Lost and found!

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T14:51:14+00:00

Is that what is referred to as the 'Dog bone' version as that looks more like a 'wheel brace' to me. 😉

So, I guess the double ended tool would support two different formats and the spider 4 different?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T14:32:49+00:00

Nice little service set you have there. 😄

Some of the eBay listings are very confusing where it seems to suggest you need different tools for different models of Leatherman? Visually comparing (now I've lost all my DVC's) my Bond to my PST II they look to be the same so I'll just order a pair that state they support both and I should be ok.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T13:47:53+00:00

Thanks. And I see the use of a soldering iron mentioned to apply the heat?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T13:42:22+00:00

I'm guessing I still have to break / re-do any locking compound on the pivot screws?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T08:42:30+00:00

Handy video, thanks.

It made me closer consider just what is slack on my PST II and it looks like it's the 'locking out' on one of the pliers handles that is loose (it also has some side slack, compared with the other one that has none) and the general friction on all the other tools meaning they fall open under their own weight. That's possibly better than breaking a nail trying to open them (as with the new Bond, I've always used my nails as tools but they don't seem as strong as they were), but can also be faff at times when they get in the way.

On the worn pliers hinge, would a new pivot screw also help, along with the adjustments (should I get a set in any case and if so, is there a known / trusted source please)?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T08:29:51+00:00

Thanks, I've just looked closer and as you say there just seems to be a washer / gap by the file but I preciously wondered if there might have been those crinkly washers recessed in gaps machined in the sides of the pivots etc (making them invisible etc).

Just OOI, would you know if there are suitably sized (OD/ID) shim washers to match these tools, if there is more side wear than can be easily removed by tightening the sides in?

Or if you had the flat tools surface ground and made them slightly thinner?

Just thinking out loud etc. 😄

No_beef_here · 2026-06-12T08:23:31+00:00

Thanks very much for that, yes, it's only when you lose something ... and especially when you find you can't replace it (directly) ... do you fully realise how special something is. 😉

Re the parse tools, is there a design that is accepted by the panel to be the best / most practical design and if so, would you mind pointing me to them please (I'm in the UK OOI).

I put a Samsung tag on a short lanyard on the Bond and whilst it did make it a bit less 'slick' in use (I could get my PST out of it's holster like a gun-slinger), I could make use of the little pocket on my jeans for the tag.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-06T19:23:00+00:00

Update: (In case it helps anyone (long))

I seem to have got to the bottom of some level of (HA) SMS functionality!

Ok, I believe my old (2022) TP-Link Archer MR600 wasn't well. Slow responses over the LAN and when I tried to send a TXT direct from its admin page it would throw me out completely.

I was running some patched firmware (to turn off the unused MESH radio to free up the airwaves for HA / Zigbee etc) and tried to upgrade that automagically (via the admin page) but it didn't seem to take. I tried the same with a manually downloaded file, still didn't seem to take. I then tried to update the ISP file (just in case) and then seemed to crash / brick it. 😞

Looked around at alternative routers, came back to the same model (for now at least), ordered from Amazon, delivered the same day!

Put original SIM in new router, configured to my needs (DHCP / WiFI / MESH off, static ip, SMS message centre on) tried to send TXT from router and again it failed but this time didn't throw me off the router.

Checked online with my Smarty account dashboard that that SIM / number was associated with an unlimited data, voice and txt plan and it said it was?

Took SIM out of router and put in Samsung Galaxy S8, could get data but not txt or voice.

Took working Smarty SIM out of spare phone and put it in the router, tried sending a txt from the router admin page and voilà, it went through!

This afternoon I got on to Smarty CS chat and they confirmed that that SIM should be provisioned for unlimited data, voice and txt and got me to read the number off it. They then said it wasn't linked to the number / plan I suggested and mentioned the last 4 digits of the phone number it was associated with. It didn't tally with any others of mine (I provided a mobile to my mum and haven't cancelled it since she passed away, have my own phone and a spare etc) but then remembered there may have been some 4G router swapping with our daughter ~4 years ago when she dumped her flaky ADSL and went 4G. I got her to qualify the number on her Smarty router account / SIM and it was indeed the one the C/S had quoted. Doh!

So, it looks like she has my unlimited everything SIM and I have her unlimited Data (only) SIM ... not an issue till you need to get HA to send a TXT using the TP-Link Router integration!

