Thank you for your well-reasoned evaluation of this product. Many RUclips creators rush “reviews” in order to get the most views. Thank you for your thoroughness. Leatherman was founded by a man who actually used his tools. The Free series seems to rely on gimmicky magnets on an unstable frame. It suffers from weird corporate decisions to save pennies. This American company appears to be led by engineers and leaders who don’t work with their hands. It is becoming a poster-child of yet another American manufacturer who has lost their way…. It sure is tough to buy American when Knipex, Wera, Winamp and the like can produce world class products!
recently i bought a crunch and is disappointed by the fact that they made one instruction sheet to fit all models. The crunch handles also cannot close perfectly without the snap detent engaging.
I find it incredibly strange that they sent me out the old style cutters (which I am thankful for) , but everyone else seems to have received the new style cutters. No idea why I was giving something different.
@txtoolcrib I hope not...but I can't deny it's possible..I was excited when I saw the replacement cutters then became immediately concerned when others showed they got the new style instead.
🫨 just got a shout out on TX Tool Crib!? Thanks Ben! I put my cutters under a 100x magnification digital microscope yesterday. Video coming soon about that. I wish Leatherman had taken a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach to the wire cutter geometry. I’ve also learned my technique for hard wire cutting was bad… video about me eating some crow also coming soon 😅
Ben the new cutters have been around for years. I have a 1221 Surge (king) that has the rounded cutters. This does make me think the failure of the recent cutters is a batch issue but the square corner ones are easier to use.
I suspect the real problem is metallurgic not geometric. They probably have a batch of them that are too brittle and they didn't know, and they happened to be ones with the more curved geometry. I wouldn't be surprised if they had multiple suppliers for these rather than making them in-house, and that accounted for the slight geometric differences. It just came down to chance that many Arcs had cutters that were rounded and also defective, leading to the theory that the different shape was the culprit. But that just seems unlikely, and I think the fact that the replacements were also curved but did not break sort of proves it.
I am pretty glad I was able to get a Wave+ on sale recently. I thought I would miss out on the ARC but with the current issues. The Wave+ serves my needs pretty well when I am on the go. I will definitely pick up an ARC once they fix the wire cutter issue. I dont have high hopes they will fix the plier head seizing up. I can live with that but weak wire cutters are a huge deal breaker for me.
Ben, thank you for the detailed review. Please keep us posted on when/if Leatherman address the Wire Cutters issue, and the slop in the handles. I will hold off on buying one until then.
Hey Ben, nice to hear back from you again. I'm a Surge user all day and love the platform since it is robust. In regards to the wire cutters and following the 'Common Sense" theory about the weak point, I will agree that I prefer to break the cutters than the pliers head. Even if warranty has been extended to 40 years, thru the insider program. It takes a trip of 4 to 6 weeks to get your tools back. If you asked me and used the same 'common sense' rationality, is easier to just pay for an extra pair of cutters and leave it around to exchange. I have yet to experience any stiffness in my plier heads using the P4 and Arc. It may be because I take the heavy-duty portions of work for dedicated tools; most of the time, I cut copper/aluminum wire and heavy-duty trim lines. Yes, I had cut hangers just because I wanted to test my cutters, but for the sake of the limit of the MTs, I do heavy cuts with proper tools. The gray sheath is a bit big, but for those who do pocket carry, the clips are enough, and for those who want the full bit kit sleeve and extension, the gray is perfect; remember that if you add the 2 sleeves and the Arc, the comprehensive portion makes the length of the flap an ideal fitting. I never use the LM sheats and go with the Skinth Solutions Sheaths from Canada, which are cheap, better quality, and have belt clips. They are just great seats to take off and on and secure with bottoms. My only big issue with this great Arc is the wire striping, which is so tiny compared to other MTs; the eagle tool is a lot better; changing capacitor terminals took me quite a time bc of the small cutter, but I found the awl a lot better for the job. In my opinion I think the Arc fill the space between the Surge and Chage +, so is a really good MT which leaves the opportunity to subsitute a folder knife. All weekends is with my right now, enjoyed a lot the Arc. Thanks for the review and impressions.
You're using the awl for wire stripping? That sounds interesting. Do you leave the awl unlocked and press the awl down with the wire between the awl and the Arc's handle?
To me having a free place on the bitset holder makes sense, because I'm often using my Leatherman with the ratchet plus standard bits, and then need a place to safely store the flat leatherman bit.
I think the sheath is fine in terms of size because it allows me to put other items/material in the bottom that could be extremely useful in certain situations.
I was unprepared for a task the other day and had to use the wire stripper. It did ok, but I didn’t appreciate that it’s on the 2nd sharpest tool…..ask me how I know….smh.
Fun fact. The only one that let me down was the charge+ that i bought many years ago. The pliers were really stiff from the beginning and the lock on both of the knives blade had a lot of lock rock. I still enjoyed this tool for many years. I have the arc since two weeks now and i can’t say a single bad thing about it. I swapped the wore cutter for a pair of black ones that i had since a long time as a spare for my surge. I’ve cut 1/8 thick nails with it and the pliers are still butter smooth. Love my Arc!
Hello, Ben! Good to have you back! A very nice review, thanks...Joe could not cut all the way through & as you indicated, the tool went from a very smooth one to a very stiff one...
Been looking forward to your video on the Arc. I agree the Arc isn't really designed for heavy duty industrial use but more for the everyday Joe. I'm just using it for EDC, DIY around the house, and some outdoor stuff. And have to admit I fidget with the Arc and just love the design. If I needed a beefier multitool I'd reach for a Wave or Surge
@@MartinGonzalez-sl2kj yeah it's like driving around your nicer more fun car for your daily driver but if you need to move a bunch of junk then use the old cheap pickup truck. Different tools can serve different purposes. And if you have the money and desire to buy a Mercedes then you don't have to drive an old pickup truck all the time
Great to see you back Ben . Very detailed review . I’m gonna hold off on getting this tool. I just don’t see anything new on this tool that stands out and justifies the price of this . Agree 100%, the micro driver belongs in the bit kit . Also very disappointed that even after everyone asking ,Leatherman still could not implement a scraping chisel into this tool like on the Swiss tool & spirit Tool . 😤😤😤 Years of research offered absolutely nothing new . I’ll pass .
