Leatherman Bit Adapter
By Stuart Deutsch
Leatherman makes this bit driver extender/adapter for the current generation of multi-tools and knives which accept Leatherman’s proprietary removable bits. The bit extender increases the tools’ reach by 3-1/4″ and accepts both Leatherman’s unique flattened bits and standard hex bits. This greatly expands the driving capabilities of these tools since the flattened bits are costly, in limited variety, and sometimes hard to find in a timely manner.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Leatherman’s proprietary bits, just imagine a standard 1/4″ insert bit with two opposite sides ground down, giving the bit a thinner footprint.
This bit extender/adapter is intended for use with the Wave, Surge, Charge, Skeletool, and several Leatherman pocket knives. If the $12 street price of the bit extender is too high for you, consider grinding your own adapter from a standard bit holder. If you choose the DIY route, be sure to upload some pics to the Toolmonger Flickr pool!
Bit Kit and Adapter for Smaller Tools
If you have a smaller Leatherman tool, don’t worry — you can also get bit kits with adapters (shown above) for the Core, Blast, Fuse, Kick, and Juice, although they’re a bit pricier at $20 a set.
Currently, only a handful of distributors stock these adapters — if you find a reputable source, help us out and tell us in comments.
Bits and Adapters [Leatherman]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
February 11th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I hate any bit system (or any tool system in general) that uses a proprietary design when there are standard tools available that would work just as well. In bits the two standard types are insert and power bits, and tool companies should stick to one or the other of them unless they have a very good reason to do otherwise.
The problem is that a proprietary tool restricts you to using that tool’s accessories unless some special adapter is offered. Lose or break a bit or accessory, and you have to go and find another one if you can, and probably at higher cost than a standard replacement would be.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
The current bit system in my Charge XTi is OK, I guess, but I *really* miss the 2″-shank philips-head screwdriver in my old Super Tool. A lot of Leatherman use involves pieces of high-tech equipment (consumer and otherwise) which tend to have screws recessed in injection-molded plastic. The flat/wide interchangeable bits just don’t reach into even a shallow hole.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
the bit system is great and yes it’s proprietary, but it’s part of a multi-tool they have to cut a few corners to make everything work and small.
April 19th, 2008 at 2:59 am
The Leatherman bit system is proprietary, but it is a very good solution for the problem it addresses. With the flat Leatherman bit system, you can carry 20 bits in a little plastic thing that is less than 4mm thick! You just can’t do that with standard hex bits. (Look at tools that take standard bits: they are just too big). I got the extra bit kit from Leatherman, so I have always with me 40 different bits without taking much space (and the bits are high quality).
For the rare occasion that you need a bit not available by Leatherman, just grind one or carry a small wrench (about 5$) like it is done in the Swisstool.
My only complaint is that Leatherman bits are too thick for screws that are recessed.