F ball bearings! OK, maybe not so much now, opinion changing

Area FiftyOne said:
Is there a danger of shattering ceramic bearings on a folding knife with just about ANY side load?
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The strange thing about ceramic bearings is that under normal usage, such as shooting the pivot with a .50 cal bullet, it may shatter. But for abnormal use such as cutting boxes and paper, they have a tendency to stay intact, even with a side load.
 
IMHO, ceramic balls, if made properly, probably won't shatter under normal or even abnormal knife use. What might make them shatter is if the pivot area gets some thing hard in it like sand or carbide fragments.They could cause a point pressure that could cause the ball to shatter, but that is really stretching it. It is more likely that the balls will be harder than anything they encounter and just roll over. Ceramics don't like shock or high point pressures. Balls are also a very strong structure. They are not like a ceramic knife with a very acute edge which is easy to break. As long as the ceramic balls are being forced against the softer materials in knives, they have little chance of shattering.
 
willard0341 said:
I went to Destin on a family trip the week before Easter. Clipped my small sebenza cf inlay iwb of my swim shorts. After a day of playing volleyball on the beach, playing in the surf, building sand castles with my beautiful niece and nephews I realized my knife was gritty (duh) when we got back to the cottage. I did not tote my Allen wrench or rem oil on vacation with me. I simply rinsed and worked the action underneath the faucet wiping some brown (rust) off the blade. Took a dab of sun screen and coated the blade and I knew I would be ready for the next day.

Granted I am a knife nut but I did not feel the urge to get on the internet and trash talk s35 steel for rusting or pb washers for retaining a minute amount of debris. (I realize this thread is about ball bearing pivots). Anyway, I've got one bb knife (tilock) and never had any problems with it. I may of strayed off topic a bit but I feel I'm in the ball park. (Or just share haha). Enjoy the hobby
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Just out of curiosity why are you carrying a knife clipped to your swimsuit when you are playing around at the beach?
 
I question how many people discussing ceramic balls shattering have tested the the balls.

A knifemaker put a ceramic ball on his anvil and hit it with his forging hammer. The result was a dent in the anvil, a dent in his hammer and an unscratched ceramic ball.

Properly made high quality ceramic balls do not shatter in normal use. Especially in a low load application like a knife pivot or detent ball.

Chuck
 
Yeah. Most of my knives have ceramic bearings. I have never had one crack or shatter.
 
I've used ceramic bearings on bicycles that have seen FAR more abuse than a knife pivot ever will. They do not shatter from taking hits. Mountain bike bottom brackets take massive hits in all directions given their bearing size, especially when they're on bikes that crash as much as mine, and I have never heard of a ceramic BB fairly in that fashion. You're not going to shatter one in a knife pivot.
 
Well, I had a knife with ceramic bearings explode in my hand. I kid you not.

It got a little gritty, I accidentally applied some side load while cutting my sandwich and bang! Thing went off.

Now I have no hand. I had to replace it with a custom, hand-forged damascus prosthesis.
 
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SpySmasher said:
Well, I had a knife with ceramic bearings explode in my hand. I kid you not.

It got a little gritty, I accidentally applied some side load while cutting my sandwich and bang! Thing wen't off.

Now I have no hand. I had to replace it with a custom, hand-forged damascus prosthesis.
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I hate when that happens!! Hope the replacement hand is not Pakistani Damascus!!
 
SpySmasher said:
Well, I had a knife with ceramic bearings explode in my hand. I kid you not.

It got a little gritty, I accidentally applied some side load while cutting my sandwich and bang! Thing wen't off.

Now I have no hand. I had to replace it with a custom, hand-forged damascus prosthesis.
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I bet that hand came off smoothly though.
 
Unless they're cheap garbage poor excuse for ceramic bearings the should never break in a knife. They're used in the skate world and survive landings.
 
Couldn't figure out how to quote, to answer your question why did I carry a knife at the beach... I have found the places where someone says " you won't need a knife there" is exactly where I've needed a knife.
I hate to say " I usually carry a knife but I left it in the truck... Didn't think I'd need it". I did cut the plastic tag off a flip flop enroute to the beach, no emergency bottle opening though. I never take my watch off either, weird huh
 
SpySmasher said:
Lol, as if you deserve to have every knife made just for you. Swallow your tears and stop acting like a baby. Go buy one of the hundreds of knives that will fit your bill.
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Aldebaran said:
I elaborated why I don't like ball bearing knives. I started this thread to start a conversation and yes I was intentionally being provocative. But seriously, almost all the new knives I like, and most of the old ones, have ball bearings.
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I think SpySmasher was simply trying to imply that if you don't have any lost love for folding knives that use ball bearings, then simply don't buy them, and move on to the myriad of other ball bearing-less designs that exist - complaining about the (perceived?) problem here likely isn't going to change anything for you. And as for the usability of folding knives in extreme conditions/environments and when extremely dirty, you probably have a case for the increased effectiveness regarding washers over bearings; however, I think for most/many people, the issue you speak of is a non-issue as the tasks they use their knives for don't take them through unduly adverse conditions or away from cleaning supplies for extended periods of time, and second, if one needs a knife that is THAT extremely rugged and dependable, then perhaps exchewing folders altogether for a fixed blade may be the way to go?? Just a thought.
 
Really? Dragging this thread up again after I have conceded and am testing ball bearing knives to report back? Really? Where is the flogging a dead horse emoticon?
 
Aldebaran said:
Really? Dragging this thread up again after I have conceded and am testing ball bearing knives to report back? Really? Where is the flogging a dead horse emoticon?
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Hehehe. I have a feeling this thread will haunt you for years. :)
 
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