I had a st300 that after really bearing down on a large nut, the pliers tightened up on me. I lubed them up with some penetrating oil and worked them for a bit. Good as new and never had the issue again
With the wire cutters being a weak link, it does make sense, I think that the interchangeable bits are softer so that they shear or snap before the tool as a whole experiences damage. I may be wrong. I can say I have not tested that hypothesis to any degree. Pliers might need a break in period. I do like the concept of the tool, the P4 didn't appeal to me, like why do I need a clamshell package opener or tape splitter, I have a knife. Along with the awl, I'm glad that they put an actual awl on it.
I would simply put a piece of closed cell foam in the bottom of the sheath to make the tool easier to grab. I bought my Arc on the REI 20% off winter sale for $183.96 plus tax (free shipping).
Hey Ben, in regards to what you said about the pliers stiffening up after hard cutting use, it happened to my signal too! I put a new weight machine cable in my gym and cut the excess off. The signal cut through but the opening of the plier head went awfully stiff afterwards.
I just received my replacement Arc a few days ago after returning the initial one. The first one I received from them had two serious issues, one being a defect in the frame that allowed the pliers head to push through the other side forcing the tools to open on that side and the other being that the scissors would not lock open without tremendous force being applied. So far the replacement is good.
Thank you for your insightful, real world review. Hope you are doing well. I'm not a heavy duty tool user so am dependent on a reliable multitool to work for me. The Arc isn't it, even without considering that price. There seems like there are a number of shortcuts in designing and making it and I wonder if it's not to make up for the expense of the Magna Cut blade. I don't know why they didn't invest in a marvelously engineered multitool and offer the Magna Cut blade as an upgrade through their shop. They would probably sell more of these in the long run, particularly since there will be folks who will buy two just to have the different blades. I mentioned the slot in the file taking away some of the functionality of the tool to another reviewer. It's already a tad shorter than what is in other full size multitools; then to have a cut out on the tool that's a 5th of the length is concerning to someone like me. Not being a heavy tool user, I could see myself catching on that slot as I'm filing and the Arc flying out of my hand. As a female, it's funny for me to witness that interest in aesthetics over function isn't gender specific. The design of this file is proof. The fact that Leatherman shorted the bit sleeve by removing one is a bit insulting to consumers, IMO. It isn't as though people wouldn't notice, so it's as if they didn't care, as they are likely still the biggest multi-tool company in the world. This type of decision making, however, seems a harbinger of another USA company's questionable future. Also, the inclusion of the micro screwdriver frustrates me. I've worn glasses for 30+ years and don't go anywhere without an eyeglass kit, all for the tiny cost of a couple of bucks. It adds no significant value to a larger sized multi-tool with such a large price tag. I also wondered why Leatherman did not create an adapter to fit into the available slot in the bit sleeve that would hold the micro screw driver. The sleeve already has a hole at the top to hold the bit also. They really missed out on additional after market revenue on this one. I'm also in agreement with you on preferring the pointy, claw shaped bottle cap lifter. I am a BIG fan of having a can opener on a multi-tool. I understand that a blade can be used to open a can, however, why would someone want to risk a blade for this function, especially since most people are probably at my level of experience with tools and it's not taking the space of another tool. Although with this current shape it could be used as a scraper. Another positive is the solid end that could be used as a pounding tool. Neither of these positives justify the price tag. I'd rather keep using my Surge or Wave + and put the money toward purchase of a separate Magna Cut folding knife. That seems a more sensible investment. Sorry for the long response, but I've been a bit frustrated watching so many reviewers touting how great this tool is while pointing out its shortcomings and that there is nothing we really haven't seen before in other tools, not all of them Leatherman. Thanks again for taking the time to use and post your thoughts on the Arc.
@@happydogg312 if you have a chance to pick up an older leatherman that is the "standard duty" category, you should do that since I find them much better than some today. I assume you want a bit of everything and a full size multitool: rebar(currently the best deal but can be not preferable), pst(light but functional), gerber mp series(less tools but prefered if you mainly use pliers), fuse kick core(rubber lined handle line, larger than some others but very good overall value) I moved away from carrying a standard multitool and now carry mini needle nose pliers/ vice grips/ small multi tool paired with a victorinox ranger
This past Sunday, I went to the knife shop in the local mall just to poke around. Now, aside from the MagnaCut blade, I didn’t even know what tools or functionality it had. I asked the owner if he could take it out of the case for me, and within 10 seconds of handling it, I asked him to box it up. I bought it instantly, based solely on the blade and the fidget factor. When I got home, I started really exploring it, and it very quickly became my favorite EDC blade/tool. I love it. I’m also trying to quit smoking, and having something so fun to fidget with is really helping me curb my cravings. I think Leatherman knocked it out of the park. The only thing holding it back from perfection from me, is the bit exchanger/can opener. If I could replace both of those with a proper 1/4” bit adapter, it would be the One Multitool to Rule them All, lol.
Always appreciate your well thought out reviews. But as the owner of a Surge, Wave, Wingman and Skeletool (+ a couple of Victorinox SAKs), I haven't seen anything compelling to get me in the mood for another.
Nice to see you back on YT and a great breakdown as always! My P4 has the same plier binding issue, thankfully no issues with the Arc so far. Something that helps my P4 pliers when they bind after use, I’ve found that using the wire crimper on the opposite side of the pivot (even clamping something sacrificial gently) immediately after would loosen the pliers back up. Not an ideal solution by any stretch but helpful in a pinch and, at least on mine, seems to work more consistently than trying to wiggle the handles.
Being able to mount the pocket clip to the opposite side is not beneficial to lefties. It does not change the position of the knife, which still needs to be flipped out awkwardly with the middle finger instead of the thumb.
@txtoolcrib Unfortunately that would void the warranty. Do you know if the knife can be moved without modification? I'm not familiar with the Free platform, but for the wave/charge a modification to the tools is required in order to switch positions for ergonomic lefty use.
Yes it certainly can. Check out my videos regarding the FREE P4 in my Leatherman playlist, I did a breakdown of how to do it. It’s not exactly easy, but if you require left handed operation it would certainly be worth it.
The wave sheath is the same way with the room up top. I’m pretty sure they do this so you can carry other tools in the sheath, I can actually carry a wave and my leatherman blast in the sheath because of the design, or whatever else I might want with a similar size.
