How long to break in a lock on the 560?

NjHart

NjHart

Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
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Quick question for all of you folks that have one of the 560s, how long did it take you to break in the lock? Mine isn't bad at all, but it is a touch sticky. I don't really mind it, but breaking it in gives me an excuse to sit here and flip as I watch TV. How long did it take yall and there isn't anything special I should be doing right? I know some people use graphite as a temporary fix, and mine isn't bad enough to need any- I just want to wear it it just right and make sure I don't damage anything.
 
A bit of pencil lead or sharpie (graphite) helps, but it didn't take too long for mine (serial 13XX). Maybe a week tops?
 
It's certainly not bothersome enough to really worry about, but it is a bit sticky. I don't think I want to expend the effort of the graphite when its pretty minor. I'll just use it as an excuse to flip it 10,000 times a day as I watch tv I think. It doesn't damage the lock by flipping excessively while its sticky does it? I can't see how it would, but I've been wrong before.
 
If it's not bad, bothersome, or worth worrying then just use your knife. The way some people talk about "breaking in a knife" reminds me of someone buying new tires for their car and they go do donuts in a parking lot to wear in their tires. I don't much use knifes to flip incessantly, but if it provides comfort then :thumbup:
Keep in mind, anything with moving parts that has friction involved will wear out over time.
 
Dedication, the time it takes is purely up to you.

If it sits in a drawer, it'll take forever.

If it's carried daily, different story
 
I played with my first one every night after work for an hour or two (until my thumb would get sore). I think it took somewhere around a week. The second one I just did it until it started sticking, took it apart and did the sharpie trick, by the time the sharpie wore off the knife was broken in and had no stick. My cbcf barely gets flipped and still isn't broken in this long after release.
 
My wife walk in the bathroom and caught me playing with mine,

ZT 0561 , it took a little time for me, like stated it's not recommended obsessive opening and closing,
After I got the lock up and feel I desired I don't mess with it all that much. One heck of a knife
 
Mine was fine out of the box.

Yes - a little sticky sometimes - especially after sitting and not being opened for a few days.

There are a lot of threads about "breaking in" these knives and honestly I am not sure what people mean. What I think they mean is "how long before my 560 opens like my other knife A" or "how long before my knife learns to open spontaneously when I think about it".

My 560 opened and functioned well out of the box. Again, maybe a little stick after having sat for a few days. But I think that in general every time you open it you cause a small bit of wear and abrasion on the joint - bearing - locking surfaces. Over time this will change the opening and closing and lock up characteristics of the knife. But it will take a long time and the change is so slow as to be imperceptible on the daily time scale. You might, just maybe, wake up one morning 5 years from now to flip open your trusty 560 and notice how (all of a sudden) smoothly it opens and how far the lock up has advanced.

Two key points though, the "break in" process is gradual and continuous. Its doesn't stop when you think it's perfect. It will continue to move along and change over time. It will go through phases and you may not even notice. This is one of the cool things about knives. They are always changing things up on you. The other point is.... well I forgot what the other point is.

Enjoy your knife.
 
Keep in mind, anything with moving parts that has friction involved will wear out over time.
Click to expand...

This is what my Bible says, but I think Schools of Industrial Design have a different opinion.
 
I had that problem, but I just carried and used the knife and I didn't notice when it stopped. If I had to guess, two weeks tops.
 
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