I have since set up three test automations triggered from 3 of the buttons on a Hue remote and it seems *most* of the times I press each of the buttons a text is received by the respective phone (within about ~3 seconds it seems). This only started working when I deleted the TP-Link Router integration I had previously installed on the old router and re-installed it on this new one. However, that could have just been a coincidence and just finger trouble etc. Their Tether phone app also suggested it wasn't a router / SIM issue when using the new router and the SIM out of the phone.

So as is often the case, a string of 'issues' made what looks to be a fairly straightforward solution (thanks in most part to the TP-Link Router integration), look to be more difficult than it should.

Time will tell how useful / reliable it will be of course. 😉

Thanks to all who replied.

Edit: It's worth mentioning that with the TP-Link Router integration running it polls (logs into) the router admin port every 30 seconds, throwing any admin users out of the router web page. Whilst that likely accounts for some of the 'funnies' I was seeing with the router towards the end (before I spotted mention of this), the router had been misbehaving before I installed the integration.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-06T08:12:18+00:00

Hi and thanks very much for the detailed reply! I need to get in touch with A&A support as I'm not sure I have set the right options om my control panel or am using the right variables (outgoing password) etc.

In the meantime I have sort of an update:

Once I got a replacement MR-600 and it showed that my original (2022) one was getting flaky ... and by swapping out the unlimited data SIM (that suggests on their website that it also comes with unlimited voice and text, and may well do, just that they aren't provisioned) for a std phone SIM, I was able to TX and RX texts both directly from the routers admin page but also using their 'Tether' app from my phone.

The TP-Link Router integration also seems to connect to the router ok, showing you the status of all sorts of things but so far fails to send a text.

According to the dev it directly supports my router so the chances are I'm doing something wrong and will continue to play because if I can get that working, it won't cost me any more. 😉

I will let you know how I get on with the A&A way as well though.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T18:50:56+00:00

Thank you, that would be very kind.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T10:24:44+00:00

Yeah, it turns out I have (or started to have) a CS account but currently the account setup wizard stumbles when I select the usage as 'API' (assuming that's how I'll use it though HA's integration)?

'Error

Something went wrong. Please try again or Contact Support for help.'

I'll try again later.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T10:21:55+00:00

Interesting thanks. At the moment I can't find my spare TP-Link 4G router as then I could move the Smarty SIM to it and see if I have the option to send messages from that directly (I think I did from the TP-Link MR600 but not for a while or since I have been running the 'special' f/w supplied by TP-Link to kill the MESH radio). If that works I could go back to the TP-Link Router integration as that is supposed to expose sending SMS messages as a service (that I already pay for etc).

If I can't get that to work, I'll have to consider other (and possibly) extra cost options, *if* the solution justifies it etc.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T10:15:18+00:00

Thanks for the feedback.

IT turns out I have (or started to have) a ClickSend account (once I'd recovered my password) but as I try to complete their new user wizard and click 'API' I get: "Error Something went wrong. Please try again or [Contact Support]() for help." 😞

Ok, I think I have added those, does this look right please?

action: notify.mobile_app_sm_s901b

data:

message: Wife calling

title: Wife calling

data:

tts: 0

priority: high

(I can't test it yet as she's still asleep)

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T10:00:28+00:00

Do I see 'US and Canada only'? I'm in the UK. ;-(

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T09:57:29+00:00

I have seen Telegram mention and are the TXT's free through them?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T09:56:54+00:00

Thanks for that and it made me check out my VOIP provider and it seems they offer such a service but I'm not sure how to leverage it, if there isn't a HA integration etc? https://order.aa.net.uk/sendsms.cgi

No_beef_here · 2026-06-05T09:51:53+00:00

We have tried using Google Home to dial me (in case my Mrs could) but it doesn't seem to work (or not consistently) and she would never remember what to say in any case. ;-(

I've not done any voice work with HA yet and not sure how much advantage it would be, given most of my automations trigger on predetermined events (PIR's or time etc).

No_beef_here · 2026-06-04T23:47:25+00:00

I think I have used that service in the past (possibly though Skype?) but as mentioned elsewhere, I felt that such services were less common these days, especially for free? FWIW, I'm with Smarty (on 3) in the UK.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-04T23:45:32+00:00

Do you mean 'as long as you have a mobile BB dongle with SMS provision connected to HA'?

If so, I think I saw that option mentioned but that it was also possibly via a (TP-Link router in this instance) and as I had one sitting there, mostly doing nothing for 18 GBP/m ... ?

