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thrmaln
Sep 12, 2005, 4:02 PM
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Registered: Mar 4, 2005
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Hello All, I have been getting some great advice over the last few weeks as I build my Trad rack. I have bought most of my cams, nuts and carabiners but now I need a nut tool. With that said, any recommendations? Many have added features that may make them worth while or may be just Gimmicks. I don't have a climbing knife, but do I really want it attached to my nut tool like on the Trango Shark? I would imagine features like a bolt hex are worthwhile. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, Marc Webster
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veganboyjosh
Sep 12, 2005, 4:16 PM
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Registered: Dec 22, 2003
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i dunno how helpful it is as i've never used one, but there's one(or more) model(s) there that have a little flange-y thing on the handle end, so you can bang on it with the heel of your hand andhave it not hurt as much. this seems like something i would want, having used nut tools without that feature.
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schnoz
Sep 12, 2005, 4:16 PM
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Registered: Jul 20, 2003
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I like my omega pacific nut too because it has a built in carabiner for racking it. I tied some accessory cord to it so I can put it around my wrist then remove it so I can't drop it. I'd recommend any nut tool with a built in carabiner after watching some of the people I climb with fiddle around with their tool that has to be racked on a seperate biner. Metolius makes two different models with built-ins as well. You might want to take a look at those. As for a knife, I use the Trango Piranha Alpine Knife. I keep it on a quick link so it's out of the way and super easy to remove. Just unscrew the quick link and remove the knife. I really shoud put a keeper cord on the knife, too now that I think about it.
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styndall
Sep 12, 2005, 5:20 PM
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The primary difference in nut tools lies in how easily you can use them to open a bottle once you're back on the ground. On a scale of 5.easy to 5.nigh impossible, I've found that nut tools all fall between 5.pretty easy and 5.not particularly hard. My conclusion is that you should just buy the cheapest one at the store.
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veganboyjosh
Sep 12, 2005, 5:30 PM
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Registered: Dec 22, 2003
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In reply to: My conclusion is that you should just buy the cheapest one at the store. then there's always that approach.
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caughtinside
Sep 12, 2005, 5:34 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: My conclusion is that you should just buy the cheapest one at the store. then there's always that approach. Yep. So far as I can tell, the cheapest one is $6, which I think is still a rip off for a small piece of metal w/ no moving parts. I'm not into the gimmicky, overpriced nut tools. The knife one does look cool, but isn't it like $30? No thanks.
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ubotch
Sep 12, 2005, 5:36 PM
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Registered: Jul 19, 2002
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Whatever you do, don't get the DMM nutter. That little piece of metal is evil. No matter what size biner I put through the hole at the end, it ends up getting caught and wedged in with the little hooks. Always very frustrating. It may be weird to be this passionate over a nut tool, but it has been the source of so much frustration. I now have a BD that is great.
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hosh
Sep 12, 2005, 5:43 PM
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Registered: Dec 15, 2003
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I really like the Metolius nut tool and the BD nut tool. But that's just one man's opinion. hosh.
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joeho
Sep 12, 2005, 6:10 PM
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Registered: Jul 19, 2005
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I usually carry my own knife just incase. I don't really see the use of having it built into your nut tool, it'd probably just cost more for less performance. (as in, it's kinda like 2 things together that would operate better separate) The biggest differences in nut tools is curved spines on the palm side (ie. metolius, forgot the name). And built in clips (ie, metolius and kong). I kinda like the clip ones, but they tend to cost a lot more than you think they should. Personally, I find the best feature on my tool is the ability to use it as a bottle opener (i have the black diamond one, no frills just does the job). I dunno, rate your features... I like beer.
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billcoe_
Sep 12, 2005, 6:28 PM
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In reply to: I don't have a climbing knife, but do I really want it attached to my nut tool like on the Trango Shark? Yes you do. I was climbing last week and the route went right up through a blackberry bush. Out came the shark, whack. End of thorny problem. Realistically, if you had ANY nut tool, you'd be fine. I like the DMM with the blue plastic handle, the Shark, and the USHBA the best for various reasons. If money is an object for you, I'd pass on the shark and buy a cheap tool, and put that money elsewhere, like more nuts or something. Took me about 2 days to break the shark though, but it still sort of works.
