Hand Tool Reviews

I bought a 7116 omnijig and a adjustable through dovetail template from Tool Crib and the first one came to me with a grossly deformed aluminum casting. I don't know how it ever made it past quality control because I noticed the defect as soon as I opened the box. I called Tool Crib and they had UPS come and pick it up at no expence to me. Fed EX delivered the second one and a look at the box had me worried. It was badly damaged, and upon opening it I saw that the styrofoam packing was completly destroyed. Luckly there was no damage to the omnijig.
I watched the video (it seemed intimidating) but I started to play with it and get familiar with it. After about 4 hours of set up and making test cuts I made 8 drawers.They came out OK for my first attempt. I think if I buy some good measuring instruments to make set up more precise and easier and after getting more familiar with this jig it will become easy to use and will produce quality joinery.

The Porter Cable OmniJig is simple in it's design, and is substantially made. The dovetail template is a fixed design. The spacing of the dovetails, are not adjustable. If you have a drawer that is 5 3/8" tall, you will have an odd spaced pin. The ideal are pins that are balanced on the top and bottom. Preferably a half pin top and bottom. With the Porter Cable jig, you could have a tail instead of a pin at one end, or odd balanced pins. The Leigh D4 dovetail jig on the other hand gives you infinite spacing capabilities. That kind of adjustability comes with a price for additional set up time. I want complete adjustability, so I can make the outside pins perfectly matched, and then balance the interior pins and tails to whatever spacing I choose. Additionally I have complete control over the size of the pins and tails themselves. It also accepts specific yet different degree angle dovetail bits.
I'm not a yeah this, and a boo that. I like the speed of the omnijig, and the adjustability of the D4. If I was building drawers in a production shop, and time is of the essence, then the PC is the choice. If I was building a custom order, with choice woods, and an even choosier customer, the Leigh would be my choice.
The Omnijig is a well made heavyweight piece, designed to do half blind joints. Through dovetails require a different optional, and expensive jig. Still not with adjustable capabilities. The Leigh D4 is lighter and also well made, comes with through, half blind, and sliding dovetail capabilties right out of the box, all at the price of the base Omnijig unit.
The PC dovetail machine was proudly pictured on the front page of the October 2002 Woodworkers Journal magazine announcing their ultimate guide. They reviewed the different jigs. With the Omnijig, they mentioned, that like, almost all half blind jigs, they are designed around a 14 degree dovetail. In order to get the depth of cut needed at that angle, the jig uses a 3/4" bit. The reviewer stated, "To me, the resulting dovetail looks rather coarse". On the other hand WJ magazine, states, " The jigs that go both ways, especially the super flexible Leigh jig, earn a space in my shop."
Myself, I bought the Leigh D4 with a complete 15 piece set of Leigh factory special router bits, that are custom designed for dovetailing (many different sizes and lengths, and shaft size) for less money than the cost of the PC Omni and optional PC Through Jig. I would also strongly advise you to get their 8mm and 1/2" collet set, instead of the 1/4" and 1/2" shaft size bits, because of the substantially increased strength, yet giving you the capabilities of the smaller pins. You will need an optional 8MM collet for your router to use them. Smaller tighter joints requires slimmer bits, and instead of 1/4" bits with more vibration, which is solved with 8mm bits that give you substantially more shaft size, while still maintaning a small enough size for the smaller template, yielding tighter spacing, and smoother cuts. That is why the international standard for the smaller shaft size is 8mm instead of 1/4". Back to the OmniJig.
If my needs grow to production standards, I will be adding the PC Omnijig to my arsenal. Quite simply the advantage to the OmniJig is that you can take your project and put it in the jig, and put out evenly spaced dovetails pre set to the restricted size of the template, without having to run sample cuts to set up the machine. If your running odd lots all day long, that is a major speed difference.
If you making large lots of the same size, the initial set up for the Leigh is no longer important, and will result in a balanced job, without the loss of time.
I really like my Porter Cable equipment, it is well made, I just think that something as relevant as the contained information should be explained, in addition to the well deserved 5 star reviews.

