A multitool that weighs less than a penny? Yes, it exists. This video by [ToolTechGeek] shows his titanium flat-cut design tipping the scales at only 1.9 grams—lighter than the 2.5-gram copper penny jingling in your pocket. His reasoning: where most everyday carry (EDC) tools are bulky, overpriced, or simply too much, this hack flips the equation: reduce it to the absolute minimum, yet keep it useful.
You might have seen this before. This second attempt is done by laser-cutting titanium instead of stainless steel. Thinner, tougher, and rust-proof, titanium slashes the weight dramatically, while still keeping edges functional without sharpening. Despite the size, this tool manages to pack in a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, a makeshift saw, a paint-lid opener, a wire bender (yes, tested on a paperclip), and even a 1/4″ wrench doubling as a bit driver. High-torque screwdriving by using the long edges is a clever exploit, and yes—it scrapes wood, snaps zip ties, and even forces a bottle cap open, albeit a bit roughly.
It’s not about replacing your Leatherman; it’s about carrying something instead of nothing. Ultra-minimalist, featherlight, pocket-slip friendly—bet you can’t find a reason not to just have it in your pocket.
I would rather have the penny. The only multi tools worth having are the kind design for a very narrow set of similar purposes. i.e. a 7 in 1 screw driver.
For everything either carry the right tool or a decent pocket knife.
EDC is yet another hobby that revolves around just buying things, it doesn’t actually have to be useful. See e.g., keyboards for another example
Two years of mucking around with mechanical keyboards, and I’m back to the 15 year old Dell membrane keyboard. Just can’t beat it
I have to disagree on the value of multi tools, something like a leatherman is full of useful tools in a convenient package likely smaller than just carrying the pliers part of your ‘carry the right tool’ toolkit.
And one of my old bicycles came with a tool rather like this one being just a sheet of metal with cutouts, but it is great for bicycles, tyre lever, spoke adjustment, all the common wrench sizes needed for bicycles. Its rather more awkward to use than the ‘right tool’ for each job but it actually brings all the tools you could need out on a trail for almost no weight and a size small enough it is easy to carry – the full bicycle toolbox at home however….
Yeah, there’s definitely an industry in selling crap, and I’d always prefer to have a proper tool, but the leatherman squirt is fantastic. Always in my pocket, and gets used several times most days. The knife and scissors are absolutely fine for 90% of tasks I need.
I received a leatherman squirt ES as a gift, and the needle nose plyers on that tool are the best thing I have ever found for removing splinters.
I believe all of the pennies I have in my pocket are copper clad zinc. If I had a copper penny in my pocket, it would weigh more than 3g… I suppose that just underscores the point that the titanium gadget is lighter, and presumably harder, than a penny.
when i was a poor college kid who had been raised by neglectful housecats (that’s why i am now completely self-sufficient) and riding a Greyhound to college, I discovered there is a place on the emergency exit door where a beer bottle can easily be opened. (Beer being an essential means of surviving Greyhound, even if it is officially illegal.)
A good alcoholic can open a beer with a folded newspaper!
One does not need to be an alcoholic to do that. I am not one, and I can do that.
As the old adage goes, everything is a cap lifter.
“bet you can’t find a reason not to just have it in your pocket.”
My reason is that I’d soon have a hole in my pocket carrying a sharp blade unprotected.
But a 3D-printed holder could work.
there is no sharp blade on the tool. Just a 90 degree edge.
Might not be sharp, but it’s got a lot of pointy bits. Those tend not to be pocket friendly.
My reason for not to have it in my pocket is that I have a Vic in my pocket.
Although they killed the Walker, the bastards.
I couldn’t understand the single nut wrench until i learned it was quarter inch, which means it can turn all the things you stick in a quarter inch impact wrench.
oh nice. Those wrench holes in flat multitools are useless for tightening a bolt, but putting an attachment through it would make it useful.
Might as well punch out a 4mm hex to use screwdriver bits as well.
Sooooo… how do you get one?
Wait a month and look on ali…
Love it! I carry a 1.2” keychain knife. This is an acceptable size multi-tool though not keychain friendly . A small hole properly placed would fix that. From a use perspective this is an 80% solution at 1% of the cost of space and weight.
if multitool have bootle opener You can forget that anyone has thought this tool through.
Don’t buy it.
“His reasoning: where most everyday carry (EDC) tools are bulky, overpriced, or simply too much, this hack flips the equation: reduce it to the absolute minimum, yet keep it useful.”
Yes and no:) There are multitool hairpins for a long time. Victorinox offers 57mm series. Cuts similar to his are also available – not in titatium.
Nice project – personally I would give a bit longer drivers as bolts tend to be located in holes.
“it’s about carrying something instead of nothing.”
If I don’t have my Leatherman then I’ve forgotten to put on my trousers. WTF is this little doodad other than another useless gizmo to fleece the wannabe EDC crowd?
Is a Victorinox SwissCard to bulky for your wallet?
Where can I get one and what do they cost?