Excellent table review. In conclusion and according towhat you just said, I'm not buying a Leatherman tool until they fix the wire cutter issue. These tools are so expensive that they must be perfect. I can't accept any imperfection if they charge this huge amount of dollars. So, I'm buying a Swiss Tool from Victorinox. Thanks.
20:54 WHOA.... I didn't know the cutters weren't a part of the warranty and had thought of that possible reason. If that were proven to be true it would shatter what faith I have left in the company. They have fallen a lot in my opinion but even I hadn't thought they would do something like THAT. It does make financial sense on their part though. That was a well thought out theory by that person. 24:56 I can't stand cooperate apologist like that. These are tools that, up until now, were meant to be used that way. Leatherman even made part of there rep on that function! To silently get rid of it now is absurd and shouldn't be accepted.
16:30 I'd argue they didn't even have to do anything. You'd probably get enough grip from that diamond file alone to open it. I would've just omit the hole.
I think the cross section toon of the arcs awl is smaller, I personally do t mind them getting rid of the eyelet I work with leather and have never used it. I think people could just add the hole if they wanted pretty easily.
To unstiffen your Free series pliers: open the pliers and hold them jaws up, logos toward you, pocket clip on the left facing away. Pull the left handle toward you and push the right handle away in a twisting motion. Might have to mess around a bit to find the spot but don't be afraid to give it some force. I consider mine adjustable because of the difference that motion makes lol
Recently got the Arc and swapped the cutters from my Wave just for peace of mind. But looking at my P4’s that I bought more than 2 1/2 years ago, one cutter is the newer design and one is the older. And I bought it new from Leatherman and have never changed the cutters. Never noticed until now, but I’ll only change it if it ever breaks.
The really strange thing, is that when you order replacement cutters off their site... they have been sending out the 90 degree corner cutters not the curved. Very odd.
I use dedicated tools for single purpose use on my job. Use my Leatherman as something i use in a pinch, however it would be nice to know that after spending the money you could have a tool that will occasionally cut a piece of soft wire or turn a screw without stripping and marring the tool
As always, a great review. I can't wait to get my Arc. I've been waiting for a P4 with a better knife steel and better tool set. I agree the price is a little high.
Regarding the stiffness of the pivot on the pliers, I share in the frustration. I've re-purchased the same models over the years, namely the Surge and Wave, and never had issues with them being so stiff when put under pressure. This has only happened with my recent purchases of both of these tools. It's pretty annoying having to twist the handles literally almost every time I put pressure on the plier head just to get them to open again.
Thank you Ben for your honest opinion. I understand why everybody raves about the arc it is really what everybody was wishing for and even better. BUT if you buy a LM it's because you want a pliers base mt otherwise you'll buy a SAK. To me if the main tool of your mt is crooked/weak/too stiff to use you just have bought yourself a nice and expensive paper weight. I really want to buy this mt even with this price tag but if I'm realistic I won't use it just because of that problem. I hope that one day they'll revamp the surge and wave with some bells and whistles of the arc🤞
Same problem with my jaws getting tight after my first cut on my P4. drives me crazy, takes away from the one handed platform. mine has never loosened up again.
can you tell? leatherman is saying on their page that the cover is PVD coating.... further down on their page they then just talk of DLC coating ... at least on the german page.
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those choices. It is completely dependent on what is most advantageous to you. If you like ease of use, go Arc. If you like a robust tool set, go Wave. If you like the speciality tools and don’t mind how they are accessed, go with the Spirit model you like best. All of them are extremely good choices. Personally, as a Surge user, I would go with the Wave for myself. In fact, I would likely go with one of the Charge models.
The thing about the wire cutters, is that as far as I can tell they have updated the wire cutter blades themselves across the board. I just took a look at my Wave+ (which isn't very old) and they have the same curve you show in the video. This means the updated geometry will apply to all tools that have this feature (their site lists about 14 tools that the replacement blades are compatible with) and the replacements if you need to purchase them. If this was done to prevent breaking plier heads, that would seem reasonable and I can't really fault them for it - it's not just trying to dodge warranty service, I would WANT my cutters to break before my pliers! I don't want to have to send a tool in for repair, that's the whole point of the part being replaceable. On the other hand, it might just be an issue of how they are manufacturing them. It's also possible that the actual issue isn't the geometry, and that the blade breaking is some other less visible defect making them brittle. Maybe the Arc's just got equipped with a bad batch of blades? Also, do we know if Leatherman actually makes the blades themselves? If they outsource it, it could even be a supplier issue.
I got mine and put them to work immediately. The elastomer bushings inside the cutter (to provide the lockup tactile feel) swelled and somewhat deformed within one week of use, making the opening and closing of this tool kinda sticky. The chip-sticking magnets seems ok-ish, nothing a few blasts of air and a solvent rag can't fix. Not that it's a bad tool, but with all the extra fancy stuff packed into it, it's definitely not the beater as Surge have always been... (yeah, my bad for wrecking open Skydrol type-V and BPTO 2197/2389 cans with this thing, knowing the high-temp stabilization additives' nasty properties, but someone else borrowed my whole toolbox away...like two whole miles away)
The cutters sound more like the over hardened the steel and made it too brittle for some batches of the cutters. I did swap over my cutters from an older tool just in case.
Glad your back. You "book end Dominic so well!. {: - ) Appreciate your "view from the job site" approach to MT use, and your informational approach to communication. The guy who designed the Wave, is now running Leatherman. Why are those good design principles, seemingly not applied fully to the ARC, do you think? I've resisted "ARC urge," because I don't see where it brings the more casual EDC carrier any advantage over the Free P2 on project days, or the SOG Powerpint on EDC Days, and am not all gaga over Magnacut, if it isn't heresy to say so here... SAK Handyman for the file and scissors, as the file on the P2, sucks, and the scissors on the Powerpint, same. An ARC would give me those competent tools in one, but for the casual EDC'er @ $230? Tell me I am not making sense....
On the Wave+ LM didn't include the security torx. So on the ARC no T6/T8 is the same deal. You didn't mention new bit. Which LM has listed on the website. The U.S. site.
