- Joined
- Jan 31, 2012
- Messages
- 4,704
1. They aren't thumb studs, they are blade stops so don't use them.
2. Pull back on the flipper and let the spring do the work, don't push button it.
3. Try loosening the pivot if the fails.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Zero Tolerance 0566 Tolerances (fit and finish)
- Thread starter billygoat162
- Start date
1. They aren't thumb studs, they are blade stops so don't use them.
2. Pull back on the flipper and let the spring do the work, don't push button it.
3. Try loosening the pivot if the fails.
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Messages
- 44,314
I agree, use the flipper on that one. The pivot bolt should be tuned to a point where the blade comes out with little to no resistance aside from the detent). If not, it's an easy and quick fix with the right tool. Don't go selling that knife just yet.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2007
- Messages
- 8,578
you just have to build up strength in your finger. The thumbstuds arent really thumbstuds. They are stops for the blade when opened. This is a design feature that carried over from the 0560. Im assuming these came with strong detents because so many people expressed that they would like to convert them from being assisted. In all honestly KAI has admitted in the past that the 0560 should probably have been designed without the "studs" and I can only assume they included them on the 0566 for continuity. Try not to look at them as studs. As far as the flipper hurting your finger in time this will pass. Its a curve everyone who has ever got into flippers gets over and every microtech OTF owners thumb goes through.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 1999
- Messages
- 5,094
I think ZT engineered this knife so that it takes an intentional effort to flip it open. This make sense for an assisted opening knife with no safety. Mine opens easily, but I am kind of known for my knife flipping ability by the folks at GPK! I guess I have too much time on my hands and too many knives in my hands!
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,752
I'll say that the combination of the shorter flipper (than, say - the 0561 which is obviously a larger knife overall), the hardcore jimping, the strong detent, and the tortion bar, made this thing is kind of a b@#$ to flip open, especially while it's still breaking in.
I flipped mine a few hundred times and then took it apart, pulled out the tortion bar, cleaned/lubed it up and put it back together and it is my new favorite ZT.
Seriously - I had issues carrying my 0551 because of size/bulk, and the 0561 is probably my favorite overall ZT design, but the cheese-grater machining on it (beautiful and great for grip BTW) means I can't carry anything else in the same pocket or the 0561 will destroy it.
This 0566 (now de-assisted) has not come out of EDC rotation for nearly a month now and I've never carried a knife that consistently. I feel like KAI nailed the size down to perfection. Everything from blade-thickness, to length, to thickness of handles, to the deep pocket-clip, to the flat/grippy G10 scale. You can use the thumb-studs easily once the knife has been de-assisted and the flipper is almost as smooth as the 0561 (the detent on mine was plenty strong enough to make for a nice flip-open).
I wish they would have milled out the liner to take that half-an-ounce of weight off to make it a touch lighter, but I've never been bothered by heavy folders so long as they aren't both heavy and bulky.
This is honestly one of the more well-thought-out ZTs I've owned.
I love the 566, however after this week I really hope ZT will add a different blade steel in the line-up of this knife. After cutting Christmas eve gifts and Christmas day gifts open, I noticed chipping in my blade. I cut everything from boxes, string, plastic wrap, small zip ties, rubber bands, etc. I use my 566 hard but something in this weeks events caused my 566 blade to chip. I will sharpen it out but I have not had this issue with other manufacturers, with different blade steel.
This knife is the perfect size for EDC and I really love it, however, I hope ZT will produce this knife with a different blade steel so I don"t have to touch it up or re-sharpen after every use.
This knife is the perfect size for EDC and I really love it, however, I hope ZT will produce this knife with a different blade steel so I don"t have to touch it up or re-sharpen after every use.
BellaBlades
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2013
- Messages
- 6,160
The scale thing is just normal for that model where the studs act as a blade stop. Same on a 0561.
PC87 perhaps you hit something hard. Elmax has been at 30 degrees on mine and has no chips with hard wood work.
It can happen on any steel. My 154 CM from benchmade in the past chipped very often. It could even be the heat treat.
Every now and then you can get a dud. It happened to me on a CRK even.
