New ZT0550 Thread !!!

[BP Green]

Thomas would be the guy in the background. You guys would be the trout. . . Any questions?
Either you guys are easy or Thomas is good or both. . . .

 

[tvcrider]

I took my carry 0551 apart last night and cleaned/lubed her good and it went right back together dead center. I love knives that can be easily serviced by me.

What bits/tools did you use to disassemble your 0551. I am lacking in the Torx department, so I need to know what items to pick-up.
Thanks in advance.

 

[teacher]

What bits/tools did you use to disassemble your 0551. I am lacking in the Torx department, so I need to know what items to pick-up.
Thanks in advance.

Wiha makes excellent bits tools.
But you can go to Lowes and get a very functional TORX bit and driver/holder set made by Kobalt for under $6 that will do just fine.
If you go the Kobalt set at Lowes, below is what you are looking for.
Hope this helps.

Kobalt 8-in-1 Precision Torx Head Screwdriver
Item #: 239384 | Model #: 60272

 

[tvcrider]

Wiha makes excellent bits tools.
But you can go to Lowes and get a very functional TORX bit and driver/holder set made by Kobalt for under $6 that will do just fine.
If you go the Kobalt set at Lowes, below is what you are looking for.
Hope this helps.
Kobalt 8-in-1 Precision Torx Head Screwdriver
Item #: 239384 | Model #: 60272

Thank you for the suggestion. Just read the reviews on this tool at the Lowe's website. It is not getting any high marks for quality, including negative comments from one gent who used it to dissemble his pocket knife. :thumbdn: I think I will go the Wiha route.
I looked at the Wiha 6-in-1 stubby driver:
http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/380_stuby.htm , but the Torx model (Item # 38047) only goes down to size T8 and I suspect that is not small enough?

 

[cziv]

Thank you for the suggestion. Just read the reviews on this tool at the Lowe's website. It is not getting any high marks for quality, including negative comments from one gent who used it to dissemble his pocket knife. :thumbdn: I think I will go the Wiha route. :thumbup:
I looked at the Wiha 6-in-1 stubby driver:
http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/380_stuby.htm , but the Torx model (Item # 38047) only goes down to size T8 and I suspect that is not small enough?

That gent probably didn't know his *ss from his elbow..lol. Get the Kobalt - I've had mine for years and it's never failed to disassemble any torx screw knife I've owned - lots and lots of use. It's a no brainer if you owned one. :thumbup:

 

[JTC3495]

It is really hard to find good T6 bits. That is a common size on a lot of folders. That wiha only goes to T8, so ya you will be missing an important size. I have a couple of those Lowes sets, they are ok and do what you need them to do, and they are only $6.

 

[tvcrider]

It is really hard to find good T6 bits. That is a common size on a lot of folders. That wiha only goes to T8, so ya you will be missing an important size. I have a couple of those Lowes sets, they are ok and do what you need them to do, and they are only $6.

I did find this one from Wiha via Amazon. It goes down to T5 in the small Torx bit set (#38003). http://tinyurl.com/6dbbdjn

 

[Reeek]

I've had good results with the Husky set from HD I have. I carry that little BM kit in my BOB for field adjustments.

 

[miro44]

Hey guys, I have a short question:
What exactly is the difference between the ZT0550 and the ZT0551? I' m pretty excited about this knife and even though I think I read most of this thread as well as the last one I really don' t understand why it is sometimes called 0550 and sometimes 0551?

 

[Reeek]

G10 pattern and blade steel - Elmax on the 0551 and Vanax 35 on the 0550

Hey guys, I have a short question:
What exactly is the difference between the ZT0550 and the ZT0551? I' m pretty excited about this knife and even though I think I read most of this thread as well as the last one I really don' t understand why it is sometimes called 0550 and sometimes 0551?

 

[Thrill]

Hey guys, I have a short question:
What exactly is the difference between the ZT0550 and the ZT0551? I' m pretty excited about this knife and even though I think I read most of this thread as well as the last one I really don' t understand why it is sometimes called 0550 and sometimes 0551?

The 0550 has not been released yet; delay in the steel I believe. It will be the production version. The 0551 is limited run; only a certain number are being made.

 

[teacher]

Thank you for the suggestion. Just read the reviews on this tool at the Lowe's website. It is not getting any high marks for quality, including negative comments from one gent who used it to dissemble his pocket knife. :thumbdn: I think I will go the Wiha route.

You can't go wrong with the Wiha, that is for sure...I have them. :thumbup:

But I also have two of the Kobalt one's from Lowes. I have disassembled & reassembled countless numbers of knives with them with no problems or complaints.
I like them because they are a self contained unit and easily portable, as well as well worth the money... IMO.