To loosen you p4 jaws you can use Liquid Metal polish. Work it into the joint you want smoother and cycle the movement many times. Then use a cleaner like electronics spray cleaner/carb cleaner, rubbing alcohol. Then a drop of oil.
They've focused on the collector/lifestyle/look-at-my-expensive-stuff crowd for a while now. It's just that they now have lost touch with actual use so much ot has become apparent even to people who hardly ever use it. When any Ali-express tool does a better job at one of the purported primary uses of your new flagship, you messed up as a company. Like their "response" about the cutters is clearly BS: they've been using these for a while and only now it's getting attention from content creators they basically shove an old piece of candy their way and go "there, all better". That goes beyond their earlier shoddy QC and consistency into a systematic issue. I've admittedly been cynical about them for a while, but it's good to see this becoming more common. Might mean they will have to start working to show why they still deserve to be big dog.
Hi Ben, Great video as always. But I must ask , I wonder why they put a micro driver in such an expensive tool like this ……..who the hell uses one of those on a regular basis……….surely it would have been better to put the T shank adapt in there instead, much more use considering …….. if it’s such a premium tool, it needs premium usage right?? Also, as I’ve said many times before, why don’t they design a chisel / 2 x wire stripper like Victorinox. You can quite easily open boxes etc with that ….. I personally think Leatherman need to UP Their GAME if their features, it’s the same old stuff, just moved around. Bit like APPLE !!!! 😮
First of all Thank you so much Ben for an always thorough and objective review as always, certainly I always enjoy them and value your opinion. Now the blunt straight question, for the systems/sales engineers out there (white/light blue collar like me with multitools in their laptop pack, with lots of improvisation in sales/ demos presentations) would you go for the Arc or Surge considering function and style, and usual drivers are ph0,1,2 and T6-10, strong needle nose too.
On the cutters, has anyone tested the cutters by cutting above the gap? There is a notch higher to keep the material from spitting out. Every test I've seen puts the material to be cut in the gap, which forces the material into the cutter without starting a cut. The gap shouldn't be there for sure, but it may not be a cutter material issue.
You're body of work on RUclips is exceptional. I'm trying to decide between an Arc or a Swisstool spirit X plus. Do you or anyone else have any thoughts?
you position the wire with the stripping notch against the frame, and use the blade to strip the insulation by spinning the wire while applying pressure to the blade or awl like a guillotine, depending on model. thats all U stripping notches, the V ones like on signal can opener does both action as one. the U notches dont cut
Well said. I am increasingly disappointed with Leatherman and their plier cutters. Until they fix this issue I am not buying any of their tools with replaceable cutters! I think Leatherman needs better designers. They need designers who actually use tools and work in the trades.
Okay, but just think for a second... you want them to hire someone who is a "better designer" than who they have now AND "works in the trades." Do you see the potential issue there? How many people are both top of their field engineers and designers while also people who have trade jobs and use these tools everyday in hard conditions? Do we expect that all Leatherman employees have two jobs so they can stress test tools for one job while doing the other? That just doesn't make any sense.
@@Lord_zeel Yes. I am a “certified” electrical engineer and I still “work in the field”. I have worked 25 years in my field. I have met plenty of college educated “engineers” who don’t know how to use basic hand tools.
I think the reason they didnt include the t6/t8 but was because they are too soft. The very first time I tried to adjust a knife with a leatherman t6 it stripped way too easily. It'd be too embarrassing to showcase that their own bit cant handle adjustments on their own product.
My Arc didn’t come with the bits. I’ve contacted them a couple different ways over the last couple weeks. Nobody has replied with an answer to my problem. Very frustrating customer service
I switch daily between leatherman tools depending on the job/location i’m going but the surge is always close to me in the car or in the bag i can’t go anywhere without my surge :p the arc is nice but surge is still nr1
Finally, someone pointing this out. Nothing about this tool justifies that price. If this is Leatherman's new flagship tool, I worry about the future of another USA company.
The GOAT! Welcome back man. My favorite edc channel
Thank you sir, been a busy time for me lately.
@@txtoolcrib take your time my man!
Is it possible to put blade from Arc to Surge?Thanks for info.
No, completely different geometry.
I’ve been waiting for this video since the release of the Arc.
Am so glad that you pointed out the changes done to the replaceable cutters I knew I wasn’t going crazy, something was off about them.
Thank you for your well-reasoned evaluation of this product. Many RUclips creators rush “reviews” in order to get the most views. Thank you for your thoroughness. Leatherman was founded by a man who actually used his tools. The Free series seems to rely on gimmicky magnets on an unstable frame. It suffers from weird corporate decisions to save pennies. This American company appears to be led by engineers and leaders who don’t work with their hands. It is becoming a poster-child of yet another American manufacturer who has lost their way…. It sure is tough to buy American when Knipex, Wera, Winamp and the like can produce world class products!
recently i bought a crunch and is disappointed by the fact that they made one instruction sheet to fit all models. The crunch handles also cannot close perfectly without the snap detent engaging.
I find it incredibly strange that they sent me out the old style cutters (which I am thankful for) , but everyone else seems to have received the new style cutters. No idea why I was giving something different.
I wonder if it’s due to the popularity of your channel.
@txtoolcrib I hope not...but I can't deny it's possible..I was excited when I saw the replacement cutters then became immediately concerned when others showed they got the new style instead.
Great to see your video of the Arc. Thank you
I’ve been waiting so long for this video!
Great to hear your take on the Arc
TX Tool Crib is back!!! I missed you, brother !
Thank you sir, just been very busy.
Glad to see you back!
Great vid 👍👍 always enjoy your reviews and your opinion on Leatherman tools great job 👏
Great to have you back 👍😁
🫨 just got a shout out on TX Tool Crib!? Thanks Ben! I put my cutters under a 100x magnification digital microscope yesterday. Video coming soon about that. I wish Leatherman had taken a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach to the wire cutter geometry. I’ve also learned my technique for hard wire cutting was bad… video about me eating some crow also coming soon 😅
I’ll be on the lookout for it.
LETS GO!
Welcome back! Nice to see you again!
Ladies and Gentleman the one review we have been waiting for!
Great analysis of a flagship tool.
Ben the new cutters have been around for years. I have a 1221 Surge (king) that has the rounded cutters. This does make me think the failure of the recent cutters is a batch issue but the square corner ones are easier to use.