This jig is great. It cuts perfect dovetails. However, it does take some time to set it up. Unlike others who say they were making perfect dovetails in 15 minutes, it took me about three hours. I consider myself an intermediate woodworker, but had never used (let alone, seen one up close)a dovetail jug before this. Definitely watch the complimentary video PC includes. The manual doesn't come close to the value of the VHS tape. In fact, I watched certain sections 5 or 6 times and kept going in and out of the shop between viewings ! Everytime I had it about perfect, I'd screw it up by fine tuning it some more ! My biggest problem was getting the left & right side the same (template & router depth adjustments). Backing in/out the 9/16" nut spacer is a little bit like a guessing game. However, after about 10 test cuts I got it just right. Simple tip: It's true that you might need several scrap pieces for test cuts, but it's easy to simply use 2 approx. 16" long stock and keep cutting off an inch of unwanted/non-fiting test cuts and repeat the process.

It is also important to remember that your stock must be in increments of 7/8ths to have a half pin on top and bottom of your joint. While others here have expressed regret over this restriction/requirement, I don't see any problem with it. You just have to remember this before you design your project.

The cam locks work great. They are easy to adjust. After spending a few "quality" hours with this jig I feel like I've been using it for years. It would be great for mass production jobs.

Best fence in the business for the price. I fit it to and older table saw with no problem. After using it now I can never go back to the [poorly made] fences that come with low end table saws. Only negative thing was the poor shipping packaging. Thanks for a great item at a great price.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE BIESEMEYER 52" FENCE ON MY DELTA UNISAW. THE RAIL SYSTEM IS EXTRA HEAVY DUTY AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS IS A QUALITY PRODUCT.
INSTALLATION WAS A SNAP AS ALL THE HOLES MATCHED PERFECTY. THE FENCE LOCKS TIGHT FRONT TO BACK AND IS DEAD-ON WHEN SETTING FENCE TO BLADE DISTANCE. THE EXTRA LONG FENCE MAKES IT EASY TO GUIDE EVEN FULL SHEETS OF PLYWOOD WHEN RIPPING.
PACKAGING COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED AS THE PLASTIC KNOB ON THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS BROKEN OFF IN SHIPMENT. 10 MINUTES ON THE LATHE AND I HAD A NEW WALNUT KNOB TURNED OUT TO ADD A TOUCH OF CLASS TO AN ALREADY CLASSY FENCE.

Purchased fence system with extension table and legs. Fence is very solid. Made out of thick steel. Fence that came with my new saw was junk! Fence system is well built and fence slides and locks very well. But, I far warn you it can't be set up in an hour. Rails have to be set exactly with jig included with system but, with a little patience it will come out fine. Just started woodworking therefore, wwas harder for me to set up than a experienced woodworker.

The pliers part is made of softer metal. I've tried once to cut thin steel wire with my SideClip and quickly ruined the pliers, so it became very hard to open and close ever since :( The rest of the tools seem fine.

I love this tool! I've owned many different multi-tools, and while some offer features this little leatherman doesn't have, the Sideclip offers all I really need: a good knife blade, a couple of screwdriver tips, and needle-nose pliers with wire cutters. Most usefull, though, is its handiness; relatively compact and light, I clip it in a pocket in the morning and forget it is there until I need it. Like all Leatherman products the Sideclip is solid and well made, plus it is cheap at thirty bucks. Great tool.

I've had my sideclip for over 5 years now, and it's just getting better with time. Smooth action, all the tools you need on the job but not too many. I'm a stage rigger, so the sideclip attaches right to my fall protection harness. It works great since I can't always bring the right tool for the job 120 feet in the air. All leatherman products I have used have surpassed my expectations, which are high as I own a Wave, a PST, and now two sideclips. A sturdy tool, I've alrady bought another one and keep it in storage just in case this one breaks and they stop making them.

I've been a carpenter for 25 years and have gone through my share of tool belts. This is with out a doubt the best I have owned. I will retire with this pouch and hand it down to my grand kids. It's well made and the pouches are nice sizes. If I had one thing I didn't like about it, it would be the hammer loop. It's too small and located in front. But I just took the old hammer loop of my old pouch. I'm sorry Amazon only has 5 stars to give.

I've have a set of these bags now for over 10 years and as far as I'm concerned, they'll probably last another 10. Unfortunately, I won't ever find out because someone broke into my job trailer and one of the things that they stole were my 10 year old pouches - which I think speaks more loudly than anything I could say.... They are a bit bulky, but are built like a tank - they will hold up to anything that you'll throw at them in normal construction - Only slight problem would be that you can't fit a 35' fat-max in the tape holder. A 25' works fine for almost everything that I have to do. You might not like some things about these, like the size or weight, but I don't think you'll hear anyone complain about the quality.

