Customer Reviews

LoggerHead 20X 6-Inch Immix

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When I saw that new LoggerHead tool, I was really eager to try it: wow, maybe it's the end of having to carry a set of wrenches every time you want to do something...

Well, almost. On the paper, that would have been it. However, the wrench "sides" (the sliding pieces in this tool construction) are too loose in their mounting to have a really precise and solid grip: you end up sliding, and damaging the bolt sides. The rubber bit holders are a good idea to improve your grip, except the too handles are not far apart enough, so there is not room enough for the bits. If you want to close it completely, you have either to find a way for the bit ends to interleave on each side (which is not supposed to happen), or remove the bit holders all together. In addition, the bits are brittle, and not very strong steel: I used one hex (Allen) bit to screw 4 (four!) bolts in a wooden bed frame, and it was already trashed. Now I have had a regular hex set for 10 years, an it is still in perfect condition...

A great idea made into a tool that I can rarely use.

Multi-tip screwdriver PLUS a sophisticated and powerful wrench head - and it all fits in your pocket? Great! What's the problem?

The problem is that in order for this tool to be pocket size, the wrench head has to be small enough so that in over 3 years of ownership I've only been able to use it ONCE to grip on something I needed to fasten or unfasten.

It looks big enough to be useful. The circular wrench head has a 1.5" diameter. But that's not the number to watch. Since the outside size is fixed, it's the maximum size that the inside of the wrench head opens to that's decisive. That's a small 9/16ths of an inch. (the smallest size is about 3/16ths). Time and time again I've encountered a bolt or something that needed to be gripped STRONGLY and found that I just can't grab it with this tool. Many times the bolt was the right size but the tool was too THICK (just over 1/4") to fit in the cramped space available. Or the fastener was around a pipe and the wrench head can't get to it because it's an unbroken circle. (A regular wrench has an opening.)

So either the max opening size, the tool's thickness or it's geometry thwarted it's usefulness over and over again. I've tested the head against fasteners that ARE accessible and it works really well. (A marvelous piece of engineering.) But those were things I didn't need to fiddle with. Whenever I NEEDED it, I was unable to use it.

The multi-tip screwdriver is good. It's a little hard to pull out a tip from it's storage clip but the tips are very strong and do a fine job of turning screws. Of course the tool is bulkier than a regular screwdriver so you might run into situations where the tip fits but you can't reach it with the tool. But that's a problem with any multi-tool.

The tool appears to be very well made and durable. I'm sure it'll last hundreds of years and never wear out... because I can't use it!

Summing up, the wrench head is a great idea but on a pocket multi-tool it's too small to be useful.

The Loggerhead wrench is a well made 'adjustable' wrench. I purchased it to carry on the boat, in the camper, in the pickup, where ever I might not have a full tool set available. I have done some machine tool work in the past and recognize a well made tool. It is available in several different sizes to accommodate many different fastener heads. It's no substitute for a set of sockets or end wrenches, but it might get you out of a bind.