True Utility FIXR

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I am always looking for the “next best” thing, and try to find ingenious solutions for the various problems I encounter. I am also a tool collector (there, I said it) and generally cannot resist trying out the latest and (sometimes) greatest. I have found many excellent tools this way, and a boat load of crap too.

So I was trolling the net in search of a certain pocket screwdriver that I had forgotten the name. Turned out to be from Screwpop, and I have some items from them on the way and they will be reviewed. But in my search I came across the True Utility brand. I had seen them before and I even have another of their early products, the MicroTool, which I really feel is vastly inferior to a Sak Classic. However they have alot of new products, and one caught my eye. The FIXR is a new product which combines a carabiner style OPMT (one piece multi tool) with a 4 tipped flat driver. Imagine scaling up a Niteize Doohickey by 30% and adding one of those craftsman flat 4 tip drivers that they used to throw in with a 20 piece screwdriver set.

Initial impressions:
– Extremely nice packaging and “box art”
– Comes with small leather sheath with snap buckle, unexpected
– Rotating 4 way has spring loaded detent that holding it in 8 different positions
– Finish is very well applied, as is screen-printing
– Even grinds on the bits and pry edge
– Replaceable cutting edge inside the carabiner
– 1/4 inch hex hole holds a bit nicely
– Nail file on the backside works well!

Disclaimer: This was purchased by me with my own ill gotten gains off ebay. I paid about 13.50 shipped, well under the msrp of 22.78. I have no ties to True Utility or anyone else for that matter.

Right out of the very nice box this tool just felt well made. Only fit issue I had was that the pivot for the 4 way felt loose. It is retained by a torx t8 pivot so I used my pair of Picquic Teeny Turners to tighten it up. Pivot must have thread lock as it was quite hard to turn. A plus in my book as it should not loosen easily. Carabiner gate has a good snap, ruler is easy to read, nail file works great. The pry tip is not ground to a super sharp edge, but will work fine an should be strong. The philips drivers on the 4 way are 2d in the stlye of leatherman bits. They are labeled SML and MED but are a PH1 and PH2, respectively. The other 2 tips on the 4 way are a fingernail scraper (good for scraping other stuff too) and a small flat driver, labeled MIN. I had my doubts if that MIN driver was worth anything but it easily tightened up the screws on a light switch cover plate. The flat section of the pry tip can be used as a slotted driver, but it is too thick to interface with a wall plate cover screw. Other features speak for themselves, such as the bicycle spoke key and the cutting edge works on twine/string/fishing line.
One note, the 1/4 inch hex hole can be used to hold a regular 1/4 inch screwdriver bit or a leatherman flat bit. Using the 4 way as a stop the bit stays in place and does extend the useabilty of the tool. The 5/16 hex hole could also be used to hold 5/16 hex bits, although they are not as popular.

With 1/4 Torx T25 bit:

With Leatherman flat bit:

With 5/16 bit, this one is a Torx T45:

Conclusion:
This would not be a good deal to me at 22.78. Yes, I may be cheap/thrifty, say what you will. However I do believe it offers good value at 13.50. Compared to a Doohickey and a 4 way, it is about twice the cost but offers a lot more features and is built together. The body offers more leverage on the 4 way tips than a stand alone 4 way has. The FIXR is longer and has a forked pry tip so more leverage and more suitable to pulling nails. Build quality is head a shoulders above the Doohickey, my example would not fit a 1/4 hex bit due to the flats were not cut parallel. This is a nicely made tool that can be clipped just about anywhere (and with the sheath it will not damage what it is clipped to) and has enough functions to be worthwhile.

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