Thats what my coworkers nick named me because off all the tools I carry and the size of the rig. This is what I carry every day ,tape,knife, caulk box,small prybar, 2 pencils, sharpie,4 in one screwdriver, snips, dikes, speed square, combo square, nail set, all in their own holders.Depending on what I am doing I'll also carry, a second caulk box, 2 vise-grip c clamps, rock saw, rasp, and a 9 inch level, with every tool in its place. Very large and heavy but with the 5055 suspenders very comfortable. Great for framing and rocking but too large and bulky for trim and fine work. Thinking about buying the trimmers belt also. My old belts always tore, these show no signs and will last for a very long time. These belts are not for everybody because of the price, size, and weight. Try one on before you buy and make sure everything is adjusted, it took me a week to get the suspenders adjusted right, but have not changed them since.

I have used this gun for about 2 years now and it's the smartest tool purchase I've ever made. It works extremely well and stands up to my abuse.

It's connivance is a definite time and money saver. Rather than pulling out a large and heavy compressor, plugging it in (hopefully without the need of an extension cord), and an awkward air hose; this gun is out of the case and working in seconds. Ready to nail up any base, case and/or molding anywhere without dragging around a clumsy pneumatic hose.

There are only two small draw backs. First is its size makes it hard to fit in small spaces like nailing an under cabinet kick plate. But that doesn't really matter because the minimum brad length is to long to nail up thin skins anyway. So you'll need a conventional air for those job , and you'll be able to get at that kick plate too.

Accepting no tool can do it all, the Porter-Cable Cordless Brad Nailer's advantages out way these faults.

I would recommend buying a PC 12 volt drill for two extra batteries and an other charger. Its cheaper than buying separately and you get a very nice, light weight drill out of it.

I HAVE OWNED A PORTER CABLE NAIL GUN FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND HAVE USED IT CONSIDERABLY IN THE REMODELING OF MY DAUGHTER'S HOME. PRIOR TO USING, I WILL PLACE DROPS OF OIL AS RECOMMENDED AND, IN MOST INSTANCES, THE GUN WILL WORK FINE IN THE INTERNAL POWER MODE. LATELY HOWEVER, I BEEN EXPERIENCING A MALFUNCTION IN THAT THE GUN WILL NOT SHOOT OUT A NAIL. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, THE COMPRESSOR ENGAGES, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH A NAIL HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AN INDENTATION IS MADE IN THE WOOD BUT NO SIGN OF A NAIL. I READ THE MANUAL'S TROUBLE SHOOTING SECTION, BUT FAILED TO FIND AN ANSWER. IF ANY USER OF THE PORTER CABLE NAIL GUN HAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM OR CAN PROVIDE AN REMEDY, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. OTHER THAN MY RECENT PROBLEM, IT IS A GREAT TOOL FOR THE HOMEOWNER.

This is NOT a faulty design. I've used this unit for many months now and I've NEVER had a problem. It's cheaper than buying a nailer and compressor! Plus, it's portable and comes with enough brads to last you for a long time! The second battery is an absolute must though! It shoots about 100 brads on a charge. If you oil the unit as you're instructed to (which I do), then I think it will work for a very long time before it needs to have any gasket replacement, etc. If I had the money, I would buy one of these for everyone I know for Xmas! It's really worth it!

I have a small home shop, and purchased this saw about 3 weeks ago. I love it. I don't do any heavy production work, just furniture and cabinet work, and this is the perfect saw. I can honestly say that I will have this saw for a long time. Power is great, blade control is excellent, and the 50" Biesmeyer fence system is spot on accurate. I highly recommend this saw to anyone looking to purchase a cabinet style table saw. Delta is the best.

I am very happy with the purchase of the 36-821L Unisaw. Although they do not specify it, you need to order or build the right extension table or you will not be able to use the saw correctly. It seems that the saw comes with all the parts needed for the extension table except for the most important part, the extension table. I decided to build my own extension table and it ended up costing me half the price. The saw was very easy to put together, it did not take 5-6 hours like the other reviews stated. Only one problem with the saw so far and that is that the on/off switch seems to be defective and although the saw does work, i will have to get in touch with... and/or Delta to fix the problem. It also does come with a very wimpy blade so you should upgrade it as soon as possible.

I bought the Delta left tilt arbor Unisaw. I'm very happy with it. I could have purchased either the Powermatic or the General. The attention to detail on the machining seems better on the Delta than the other machines.