Someday everyone will find the perfect EDC. I just keep on rolling my eyes at how picky we all get instead of moving on and trying another.
LOL. Is it really that bad. I think your just that unlucky. I get a few hours of woodwork, food prep and multiple other uses before even needing a strop. Id send it back in ASAP if yours is that bad after every use.
They cant please em all.
PC87 perhaps you hit something hard. Elmax has been at 30 degrees on mine and has no chips with hard wood work.
It can happen on any steel. My 154 CM from benchmade in the past chipped very often. It could even be the heat treat.
Every now and then you can get a dud. It happened to me on a CRK even.
Someday everyone will find the perfect EDC. I just keep on rolling my eyes at how picky we all get instead of moving on and trying another.
LOL. Is it really that bad. I think your just that unlucky. I get a few hours of woodwork, food prep and multiple other uses before even needing a strop. Id send it back in ASAP if yours is that bad after every use.
They cant please em all.
Last edited:
BellaBlades
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2013
- Messages
- 6,160
Overall I guess im just happy that I got one that is smooth , holds an edge and lucks up perfect. Or I would not be happy even if I love the design.
I run mine about 35 degrees and have had no problems since I got it, although I cut more "variety" of stuff this week. So, yea, I dont know, I love the knife and just cant stop carrying it, but I really wish it would have performed better this week.
I would like to see a 566 in S35 or even S30V, I know that would lower the cost of the 566 but dad gum, the knife is the perfect EDC size for me and I am a "fanboy" of the 566 I guess, but this blade steel choice for the 566 just isn't doing it for me.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2013
- Messages
- 763
The frame locks on ZTs are usually a bit stiffer - I have noticed that some models if you hold the knife in a certain position (for example, holding the frame lock), it will be very hard to flip it open with the thumb stud. A slight adjustment in the way you hold it can allow it to open normally. I only have 1 ZT on hand right now, and it's NIB or I would take a picture and show you. When I open a knife with a thumb stud, I squeeze the knife simultaneously as I open it to get a better grip I guess, and if I hold it normally it compresses the frame lock. It also helps to get 'under' the stud, not choking up so much on the knife when you open it.
BellaBlades
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2013
- Messages
- 6,160
I dont see why a sprint run of the 0566 wouldnt show up eventually with a s110 or d2 option. Im sure it will. I only own the bigger brother as I love a big knife and IKBS. But I would love to see it.
It's the zip ties. They will chip steel like no ones business. Made that mistake with 1095 and S30V. Took me a while to fix my Spyderco Swick
I am not convinced it was the zip ties. I didn't notice the chips after cutting those so I think it is a combo of materials cut. I may be wrong, but I like to give the benefit of the doubt before condemning something.
I will need to get some new stones to sharpen out the chips and have chosen diamonds for their speed and ease of use. I really love the 566, and hope they produce it in another blade steel.
After several weeks of sharpening this steel and starting to understand its properties I really would prefer another steel for this knife. It seems they have not "perfected" this steel and would hope they produce it in another flavor.
Mine was the same way!
It was extremely hard to open with the flipper. My fingers were sore after less than a day. And I've also got a ZT 0350 so I know my hands aren't soft since it took a bit of work to get that knife to loosen up & it also has the cheese grader style gimping on top.
What helped a LOT was taking it apart, cleaning out all of the grease & stuff in there (gobs of it), & putting it back together. That and lots of opening & closing. I actually used GLOVES on the second day to protect my hands while I tried to break it in!
Here is a good YouTube video that helped me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paRewmjnFl0
BTW... Be Careful screwing in those screws to the standoffs! The one on the G10 side closest to the pivot should be the LAST one you tighten. And you should use the least amount of force on it.
If your carrying tip up then you have to be every careful how you hold the knife during deployment not to add pressure down onto the lock bar. I unassisted mine and I can open it with the "thumb studs" just fine and I have to be careful not to apply to much pressure to the flipper so I don't slam it open to hard. Work it a week or two with the torsion bar in to break it in before you unassisted it. The detent stiffness fades quickly and settles in at a very comfortable level.