That’s interesting, thanks for the insight.
Same with my 1021 surge
I suspect the real problem is metallurgic not geometric. They probably have a batch of them that are too brittle and they didn't know, and they happened to be ones with the more curved geometry. I wouldn't be surprised if they had multiple suppliers for these rather than making them in-house, and that accounted for the slight geometric differences. It just came down to chance that many Arcs had cutters that were rounded and also defective, leading to the theory that the different shape was the culprit. But that just seems unlikely, and I think the fact that the replacements were also curved but did not break sort of proves it.
Hey Ben your my go to reviewer Sir i love this channel and recommend it to everyone that shows interest
Well, that is very much appreciated, thank you sir.
Been waiting on Bens take on this! 😁
I am pretty glad I was able to get a Wave+ on sale recently. I thought I would miss out on the ARC but with the current issues. The Wave+ serves my needs pretty well when I am on the go. I will definitely pick up an ARC once they fix the wire cutter issue. I dont have high hopes they will fix the plier head seizing up. I can live with that but weak wire cutters are a huge deal breaker for me.
Interestingly my wave + has the same cutters and gap issue as the ones on the arc. I have never broken them or had an issue.
Ive got a wave recently and it comes with rounded cutters.
Ben, thank you for the detailed review. Please keep us posted on when/if Leatherman address the Wire Cutters issue, and the slop in the handles. I will hold off on buying one until then.
Hey Ben, nice to hear back from you again. I'm a Surge user all day and love the platform since it is robust.
In regards to the wire cutters and following the 'Common Sense" theory about the weak point, I will agree that I prefer to break the cutters than the pliers head. Even if warranty has been extended to 40 years, thru the insider program. It takes a trip of 4 to 6 weeks to get your tools back. If you asked me and used the same 'common sense' rationality, is easier to just pay for an extra pair of cutters and leave it around to exchange.
I have yet to experience any stiffness in my plier heads using the P4 and Arc. It may be because I take the heavy-duty portions of work for dedicated tools; most of the time, I cut copper/aluminum wire and heavy-duty trim lines. Yes, I had cut hangers just because I wanted to test my cutters, but for the sake of the limit of the MTs, I do heavy cuts with proper tools.
The gray sheath is a bit big, but for those who do pocket carry, the clips are enough, and for those who want the full bit kit sleeve and extension, the gray is perfect; remember that if you add the 2 sleeves and the Arc, the comprehensive portion makes the length of the flap an ideal fitting. I never use the LM sheats and go with the Skinth Solutions Sheaths from Canada, which are cheap, better quality, and have belt clips. They are just great seats to take off and on and secure with bottoms.
My only big issue with this great Arc is the wire striping, which is so tiny compared to other MTs; the eagle tool is a lot better; changing capacitor terminals took me quite a time bc of the small cutter, but I found the awl a lot better for the job.
In my opinion I think the Arc fill the space between the Surge and Chage +, so is a really good MT which leaves the opportunity to subsitute a folder knife. All weekends is with my right now, enjoyed a lot the Arc.
Thanks for the review and impressions.
You're using the awl for wire stripping? That sounds interesting. Do you leave the awl unlocked and press the awl down with the wire between the awl and the Arc's handle?
To me having a free place on the bitset holder makes sense, because I'm often using my Leatherman with the ratchet plus standard bits, and then need a place to safely store the flat leatherman bit.
Then you can let the other bit at home. There is nearly never a reason for giving less if you are not flying to the moon^^
@@petermuller3995 But I don't want to let bits at home, I want a good place to put that other bit. Which this one has.
@@jh1618 So you take the box etc always with you too?
I think the sheath is fine in terms of size because it allows me to put other items/material in the bottom that could be extremely useful in certain situations.
Welcome back indeed to the Tool Crib... Missed you these past few months!
Thank you very much.
You're alive!! I was thinking something might have happened. Glad your back!
I was unprepared for a task the other day and had to use the wire stripper. It did ok, but I didn’t appreciate that it’s on the 2nd sharpest tool…..ask me how I know….smh.
I know exactly what you’re talking about, jabbed my palm trying to do the exact same thing.
Fun fact. The only one that let me down was the charge+ that i bought many years ago. The pliers were really stiff from the beginning and the lock on both of the knives blade had a lot of lock rock. I still enjoyed this tool for many years. I have the arc since two weeks now and i can’t say a single bad thing about it. I swapped the wore cutter for a pair of black ones that i had since a long time as a spare for my surge. I’ve cut 1/8 thick nails with it and the pliers are still butter smooth. Love my Arc!
Hello, Ben! Good to have you back! A very nice review, thanks...Joe could not cut all the way through & as you indicated, the tool went from a very smooth one to a very stiff one...
Good to hear from you sir.
@@txtoolcribThanks!😊
Been looking forward to your video on the Arc. I agree the Arc isn't really designed for heavy duty industrial use but more for the everyday Joe. I'm just using it for EDC, DIY around the house, and some outdoor stuff. And have to admit I fidget with the Arc and just love the design. If I needed a beefier multitool I'd reach for a Wave or Surge
You go to a cheaper tool for your reliable task after spending all that $ on the arc
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@MartinGonzalez-sl2kj yeah it's like driving around your nicer more fun car for your daily driver but if you need to move a bunch of junk then use the old cheap pickup truck. Different tools can serve different purposes. And if you have the money and desire to buy a Mercedes then you don't have to drive an old pickup truck all the time
@@MartinGonzalez-sl2kjYou wouldn't get it.
Any new updates about the cutter? Love your videos. Very informative.
Ben waiting for your review! Glad your back.
Thank you, hope it was worth the wait.
I’ve been waiting to hear your opinion on this! Most respected reviewer!!
Great to see you back Ben . Very detailed review . I’m gonna hold off on getting this tool. I just don’t see anything new on this tool that stands out and justifies the price of this . Agree 100%, the micro driver belongs in the bit kit . Also very disappointed that even after everyone asking ,Leatherman still could not implement a scraping chisel into this tool like on the Swiss tool & spirit Tool . 😤😤😤 Years of research offered absolutely nothing new . I’ll pass .
I have some thoughts on that.
Welcome back Ben
I may pick one up. Been carrying my Leatherman Super Tool 200 for over a decade.