I have had nothing but good experiences with this compressor. It has far exeeced my expected capabilities. I have used it to run all types of nail guns, impact wrenches and other air tools. It has perfromed flawlwessly. The only drawback I have seen to date is that it uses more amps than others in its class--a trade off I am willing to make. This is probably due to the fact that its CFM rating exeeds all the others as well. I would recommend this air compressor to anyone in the need for a small air compressor that performs as good as may air compressor twice as large. By the way, it is not as loud as some seem to think it is.

top notch tool, it's the best of any of the "small" compressors i have used. while it's not the lightest, or the quietest, it is by for the most powerful - i ran two framing guns off it (after i put a splitter on coupler) shooting 3 1/2" nails without any problems . i also ran a 1/2" ingersolrand impact off the mac2200 and was very impressed. the mac2200's recovery time is also very quick ,around 10 seconds. i have owned several small , name brand compressors over the last ten years and this is the first one i have really been impressed with. if you need serious cfm. but don't want a large compressor.....this is your tool

I own two of these, bought several years apart and like them. They are very powerful, producing the most CFM of any "small" compressor. It produces more CFM by a long shot too, almost 50% more than the next best one. This was the reason I bought them more than anything else. The lack of oil and concomitant ability to put them on an unlevel surface is a real bonus in some situations.

I would buy the MAC 2200 again, but its worth noting a few drawbacks. They are loud compressors - the loudest of any electric compressor I've heard on any jobsite. The are also heavy. Finally, they consume serious power. You really can't run multiple devices on a 15 amp circuit with this thing. Given the phenomenal amount of air this compressor moves none of these criticisms should come as a surprise. You don't get something for nothing.

i bought this specific drill because the techinal data said it was made in japan , but on the drill it self said made in mexico, if i had known that i would have bought the 18 volt. i feel that ive been lied to. its a nice drill , but i feel like i got screwed

First off, I have to admit that I'm a bit of a Panasonic whore, because I think that for the money, they produce some of the best electronic products made. They're kind of like Sony used to be in that you could count on buying the best if you bought that brand. So you can understand how surprised I was when the trigger speed control failed after only 1 month of light use!

A month ago, when it was "new", I found that it went from zero to 60 rpm rather abruptly. But since other reviewers had mentioned this behavior, I wasn't unduly alarmed since it did spool up smoothly with more trigger pressure. But now it has just two speeds: Off and full speed! So it seems that this drill/driver's weak link is its trigger speed control. That's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

But while I'm disappointed that my unit has failed, it's well within the warranty period, and I think it is worth trying to repair it, rather than just giving up and buying something else. There's just nothing else in its class that's as light, powerful, has two NiMh batteries, charges quickly, has a good case, and is so well designed -- barring, of course, the trigger speed control!

I'll report back when it's repaired to let you know what I think about it after that.

As the owner of a commercial cabinet shop I require all of my dozen or so employees to provide their own hand tools and one power tool: a cordless drill. Over the last 21 years we have obviously seen about every cordless manufacturer out there. The employees are proud people and get quite competitive over who has the best drill. For many years we had quite a variety but for the last 3 or 4 years almost every single drill we buy is a panasonic. Bottom line is they have the best battery power and life second to none. They are built well and last through the abuse of day to day constant use. Our only warranty work that has been done on a few of them is the clutch but I attribute that more to heavy use than poor quality. The biggest debate we have is whether to get the 15.6 volt or the 18 volt and it's all about weight. The 18 volt is definately more powerful but a fair bit heavier also. Personal preference and end use should guide you. With either drill you can't go wrong, I have two myself.

I like this one much better, they made us switch to the Boston but that one kept binding, so I kept my Swingline and I used to sit over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, but now they moved me here and I don't know why I cannot enjoy my radio at resonable levels between 9 and 11 am when she can listen between 9 and 11 am. And there was salt, great big grains of salt, and I wanted a pina colada but they brought me a margerita and i could take my american express travelers checks somewhere else. The ratio of people to cake is falling. . . .

I ordered this because of the Office Space hype. I was pleasently surprised by the performance. Most people think "whats the big deal about a stapler". I switched from a Stanley Bostich B440 and there's no comparison. The Swingline doesn't bind up as much and it takes about half the effort to use the stapler. Also, the top is rounded, so its very comfortable to use. It also looks great, and it feels nice and heavy (sturdy). Only about half the people at my work have seen office space, but the performance alone was well worth the investment. As always, Amazon.com was great.

Everyone at my office has a 747 Series Red Stapler in honor of Milton from "Office Space", but the main reason to get one is that Swingline has more features and a better design than other staplers in its class.

