Tool review: Leatherman Sidekick

Key Features:
 +   Knife opens easily from outside
 +   Good spring tension on pliers
 +   Liner locks for the knife and saw blades 
 -    Knife tip breaks easily


I've owned many lower-end multi tools over the years, some of which are good tools and others of which aren't.  However, up until recently, I'd never owned or used a Leatherman.  The rare combination of a Home Depot gift card and the Leatherman Sidekick going on sale for just $18 changed that, however.

The Sidekick usually sells for around $30-$35.  Home Depot recently had the Leatherman Wingman on sale for $20, and I stopped in one day to check that out, when I saw the Sidekick on sale for $18.  They are very similar multi tools, even though the Sidekick is usually more expensive, so since the price was right I snatched the Sidekick up.

The quality difference between a Leatherman multi tool and other brands of multi tools is readily apparent.  The Sidekick is all metal (about as heavy as a DeWalt MT16 or a Stanley FatMax T16) and the tool opens and closes very smoothly.  It's obvious that a lot of thought went into how the tool was put together, where everything is positioned, and how it all opens.  The knife and saw blades open from the outside, and the two screwdrivers are right next to each other, making them easy to find when you need them.

The knife is good quality, with a sharp edge and tip.  It can be opened one-handed (with either hand) though not as easily as the blades on some other multi tools I've used.  The saw blade also opens one-handed, and is slightly easier to open than the knife because of the position of the belt clip (which is removable).

The knife tip, however, is unexpectedly fragile.  The very first time I used the knife to pry off an e-clip -- something I've done often with my other multi tools -- the tip snapped right off.  That has never happened in the many times I've popped off e-clips with a DeWalt MT16, Gerber Mini Suspension-P, or any other multi tools that I've used.

The Sidekick's pliers are strong, with needle nose tips, good spring tension, and a wide jaw span.  The wire cutters don't touch or overlap like those on other multi tools, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you are using them for.  The pliers open easily and snap shut with a military-esque precision.  When the pliers are closed, there is a slight amount of side to side play between the two handles, but it's not noticeable when the pliers are open.

In addition to the three "main" tools the Sidekick has -- pliers, knife, and saw -- there are many other tools as well.  There are the slotted and cross drivers, which are as good or better than any other multi tool I've used.  The cross driver isn't equal to a Phillips screwdriver, of course, but it works better than the cross driver on a Gerber Mini Suspension-P.  Decent screwdrivers combined with good pliers and a good knife make the Sidekick a worthwhile everyday-carry tool.

The other tools include a ruler, can opener, bottle opener, and file.  The tension on these inner tools (which you have to open the pliers to be able to access) is a little stronger than it needs to be.  If you have two T-10 Torx drivers, you can probably adjust the tension, but with only one driver the screw just spins in place.

Amazon.com currently lists the Sidekick for $49.99 (way overpriced) and HomeDepot.com sells it for $29.88.  You can get the DeWalt MT16 for around $20, which is a comparable tool.  (The MT16 doesn't have the saw blade, but it does have scissors.)  If you can find the Sidekick for $20 or so, I would definitely recommend trying it.

Leatherman tool reviews

Multi Tools:
- Leatherman Brewzer
- Leatherman Sidekick
- Leatherman Squirt PS4

Tool review: Pittsburgh 40696 5-3/4" Needle Nose Pliers

Key Features:
 +   Good tension
 +   Good reach
 -    No teeth


Walking into a Harbor Freight store, you can find a lot of good deals on tools.  They have a lot of decent tools for cheap prices.  One tool that's currently on sale is a pair of Pittsburgh 5-3/4" Needle Nose Pliers (model# 40696).  These pliers regularly sell for $2.99 but right now they are $1.99.

$1.99 for a pair of needle nose pliers is a pretty good deal.  These pliers aren't the best, but they're a nice extra pair to have.  The handles are smaller and thinner than the handles on a standard pair of needle nose pliers, but the jaws are longer (and also thinner).  They are good for reaching into tight spaces.

