Two More Swiss+Tech Gadgets

I bought a few of the other pocket tools that Swiss+Tech (ST) has to offer and gave them each a week or so in my EDC just to see how they worked out. Here's what I learned.

ST501196-in-1 Screwdriver

Features:

1. 

   Photo by Chaplain Tim

   #1 Phillips head screwdriver
2. #2 Phillips head screwdriver
3. Small straight screwdriver
4. Medium straight screwdriver
5. Metric ruler marked every 5mm
6. Standard ruler marked every 1/8^th inch
   
   

Pros

• It's small enough to carry without noticing. I believe this is about the smallest multi-tool that ST has to offer and it weighs no more than a small keyring.
• The construction is solid, with no plastic on this one. I have had poor luck with any multi-tool that incorporates plastic in its construction; the plastic always seems to be the weakest part.
• It's made of some grade of stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about it rusting under normal use.
• It has no cutting blade, this should be safe to travel with.

Cons

• The tips of the screwdrivers weren't very well finished. The larger Phillips head was cut off-center, and both of the straight blades were rounded and not square with the axis of the blade. They almost seemed to be twisted a bit when new.
• It's small, so you're not going to get much leverage with it. Rusty or corroded screws are going to be a problem, even moreso than with a traditional screwdriver.
• The rulers are marked in large increments for a short length, so their versatility is limited. You're going to have to interpolate (guess) at measurements on either one.

ST500226-in-1 multi-tool

Features:

1. 

   Photo by Chaplain Tim

   Mini-pliers
2. Wire cutter
3. Wire stripper
4. Phillips screwdriver
5. Straight screwdriver
6. Sheet ripper

Pros

• Like the ST50016I reviewed a few weeks ago, it closes on itself and locks onto a D-ring or key chain securely.
• This one is much easier to open than the ST50016. The straight legs fold easily.
• The screwdrivers were clean-cut and worked well on the few smaller screws I used them on (switch plates and conduit box cover screws). Handy in tight work spaces, too.
• The wire cutter/stripper worked well on 12ga copper wire and will handle anything smaller than that. I'd avoid steel wire, since I doubt they used a high grade of stainless steel.
• Without a cutting blade, it will set off metal detectors but should be safe from the TSA thieves.

Cons

• Like the ST50016, the legs are attached with rivets which will be the weakest point and limit the pressure you can safely apply to the pliers.
• I'm not exactly sure what a “sheet ripper” is supposed to be or do, and the instructions gave me no help. It appears to be just a mildly sharp edge on the inside of both legs and serves no real function that I could figure out.
• The jaws of the pliers weren't ground evenly and do not meet, except for at the tip when closed.
• The pliers are even smaller than the ones on the ST50016, barely opening one half-inch (12mm).

Conclusions

Both of these would be handy additions to a small tool kit for a motorcycle or bicycle, or thrown into a tackle box. While limited to light duty, they would both work better than any field-expedient tool for small bolts and screws. As long as you recognize their limitations, I feel that these two would be a good addition to any BOB/GHB.