I had a st300 that after really bearing down on a large nut, the pliers tightened up on me. I lubed them up with some penetrating oil and worked them for a bit. Good as new and never had the issue again
Hello Ben,been waiting on your review an thought of this tool.
With the wire cutters being a weak link, it does make sense, I think that the interchangeable bits are softer so that they shear or snap before the tool as a whole experiences damage. I may be wrong. I can say I have not tested that hypothesis to any degree. Pliers might need a break in period. I do like the concept of the tool, the P4 didn't appeal to me, like why do I need a clamshell package opener or tape splitter, I have a knife. Along with the awl, I'm glad that they put an actual awl on it.
Bens back with the bangers
I would simply put a piece of closed cell foam in the bottom of the sheath to make the tool easier to grab. I bought my Arc on the REI 20% off winter sale for $183.96 plus tax (free shipping).
Great to see you're back on RUclips Ben. Hope you're doing good.
All good, thanks.
Hey Ben, in regards to what you said about the pliers stiffening up after hard cutting use, it happened to my signal too! I put a new weight machine cable in my gym and cut the excess off. The signal cut through but the opening of the plier head went awfully stiff afterwards.
The finest multi tool i ever held in my hands second to none.
I just received my replacement Arc a few days ago after returning the initial one. The first one I received from them had two serious issues, one being a defect in the frame that allowed the pliers head to push through the other side forcing the tools to open on that side and the other being that the scissors would not lock open without tremendous force being applied. So far the replacement is good.
Thank you for your insightful, real world review. Hope you are doing well. I'm not a heavy duty tool user so am dependent on a reliable multitool to work for me. The Arc isn't it, even without considering that price. There seems like there are a number of shortcuts in designing and making it and I wonder if it's not to make up for the expense of the Magna Cut blade. I don't know why they didn't invest in a marvelously engineered multitool and offer the Magna Cut blade as an upgrade through their shop. They would probably sell more of these in the long run, particularly since there will be folks who will buy two just to have the different blades. I mentioned the slot in the file taking away some of the functionality of the tool to another reviewer. It's already a tad shorter than what is in other full size multitools; then to have a cut out on the tool that's a 5th of the length is concerning to someone like me. Not being a heavy tool user, I could see myself catching on that slot as I'm filing and the Arc flying out of my hand. As a female, it's funny for me to witness that interest in aesthetics over function isn't gender specific. The design of this file is proof. The fact that Leatherman shorted the bit sleeve by removing one is a bit insulting to consumers, IMO. It isn't as though people wouldn't notice, so it's as if they didn't care, as they are likely still the biggest multi-tool company in the world. This type of decision making, however, seems a harbinger of another USA company's questionable future. Also, the inclusion of the micro screwdriver frustrates me. I've worn glasses for 30+ years and don't go anywhere without an eyeglass kit, all for the tiny cost of a couple of bucks. It adds no significant value to a larger sized multi-tool with such a large price tag. I also wondered why Leatherman did not create an adapter to fit into the available slot in the bit sleeve that would hold the micro screw driver. The sleeve already has a hole at the top to hold the bit also. They really missed out on additional after market revenue on this one. I'm also in agreement with you on preferring the pointy, claw shaped bottle cap lifter. I am a BIG fan of having a can opener on a multi-tool. I understand that a blade can be used to open a can, however, why would someone want to risk a blade for this function, especially since most people are probably at my level of experience with tools and it's not taking the space of another tool. Although with this current shape it could be used as a scraper. Another positive is the solid end that could be used as a pounding tool. Neither of these positives justify the price tag. I'd rather keep using my Surge or Wave + and put the money toward purchase of a separate Magna Cut folding knife. That seems a more sensible investment. Sorry for the long response, but I've been a bit frustrated watching so many reviewers touting how great this tool is while pointing out its shortcomings and that there is nothing we really haven't seen before in other tools, not all of them Leatherman. Thanks again for taking the time to use and post your thoughts on the Arc.
@@happydogg312 if you have a chance to pick up an older leatherman that is the "standard duty" category, you should do that since I find them much better than some today.
I assume you want a bit of everything and a full size multitool:
rebar(currently the best deal but can be not preferable), pst(light but functional), gerber mp series(less tools but prefered if you mainly use pliers), fuse kick core(rubber lined handle line, larger than some others but very good overall value)
I moved away from carrying a standard multitool and now carry mini needle nose pliers/ vice grips/ small multi tool paired with a victorinox ranger
Good no BS review
This past Sunday, I went to the knife shop in the local mall just to poke around. Now, aside from the MagnaCut blade, I didn’t even know what tools or functionality it had. I asked the owner if he could take it out of the case for me, and within 10 seconds of handling it, I asked him to box it up. I bought it instantly, based solely on the blade and the fidget factor. When I got home, I started really exploring it, and it very quickly became my favorite EDC blade/tool. I love it. I’m also trying to quit smoking, and having something so fun to fidget with is really helping me curb my cravings. I think Leatherman knocked it out of the park. The only thing holding it back from perfection from me, is the bit exchanger/can opener. If I could replace both of those with a proper 1/4” bit adapter, it would be the One Multitool to Rule them All, lol.
Have you seen the Victorinox Ranger Grip Boatsman?
Always appreciate your well thought out reviews. But as the owner of a Surge, Wave, Wingman and Skeletool (+ a couple of Victorinox SAKs), I haven't seen anything compelling to get me in the mood for another.
Thank you sir.
Nice to see you back on YT and a great breakdown as always! My P4 has the same plier binding issue, thankfully no issues with the Arc so far. Something that helps my P4 pliers when they bind after use, I’ve found that using the wire crimper on the opposite side of the pivot (even clamping something sacrificial gently) immediately after would loosen the pliers back up. Not an ideal solution by any stretch but helpful in a pinch and, at least on mine, seems to work more consistently than trying to wiggle the handles.
cheers for the tip mate, my P4 pliers went tight after I tried to cut lock parts I shouldn't have
I’ll try that, thanks.
Being able to mount the pocket clip to the opposite side is not beneficial to lefties. It does not change the position of the knife, which still needs to be flipped out awkwardly with the middle finger instead of the thumb.
Well, I meant to say it would require changing the knife blade position and thumb stud orientation as well. I wasn’t very clear there.