This is a good multitool except for one thing. It does not have a regular knife blade! I was shocked when I received it and could not find a regular pointed knife blade. There is a serated knife blade. But it is rounded at the end.

This is a high quality tool. The fit, finish and action are very impressive. It would be perfect for the handyman, tradesman or anyone that doesn't care about bulk or weight. I especially like the locking feature for the tools. Because it's such a nice tool, I plan on keeping it. It will likely last for many years with minimal care. Having said that, it's probably not for the backpackers out there. The pictures don't capture how large and heavy this tool is relative to most other multi-tools and most swiss army knives. So if you're a backpacker who watches every ounce, there are better alternatives.

I've been on a quest for the best multi-tool for years. Over the last twenty I've had leathermen, SOGs, Schrades, Gerbers, swiss army knives and more. In this review I will put the Spirit up against the Leatherman Charge Ti and the Gerber Legend 800 - what I consider the primary competitors for best multi-tool on the planet at the moment. I owned the Gerber Legend 800 from 2002-2004 - and lost it when the cheesy nylon case broke. I owned the Charge Ti from 2005-2006 and recently had it stolen or lost in my living room by either my kids or a houseguest when I left it out over a vacation week. I got the Victorinox Spirit to tide me over until I found the Charge Ti. As the months pass I'm pretty happy with the Victorinox and can live with the fact this might be a permanent arrangement. I've had it for 3 months now and it has answered every call.

As way of background I'll share that I'm a computer guy and medium-duty handyman. I use multitools to repair electronics, gutters, minor carpentry & electrical; around the house and work stuff mostly. (Work has been a museum construction site for years).

Short and sweet - the Victorinox is smaller and more dainty - yet stands with the big boys in performance. Smaller and lighter than the others, the Spirit is superbly laid out and moves with solidity beyond its size and a fascinating precisions that is ... well... Swiss. Each tool is easily accessible to the thumbnail and comes out smoothly BY ITSELF. Each tool locks with an individual springlock (the spring lock back looks like the musical part of wind-up music box). Lock release is via an intuitive pull latch. Everything is a chromed glossy mirror finish except the pliers head - which is nice unit. Here's the lowdown on the matchup:

Pliers: Winner - Gerber Legend 800. Gerber has spring-loaded pliers that open themselves up. They also have replaceable interchangeable wire cutter blades. These two features are unique and are great. The downside for Gerber is that the pliers don't open quite as far as the other two - limiting their utility for plumbing. Victorinox and Leatherman have similar pliers - but on the Victorinox the jaws are a little stubbier, and the jaws only touch at the tip when closed (they become totally parallel when the jaw are open 2mm) as opposed to most others where the pliers jaws are totally parallel at the point of closure. In practice none of this made a bit of difference. The most controverial part of the Spirit is the curved handle which gives the pliers grip a short finger throw. This is a nice refinement - they make an elegant pair of pliers - but at the cost of the ruler markings on the grip. In the end I prefer the older swisstool style on this score. Put Victorinox #2. The final issue the the grip. The Gerber has all the tools inside, so the pliers grip is wide smooth metal all the way but theres a seam. The Leatherman charge - like the Wave, has the small tools recessed out on the grip side - so your hand grips the smooth back of the 4 long tools (knives, saws, and files). This makes the grip wider than the old-style leathermen, where you gripped only the metal edge, but narrower than the other two offerings. The Victorinox has all the tools inside the grip - and your hand mostly bears down on the smooth spring lock mechanism.

Knives: Winner: Leatherman Charge Ti. The Charge Ti has two knives, a superb smooth bladed clip point in a special hard alloy, and a nice serrated. Both can be opened with one hand without opening the tool. The Spirit has a single blade - a razor shaped aggressively serrated blade that must be opened with two hands. It's wickedly sharp, but serrated blades are harder to resharpen and the razor shape lacks a point. I find I use the awl when I want a knive point. I guess Victorinox figures the serrated blade will stay sharp. We'll see. The Gerber has a single clip point blade with a smooth front half and serrated back half. This sounds like a bad thing - but it actually worked well. It's openable by one hand.

Saw: Winner: Tie Victorinox & Leatherman. Both are wickedly sharp dual action teeth and are the same thickness. The Victorinox has a lower profile, but the Leatherman has teeth all the way to the tip - call it a tie. The Gerber has a cool mechanism that accepts jigsaw blades, allowing you to choose your own and replace as needed. Great concept - but trouble is that there aren't any great jigsaw blades made - nothing comes close the quality of the saws on these other two.

