Ceramic Bearings for some Zero Tolerance. Just some info.

[roboziggy]

AKS has the smaller caged bearings (and new thrust washers for g-10 or CF scales) for the smaller pivots like the 0460 or 0456, or 0452 (yes, it takes the smaller metal cage). I believe these are .0625 (1/16").
But to change the larger 0452, 0801 etc (in the blue plastic cage), you will have to get the .0937 (3/32") size, and pop out the steel bearings in the blue plastic cage, and pop in the ceramics. Not too hard, but if careful, probably can only be done 2-3 x before cage is wallowed out. YEARS down the line. I have several of the .0187 thrust washers coming, and I THINK they will fit both sizes of bearings. Have to wait and see when they get here. Shouldn't need them if the knife is fairly new, but they will wear out, so having a few around won't hurt. I have 7 ZT's with the bearing pivots. 2 0801's 2 0452's, 1 0770, 1 0460, 1 0456. I am hoping these will work with the Spyderco Southard, too.
I got mine at https://www.alphaknifesupply.com/hardware.htm#HA-CeramicBall . There is a 25.00 minimum, so if all you need is the .0937 (3/32") bearings, you can find them at Acer Racing, on sale right now. https://www.acerracing.com/ball_bea..._Nitride_Balls_3/32_14_ball_pack-1384-66.html

 

[Mo2]

AKS has the smaller caged bearings (and new thrust washers for g-10 or CF scales) for the smaller pivots like the 0460 or 0456, or 0452 (yes, it takes the smaller metal cage). I believe these are .0625 (1/16").
But to change the larger 0452, 0801 etc (in the blue plastic cage), you will have to get the .0937 (3/32") size, and pop out the steel bearings in the blue plastic cage, and pop in the ceramics. Not too hard, but if careful, probably can only be done 2-3 x before cage is wallowed out. YEARS down the line. I have several of the .0187 thrust washers coming, and I THINK they will fit both sizes of bearings. Have to wait and see when they get here. Shouldn't need them if the knife is fairly new, but they will wear out, so having a few around won't hurt. I have 7 ZT's with the bearing pivots. 2 0801's 2 0452's, 1 0770, 1 0460, 1 0456. I am hoping these will work with the Spyderco Southard, too.
I got mine at https://www.alphaknifesupply.com/hardware.htm#HA-CeramicBall . There is a 25.00 minimum, so if all you need is the .0937 (3/32") bearings, you can find them at Acer Racing, on sale right now. https://www.acerracing.com/ball_bea..._Nitride_Balls_3/32_14_ball_pack-1384-66.html

Thanks! ill look into this. not even sure why ZT doesnt use ceramic detent balls at the very least... must be a cost savings thing. i dont really care if the pivot is using ceramic or not, tho the ceramic bearing knives i do have are amazing

 

[JD Spydo]

With the advancements that they have made in the past 10 to 15 years with ceramics I'm kind of surprised that they don't use ceramic bearings?? I would think that they would have a few advantages over metal bearings. I believe that the future of ceramics is going to be most interesting>> especially with ceramic sharpening stones.