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euroford
Sep 12, 2005, 6:34 PM
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Registered: Aug 26, 2002
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i'm a big fan of the regular old BD nut tool. simple, cheap, durable, has a supurb quality bottle opener. though that trango shark tool looks super cool, i'll probobly never buy one. i am definitly not a fan of nut tools with built in wiregates or palm protectors. simply becouse your tool should be racked on a heavy biner, and that biner should be used to tap the tool for loosening nuts, thus eleminating the use of these two features. i used to rack mine on an oval, but these days i use an OP screwgate D. cheap and easy to find (REI always has a bunch of them, in clear or black) these make excellent bail biners. i clip my chalkbag on one as well. if you want a free one just checkout RMNP near The Sabre..... they really are good bail biners..... :?
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skateman
Sep 12, 2005, 8:11 PM
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Registered: Jun 13, 2003
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The type of tool that you buy may depend on what type of cams you own. Those with a single stem design are easier to retrieve with a tool that has two hooks on one end to grab the trigger bar. A U shaped stem can be easily grabbed and pulled with a single hook. I'm suprised no one has mentioned this yet! Dan
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mcfoley
Sep 12, 2005, 9:17 PM
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Registered: May 15, 2002
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Just make one... Go buy one of these at home depot: http://www.acehardware.com/...s_BuildShelves16.jpg Then Drill out holes big to small, grind the ends down to whatever you like... (study the other tools on the market). ..tape up the end so you can really hammer on it...best part is...it's longer than the standard tools out there...makes for getting MAD booty gear!!!
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gunksgoer
Sep 12, 2005, 9:25 PM
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Registered: Sep 27, 2004
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I like the metolius extractor. The built in wiregait is really nice, i cant even tell its on my harness. They also make one with a palm protector, and my partner really wishes he had one :lol: (im serious, i really like to set stoppers hard)
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dirtbag101
Sep 12, 2005, 10:09 PM
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Registered: Jun 18, 2005
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If you compare the cheaper BD nut tool with the Metolius at the store you will see an obvious difference in thickness of the tool. Personally I like to have a nice thin tool with a palm protector for those hard to reach pieces and ones that are welded in. On the other side of things is price, 6 or 8 bucks for a BD and 20 for a Metolius. Its you call.
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landongw
Sep 12, 2005, 10:38 PM
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Registered: Nov 2, 2004
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BD all the way. I have used the ones with the rounded ends to beat against your hand, they still hurt. If a nut is really stuck, in my experience, you've got to beat on the tool with a biner. And the bd has a concave surface for this so your "hammer" doesn't slip off the edge and bash your hand. Which is what happens with the rounded ones. As far as opening beer, i always carry and lighter and they work for that too, so... I have also used the ones with built in biners, but the gates are so small that i feel i am more likely to drop it while fumbling with the tiny gate. Might as well just have a full size oval clipped to it and use that as your hammer.
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grk10vq
Sep 12, 2005, 10:43 PM
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Registered: Nov 7, 2004
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Metolius extractor or Trango shark..if your a tech head. If you don't care go Black diamond.
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sonso45
Sep 12, 2005, 11:02 PM
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Registered: Sep 1, 2002
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I love my lost arrow piton, it's long enough and heavy enough that when I don't have to tap too hard when cleaning nuts. It is also great for gardening a dirty crack and I have used it as a piton in a horizontal crack more than once at a belay.
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scrapedape
Sep 14, 2005, 4:14 PM
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Registered: Jun 24, 2004
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I've got the OP caranut. Overall I'm happy with it. I really like the built-in biner - makes it way easier to grab it off my harness. Ditto on the lighter for opening your beer. Of course, if they'd just put twist-offs on more beers, the problem would be easily avoided. :?
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landgolier
Sep 15, 2005, 4:53 PM
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Registered: Mar 3, 2005
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I always thought the edges on the BD one were kind of spooky, not sharp, just...edgy. Makes me nervous, even though I know it's totally fine. The DMM with the plastic handle is nice, though hard to find here. I had to buy a bunch of mank on ebay to get one. I keep a regular cheap, flat WC one on the oval with my bigger stoppers and pass the nice cushy DMM to the second, but I am starting to wonder if maybe the plastic is bad news for the reverse-funknessing of stuck nuts. Small taps with a direct biner-metal-nut connection do seem to be a lot more effective than whanging on the dmm one with the flat of my hand. Of course there was also the day I left both on the ground by accident and had to make do with the handle of the toothbrush on my chalk bag :D
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devonick
Sep 16, 2005, 12:05 AM
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Registered: Aug 24, 2005
Posts: 298
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go the blackdiamond beer opener, i mean nut tool, if you bash it it may hurt but you can always drink the pain away when youuse the bottle opener, i like my tool its basicc and was cheap so i think it is great, its fairly tough too
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