Customer Reviews

Paladin Tools PT-540 Powerplay Multi-tool For Electrical and Networking

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The PT-540 is well-built. For a data person like me it's very handy. There are some things I dislike about it but overall it's a great tool.

Getting to the tools in the handles requires you to open the tool up, swing open a metal door and then extend the tool you wish to you. That metal door is somehow annoying. I wish, like with Leatherman's Surge, that they just beefed up the handles and not bothered with the metal covers. I've popped off one of them a couple times already.

The pliers and in fact the whole opening of the tool is gear driven. That's nice. It feels very solid which is a big plus. It's easier to work one-handed than a Leatherman with articulates in several spots to accomplish the same thing. I haven't gotten the little jaw stop to work quite right yet. I just stick a couple fingers between the handles and let them guide how closed the tool goes, just like I was stripping a small wire with a pair linemens or side cutters.

I have the same gripe about how the case fits on your belt as I did with the Leatherman surge. It sticks up too high about the belt. I wish they'd come up with a way of lower it down so the top of the case, where the flap extends, is no more than an inch above the belt. Making it adjustable would have been a great addition too.

I haven't gotten the 1/4" adapter to slide onto the bit yet. It appears to be too tight. I don't really plan on using it for that anyway so no big loss. I also haven't figured out how to get the adapter out of the elastic pouch under the knife in the sheath without taking off the sheath and slapping the pouch across my hand. Still no big loss for what I want it for.

Finally, to explain the title of my review, understand that the PT-540 is a multi-tool first and a knife second. The knife blade is rather lightweight and hard to use. I like how my Leatherman Surge blade is stronger and tougher. I also wish Paladin had made the knife blade accessible without opening the tool at all. The blade, the most used tool, should be something you can open up and use one-handed without opening the tool, the metal cover, extending the blade, closing the metal cover, and closing the knife to form a solid hand (but an offset handle too). As a knife it's not very good. As a multi-tool it's very nice.

I was a leatherman diehard for many years. I bought this one on a whim one day and I have never looked back. It is more for telephone/data installers, but I use it for everything. The compound pliers is the best feature. It never feels like it is going to slip. The punchdown tool of course isn't impact, but it still works well. The wire strippers are phenominal for any solid copper (Cat5/6 or phone)

This is a nice tool. Very beefy and solidly built, but the scissors absolutely suck. Won't even cut string without the material binding up in them. How the rest of the tool could be so good, and the scissors be so bad, I dunno. Maybe they'll get better at it. Maybe not. The fold out covers pop off at the slightest provocation, but they're almost unnecessary. It also would have been much handier with at least one gizmo that would accept different bits, like some of the Leatherman tools do.

I purchased this tool from Amazon well over a year ago, and can say I am pleased with its performance. Mind you, it does not excel at any one task, but does a good job at many. And it is expensive, but in my mind is worth not having to tote along my tool bag for many jobs.

Pros:

WOW factor when customers/other contractors see this thing
Easy opening/closing
Multiple stripping gauges
66/110 punchdowns :)
Scissors
Limited Lifetime Warranty (Paladin replaced the first tool free after losing the stop lock lever because of a lost hex screw)

Cons:

Doesn't strip too well on the 66 Blade (fortunately the 110 blade strips better)
3/8 & 7/16 nut driver in handles are useless to me (suggestions on how to use them properly would be much appreciated)
1/4" adapter is a pain with the included bit (this has been documented by a number of users)
The knife's combination straight/serrated blade is difficult to sharpen

Summary: This tool is good at many things, but an expert at none. It does not replace a good tool bag, but comes in handy when arriving on site during initial survey and finding only a simple fix is needed. A better value is the PT-525, which is essentially the same tool minus the scissors and ROMEX gauge strippers near the pliers and cost $30 less.

I work in IT doing quite a bit of network maintenance, and also end up doing a fair bit of electrical work and installations. I bought this just because the PowerPlay tools are the ONLY multi tools with 110 and 66 punch-town tools, used for terminating network and telephone connections, and it's also made by SOG, whose ParaTool I loved. It's got about every tool I could need, for every job from network connections to 120/240V installations to cutting drywall (or anything else relatively lightweight).

