Leatherman Arc Initial Impressions

[@HughPecon]

I've had the Arc for a couple weeks now and just love it. Its the Wave+ on steroids. Plus being able to access all the tools one handed is a game changer. Now for a Surge version 😊

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I may carry the charge for nostalgia but the Arc has it beat on all fronts for me!

[@MicahsRants]

I added the ARC to my EDC and it’s perfection! Great video 🤙🏽

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Awesome! I’m really enjoying it too!

[@ericasedc]

Been looking forward to this J! 🎉❤

[@Reshy00]

Ik you mentioned you wont be getting it but I would love to see a review by you 😭 you have so much knowledge when it comes to magnacut and would like your opinion on it

[@ericasedc]

@@Reshy00 I mean if one gets sent in I’ll test it!

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thanks! Super stoked to finally get some time with it in hand. It does a lot right for me and not much wrong. Always some room for improvement though.

[@nandayane]

It’s good to see you back man

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thanks man!

[@SquireSCA]

I like when the pliers are on the stiff side... not stiff, but more... sticky. Reason is, it means less wobble in the handles when its closed and using the smaller tools...

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I hear ya. Sometimes it helps to tighten the screws that connect the head to the handles too. Lots of slop can develop there

[@Passively-Prepared]

I couldn’t agree with you more. As for the cutters: I have some 14 gauge all purpose galvanized wire, if I quickly go to snip it and put the wire as far back as it will go it will not snip it off. However they have not broke, and they cut it deep enough to break it off with my fingers. If I consciously don’t put it all the way back to avoid that gap, they snip it fine. I did buy a Rebar 2 months ago (great deal at Lowe’s) and it had the gap in the cutters and they did break on the same 14 gauge wire. Seems like they just had a failure in production for a certain stint. I DM’d them on Instagram and they actually got back to me with good information on what happened, and that they would just send me a new pair of cutters if I had a problem with my Arc. So they are going to make it right. Sucks it rained on the parade of the greatest multi tool ever created.

[@JC_1095]

Their message said it was a bad batch? Or they tried to do some adjustments to the design?

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Agreed. It's pretty dumb how blown out of proportion the wire cutter deal is. At face value the gap with rounded corners make a LOT of sense. No stress riser and it should allow you to cut even larger wire with the same tool. My guess is the heat treat is too brittle or something if they are calling it a defect and not a design issue.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

My guess is the heat treat is too brittle or something if they are calling it a defect and not a design issue.

[@Passively-Prepared]

@@JC_1095 seems like the design was on purpose and makes them function differently. But amongst the new design cutters there was a bad batch. I have the new design ones that don’t snip off the wire when you put it all the way back in the gap, but they don’t break. Did it 30-40 times to make sure. And I have new design ones that broke after 3-4 tries.

[@Passively-Prepared]

@@EngineersPerspective701 from your perspective as an engineer, can you explain why the new design is less prone to a stress riser than the old, in layman’s terms :) I do my best to be a well rounded individual, and my logical guess is that it gives the cutters room to “bend” instead of break. I actually put and old design of wire cutters on my Arc for the convenience of not having to think and just snip. The wire just naturally goes all the way to the back when you go to do it quickly. But if there is a substantial functional advantage that you can explain to me for the new design, I will probably switch back.

[@dunkirk4289]

if the arc had the switchable t shank for use with the file wood or metal saw itd be the holy grail

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Seriously though!

[@grapeshot23]

Love your vids, I was hoping you’d do this one.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thanks man!

[@gtrul3s387]

I have my Arc since few days. I’m so happy with it that i decided to give my charge+ to my best friend. Changed the wire cutter for a black spare pair that i had since few years. It looks so good!!! It won’t ever replace my surge tho… can’t have magnets in a welding shop because 1- i hate having to clean my tools more often. My surge is perfect for that utility. 2- i also hate having a nasty/dusty tool in the pocket of my clean pants. My shop tools stay in the shop

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Wow, awesome to hear! I haven't missed my charge+ yet but I love that thing too much to let it go. Too many memories!

