Bearings or washers

[Gary W. Graley]

So, I've gotten to where I'm not sure about knives with bearings, sure they might be 'fast' but that isn't always a good thing, phosphor bronze washers can be pretty smooth, ok maybe NOT as smooth as some bearings but they still work.

I've wondered if the bearing craze will some day take a turn and we go back to the PB washers or some fancy smooth material that is similar.

I haven't had any real issue with a knife that has bearings, so I may be worried for naught, but my old brain just isn't that keen on them, simple minded likes simple things I guess.

There are some knives that haven't made that move to bearings, such as Chris Reeve knives, they seem to be doing pretty well.

And GEC folders, no bearings there yet, I know some makers are putting bearings into slip joint folders but that seems like overkill.

Just a Monday evening rambling but I think there may be a few that might agree and of course a lot that will not and that's perfectly fine, everyone has their own opinion and feelings about it I'm sure.

Ok, back to sharpening things that are already sharp, ugh lol need to get another knife to sharpen up!
G2

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I recently picked up one of those wildly popular Demko AD20.5 folders and a fellow formite took notice and emailed me that he had purchased two sets of Skiff bearings for his, not realizing that they came in pairs. So he had a set that he did not figure using and generously offered them to me, I accepted and I am looking forward to seeing how much of a difference they make, some reviews speak highly of them. And while it's not a PB type pivot, the knife is gaining in favour with me lately as a no nonsense robust little working knife

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

And I did use one of my larger beads for the lanyard, reminds me of the old Monty Python skit about 'I shall use my largest scales...'

G2

 

[PNWhovian]

Prefer washers but haven’t had any issues with my Chaves(bearings) so far.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

I'm surprised we haven't seen ceramic washers - or maybe they exist? Some total hips are made of ceramic and there are some very favorable biomechanical studies on ceramic-on-steel properties. I know there are ceramic bearings but I have not seen ceramic washers.

Ceramic is a bit brittle and perhaps that is why we haven't seen it's use as a washer but I am curious.

 

[The Grendels]

Then there's the Spyderco Native 5 and Ka-Bar Dozier that reject your reality of bearings and washers, and substitute their own.

 

[KVT]

I'm surprised we haven't seen ceramic washers - or maybe they exist? Some total hips are made of ceramic and there are some very favorable biomechanical studies on ceramic-on-steel properties. I know there are ceramic bearings but I have not seen ceramic washers.

Ceramic is a bit brittle and perhaps that is why we haven't seen it's use as a washer but I am curious.

How about ceramic bearings running on ceramic washers? Can you say zero friction??

Then we just need to somehow have a ceramic blade track for the ceramic frame lock bar ball to ride on.

It’d snap open and close so fast the earth would move.

 

[Hashishiin]

I've spent a lot of time around air compressor oil lately, and it has amazing physical properties. I wonder if it would make a difference?

At $100 a gallon, I doubt that I'll find out!

Personally, I wonder if a lot of these specialty knife lubricants are just odd-fish industrial stuff that's been repackaged.

It does, but so does PFOA (stuff from teflon), and I don't wanna get near any of that junk. I definitely prefer the foodsafe! Have not used waxy anything yet, though. Not the concoctions, but that's just me.

 

[DavidZ]

Great thread starter Gary.
I jumped on the bearing bandwagon when they became prevalent, just because it was new and exciting. But over the years the excitement faded. I am waiting for needle roller bearings with thrust bearings next. .
I will stick with PB washers for now. They work well, and keep the sides of the blade away from the liners. Nice hydraulic feeling action, and no galling on the blade is nice.

 

[sharp_edge]

Not all bearings are equal. If you haven’t tried Skiff or Taco bearings, you need to.

Do you happen to know which Skiff bearings should be used for ZT 0652? How about Hinderer XM-18 3.5" skinny? Skiff website has a comparability sheet but it does not say anything about ZT 0562 or XM-18 skinny.

Taco bearings are almost twice more expensive than Skiff. Are these two very different?

 

[KVT]

Do you happen to know which Skiff bearings should be used for ZT 0652? How about Hinderer XM-18 3.5" skinny? Skiff website has a comparability sheet but it does not say anything about ZT 0562 or XM-18 skinny.

Taco bearings are almost twice more expensive than Skiff. Are these two very different?

XM-18 3.5 and XM-18 3.5 Skinny both use Skiff 1/4"-1/16"-13 bearings, along with most of the other Hinderers.
The ZTs are a bit different - I’ve used Taco bearings on most of my ZTs. The 0562 series takes the Taco ‘zt001’ bearings.

I’ve got Skiff and Taco bearings on probably 60+ knives, so let me know if you need any compatibility info.

