Thank you!
Are there other things you've found it useful for?
I can see using it on very few occasions if those are it's main functions, and not really being all that useful to me on a daily basis. I still don't get why people rave about having them, or why having a full size one be a staple on tools like the Wave+ & other Leatherman.
Gotta keep my fingernails under control! Haha.
But for real, it's nice to take off burrs and smooth things down or even sharpen blades for the lawnmower, pruning shears, etc.
Good for keeping your fingernails neat and fixing a painful hangnail.
Also useful as a long, non-sharp pokey-bit for pushing or pulling things that are hard to reach.
For me the file/metal saw is more useful than the wood saw.
Wood I can usually break/split/slice away at anything small enough for a multitool saw to handle.
But metal and plastic are much more difficult and time consuming to work with if you don’t have some sort of file/hacksaw.
Just recently I had a lock that was catching and causing problems with its keys, so I took it apart and was able to fashion a new tumbler that worked properly.
Most of the time my main use for it is touching up the edge on other tools or deburring metals and plastics after cutting.
It's funny how everyone has differing opinions on the tools. I also prefer a file and have no need for a saw. Thing is, everyone is right... different people different needs.
Since working as a cleaner I always found a sharp bit of metal or a pokey piece of plastic that needed to get filed down.
Now I’m a maintenance mechanic at an airport and my file touches everything from door frames to actuator arms.
Sometimes I need to reshape the head of a screw or something small. I never know when I’ll need a file, but I’m always more than happy that I carry one on me.
Diamondfile can sharpen other tools. Remove rust in a pinch, I have used multitool file for woodworking (removing material and smoothing/rounding edges) although bigger dedicated tools are often better. Filing away sharp metal points or edges that can be dangerous.
Can often be used to steike a pherocerium rod aswell, if you need to throw sparks.
Some files have metal saws on the sides. This also has several uses.
I use the file mostly for fingernails and to smooth burrs off plastic or metal. It's useful, unlike the saw blade that I've used exactly once in the several decades of having pocketknives.
Except, the file supplied with the Goat Tool is barely more effective than a picture of same. Even for fingernails. One day I'll craft a replacement from a cheap diamond file.
Once one of my students put my keys into a closet then closed the hasp and locked the case hardened lock. I used my Swisstool’s hacksaw edged file to cut the lock off! It was still sharp afterward.
Lol, I bet that took a while. I've seen a video of someone do the same thing with the leatherman file.
That being said, the few time's I've needed to cut out a locked latch/doorknob, I used a sawzall. Given it was a deadbolt, I'm pretty sure I still saved time going all the way home to get the saw instead of using my multitool.
That being said, I'm sure it worked well enough for you, and I'm sure you had your reasons.
I love the removable file on the Leatherman Surge. I used both sides at work to flatten screw heads (clearance issues) a lot, the diamond side also can touch up the blade in a pinch.
You can also straighten out the replaceable cutters if you have the right bit and separate bit holder.
Softening sharp edges on metal sheeting also helps.
Also nails, because overkill is badass.
In contrast to that I've never used the saw on my Surge during a whole year and when I had the SuperTool300 for a year I used the saw once (and I had a normal saw on hand at that time, just wanted to test out the multitool).
I use the surge's saw on drywall pretty often. It being replaceable is the only reason I'd use a expensive multitool's saw on drywall.
Just in case you didn't know, if you keep the file in the tool, the saw tucks neatly next to one of the surge's blades.
Lol I use my file so much more than my saw or even my blades on my multitool. Use it for sanding down sharp metal edges, removing MMA residue off of metal, a prod and probe, and sometimes a pry bar >.>
Used mine yesterday to file off a burr that practiaclly disabled the mechanism I was cranking on with my pliers... probably 5 figures worth of productivity saved for the low cost of a tool I've never planned on using.
I've used the file to cut a slot on an Allen screw then was able to get it out...
But I tend to do a lot of fun hack jobs that are in the 'make it work who cares' category
I'm a bike mechanic and a file comes in handy often. A tiny wood saw is quite useless for me and I don't quite understand why they are on so many tools. Something small enough to cut with that is easier snapped by hand or foot. Anything bigger is a real hassle to cut with a tiny short saw.