[@mackjones7688]

Where do you people get this no magnets in a welding environment idea from with the free series? I am literally showered with metal debris and get little metal splinters all the time from wire wheels and grinding metal. Wear my P2 or P4 for years. Clean it every week with hot water and soap. Never had metal shaving, dust, or dremel sized wire wheel wires getting trapped in my Free series. It's debunked and literal bull shit by now. 😂

[@EngineersPerspective701]

@@mackjones7688 I don’t work in that environment so I can’t comment. Always assumed it was just a hassle that people didn’t want to deal with. Like you said, just soap and water so not a major issue

[@gtrul3s387]

⁠@@mackjones7688i personally can’t lol. My shop tools stay in the shop. At first i had only a surge that i used for home and at the job. I hate putting nasty/dusty tool in my clean pants. I have to clean my surge often enough that i’m not interested in having a pair of magnets on top of that. Surge for the shop and Arc for home and weekend. I know the tool can do the job tho. You do you! It’s kinda funny how every free serie user feel attacked when i say that hahaha

[@mackjones7688]

@@gtrul3s387 I don't feel attacked personally. I think the comment about magnets in a welding environment is just misinformation. People are free to believe in the flat earth theory but we have proof and pictures the earth is round. The Surge is one of my favorite edc tools. I can't imagine leaving it in a truck or toolbox at work. But I carry tons of tools in my truck. If I go to my truck. It's to retrieve the proper tool for the job. My multi-tool is there for emergencies or as back up. I always keep one in my pocket or on my belt. So when I see someone claim. "I don't or can't carry the free series tool because it has magnets". I know right away that person has no real world experience with the tool. Or they don't carry the tool because they assume the magnets WILL be a problem. I think it's amazing that people are still claiming the magnets are a problem after 4 years. Simple as that.

[@The_RC_Guru]

I hope the magnacut craze passes and the price comes down some. 10% less edge retention than my s30v blade on my charge tti but easier to sharpen. I’m getting an arc still… but I REALLY want to coat the silver scales in copper. Glad to see the serrated blade go and I’d like to see the driver be replaced with a t shank adapter. That’s personal for my own specific wants though. You’d almost think by now they’d let you build the dang tool on their site and order it with the tools you want. I’m guessing Leatherman has too many chiefs and not enough Indians working at the company really.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

You done some testing for that 10%? Anecdotally the performance of Leathermans Magnacut way surpasses their S30V that I have.

[@rickyricardo3551]

Ive been asking everyone this . But do you feel like the new cutters take more force to cut. Ive compared mine to a surge clone and an older style of leatherman replaceable cutters on a friends rebar and I think ot takes a little bit more force. Whats your take. That said im absolutely loving mine aswell and I personally think all the issue are overblown and people are being unreasonable , imo this is a soild tool .

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Sorry for taking forever to respond. Personally I don't see much difference in terms of force for 14 and 12 AWG wire. However the longer handles seem to help if you're cutting through 14/2 and 12/2 Romex just a little bit. Of course cutting the individual wires feels a lot different because the new cutters force you to do a little twist to complete the cut but not a huge deal.

[@silvia2408]

Great info

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thanks!

[@tonymosbach2868]

What side of the file should I use to sharpen fishing lure hooks using the Arc?

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Diamond for sure. The finer grit a way easier to work with for something like that

[@nitchdesigns9662]

Curious if the ergos on the Arc/Free are any noticeably worse vs the Wave+ with how the tool locks are external and protruding on the Arc/Free vs the smooth rounded Wave+ handles.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Definitely not as comfortable as the wave because the handles aren’t as rounded and those locks you mentioned. That said it’s not horrible or a true issue IMO. Also a positive is that the Arc has a much lower handle angle and they stay closer while being longer. This allows for a noticeable improvement in how much strength is required to grip similar things.

[@jesseadams45]

I don't have one yet but I'm pretty sure you could swap your modified flathead in for the can opener. I've swapped blades in my P4 so the plain blade is left handed so as long as the width is the same, I bet it would work.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Not a bad idea! Just by eye it looks like it would be a perfect fit!

[@prod.deathwish]

i really hope they release uncoated raw silver ones

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Will be interesting to see if they go for the all silver and all black oxide color options from the past or if they will go for all the free T series colors. Or neither!