@txtoolcrib Unfortunately that would void the warranty. Do you know if the knife can be moved without modification? I'm not familiar with the Free platform, but for the wave/charge a modification to the tools is required in order to switch positions for ergonomic lefty use.
Yes it certainly can. Check out my videos regarding the FREE P4 in my Leatherman playlist, I did a breakdown of how to do it. It’s not exactly easy, but if you require left handed operation it would certainly be worth it.
The wave sheath is the same way with the room up top. I’m pretty sure they do this so you can carry other tools in the sheath, I can actually carry a wave and my leatherman blast in the sheath because of the design, or whatever else I might want with a similar size.
Maybe the sheath size has to do with the bit holder sticking up higher?
Excellent table review. In conclusion and according towhat you just said, I'm not buying a Leatherman tool until they fix the wire cutter issue. These tools are so expensive that they must be perfect. I can't accept any imperfection if they charge this huge amount of dollars. So, I'm buying a Swiss Tool from Victorinox. Thanks.
20:54 WHOA.... I didn't know the cutters weren't a part of the warranty and had thought of that possible reason. If that were proven to be true it would shatter what faith I have left in the company. They have fallen a lot in my opinion but even I hadn't thought they would do something like THAT. It does make financial sense on their part though. That was a well thought out theory by that person.
24:56 I can't stand cooperate apologist like that. These are tools that, up until now, were meant to be used that way. Leatherman even made part of there rep on that function! To silently get rid of it now is absurd and shouldn't be accepted.
It looks like the flap needs the extra length if both internal pockets are filled.
That’s an excellent point and something that slipped past me. It’s a great catch.
16:30 I'd argue they didn't even have to do anything. You'd probably get enough grip from that diamond file alone to open it. I would've just omit the hole.
Is it possible to order the older style replacement cutters? I will look it up but rather ask the gallery first 😅😊
I think the cross section toon of the arcs awl is smaller, I personally do t mind them getting rid of the eyelet I work with leather and have never used it. I think people could just add the hole if they wanted pretty easily.
It look to me that the bit holder is taller than the tool, thus the larger pouch?
To unstiffen your Free series pliers: open the pliers and hold them jaws up, logos toward you, pocket clip on the left facing away. Pull the left handle toward you and push the right handle away in a twisting motion. Might have to mess around a bit to find the spot but don't be afraid to give it some force. I consider mine adjustable because of the difference that motion makes lol
Recently got the Arc and swapped the cutters from my Wave just for peace of mind. But looking at my P4’s that I bought more than 2 1/2 years ago, one cutter is the newer design and one is the older. And I bought it new from Leatherman and have never changed the cutters. Never noticed until now, but I’ll only change it if it ever breaks.
The really strange thing, is that when you order replacement cutters off their site... they have been sending out the 90 degree corner cutters not the curved. Very odd.
I've had the stiff jaws syndrome happen to 1 of my 3 waves and my rebar
I use dedicated tools for single purpose use on my job. Use my Leatherman as something i use in a pinch, however it would be nice to know that after spending the money you could have a tool that will occasionally cut a piece of soft wire or turn a screw without stripping and marring the tool
Cam out. That's the term. I just remembered 😅
If they can’t fix their pliers there’s no point in a leatherman, just get a small pliers dropped forge and a vixtorinox
Is the holder longer to allow for full-sized pens etc to be inserted into the sides?
As always, a great review. I can't wait to get my Arc. I've been waiting for a P4 with a better knife steel and better tool set. I agree the price is a little high.
Is it possible to put blade from arc to surge? Thanks for this video.
Regarding the stiffness of the pivot on the pliers, I share in the frustration. I've re-purchased the same models over the years, namely the Surge and Wave, and never had issues with them being so stiff when put under pressure. This has only happened with my recent purchases of both of these tools. It's pretty annoying having to twist the handles literally almost every time I put pressure on the plier head just to get them to open again.
Hi Tool Crib, what is your experience with magnetic Tool locking on P4 and Arc. Does it gather miniature metal garbage overtime?
Thank you Ben for your honest opinion. I understand why everybody raves about the arc it is really what everybody was wishing for and even better. BUT if you buy a LM it's because you want a pliers base mt otherwise you'll buy a SAK. To me if the main tool of your mt is crooked/weak/too stiff to use you just have bought yourself a nice and expensive paper weight. I really want to buy this mt even with this price tag but if I'm realistic I won't use it just because of that problem. I hope that one day they'll revamp the surge and wave with some bells and whistles of the arc🤞
Same problem with my jaws getting tight after my first cut on my P4. drives me crazy, takes away from the one handed platform. mine has never loosened up again.
It’s discouraging.
Nice 👌
can you tell? leatherman is saying on their page that the cover is PVD coating.... further down on their page they then just talk of DLC coating ... at least on the german page.
Great review on the arc. Would you recommend the spirit mx clip and/or wave over the arc?
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those choices. It is completely dependent on what is most advantageous to you. If you like ease of use, go Arc. If you like a robust tool set, go Wave. If you like the speciality tools and don’t mind how they are accessed, go with the Spirit model you like best. All of them are extremely good choices. Personally, as a Surge user, I would go with the Wave for myself. In fact, I would likely go with one of the Charge models.
The thing about the wire cutters, is that as far as I can tell they have updated the wire cutter blades themselves across the board. I just took a look at my Wave+ (which isn't very old) and they have the same curve you show in the video. This means the updated geometry will apply to all tools that have this feature (their site lists about 14 tools that the replacement blades are compatible with) and the replacements if you need to purchase them. If this was done to prevent breaking plier heads, that would seem reasonable and I can't really fault them for it - it's not just trying to dodge warranty service, I would WANT my cutters to break before my pliers! I don't want to have to send a tool in for repair, that's the whole point of the part being replaceable. On the other hand, it might just be an issue of how they are manufacturing them. It's also possible that the actual issue isn't the geometry, and that the blade breaking is some other less visible defect making them brittle. Maybe the Arc's just got equipped with a bad batch of blades? Also, do we know if Leatherman actually makes the blades themselves? If they outsource it, it could even be a supplier issue.
