Above: The many functions of Shopro's Multi-Tool.
Swiss Army knives have always been the craze due to their durability and versatility. However, a Swiss Army knife was designed for general outdoor use, and not with the handyman in mind. A Swiss Army knife isn't much use, for example, when you need to hammer a nail into a piece of plywood.
For heavy duty jobs, you need to keep a more sophisticated tool, such as a multi-functional hammer. There are multiple variations of this tool, but the main idea is that it provides a handyman an alternative tool whenever he is separated from his tool-box and tool-belt.
Disguised as a small hammer, multi-functional tools can also be used as shop-quality pliers. Both the hammer head and the handle are able to separate into two sections. When torque is applied to the two sections of the handle, a firm gripping motion is transferred to the jaws. In addition to the hammer and pliers, multi-functional tools, such as the Shopro Professional 11-in-1 multi-functional tool, usually include a nail puller, slotted and Phillips screwdrivers, and an assortment of saws, knives, and files.
The Shopro multi-functional tool is actually unique in that it provides far more functionality when compared to any other tool that I've examined. Approximately the size of a small remote control, Shopro's unit is quite small and portable. For example, in addition to the pliers and hammer head, Shopro proudly boasts that their multi-functional unit provides the following 11 functionalities:
Above: Shopro's multi-functional tool replaces 11 distinct tools.
Regular pliers
Hammer head
Small slotted screwdriver
Large slotted screwdriver
File
Serrated Saw
Large knife
Nail puller
Phillips screwdriver
Bottle opener
Small knife
