HOWTO Mod a Leatherman to add a punchdown tool

Instructables's Bluebomb modded the slot-screwdriver head on this Leatherman tool to turn it into a sysadmin's punchdown tool to help with network wiring jobs.

Something that I always have at my side, is my Leatherman Wave. It has all kinds of tools that can help out at a moments notice except for one, a punchdown tool! As a system admin, sometimes I have the need to terminate a keystone jack or punchdown block and I don't have room in my pocket to carry a real punchdown tool with me everywhere I go. Now with this quick mod, I can! Everyone that has a Wave knows about the "large screwdriver" aka "pry-bar." I never understood it's true meaning since you already have four different screwdrivers to choose from. Now you can ditch that and have a nice useful punchdown tool.

Link (via Make)

[#1 posted by Takuan , March 12, 2008 2:30 AM]

maybe they could make a punch down bit to fit the bit kits
http://www.leatherman.com/shop/shop.aspx?category=37

[#2 posted by Skep , March 12, 2008 3:04 AM]

Uhm, I'm guessing that an insulated punch down tool is generally a good idea. The Leatherman mod, not so much. Granted the voltage on twisted pairs is usually low, but the ringer voltage for analog phones is 48V.

[#3 posted by js7a , March 12, 2008 3:26 AM]

The analog phone ringing signal is an 88 V 20Hz A.C. signal superimposed on 48 V nominal D.C. Who uses Type 110 other than for phones? I need it with Type 66 (won't happen.)

[#4 posted by David Carroll , March 12, 2008 4:37 AM]

I use BIX tools and blocks for telephone, and 110 for Cat 5/6 patch panels. We also use BIX or 110 for intercom, tally, RS422 and miscellaneous twisted pairs.

I think I would prefer to use the "real thing" because it is spring loaded and has a wire cutting option. I am also concerned that a hand machined Leatherman tool could damage the punch blocks.

[#5 posted by rushkoff , March 12, 2008 5:24 AM]

Oh. I thought this was gonna turn Leatherman into brass knuckles or something else suitable for a "punch down."

Shows where my head is at these days.

[#6 posted by vaxen , March 12, 2008 7:18 AM]

Why not just buy a multitool with the right tools: http://www.powerplaytools.com/home.html

Of course I still love my PST, which sadly is not made anymore.

[#7 posted by Takuan , March 12, 2008 12:11 PM]

now those look appealing

[#8 posted by Bloodniece , March 12, 2008 1:35 PM]

I need 66 and 110 bits too. Sometimes when I am chasing a pair I hold the amplifier and run my finger down the block. Every once in a while there will be a call coming in on an analog pair and DAMN! That F#@&King hurts! Annoying but harmless. What really hurts is picking up a 100 pair feeder that was in direct burial and getting a sound jolt from dozens of ds0 lines. "Is it cut from the dmark? yeah, oh wait, no. sorry"

[#9 posted by hibiscusroto , March 19, 2008 8:12 AM]

I used to carry a Leatherman Wave when I used to do telco work and through that they should create a telco multitool.