I got mine and put them to work immediately. The elastomer bushings inside the cutter (to provide the lockup tactile feel) swelled and somewhat deformed within one week of use, making the opening and closing of this tool kinda sticky. The chip-sticking magnets seems ok-ish, nothing a few blasts of air and a solvent rag can't fix. Not that it's a bad tool, but with all the extra fancy stuff packed into it, it's definitely not the beater as Surge have always been...
(yeah, my bad for wrecking open Skydrol type-V and BPTO 2197/2389 cans with this thing, knowing the high-temp stabilization additives' nasty properties, but someone else borrowed my whole toolbox away...like two whole miles away)
Something has been bothering me this whole time and I just figured it out. Where's the TX tool mat?
At home my friend. Doing this overview from the hotel
The cutters sound more like the over hardened the steel and made it too brittle for some batches of the cutters. I did swap over my cutters from an older tool just in case.
Glad your back. You "book end Dominic so well!. {: - ) Appreciate your "view from the job site" approach to MT use, and your informational approach to communication.
The guy who designed the Wave, is now running Leatherman. Why are those good design principles, seemingly not applied fully to the ARC, do you think?
I've resisted "ARC urge," because I don't see where it brings the more casual EDC carrier any advantage over the Free P2 on project days, or the SOG Powerpint on EDC Days, and am not all gaga over Magnacut, if it isn't heresy to say so here...
SAK Handyman for the file and scissors, as the file on the P2, sucks, and the scissors on the Powerpint, same. An ARC would give me those competent tools in one, but for the casual EDC'er @ $230? Tell me I am not making sense....
After watching this I looked at the cutters on my knifeless Rebar, Wave+, and Curl & they all have the lesser cutters
Can you do a video on a timber hitch? You are the only person I trust that will show the correct way
On the Wave+ LM didn't include the security torx. So on the ARC no T6/T8 is the same deal. You didn't mention new bit. Which LM has listed on the website. The U.S. site.
To loosen you p4 jaws you can use Liquid Metal polish. Work it into the joint you want smoother and cycle the movement many times. Then use a cleaner like electronics spray cleaner/carb cleaner, rubbing alcohol. Then a drop of oil.
For a premium tool at that price point, it should be a perfect tool with very little to complain about. Leatherman is a company on the decline
They've focused on the collector/lifestyle/look-at-my-expensive-stuff crowd for a while now.
It's just that they now have lost touch with actual use so much ot has become apparent even to people who hardly ever use it.
When any Ali-express tool does a better job at one of the purported primary uses of your new flagship, you messed up as a company.
Like their "response" about the cutters is clearly BS: they've been using these for a while and only now it's getting attention from content creators they basically shove an old piece of candy their way and go "there, all better".
That goes beyond their earlier shoddy QC and consistency into a systematic issue.
I've admittedly been cynical about them for a while, but it's good to see this becoming more common. Might mean they will have to start working to show why they still deserve to be big dog.
Hi Ben,
Great video as always. But I must ask , I wonder why they put a micro driver in such an expensive tool like this ……..who the hell uses one of those on a regular basis……….surely it would have been better to put the T shank adapt in there instead, much more use considering ……..
if it’s such a premium tool, it needs premium usage right??
Also, as I’ve said many times before, why don’t they design a chisel / 2 x wire stripper like Victorinox. You can quite easily open boxes etc with that …..
I personally think Leatherman need to UP Their GAME if their features, it’s the same old stuff, just moved around. Bit like APPLE !!!! 😮
I agree with you on the micro driver.
I’m in maintenance and use that driver a lot, actually for what it’s worth
First of all Thank you so much Ben for an always thorough and objective review as always, certainly I always enjoy them and value your opinion. Now the blunt straight question, for the systems/sales engineers out there (white/light blue collar like me with multitools in their laptop pack, with lots of improvisation in sales/ demos presentations) would you go for the Arc or Surge considering function and style, and usual drivers are ph0,1,2 and T6-10, strong needle nose too.
On the cutters, has anyone tested the cutters by cutting above the gap? There is a notch higher to keep the material from spitting out. Every test I've seen puts the material to be cut in the gap, which forces the material into the cutter without starting a cut. The gap shouldn't be there for sure, but it may not be a cutter material issue.
You're body of work on RUclips is exceptional. I'm trying to decide between an Arc or a Swisstool spirit X plus. Do you or anyone else have any thoughts?
you position the wire with the stripping notch against the frame, and use the blade to strip the insulation by spinning the wire while applying pressure to the blade or awl like a guillotine, depending on model. thats all U stripping notches, the V ones like on signal can opener does both action as one. the U notches dont cut
Well said. I am increasingly disappointed with Leatherman and their plier cutters. Until they fix this issue I am not buying any of their tools with replaceable cutters! I think Leatherman needs better designers. They need designers who actually use tools and work in the trades.
Okay, but just think for a second... you want them to hire someone who is a "better designer" than who they have now AND "works in the trades." Do you see the potential issue there? How many people are both top of their field engineers and designers while also people who have trade jobs and use these tools everyday in hard conditions? Do we expect that all Leatherman employees have two jobs so they can stress test tools for one job while doing the other? That just doesn't make any sense.
@@Lord_zeel Yes. I am a “certified” electrical engineer and I still “work in the field”. I have worked 25 years in my field. I have met plenty of college educated “engineers” who don’t know how to use basic hand tools.
I think the reason they didnt include the t6/t8 but was because they are too soft. The very first time I tried to adjust a knife with a leatherman t6 it stripped way too easily. It'd be too embarrassing to showcase that their own bit cant handle adjustments on their own product.
That is not an unreasonable theory.
Ben- Have you bought/used the Surge knock off from BiBury that MaxLVLedc reviewed?
I haven’t
@@txtoolcribits on sale in Canada for black Friday. 59.99 Canadian pesos. Im tempted to try them against my surge
My Arc didn’t come with the bits. I’ve contacted them a couple different ways over the last couple weeks. Nobody has replied with an answer to my problem. Very frustrating customer service
Have you tried calling directly?
The eyeglass driver could have been a awl / chisel / prybar
I switch daily between leatherman tools depending on the job/location i’m going but the surge is always close to me in the car or in the bag i can’t go anywhere without my surge :p the arc is nice but surge is still nr1
All the problems with it and the PRICE TAG ! R You crazy?
Finally, someone pointing this out. Nothing about this tool justifies that price. If this is Leatherman's new flagship tool, I worry about the future of another USA company.