I am off to do a review at the Lowes sight now.....

 

[tvcrider]

You can't go wrong with the Wiha, that is for sure...I have them. :thumbup:
But I also have two of the Kobalt one's from Lowes. I have disassembled & reassembled countless numbers of knives with them with no problems or complaints.
I like them because they are a self contained unit and easily portable, as well as well worth the money... IMO.
I am off to do a review at the Lowes sight now.....

Teacher, Thanks again for your input. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I am kicking myself. I was just at Lowe's last night.
At $6 the Kobalt Torx set sounds like a real bargain. I'll pick that up in the interim and for field use. Maybe I will eventually also spring for Wiha. I could use that on my workbench.
Like knives, one can never that too many tools!

 

[teacher]

Teacher, Thanks again for your input. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I am kicking myself. I was just at Lowe's last night.
At $6 the Kobalt Torx set sounds like a really bargain. I'll pick that up in the interim and for field use. Maybe I will eventually also spring for Wiha. I could use that on my workbench.
Like knives, one can never that too many tools!

Sure thing my friend, and you are right too... about never having to many of either.

The Kobalt is really a good little set for what it is.
Yeah, Wiha is probably better no doubt. But if you use the Kobalt wisely it will do just fine.

EXAMPLE: Screw is "Loctite bound".
Use a bit of heat on the screw head to break the bond if the screw is stuck.
I use a soldering iron on the screw head when needed. Don't overheat though....

The only TORX bit I have ever broken was a Wiha.
I did not follow the advice above and tried to force it.
A Kobalt or any other bit would have probably broken also though.

It was not the bit's fault...
...I was being stupid and tried to make it do something it was not designed to do. ..

Anyway, you get the picture.....

 

[CyberWarrior]

Here's hoping & praying it's a design feature that survives...for those of us with old injuries,making a thumbstud difficult to operate....a hand/thumb injury that leaves you with 'grasp' or 'pincer' grip,but little or no extensor (flicking) movement outward.

Some folks feel a flipper is 'gimmicky',but those knives are useful to a niche of people who don't buy thumbstud knives.F'r instance: a handful of disabled Vets & old throttle jockeys I know....and older knife fanatics,stuck with arthritis.

I think they would say: "Don't like flippers?Take a Dremel tool and grind 'em off!"

Color me selfish,if you will,but if I could send my gorgeous serial # 0104 back to Thomas,along with a $50 bill and get a new blade with a flipper....no other changes,mind you!....mine would be in the mail tomorrow.On second thought,the knife would be worth $100 more to me.

And yes,I may be the only man on the planet who thinks so!

Just my opinion,

~Gnarly

Can you open your 0551 without using the thumb stud? One handed?

 

[Noctis3880]

Can you open your 051 without using the thumb stud? One handed?

Not entirely sure how one goes about that when the only opening mechanism are the studs.

 

[teacher]

Can you open your 051 without using the thumb stud? One handed?

Yeah, pinch the top of the blade between the thumb and forefinger; then swing the handle down.
It opens just fine.

However this is not a solution to what Gnarly is talking about....
IMO anyway, from what I understand him to have said.

 

[Gnarly]

No,CyberWarrior.

Can flick it fully open with my thumb,maybe twice out of 10 tries.

After 25-30 tries in a row,it cramps up.

Please note: this is not a flaw in the knife;it's an operator problem!

Just sayin',like most folks with hand injuries, my "trigger finger" is way,way stronger than my 'outward flicking motion' with my thumb.

And don't mean to whine,but there is a group of knife lovers who would love a flipper...and it's an issue mainstream knifemakers may/may not be aware of.

~Gnarly

 

[Noctis3880]

Sadly, it's a practical impossibility to make a non-functioning-thumb friendly version of each knife.

However, I believe both ZT and Rick Hinderer have offerings with flippers to accommodate your specific needs. Just not the 0550/0551.

Though I'm a little curious about how Spyderco knives work out for you.

I understand that you can't "flick" it open, but I wonder if you can "push" it open with the base of your thumb, as I believe those two motions are a bit different, and the latter uses the same motion as you would use to open a Spyderhole and seems to be easier to do compared to the flick.

 

[teacher]

No,CyberWarrior.
And don't mean to whine,but there is a group of knife lovers who would love a flipper...and it's an issue mainstream knifemakers may/may not be aware of.

~Gnarly

It doesn't come across as whining at all Gnarly, just you sharing information.

I personally don't care for a flipper....
BUT, I understand totally what you are saying and hope it gets addressed in some workable manner on some models.
Even if I have to break out the ole' grinder on "some models"... .. .. :thumbup: