Broke my Leatherman today.

I won a raffle in 2008 I think.

The first prize was a gift card which I used to buy the most expensive leatherman that was available in the store at the time.

I have used it so much and still somehow taken way too good care of it. Never abused the blades. I bet the tool I have used the most have been the pliers and the screwdriver.

The leather holster that I used occasionally looks still almost like new.

Cutting hot dog buns for kids when out and about, fixing my bike…

F for respect 🫡

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[–] 17 points 18 hours ago (12 children)

This seems like the least likely point of failure and yet here I am witnessing it twice.

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  • [–] 26 points 18 hours ago (4 children)

    all pliers break at that point.

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  • [–] 27 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

    Oh well I've just been outed as a non-plier specialist. At least I learned something.

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  • [–] 9 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

    It's almost certainly the most likely failure point. It's where the two parts thin to overlap each other, but still aren't overlapping, and also it's undergoing a lot of force if you put any vertical torque on it.

    I'm no engineer, or expert, or someone who's ever had this happen, but it seems like a pretty expected failure mode. Everything else is much thicker and more durable.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 hours ago (2 children)

    Exactly my question, how the hell does this happen and how do I avoid it?

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  • [–] 1 point 3 minutes ago

    The jaws are made by metal injection molding, MIM for short. It's a good way to make some pretty complex shapes repeatedly and relatively cheaply. And they are also ready to use as is for many items and the rest, just minor secondary operations are needed.

    Lot's of metal items around you are made by MIM. And it's great for those things. But while it's "good enough" for your multi-tool jaws most of the time, it's not a process that is as tough as a forged tool. There some stress riser areas in those jaws. Look at the sharper corners. An easy way to break those jaws is to grab something hard out at the very tips of the jaws and squeeze hard.

    Multi-tools are a fine tool to carry for an emergency when nothing better is available. Or the job at hand is just a quick light task. Anything else, go get the proper tool.

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