My Past Tools
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| My old knife |
Growing up, I really liked knives. I'm not sure what it was about knives that made me like them, maybe it was the fact that if I needed something cut, I wouldn't have to go and find a knife, since I would already have one ready to go. Or maybe it's just a guy thing. I'm not sure. Anyway, when I got old enough for my parents to let my have a knife, I started caring a knife around everywhere I went. It was a really cool knife, had too blades, a long one and a short one. I would love to use that thing. Everywhere I went, that knife accompanied me, riding along in my pocket. I did a variety things with it, mostly whittling on pieces of wood to make various toys to play with. I remember carving out a sword and a knife one time, and they I would play with those self-carved weapons, much fun.
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| My Swiss Army knife |
After a while I got a Swiss Army knife, so I carried that along with my old knife that I had. The Swiss Army knife was really good, because it had a pair of scissors, and screwdriver, and other tools that a regular pocket knife doesn't have. However, as I aged my little knife aged too. Eventually, it's blades got very loose, and dull, and sand got in its workings, so it became less and less useful. When I just didn't see a reason to keep it around anymore, I retired it to my wooden box of knifes, to make it part of my collection. After that, I just started carrying my Swiss Army knife everywhere.
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| Leatherman Fuse |
I don't remember how old I was, but one year I got a Leatherman Fuse for Christmas. The Leatherman was amazing, I wore it on my belt everywhere I went, and then I always had a pair of pliers, a pair of scissors, a knife, and whole bunch of other tools with me. Having the Leatherman was pretty much amazing. It had a very nice knife blade, and pliers and everything. I was very glad to have it with me whenever I might need it.
My Leatherman Fuse had served me very well, for probably at least 4 or 5 years. I even had to buy a new sheath for it because the first one wore out because I had to so long. But all good things must come to an end is what I'm told (though I don't necessarily believe that). When I was going to Disney world and Epcot with my family in the beginning of May 2010, I had to take my Leatherman off (no knives allowed), and leave it at the motel. And my poor Leatherman Fuse got left in the motel room that we were staying in, I thought that I had put it in my bag, but evidently I had not. Very sad.
My Present Tools
When I found out that I had lost my Leatherman Fuse at the motel I was rather sad, but at the same time I was also rather joyful because for a long time I had wanted to purchase a new Leatherman, the Leatherman Wave. The Leatherman Wave is a nicer design and higher up model than the Fuse. The Wave is actually Leatherman's most popular Full-size Multi-tool.
Some of the key advantages of the Wave over the Fuse are the fact that it has a couple blades which can be opened with one hand, and without having to open the pair of pliers, and it has two bit drivers, one normal size and one small, eyeglasses sized. By "bit driver" I mean that it can change out the screw driver ends so I can have all different types of screw driver sizes, and allen wrench sizes. I can carry 24 different screwdriver bits with me in my Leatherman holster at one time. I often find it very hand to have 24 various drill bits at my disposal whenever I need them, very, very handy. =)
So, anyway I now have a Leatherman Wave which I carry around with me everywhere I go, but in addition to that I also have a flashlight which I carry around everywhere. I started off by carrying a Maglite around, but after a while I realized that that wasn't bright enough or durable enough for my needs, it kept breaking. So I did some research for the perfect flashlight for me. I looked and looked until I finally found out about Surefire flashlights, and bought one for myself. It was perfect for my needs, bright enough to light a room, yet small enough to keep on my belt, and durable enough to keep from breaking even though I carry it around everywhere with me. (Since they are made for the Army, they make them pretty tough. =) )My Future Tools
Well that's what I carry around with me now, a Leatherman Wave, and a Surefire 6P, but in the future, most likely I will upgrade my tools sometime before I pass away. And when I do, the next Leatherman I will probably get is the Surge. The Surge is very similar to the Wave, but at 12.5% longer, and with 4 more tools than the Wave, the Surge has a couple distinct advantages over the Wave. However, I think that I am going to hold off a little bit and just make do with what I have for the time being, because my Wave is working just fine. =) As for my flashlight, I don't even know what I would upgrade that to. I already have the best one for me needs, until they invent something new that is.
So, that's my arsenal that I carry around with me everywhere I go. It's not that big, but it gets the job done. =)
Before I head out, let me just mention a couple of the things that I do with my tools. I most definitely use them, quite often in fact. I use my flashlight every day for sure, I use it when I get up in the morning to find my clothes and get changed without waking up my roommates. And I also use it many other times when someone dropped something when it is dark, and they need to find it, I can help them out with my flashlight, stuff like that. I use my Leatherman a great deal as well. Often there are cases when I use it, and if I hadn't had it then we would have been in trouble, like the time last week when I was on a CSC (Community Service Council) Project and we were helping set things up for a race. We were there setting things up, and we needed a knife to cut some rope to attach the signs, but no one had a knife, except for me. Then we also needed a saw to cut the PVC pipe to the right length for one of the signs. I was able to help because I had both a knife and a saw on my Leatherman. Then there are other times when I use my Leatherman, but we wouldn't have been in dire trouble if I hadn't had it with me, it would just have made things less convenient. For example, I am often tightening up screws, or bolts, or other things that I notice are loose with the tools that are on my Leatherman. Basically I am using my Leatherman all the time for things that are big and small. I can't imagine what it would be like to not carry it around anymore, it has sort of become part of me. =)
Well, that's all I have for now, hope you have a wonderful rest of your day,
Signing off,
Tim