[@davidbausch6245]

“They did it all” I like your summary on combining the Free and Charge but one thing stands out: the serrated blade and gut hook was missed. I used the serrated blade A TON on my Wave. And I hear how much people love the gut hook. Because of that one thing, I’m really on the fence about the Arc vs a Charge TTI. I get that the scissors essentially took the serrated spot. But why not put a serrated somewhere else? Am I too critical?

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I think the lack of serrated blade comes down to how well a person can/does keep their main blade sharp and what they cut on a daily basis. What I always think of is cutting rope or straps. If you don't have a sharp blade, cutting a rope can be a hopeless endeavor. Whereas that serrated blade is always ready to blow through rope. But a person like me always has a sharp enough blade that I don't need that serrated option. However if I was using the crap out of my main blade all day it may not stay sharp enough to cut rope even if I sharpened it that morning just depending on how rough I am with it. Opening bags of concrete mix, rubbing on cement, striking steel boxes, etc will dull any blade quick! Having the upgraded blade steel helps a lot with keep that edge going in that case though so maybe that will tip you in favor of the Arc. I doubt you'd be disappointed with the charge but having the Arc would really bring a new way of using your tool since you already have a wave. You could always buy serrated blade from the Free P4 and put it on the Arc if you're into mods. Some fruit for thought, hope it helps!

[@davidbausch6245]

That definitely helps. The serrated blade on my wave was always great and was always willing to rip through any man-made material. There was a noticeable difference in performance using that over the 440 straight blade. I’ll have to mull it over a little bit more. Perhaps it’s as simple as keeping that magnacut sharp and ready to work. Now if they only incorporated that gut hook!

[@internetrules8522]

Having a quick opening blade seems like a really big deal to me. Some people EDC a pocket with or instead of a multitool, partly because it's a lot easier to open. So having a good quality steel with a quick opening seems like it cuts down on gear, while maintaining the same functionality, which is a pretty big deal I think.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

All the outside blades Leathermans have a good one handed blade but I agree that having it on a tool that’s not too huge or heavy, has a great pocket clip and a steel you can depend on really brings it all together. I think I will do a separate video on just the knife part of the tool in the future.

[@internetrules8522]

doing a separate video on just the knife and potentially comparing it to other pocket knives i think would be really cool. just act like the arc is a dedicated pocket knife and compare it to other pocket knives and see if it's still comparable, or if you HAVE to make the argument of: "it has a bunch of other tools!" to make it anywhere near worth it@@EngineersPerspective701

[@kevinfitz3721]

I think I'll go with the surge although the arc is tempting but I wish the blade was hollow ground and not coated and more comfortable in hand and not as slick and not as much flex in the handles, for the file to be removable and a serrated blade to be added and if they used the other style of can opener it would be perfect then. Although the surge isn't perfect either for me only real downside is the weight but hopefully one day the surge will get a premium version

[@hetrogamr84]

Dude! Capitalization!

[@EngineersPerspective701]

The surge is hard to compete against but I really do believe the Arc is the closest thing to being a lighter version that will get a guy through most things they are used to. Not having the T-shank, big and small flatheads makes it tough though

[@josedejesusrobles600]

Muy buej video, gracias Very good video, thanks

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thank you!

[@kellypainter7625]

The ARC has retired my Charge TTi. The P4 was a piece of crap for me. The pliers seized up on it but in addition, the tools sucked. I went back to my Charge after a while with the P4. The ARC fixed all the problems for me. Now just waiting for Zapwizard to finalize his ARC sheath design.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

The P2 could never quite get the job done for me and I agree the Arc solved all issues

[@BigBellyEd]

My presumption is that the Arc in its layout was already planned at together with the Free P4. The bit holder, premium steel blade, full size diamond file are the selling points of the premium Leathermans like the charge. With the Free P2 and P4 only second class tools were introduced, like the stubby file and drivers. After the launch of the Free series the community immediately started modding and including the needed changes. And it was, at least in my opinion very clear that the Free P4 is no worthy replacement for the Wave and Charge. So my guess is, after the Free series reached it’s peak in sales the Arc was launched to introduce the new premium tool at a new premium price level.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I think in the Arc video LM even states they started working on the Arc right after the Free release. Not sure how to take that though. Like you're alluding too was it a money grab or did they really want to try something different? And the Arc was the combination of new + tried and true that they always knew users would want?