMG_20131007_170907

24 Responses to “Leatherman Skeletool Fails”

  1. KevinC Says:

    /me pours out a .40 in it’s memory.

  2. Weebs Says:

    I don’t buy Leatherman stuff because of their support of anti-gun politicians in the past.

    Check out the Gerber Suspension. I have one and it’s fantastic.

  3. Ted N Says:

    I’ve broke two or three at the same spot, and lost the bit twice. Warranties are nice.

  4. Wolfman Says:

    I keep the broken ones around for parts, although I’ve never actually sent one in for warranty. I’ve swapped out many a broken screwdriver on them. Still, it sure emphasizes ‘two is one and one is none’, eh?

  5. Mr Evilwrench Says:

    If it’s a cast part, the grain structure is likely similar to the pot metal casting, so when they break, they’ll look alike. Steel will be better than random zinc alloy, but that’s a part that should be forged.

    I favor a Gerber Diesel, though I don’t know if the parts are any better. The pliers slide out the end, and you’re left squeezing the outside of the grips rather than the side with the edges.

  6. nk Says:

    The price of sexy. Why does it need to be hollowed next to the fulcrum point?

  7. Strong_bad Says:

    I’ve used the Leatherman warranty a couple of times. Sent in a Wave that was rusted out and lokked like it been dragged along behind a car and then left in a pond for a few months.

    Couple of weeks later had a brand new one.

    They make a good product and they stand behind it. Love my Skeletool.

  8. Austrian Anarchy Says:

    That is the result of bruit, super human, Hulkish force. Apparently you are still the badass I met at Charlie Pepper’s years ago.

  9. MJM Says:

    I favor my Buck Knives 730 X-Tract Multi-Tool: every tool deploys using just one hand. I, too, remember Tim Leatherman’s siding against his customer base, insisting that he has the right to express his political views. Yep, he sure does. I, too, may exercise my choice when the time comes to buy a new gift or personal multi-tool.

  10. Anon Says:

    The darker area on the 2nd pic, towards the middle of the broken cross section looks like a void or inclusion in the steel. Almost certainly a weak point. But the ever so slightly darker quarter circle discolored portion at the top right of the break could be the sign of a fatigue failure. At the very tip of the top right looks like a rust spot – could be a little stress concentrator that got the failure started. Hard to tell with the low res pics.

  11. J Says:

    I am a metallurgist and a forensic engineer. If you still have the broken pieces, I would love to take a look and do a workup for you. It would take couple of days and I can then ship it back to you.

  12. Egregious Charles Says:

    It says it has a stainless steel body but it looks to me like the stress point there is made of the same material that Matchbox Cars and Walther P22s are made of (I’m no metallurgist though)

    If you mean the general rough sharp look of the break, pretty much any metal with a crystalline structure (which is most of them including good stainless steel and cheap cast metal) looks approximately like that when broken. The only metal I know that looks noticeably different to a layman like myself (amateur blacksmith) is the now-rare carbonless true wrought iron, which has a somewhat fibrous structure.

  13. Mike Says:

    The last time I had a broken Leatherman tool I had a new one in my hands a week after I mailed the broken one.

  14. Dave D. Says:

    I broke one of the jaws off mine trying to twist something. Sent it back to them and received a new one a few days later.

    The solid stainless model is stronger than the carbon fiber look model… but the steel for the blade on the CF one is better and holds an edge longer.

  15. Jennifer Says:

    You don’t know your own strength!
    Two is one, right?

  16. Gerry Says:

    Wow I’m impressed. I handed out a bunch of Leatherman Waves to some trainees from the USMC and they haven’t broken them yet to my knowledge.

    I was told they could break anvils and bowling balls.

  17. M Gallo Says:

    If you want one that won’t break, get a Gerber Diesel.

    If you want one that is lightweight, get another Letherman.

    It’s a tradeoff; TANSTAAFL and all.

  18. Chas Says:

    Probably better to get the regular toolbox for a job like that. Save the Leatherman for emergencies when the tool box is too far away!

    I know, because I broke an implement off mine because I was too lazy to go get the right tool out of the box.

  19. Sigivald Says:

    What Chas said.

    For housework, use proper tools – they make the job easier as well as not breaking.

    And they’re less hard on the fittings you’re working on.

  20. Deserts Edge Says:

    I have a skeletool and it definitely isn’t for hard use. Let us know what happens with the warranty, I am interested.

  21. SayUncle Says:

    I am a metallurgist and a forensic engineer.

    I may do that if I don’t need to send it back.

  22. CaptDMO Says:

    Are we all agreed that “multi” tools and “universal”
    convenience stuff are NOT suitable substitutes or replacements for actual tools of practicing the trade?
    I’m a (multi)tradesman. Folks gift things like these a lot. They’re GREAT- for re-gifting to apartment dwelling metrofolk.

    Who exactly are the craftsmen under the hallmark pronouncing an assumption of quality of
    such products? (design, engineer, materials, production, final claim of “good” with hallmark stamp)
    OTOH, pliers, are NOT to be expected to be a suitable torsion tool.

  23. M Gallo Says:

    I dunno, Capt. – a Gerber might well have saved my life one day from the leaking valve packing on a rather large cylinder of Methylamine.

    Hell, a long gun is better in a gunfight, but a pistol is more than likely what we’re gonna have at hand…

  24. Alex B Says:

    @M Gallo: “a rather large cylinder of Methylamine”. Did you just out yourself as Heisenberg?

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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