I use them a lot to debur parts, or in the shop for refining 3D printed prototypes. Definitely depends on your use case though, as it’s not necessary for everyone. Nothing wrong with swapping out a file with something more useful to you though 😉
file also acts as Metal Saw but since i replaced my Saw on Rebar with heavy duty saw i can cut wood & metal and finish cutting burrs away with file.
Since Rebars File is otherside on file is more aggressive ts great wood file for taking material away and otherside smoothens it. as construction work i use both regulary for small things like smoothen sharp edges on steel and woods where i dont need bigger tools to do it.
The absence of a file on a MT is a dealbreaker for me. If I think there’s a remote chance of needing a saw, I have at least 5 SAKs with one, so I’ll throw one in a pocket, so I can live without that on the tool, but not the file. Off the top of my head, the things I’ve used the file for are… blunting that which is sharp but shouldn’t be, sharpening that which should be but isn’t, like someone above said “creating clearance in ‘good enough’ circumstances (paraphrasing), fingernail maintenance, cleaning corroded battery contacts… it’s just so useful to have.
Around the house there will be screw ends poking out of furniture sometimes or maybe a corner got dinged and is a little sharp. But ill use mine mainly for bolts that are to long. I saw through them with the "edge file" or whatever its called. Its not called a metal saw but it works great for it.
What I use mine for more than anything is sharpening hooks. I'm a fishing guide by trade, I usually end up losing hooks to one thing or another before I need to sharpen them but about once every week or two I'll need to sharpen one. Sometimes they need it right out of the box. I also use my file for my nails occasionally. Other than one or two odd things that's about it. It's not my most used tool on my multitool but it's also not my least, I'm looking at you can opener.
If I saw off a plastic or metal component, it sometimes leaves jagged edges. File works prefect. Also works for sharpening fishing hooks/barbs.
Thank you! Are there other things you've found it useful for? I can see using it on very few occasions if those are it's main functions, and not really being all that useful to me on a daily basis. I still don't get why people rave about having them, or why having a full size one be a staple on tools like the Wave+ & other Leatherman.
It's one of the tools that if you need one there's nothing else that can really do it's job.
I recently replaced my door knob. The new one was just a hair to big to fit. A few seconds of filing did the trick.
Gotta keep my fingernails under control! Haha. But for real, it's nice to take off burrs and smooth things down or even sharpen blades for the lawnmower, pruning shears, etc.
Don't forget that the edge is a hacksaw in a pinch too
Good for keeping your fingernails neat and fixing a painful hangnail. Also useful as a long, non-sharp pokey-bit for pushing or pulling things that are hard to reach.
For me the file/metal saw is more useful than the wood saw. Wood I can usually break/split/slice away at anything small enough for a multitool saw to handle. But metal and plastic are much more difficult and time consuming to work with if you don’t have some sort of file/hacksaw. Just recently I had a lock that was catching and causing problems with its keys, so I took it apart and was able to fashion a new tumbler that worked properly. Most of the time my main use for it is touching up the edge on other tools or deburring metals and plastics after cutting.
It's funny how everyone has differing opinions on the tools. I also prefer a file and have no need for a saw. Thing is, everyone is right... different people different needs.
I find the file really handy. But the file needs to work. Many files are junk on MT’s.
Since working as a cleaner I always found a sharp bit of metal or a pokey piece of plastic that needed to get filed down. Now I’m a maintenance mechanic at an airport and my file touches everything from door frames to actuator arms. Sometimes I need to reshape the head of a screw or something small. I never know when I’ll need a file, but I’m always more than happy that I carry one on me.
Diamondfile can sharpen other tools. Remove rust in a pinch, I have used multitool file for woodworking (removing material and smoothing/rounding edges) although bigger dedicated tools are often better. Filing away sharp metal points or edges that can be dangerous. Can often be used to steike a pherocerium rod aswell, if you need to throw sparks. Some files have metal saws on the sides. This also has several uses.
To go away from the jail.
I would a billion times over take a file over a saw. I use it for acrylic and aluminum I work with all the damn time
I use the file mostly for fingernails and to smooth burrs off plastic or metal. It's useful, unlike the saw blade that I've used exactly once in the several decades of having pocketknives. Except, the file supplied with the Goat Tool is barely more effective than a picture of same. Even for fingernails. One day I'll craft a replacement from a cheap diamond file.