These pliers are spring-loaded, though not with a coiled spring.  There are two small metal plates that provide the tension, and they do a good job.  Because of the way the plates are positioned, they stretch out the plastic collars on the pliers' handles after very little use.  The stretched collars don't affect how the pliers work, they just imply a sloppy design.

One feature to note about these pliers is that the jaws don't have any teeth.  The inner sides of the jaws are flat, all the way up.  The lack of teeth -- along with the lack of strength at the jaw tips -- allows the pliers to slip sometimes during use.  There are also no wire cutters on these pliers, like on some other needle nose pliers.  The handles are foam, and provide a good grip.  They start out orange, but quickly start to look dirty with use.

Price comparison:
- HarborFreight.com:  $1.99
- Amazon.com:  $5.88
- Newegg.com:  $5.88

For their price, the Pittsburgh 40696 needle nose pliers aren't a bad deal.  As long as you know what you're getting, they make a decent second pair of pliers.  For something a little more robust and useful, check out Stanley's 84-096 5" needle nose pliers.

Tool Review: Allied 65051 1/2" x 3" Pocket Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Magnetic tip
 -    Pocket clip doesn't fit very tightly


If you work with small electronics or office equipment, there's a good chance you keep a screwdriver (or several) in your pocket.  A good tweaker comes in handy often, both on the job and at home, and the Allied 65051 1/2" x 3" Pocket Screwdriver is a good one.

This driver is thin and lightweight with a slotted tip.  One thing that sets this screwdriver apart from other similar drivers is the magnetic tip, which is strong enough to attract and hold small screws.

As a slotted screwdriver, the Allied driver is functional, though if you need to use a lot of force the small handle doesn't provide much grip.  As a tweaker, it works well.  The tip is small enough to get under most e-clips (the blade is slightly thicker than the blade on a Husky mini Phillips driver, so it won't fit under tiny e-clips) and it can also be used to open boxes or pop out plastic cover tabs.  The long shaft allows access to hard-to-reach places.

The screwdriver has a removable clip which is useful if you want to keep it in your shirt pocket.  The clip fits very loosely, and gives the impression that it can fall off easily.  The clip is hard to see when looking down -- a brighter color or more textured clip would have been nice to help locate it quicker when you are putting the driver back in your shirt pocket.  Because of the clip's loose fit, it slides easily over a pocket so you don't have to force it in.

The Allied 65051 pocket screwdriver is inexpensive, and can be purchased online from these retailers:

- Theisens.com:  $0.99
- CALRanch.com:  $0.99
- Amazon.com:  $2.03

[Update:  As of 1/30/15, Amazon has dropped its price for this screwdriver to $1.86.]

Allied tool reviews

Screwdrivers:
- Allied 65051 1/2" x 3" Pocket Screwdriver

Tool review: Neiko 03713A 3/8" Drive Automatic Click Torque Wrench

Key Features:
 +   Easy to use
 +   Comes with a nice case
 -    Instructions are not very clear


The Neiko 03713A 3/8" Drive Automatic Click Torque Wrench is the first torque wrench I've used, so I can't compare it to other torque wrenches yet.  However, it has worked great for what I've needed it to do.

The torque wrench comes in a molded hard plastic case.  The case is holds both the torque wrench and the instructions.  It's a good case for protecting the wrench, not too large to carry but large enough to keep the wrench from being jarred or damaged.

The instructions that come with the wrench are not very clear.  They tell you how to use the wrench, but until you've actually used it the first time, they don't make a lot of sense.  Once you've used the wrench once or twice, it's very easy to use.

Like many other torque wrenches, this one "clicks" when you've reached the desired torque setting.  The click is loud and easily heard.  One reviewer on Amazon stated that he couldn't use hear the click on lower-torque settings, but I've used this wrench for high-torque applications (lug nuts, 80 ft/lbs) as well as low-torque applications (spark plugs, 13 ft/lbs) and the click has been distinctive and easy to hear every time.

