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Leatherman Blast Review
Submitted by An Outdoor Idiots Team Member.
The Leatherman Blast: Overview
Usage
The Blast opens up like this to reveal all the tools stored inside the handles:
When fully opened it is ready to be used like a pair of pliers:
You now have access to the various tools stored in the handles. To use one of those tools, you first need to fold it out.
To do that, you will need fingernails. There is definitely an optimum length of fingernail for this. If you have long fingernails, or you are in the habit of chewing them down to bloody stumps, then you may struggle. We cannot overstate the importance of the whole fingernail issue.
Here is a picture of somebody's hideous digit, complete with labels. We stole the picture from Wikipedia. We've added our own label, though, in red. It points out the most important part of the fingernail when it comes to operating the Leatherman Blast:
Yes, it's all about the free edge.
In spite of the hideousness of the above fingernail, it does have one thing going for it: the free edge is just a little bit less than a millimetre long. We reckon that this is just about right for operating the Leatherman Blast.
We aim to provide a more accurate figure at some point in the future, once our tests are complete. For now, you can use the above picture as guidance.
Fingernail Length Troubleshooter
If you find that you are in the middle of nowhere and your fingernails are the wrong length to operate a Leatherman Blast, then fear not, there are workarounds:
Nails Too Short
Solution: Wait.
Nails Too Long
Solution: Use the Leatherman Blast's scissors to cut them to the correct size.
Depending on the tool you wish to use, you may have to either hook a nail under curved bits of metal like these...
...or dig a nail into an indentation like this...
... then carefully fold the tool out until it locks into place.
Before you go on to use the newly folded-out tool, you have some options as to how you arrange the handles. When deciding on this, it's probably a good idea to be aware of how the locking mechanism works. The tools lock into place automatically when they are fully unfolded. To unlock them, you push down hard on the levers at the end of the handles:
It becomes apparent therefore that it is quite possible to accidentally unlock a tool while in use - though this has never happened to us in practice - you do need to push very hard.
Here is the knife, for example:
If you use the knife while the handles are in the above position, with your hands around both handles just as if they were using the pliers, then there is little chance of accidentally unlocking the knife and having it fold shut, passing clean through your fingers in the process.
Equally, if you choose to close up the Blast and use it like this...
... then, while it is now easier to accidentally unlock the knife, it can't fully fold closed, and so there is less chance of doing yourself a mischief.
However, in either of the above two configurations, you may find the handles getting in the way. In which case, you can arrange things as follows:
This can make it easier to worth with the tool, however you will need to be rather careful, as it is now possible to accidentally unlock it, and there is nothing to stop it folding and cutting/trapping your fingers.
So there you have it as far as general usage goes: it's a versatile thing, but you do need to operate it with care. We will now take a closer look at each individual tool.
Page 3 of 18 Previous Next [Top of Page]
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Overview: Vital Statistics; The Metal; The Plastic; Quality of Construction
Page 3: Overview: Usage
Page 4: Rulers
Page 5: Wood/Metal File
Page 6: Small Bit Driver
Page 7: Screwdrivers
Page 8: Bottle Opener
Page 9: Wire Stripper
Page 10: Can Opener
Page 11: Needlenose Pliers
Page 12: Regular Pliers
Page 13: Wire Cutters
Page 14: Hard-Wire Cutters
Page 15: Saw
Page 16: Scissors
Page 17: Knife
Page 18: Conclusion
Page 2: Overview: Vital Statistics; The Metal; The Plastic; Quality of Construction
Page 3: Overview: Usage
Page 4: Rulers
Page 5: Wood/Metal File
Page 6: Small Bit Driver
Page 7: Screwdrivers
Page 8: Bottle Opener
Page 9: Wire Stripper
Page 10: Can Opener
Page 11: Needlenose Pliers
Page 12: Regular Pliers
Page 13: Wire Cutters
Page 14: Hard-Wire Cutters
Page 15: Saw
Page 16: Scissors
Page 17: Knife
Page 18: Conclusion
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