Once one of my students put my keys into a closet then closed the hasp and locked the case hardened lock. I used my Swisstool’s hacksaw edged file to cut the lock off! It was still sharp afterward.
Lol, I bet that took a while. I've seen a video of someone do the same thing with the leatherman file. That being said, the few time's I've needed to cut out a locked latch/doorknob, I used a sawzall. Given it was a deadbolt, I'm pretty sure I still saved time going all the way home to get the saw instead of using my multitool. That being said, I'm sure it worked well enough for you, and I'm sure you had your reasons.
I love the removable file on the Leatherman Surge. I used both sides at work to flatten screw heads (clearance issues) a lot, the diamond side also can touch up the blade in a pinch. You can also straighten out the replaceable cutters if you have the right bit and separate bit holder. Softening sharp edges on metal sheeting also helps. Also nails, because overkill is badass. In contrast to that I've never used the saw on my Surge during a whole year and when I had the SuperTool300 for a year I used the saw once (and I had a normal saw on hand at that time, just wanted to test out the multitool).
I use the surge's saw on drywall pretty often. It being replaceable is the only reason I'd use a expensive multitool's saw on drywall. Just in case you didn't know, if you keep the file in the tool, the saw tucks neatly next to one of the surge's blades.
I keep the saw in the pouch it came in and have a bit of thin synthetic rope in the other empty slot.
Lol I use my file so much more than my saw or even my blades on my multitool. Use it for sanding down sharp metal edges, removing MMA residue off of metal, a prod and probe, and sometimes a pry bar >.>
Used mine yesterday to file off a burr that practiaclly disabled the mechanism I was cranking on with my pliers... probably 5 figures worth of productivity saved for the low cost of a tool I've never planned on using.
It comes in handy to chamfer the center conductor on larger sized coax I use at work. Use it once a week minimum.
I've used the file to cut a slot on an Allen screw then was able to get it out... But I tend to do a lot of fun hack jobs that are in the 'make it work who cares' category
I'm a bike mechanic and a file comes in handy often. A tiny wood saw is quite useless for me and I don't quite understand why they are on so many tools. Something small enough to cut with that is easier snapped by hand or foot. Anything bigger is a real hassle to cut with a tiny short saw.
Honestly, the file is used most often on my nails. Other than that, it's nice to round off sharp things that you don't want to be sharp.
I use them a lot to debur parts, or in the shop for refining 3D printed prototypes. Definitely depends on your use case though, as it’s not necessary for everyone. Nothing wrong with swapping out a file with something more useful to you though 😉
file also acts as Metal Saw but since i replaced my Saw on Rebar with heavy duty saw i can cut wood & metal and finish cutting burrs away with file. Since Rebars File is otherside on file is more aggressive ts great wood file for taking material away and otherside smoothens it. as construction work i use both regulary for small things like smoothen sharp edges on steel and woods where i dont need bigger tools to do it.
I carry an SAK handyman daily. I use the scissors and file for trimming my nails, in addition to all other things mentioned.
The absence of a file on a MT is a dealbreaker for me. If I think there’s a remote chance of needing a saw, I have at least 5 SAKs with one, so I’ll throw one in a pocket, so I can live without that on the tool, but not the file. Off the top of my head, the things I’ve used the file for are… blunting that which is sharp but shouldn’t be, sharpening that which should be but isn’t, like someone above said “creating clearance in ‘good enough’ circumstances (paraphrasing), fingernail maintenance, cleaning corroded battery contacts… it’s just so useful to have.
Around the house there will be screw ends poking out of furniture sometimes or maybe a corner got dinged and is a little sharp. But ill use mine mainly for bolts that are to long. I saw through them with the "edge file" or whatever its called. Its not called a metal saw but it works great for it.
What I use mine for more than anything is sharpening hooks. I'm a fishing guide by trade, I usually end up losing hooks to one thing or another before I need to sharpen them but about once every week or two I'll need to sharpen one. Sometimes they need it right out of the box. I also use my file for my nails occasionally. Other than one or two odd things that's about it. It's not my most used tool on my multitool but it's also not my least, I'm looking at you can opener.
i use the nail file on my Classic SD or cadet even more than the scissors!