This tool is utterly indispensable for me, and has surely saved my clients more than its value in time I would have spent running back to the truck for tools. Not a full replacement for a good set of tools, but wonderful for those quick fixes when you're "just taking a look".

My only three complaints:
- The wire stripper had a little tab to stop the pliers from closing down. It flipped out from one of the handles and essentially just stopped the handles from closing more than a set amount. When using the tool straight up, it would often fall open and prevent the pliers from closing. Luckily, it fell off at some point, because I thought it was a gimmick anyway, and was more of a pain than a help.
- One of the screws that holds the plier head to the handle on one side fell out after a few months of heavy use (this is probably when the stopper tab for the wire stripper got lost). Though SOG includes a nice manual with care and repair instructions, and a parts list, this part wasn't on the list. I e-mailed their customer service, and they send me THREE new ones by 2nd Day Air.
- The leather belt case lost most of its black finish in a few months of wear, but I just cleaned it up with some black shoe polish.

This Christmas I went on a multi-tool shopping spree and PT-540 was one of the gifts purchased (in addition to Leatherman Surge and Victorinox Swisstool RS).
I knew PT540 was designed specially for electrical work and in that area it is not missing anything substantial and performs very well. I really liked the needlenose pliers they are better suited for cablework than competition. Compared to other MTs it is on the bigger&heavier side, so I'd expect a little bigger blades. On the other hand they should be exchangeable with other SOG (the OEM manufacturer) accessories.
While the overall build seems to be really strong, compared to the other 2 recently bought MTs the factory quality control seems to be a little lacking.
First, the scissors look like a toy compared to the others and they would not lock as the notch was not big enough. Doing a quick DIY fix with a file just before gift wrapping did the trick.
There were some metal leftovers from the manufacturing process on the pliers next to wirestrippers on the head. Just visual blemish, but the 50% cheaper competition had none of this.
The included hex adapter falls of the driver quite often, a one from a 3rd party hex bit set hold all the time.
Then the Stoplock used for wire stripping was really hard to move and I could forget moving it just with a thumb like described in instructions. After some lubrication it is at least acceptable. This is normal maintenance, but should not be expected on new factory sealed unit (Surge had something similar)

So, special design, special functions, special price and not so special out of the box quality.
I'm happy that I 'had to' test it before giving it as a gift. I'd feel bad for giving something imperfect.

This is a well built, but expensive, multi-tool with 30 different tools in one. Made by Sog for Paladin, the latter a maker of fine tools for the electric and electronics trade. The best thing about it is the large multi-use pliers, with its built in crimper and stripper. The other tools will work, but like most multi-tools, you have other tools in your bag, that may work better and more efficiently. Flaws in design? The knife and dry wall saw are too thin, and a bit too short. The scissor is not that useful, though it might cut very thin wire or tape. It would be nice to access tools under the two covers without having to open the entire tool. This is not the an ideal multi-tool for those needing to open or repair computers and other electronics. For example, there are no torx or hex drivers. Except for Victorinox's Cyber tool, in their Swiss army knife format, why hasn't someone come up with a quality all-in-one tool for getting into computers and small electronics?

I had the smaller Palidin multitool which was very good. I rely on having the tool available at all times. This model PT-540 is even better. I find that the alliance with SOG is a great teaming. I am especially happy with the special items such as the Telco punch down tools. This is a very well built tool. I expect it will last me a long time.

This product is great for anyone that needs to do a job with little tools. As for me being deployed and being a telecom Marine this tool makes my job go by 10 times faster. The metal handles do get in the way but they do help with getting a good grip on the tool. Stripping Cat-5e with this tool is so simple. It will not replace a complet tool box but it will get the job done. I do wish the seath was better, I took the one from my leatherman to help. But other than that I have no problems with this tool and do recommend it for anyone who is in the data or telecom field.

Very well built tool with lots of goodies. Actually not meant to replace your other tools, but to allow you to do repairs without having to bring a whole toolbox. It has the punchdown tools...well just too many things to mention. It is a little larger than my leatherman but fully functional. Case for it is well built. It was a wonderful Christmas present.