At both ends of the spectrum, the wrench functions consistently well.  Its stated range is from 10 ft/lbs to 80 ft/lbs, and while I haven't used it at its lowest setting, it definitely does work at its highest setting.  It gets harder to adjust the torque at higher settings, but I guess that's to be expected.

The wrench has a lock nut that allows for adjustment of the torque level.  This nut spins easily and locks firmly.  The 14" shaft is chrome vanadium steel with a textured handle.  If I could make one improvement to this wrench, it would be to add a plastic or rubber grip for less slippage, but this is a minor detail that doesn't detract from the wrench's functionality.  If you find that you can not grip the wrench securely, grip tape is easy to apply and does the job adequately.

The Neiko 03713A 3/8" Drive Automatic Click Torque Wrench has held up well so far under moderate use.  I don't expect it to be a "lifetime" tool, but so far I'm impressed with it.  It sells for $24.95 on Amazon.com (it was $28.95 when I bought mine) and that seems like a fair price for this tool.

Neiko tool reviews

Wrenches:
- Neiko 03713A 3/8" Drive Automatic Click Torque Wrench

Tool review: Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Good contoured grip
 +   Strong magnet
 +   Large internal storage area for bits
 -    #2 Phillips bit is too thin

 -    bit holder is shallow


The great search for the perfect everyday-carry screwdriver has been going on for a while now.  The Craftsman Auto-Loading Screwdriver is a solid driver, with good multibit selection and a decent magnet.  The Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver isn't bad, but too bulky for what it offers.  The Stanley FatMax Ratcheting Screwdriver is the closest I'd found, but it's lack of a magnet for screw attraction detracts from its good features.

A couple of days ago, I got a Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver through my employer.  It didn't take long to realize that this was the nicest screwdriver I'd ever used.  I even had a dream about this screwdriver.

For a repairman, technician, or someone else who uses a screwdriver every day, this Snap-On driver is everything you need.  It's the most complete screwdriver I've found, and the quality is excellent.  It has a $64.95 price tag on the Snap-On website, which is a lot of money for a screwdriver, but if you can find one cheaper, it's worth considering.

The driver has a good ratcheting action, with a 3-position ratchet switch that you can adjust without having to move the screwdriver.  The ratchet motion is very smooth, with many fine teeth -- much smoother than two decent Stanley ratchet drivers I've used.  For a ratcheting screwdriver, it's not very heavy.  The ratchet itself is very quiet.

There is a magnet behind the bit to attract screws, and it's as strong a magnet as I've seen on any screwdriver.  I have yet to drop a screw using this driver.  The driver comes with five bits: three Phillips bits (#1, #2, and #3) and two slotted bits (3/16" and 9/32").  The four bits not in use can be stored in the driver's handle, and there's enough extra room in the handle for several more bits.

The bits themselves are good quality.  The #2 bit (and possibly others, but that's the one I've used the most) is slightly thinner than other #2 bits, so it tends to slip occasionally when turning a screw.  If you notice this problem too, just use a wider bit.  (DeWalt bits tend to be wider and work very well.)

The only other shortcoming this driver has is that the bit holder itself is slightly shallower than the bit holders on other drivers.  The difference is only a millimeter or two, but it's enough so that occasionally when you have to use a lot of torque, the bit pops out of the holder and stays with the screw when you pull the driver back.  It can be a nuisance, but you can avoid it by loosening the fastener by just a hair before pulling the driver away.  Another way to avoid this problem is to use shorter bits with this driver, or bits that have a ball-and-spring mechanism to help them stay in place.  (Or bits that fit both of those characteristics, like the bits that come with a CRKT Get-A-Way Driver.)

The handle provides excellent grip.  It is contoured very well for your fingers, and it makes it hard to want to put this driver down.  The shaft also has a textured area for additional grip.  From the tip to the end of the handle, it measures 8-3/4".

The Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver is by far the best screwdriver I've used.  It is the driver I'll be carrying every day from now on.  It's more expensive than many power tools, but if you can get your hands on one, you won't want to put it down.

Snap-On tool reviews

Screwdrivers:
- Snap-On SDDP122 Phillips Screwdriver
- Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver