Zt 0562

N

Nocturnal13

Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
199
I know this topic is very old and has been discussed a lot but I have had a 0562 in elmax for about 2 years. I love this knife but I also have the CF version that is used a lot more. However I do frequently flip and play with both while watching TV etc. I know about people complaining about the earlier heat treat of some of the elmax from ZT and whether it is true or not I know that they said it was a little soft.

However I came across a post on Instagram where a guy said 3 of his ZT's in elmax cracked by the thumb stud just from flipping it while watching TV. As crazy as that sounds to me, no one really questioned him about it and doesn't make sense to me at all. I don't want to say he is lying but a crack is not subjective. Mine has been fine but I haven't really used it a lot. What do you guys think of cracking just from flipping? Unless he got 3 duds
 
Here's the geeky, mechanical engineering answer: Having a hole in a piece of steel, then pressing in a slightly larger piece of steel (or clamping between two other pieces of steel at the hole location) will cause a stress concentration. Basic mechanics of materials. It is simply UNAVOIDABLE. The challenge is to design it to minimize the stress concentration through careful geometry. The next challenge is to avoid unnecessarily fatiguing that location through repeated cyclic application and removal of stress.

I guess sitting for an extended period of time doing nothing but flicking the knife will exacerbate the problem, yes. ZT, or any other manufacturer will likely tell him that flicking it for entertainment purposes is outwith the intended use of the knife. It's supposed to be serviceable for a lifetime of normal use, including opening it and closing it a normal amount of times.
 
nwmetalbug said:
They have a warranty worry about something that matters
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True, but I live in South Africa and am still waiting for a screw from them from September last year. Not their fault at all they were actually very very helpful, it's just stuck in the circus of customs in South Africa probably. So it's possible but a pain in the ass
 
The cracks are toward the spine not the edge, correct? If so, it must be from the factory because the thumstud acts as the stop pin and the flipping pressure is applied away from the spine. There were some lengthy discussions on this topic in this thread.

Three cracked 0562s by the same guy? He should buy lottery.
 
sharp_edge said:
The cracks are toward the spine not the edge, correct? If so, it must be from the factory because the thumstud acts as the stop pin and the flipping pressure is applied away from the spine. There were some lengthy discussions on this topic in this thread.

Three cracked 0562s by the same guy? He should buy lottery.
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I am not sure where the cracks were going towards, he didn't specify. I also don't know if they were 0562's he just said "I've had 3 different zt elmax blades crack by the thumbstud just by opening and closing it while watching TV" I asked him what the models were but he didn't respond. I'll check out that thread, thanks.
 
Ive dropped my zt0350. I was clipping it bavc into my pocket bit completely missed. It fell and landed on the concrete floor. It now has a crack from the thumb stud to the spine. That was about 2 years ago. It still hasn't caused any issues with that crack. Its my every day work knife.
 
Anything is possible. I’ve heard the same rumors. So to address your concerns with my opinions -

Elmax in the beginning from ZT was rumored to have a heat treat issue. First batches were rumored to have been heat treated to a lesser hardness than expected. Edge retention was rumored to have been less than expected from elmax.

Now if those batches were slightly softer it would lead to the steel being possibly tougher which would help prevent cracking issues.

I own a zt 0562 in elmax with g10. Its over 2 years old. It has been used alot. I have no issues with the knife. Edge retention is where it should be. The knife has been flipped hundreds of times and I have no cracks.
 
115Italian said:
Anything is possible. I’ve heard the same rumors. So to address your concerns with my opinions -

Elmax in the beginning from ZT was rumored to have a heat treat issue. First batches were rumored to have been heat treated to a lesser hardness than expected. Edge retention was rumored to have been less than expected from elmax.

Now if those batches were slightly softer it would lead to the steel being possibly tougher which would help prevent cracking issues.

I own a zt 0562 in elmax with g10. Its over 2 years old. It has been used alot. I have no issues with the knife. Edge retention is where it should be. The knife has been flipped hundreds of times and I have no cracks.
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That is exactly why I created this thread, whether there was an elmax issue or not I believe that it would make the steel softer which would make it less likely to crack.. but seems like there was a few cases according to the thread sharp_edge mentioned of the studs were too big for the hole which had nothing to do with elmax, in which case mine would have cracked by now if it had this issue.
 
I just noticed something interesting between the 0562 and 0562cf .The steel lockbar insert has different sizes that actually makes contact with the blade tang.
61ntxMT.jpg
x4Wl6LJ.jpg
 
Nocturnal13 said:
I just noticed something interesting between the 0562 and 0562cf .The steel lockbar insert has different sizes that actually makes contact with the blade tang.
61ntxMT.jpg
x4Wl6LJ.jpg
Click to expand...

None of the lockbar inserts on My ZT 0562cf M390, 0562cf 20cv, and 0562 Elmax look like yours. They all have the same width as the lockbar.
 
Nocturnal13 said:
I am not sure where the cracks were going towards, he didn't specify. I also don't know if they were 0562's he just said "I've had 3 different zt elmax blades crack by the thumbstud just by opening and closing it while watching TV" I asked him what the models were but he didn't respond. I'll check out that thread, thanks.
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Ask his if he has any pics of of said cracks, My bet would be that he will not and that's if he gets back to you at all.
 
I’ve been thumping on my 0562 in Elmax since they were new to market. It was my 5-6 day/week carry and user for over two years. Intentionally left it unserviced. No problems of any kind.

Maybe I need to record a hardcore torture test. Hours of nonstop flipping while I binge watch the Punisher season 2.
 
Nocturnal13 said:
I just noticed something interesting between the 0562 and 0562cf .The steel lockbar insert has different sizes that actually makes contact with the blade tang.
61ntxMT.jpg
x4Wl6LJ.jpg
Click to expand...
Seems not to be a big deal. Kinda like the H on Hinderer logo closer to the pin on one vs the other. I dont think it matters much.:)
 
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