 

[sharp_edge]

XM-18 3.5 and XM-18 3.5 Skinny both use Skiff 1/4"-1/16"-13 bearings, along with most of the other Hinderers.
The ZTs are a bit different - I’ve used Taco bearings on most of my ZTs. The 0562 series takes the Taco ‘zt001’ bearings.

I’ve got Skiff and Taco bearings on probably 60+ knives, so let me know if you need any compatibility info.

Thanks. I didn't know xm-18 3.5 regular and skinny use the same bearings.

I do know ZT 0562, 0452, and 0801 use the same bearings. So if you've used skiff bearings on any of these, that will be helpful info.

Taco bearings tell exactly which ZT should use which.

 

[KVT]

Thanks. I didn't know xm-18 3.5 regular and skinny use the same bearings.

I do know ZT 0562, 0452, and 0801 use the same bearings. So if you've used skiff bearings on any of these, that will be helpful info.

Taco bearings tell exactly which ZT should use which.

To be honest, I’ve had a tough time telling whether ANY of the Skiff bearing fit any of the ZT models. Every time I’ve measured and tried, I’ve never had a Skiff on hand that fits, and I’ve had all the common Skiff sizes on-hand. Even in the Skiff reviews for all their bearings, I don’t think I’ve ever read about a ZT being mentioned. It’s always Hinderers and the China knives (5mm). Kershaw uses some odd sizes as well.

 

[J85909266]

I've had plenty of time to try both, at this point, and I vastly prefer PB washers over anything else. I've had the action get very crunchy on some of my ball bearing pivots, and I did not care for it at all. I also have found that I very much dislike flipper opening knives, which usually tend to have ball bearings. I currently only have one knife left on bearings, no flippers, and aside from that one, the rest are all on PB washers.

 

[Shorttime]

Magnetic bearings. No friction except for the air molecules that get in the way.

Better yet, let's get some supercooled magentohydrodynamic bearings! Zero friction, and you can have a liquid nitrogen reservoir in your knife, and a tiny pump!

Okay, maybe I'd better walk it back a little....

 

[Gary W. Graley]

A friend did send in the Skiff bearings that fit my Demko 20.5 and wow they are tiny, both original and these replacements but the replacements will be rust proof being ceramic and more bearings equal smoother action.

Now, can I tell the difference? In my mind I feel the difference, but in actuality probably not a huge amount of difference as your mind can and will play tricks on you, but I like the new ones and glad to have gotten them.

Installing them was very easy, my lanyard has a whipping knot near the lanyard hole, I just had to cut that thread so the handle scale could rise high enough to clear the handle, and a simple matter of tying on a new one.

Demko 20.5 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

 

[Bob Denman]

For the money: I think that the Skiffs are a worthwhile addition to any knife that you can put them in!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I think you're right, they have a look of quality about them for sure!
G2

edited to add that in getting use to the new bearings now I definitely feel a much smoother feeling when opening the knife, drops shut smoothly as well

 

[Mako109]

Haven't read all the responses so don't know if IKBS bearings have been mentioned yet. Those are the only type of bearings I try to avoid. Loose micro BBs flying out all over the place when servicing the knife is no fun.

Other than that I don't have a preference for PB washers or caged bearings. For caged bearings I try to use Taco bearings with hardened steel race liners whenever possible.

 

[The Grendels]

Haven't read all the responses so don't know if IKBS bearings have been mentioned yet. Those are the only type of bearings I try to avoid. Loose micro BBs flying out all over the place when servicing the knife is no fun.

Other than that I don't have a preference for PB washers or caged bearings. For caged bearings I try to use Taco bearings with hardened steel race liners whenever possible.

There's a few brands that seem to be in love with IKBS bearings, like CRKT and Boker Plus (the Chinese made ones). It's similar to how WE and Civivi have never met a folding knife they didn't want to put ceramic bearings in.

 

[K.O.D.]

I recently picked up one of those wildly popular Demko AD20.5 folders and a fellow formite took notice and emailed me that he had purchased two sets of Skiff bearings for his, not realizing that they came in pairs. So he had a set that he did not figure using and generously offered them to me, I accepted and I am looking forward to seeing how much of a difference they make, some reviews speak highly of them. And while it's not a PB type pivot, the knife is gaining in favour with me lately as a no nonsense robust little working knife

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

And I did use one of my larger beads for the lanyard, reminds me of the old Monty Python skit about 'I shall use my largest scales...'

G2

That ad20.5 intrigues me, but I hear about a lot of QC issues, plus the steel seems sub-par for the price. I've been on the fence about it for some time.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

The only thing that held me off was that folks that reviewed them said the behind the edge was too thick, but mine is the newer D2 version and supposedly a little thinner and mine sharpened up nicely and is razor sharp, not enough time to speak to how long it will keep that edge, but, we'll see.
G2