File: Winner Tie for Victorinox and Leatherman. Very close all around. They all give good files. The Victoriox is the sharpest, but the Leatherman is almost as sharp and gives you a bit more surface area.

Philips Screwdriver: Victorinox - for having the longest (gets in the most crannies). Leatherman Charge and Gerber both have interchangeable bits associated witht he philips screwdriver. The Leatherman Charge has the much better interchangeable bit scenario with cool low profile bits that store in the belt case and have a great selection. Gerber takes regular size bits - which is a plus, but the bit holding adapter doesn't mate totally securely with the screwdriver head and must be carried in a separate case. Victorinox also has a bit arrangement - with a cool little rotary ratchet - but its a completely freestanding separtate arrangment. This is bound to get lost.

Scissors: Winner: Victorinox hands down. Like a swiss army knife scissors, but with an upgraded beefy spring that's gonna last and which also holds the scissors closed enough that the blades are just crossed - so you can breeze through paper. The old Leatherman wave had a great scissors, but they upgraded for the new wave and Charge series. The new leatherman scissor is smaller and wimpier and opens too far to cut when the hand is relaxed. Gerber's is too skinny with too tough a spring (hurts to use it) - but compensates by being the only one openable with one hand.

Flat head screwdrivers: Winner Victorinox (but special honor for Charge Ti for glasses screwdriver/tiny philips). Like a swiss army knife, the Spirit has the excellent can opener combo with small screwdriver head, a beefy big screwdriver with wirebending notch, and now a cool sharp small-mid sized flat screwdriver head with a long narrow shaft - great for computers with serial ports. The Charge Ti has the interchangeable bits - which are great but have a very short shaft, a glasses screwdriver as a full tool which you can pull out and reverse to get a tiny precision philips head screwdriver (unique and totally awesome - great for watches and model trains and glasses), and a medium sized stand along screwdriver that is OK, but not particularly well shaped or long or distinguished in any way. The Gerber has the interchangeable bits and three decent built-in flat head screwdrivers.

Can Opener/Bottle Opener: Winner Victorinox - has good toold for both functions - just like the Swiss Army Knife. The Charge has a combo can/bottle opener that just barely tolerable. The Gerber lacks these tools.

Awl: Victorinox is the only one - and a great awl it is. Good for belts and for cutting nylon cable ties. Makes a great and safer box opener too.

Ruler: The Charge Ti is the only one of these three to include this important feature.

Chisel/Wire scraper - Victorinox - unique and great tool. You can always use the wire cutter to strip and scrape wire. The Victorinox has about a half dozen ways - but thise chisel/scraper tool is a really great wire stripper as well a solid chisel for detail work. For model building this is a big plus.

Handle grip: Winner: Charge Ti - the titanium textured grips are totally awesome. The Gerber has big aluminum grips with inset rubber panels. The rubber comes out after a year. The alumninum is light but bulky. The curve is kinda cool - but also kinda dorky. The Victorinox has a super shiny polished grip that looks like it's going to be slippery. In practice the grip is fine (I haven't used it in muddy or oily situations - but that would be bad for any multitool).

Case: Winner Charge Ti - available leather case with snap closure. Snap is more durable than velco. The bad thing about the Charge's case is the stretchy side panels. I wonder about their durability. The Victorinox has solid leather case - very nice - but velcro closure. After the velcro stops working I'll take it to a leather shop to have a snap closure put in. The Gerber only has a nylon case with velcro closure.

Cost - the Victorinox is half the cost of the Charge - but lacks the bits. The Gerber slots between the two. The Victorinox at $50 isn't dirt cheap - but is pretty good value for the money.

Size - the Victorinox is the smallest and lightest by a wide margin.

Fit and finish: The Victorinox is the slickest with the tightest tolerances and smoothest most polished motions. As someone else points out - however, it has dead pins, preventing you from replacing tools down the road. The Charge is a close second and has torx pin closure. The Gerber must be singled out for scorn on the design front. A number of tools cannot be taken out without removing the adjacent tool and the scissors opens and closes in such a manner that you risk a cut each time.

Overall winner depends on your list of priorities. I'd say the Charge Ti is the best overall - most useful in the widest range of situations. Ultimately, any of these tools will serve you well. The Victorinox Spirit with its high utility, great refinement, light weight and low price is real nice pick - expecially well suited to the well dressed, ladies, and anyone who appreciates a nice unit.