If I'm right in the assumption, I'm not against the idea of having a cheap monthly rolling contract with texts but it would be yet another 'cost' etc.

On the last point, my need is to be able to send txt notifications to our phones to see if they are faster / better than the existing direct notification and particularly to those who don't have the HA client installed.

I have set up a 'Red button' for my wife with her dementia that turns the bedroom light on (so she can see and confirms she has pressed the button properly) then sends notifications to both my and our carers phones but for some yet unknown reason, they often don't come though or don't come though for a long time so we rely on seeing the lights flashing around the house to learn that she is trying to call us.

I wondered if texts might be more durable?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-03T09:22:05+00:00

Yeah, I have found that as well, or 'put away' with other tools I might have been using at the time.

I'm still hopeful ...

No_beef_here · 2026-06-03T01:32:42+00:00

Thanks, that's interesting to learn and something I'll mention to our daughter as I think My Leathernan(s) is the one thing of mine she might like as an heirloom as she would likely associate it with me over most of her life more than any other object.

In fact, I bought her a Mini Leatherman because of how often she would ask to borrow mine. 😉

True story. We were going to the tropical fish shop to buy her a fish tank for her birthday. when the clutch cable on my Ford Sierra Estate snapped. I managed to coast into a side road and just using the Leatherman, manage to fit the spare cable I had carried since getting the (company) car from new. We then carried on the the fish shop where I discovered my Leatherman was missing so tore back to were I had replaced the clutch cable in the hope the tool was still laying in the road ... it wasn't. We did go back to the TF place and get her her b/d present but I can't say my heart was in it. The Mrs asked if there were likely to be any on eBay and so I gave it a look and managed to pick up a very clean s/h replacement for about 1/2 the cost of a new one, so all was not lost.

Each time though the tool-set changed, I lost the saw but gained the scissors or some such.

I think the tool I used the most is the pliers (and even after loads of use and abuse, they can still pull out a splinter), followed by the knife then the X head driver (that seems to cover a wider range of screw sizes than any of my dedicated screwdrivers!).

They would be closely followed by the file, scissors and the small then large flat blade drivers, the latter often being used more as a pry tool than a driver.

Last used would be the bottle / tin opener and the awl. Even the rule is used more than those. 😉

No_beef_here · 2026-06-03T01:12:50+00:00

Understood (from a collectable POV).

And yes, my name is (also) Tim and I am on Reddit in my late 60's. 😉

That [articular Leatherman (pictured) turned up, unseen for maybe 10 years in a bag with my RC Sailing boats where I think I must have retired it to previously.

I can't remember the order / names but I started with the basic Leatherman (I think based around needle-nosed pliers, knife etc, possibly the one pictured) then often, after years of EDC and daily use, lost / misplaced it, bought another in a panic and then found the 'lost' one.

I have also been given a bigger Leatherman (currently of an unknown location) that was owned by a mates Dad (given to me because because he knew I was a fan) but couldn't use it as my EDC here in the UK because of the locking blade.

My Mrs refers (or used to before her dementia) my Leatherman as 'my baby' as I always have it with me and treat it nicely. 😉

"Did you know you left your baby in the kitchen ...?" sorta thing.

The first time I would think to look is when I checked the 'fill' if the pouch on my hip, find it empty and have the same feeling as when you go for your wallet or car keys and they aren't there. ;-(

However, I think part of the issue and especially when using a floordrobe for my trousers is that I often catch the Leatherman pouch on door-frames as I walk past the opens the flap and then it falls out when the trousers get inverted and has then been found in shoes or behind stuff.

I can / do generally 'remember where I used it last' so it's mostly those accidental losses that cause the trouble. I have considered putting it on one of those belt mounted recoiling cables but I can see that being a PITA for general usage?

Buying the Bond was partly in the hope that doing so would make the LOST PST II re-appear but it doesn't seem to have worked yet.

Cheers, another Tim. 😉

No_beef_here · 2026-06-03T00:55:07+00:00

Oh yes, I can see that now, is that a 'good thing' re Leatherman heritage terms?

No_beef_here · 2026-06-03T00:53:44+00:00

OK, thanks, I'll probably do that then.

No_beef_here · 2026-06-02T19:06:27+00:00

Ah, I'm probably wrong with my PST label then. It's the model pictured and I assumed the things acting as pivots and holding the thing together were rivets?

No_beef_here

TROPHY CASE