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Saturday, 02 November 2013 20:50

TT PocketTools Chopper Review

For years, I never understood the allure of one-piece multitools (OPMTs). I have carried plier-based MTs for as long as I can remember, and I always thought the OPMTs (One Piece Multi Tools)were too small to be of any real use... and besides, I already had full functionality with my plier-based MT, right? Then one day, it dawned on me -- one of these OPMTs could complement my usual EDC! After doing some research, I settled on a TT Chopper from TT Pocket Tools, and now I wonder how I lived without it.

TT Pockettools Chopper

The Chopper is made from 3/16” thick 154CM stainless steel and loaded with features. (pictured next to a Victorinox Classic and a Leatherman Micra for size reference)

Features include:

  • Twist Assist
  • Bottle Opener
  • 1/4" Hex Bit Driver
  • Pry Tip
  • Nail Remover/Wire Stripper
  • Screwdriver
  • Box Wrench SAE (5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8)
  • Box Cutter (optional)
  • Gripper


As with any multitool, there are compromises to be made, so naturally some of these implements work better than others. The screwdriver, for example, works well enough in a pinch, but the fact that you’re basically using half of the prybar feature as a screwdriver makes it less than ideal. The Twist Assist (for opening a twist-top beer bottle) works well enough, but I appreciate it more for the ergonomic grip that it offers when holding the Chopper to use the box cutter (more on this in a bit). Everyone’s favorite feature on a keychain tool or OPMT -- the bottle opener -- works well, as evidenced here:

TT Pockettools Chopper

However, incorporation of the 1/4” hex bit driver into the bottle opener makes the bit driver little less reliable (since it’s open on two of the six sides).

The pry tip and gripper are excellent, especially for a tool this small. I used these features extensively when moving into my new house recently. The nail remover/wire stripper works fairly well, but I actually found that the gripper worked better for removing unwanted nails from the walls in my new house:

TT Pockettools Chopper

The box wrench works very well, and the jimping on the tool provides excellent grip. The box wrench can even be used without removing the tool from your keychain!

The box cutter on the TT Chopper is simply incredible. It is placed perfectly on the tool so that your fingers naturally find the secure, ergonomic grip provided by the shape of the tool and the jimping.

TT Pockettools Chopper

The cutter is sharp enough to rip through packages with ease, and thanks to the 154CM steel, it will maintain that edge for quite some time. However, it’s not so sharp that you have to worry about inadvertently injuring yourself while the tool is in your pocket, thanks in part to the small size of the cutter. Todd at TT Pocket Tools did an excellent job of implementing the box cutter feature into this OPMT.

I placed my TT Chopper on my keychain immediately after receiving it, and it has been there for about a month now. In that time, I have gotten far more use out of the tool than I originally thought I would, and I have discovered that it really does complement a plier-based MT very well. (For example, the box wrench on the Chopper can be used to hold the nut while the pliers are used to loosen or tighten a bolt.) You’ll notice that the pictures showing the Chopper in use were taken with the Chopper still on my keychain; this was done intentionally to show the versatility of the tool.

If multitools were measure in “tools per ounce” (or gram), this OPMT would have to rank near the top. The TT Chopper makes a great addition to any keychain, and you’ll hardly even notice it’s there.

TT Pockettools Chopper

Pros:

  • small form factor makes this a perfect addition to your keychain
  • the box cutter is very well implemented
  • the jimping is placed well and is highly functional

Cons:

  • compact form can make it difficult to get leverage when using the pry bar feature
  • box wrench sizes only go up to 3/8” (up to 1/2” would be desirable)
  • bottle opener doesn’t always work on the first attempt

 

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