Maintenance Corner
Maintenance topics:
(1) Where can I find assembly videos for your products?(2) What plastic are Zippy's made from?
(3) Are Zippy balisongs durable?
(4) What is special about Zippy bearings?
(5) How do I assemble or adjust the balance on my Zippy?
(6) Why no threadlocker?
(7) Will my nylon locknuts last forever?
(8) How should I lubricate my Cycloid or Diode?
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(1) Where can I find assembly videos for your products?
Assembly instruction videos are linked in the product description for each product where applicable, and can be found on my Youtube channel.
(2) What plastic are Zippy's made from?
The Diode is made entirely from Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA). The Cycloid v2 is constructed from ASA (handles) and Nylon Polyamide 12 (PA12) for the blade; the blade insert and spacers are made from polyurethane. The Cycloid HD is constructed entirely from glass-filled Nylon PA12 with polyurethane inserts/spacers. The glass-fill of the Cycloid HD Nylon is used to increase weight and stiffness. These materials were selected after extensive testing* due to their mix of extremely high impact strength, stiffness, and tensile strength. These engineering plastics are multiple times more durable than every other commonly used 3D-printed balisong plastic such as PLA, PLA+, PETG, CPVC/PVC, Resin, and ABS. And, because ASA and PA12 have extremely high heat deflection temperatures, you don't need to worry about it melting/deforming in your car on a sunny day as is common with PLA/PLA+.
*PA12 and ASA were selected after a ~12 months of strength testing program that included 19 different materials: PLA, PLA+, PETG (2x blends), PCTG (2x blends), Carbon Fiber PETG, ABS, ASA (2x blends), Polycarbonate (4x blends) Carbon Fiber Polycarbonate (2x blends), Carbon Fiber Nylon, Glass-filled Nylon, and TPU.
(3) Are Zippy balisongs durable?
Zippy's are the most durable plastic balisongs on the market, and even rival the durability of some metal balisongs. Zippy's are printed using engineering-grade plastics at very high temperatures using FDM and MJF techniques, ensuring the strongest plastic parts possible, all made in the USA.
ASA Strength Tests (Diode, Cycloid v1 & v2, Zipper v2)
Additional ASA Strength Tests (Diode, Cycloid v1 & v2, Zipper v2)
Polycarbonate Strength Tests (Cycloid v1.5 & v1.6, Zipper v2)
PETG Strength tests (Cycloid v1, Zipper v1; no longer used as strength testing found PETG to suffer from long term durability issues)
(4) What is special about Zippy bearings?
Bearings vs. bushings vs. washers comes down to personal preference, as they each have a distinct feel to their flips. Typically, bearings run uncomfortably fast relative to bushings or washers, and can feel sketchy for things like wrist passes. Additionally, poor bearing executions also suffer from feeling "grindy".
Unlike most bearing balisongs, the Cycloid runs on dual hardened race washers, instead of just 1 (Benchmade 85 and 87), or even none (every other bearing balisong). This adds an increased level of precision and axial stability to the pivots, which makes it feel very similar to bushings. The added friction from the increased contact area slows the bearings to be controlled and predictable like bushings, while maintaining a butter-smooth swing with rock-solid tolerances. Critically, it also prevents the bearings from wearing a groove into an unhardened washer, which causes other bearing balisongs (e.g., Flyti Lucha) to loosen up (and get dirty) over time as the washer groove grows deeper. The Cycloid has an extremely tight lock-up with zero binding; when you see other customers rave about the Zippy pivot system, it's because there's no marketing gimmick--it's just that good. While the Zippy race washer bearing system is starting to be stolen by other "makers" (who often do their manufacturing in overseas sweatshops), I am the original innovator of this system in balisongs and because of that, my implementation is superior compared to the copycats.
(5) How do I assemble or adjust the balance on my Zippy?
Cycloid v2 Balance Instruction Video
Assembly/balance adjustment for discontinued Zippy's
(6) Why no threadlocker?
Threadlocker (e.g., Loctite) is useful but has its limitations: (1) There is no way to verify the threadlock function without loosening the hardware; (2) minor fine-tuning after the threadlock dries cannot be performed without breaking and reapplying the threadlocker; and (3) Waiting 24 hours for the threadlock to dry requires patience. The design of the Zipper and Cycloid prevent the hardware from loosening without requiring threadlocker.
Zippy's each use a nylon locknut at the pivot, a major difference from the machine-style screws set in a sexbolt used by regular balisongs. The locknut impedes the loosening of the pivot bolt without threadlocker, making Cycloid and Diode easily tuned without the hassle of breaking and reapplying a threadlocker adhesive. You may also use PTFE tape as a threadlocker for extra tightness if you prefer, but testing has shown that these pivots only require tuning under normal flipping conditions every few weeks to months. Do not use liquid threadlocker on these pivots, as it could damage the plastic if it comes in contact.
Next, the chanwich design of the Cycloid and Cycloid HD handles enables the fine-tuning associated with a sandwich geometry, allowing the pivots to be adjusted to virtually zero play.
(7) Will my nylon locknuts last forever?
The nylon locknut enables fine-tuning whenever you want without the hassle of threadlocker. Be advised, however, that nylon locknuts lose their ability to "lock" if they are tightened and loosened constantly because the nylon can wear down. If you frequently disassemble your Zippy, you may want to replace your locknuts from time to time with new M2 x 0.4mm nylock nuts. Spare locknuts can be purchased here.
(8) How should I lubricate my Cycloid or Diode?
The Cycloid comes pre-lubricated with a dash of 10W Nano Oil, one of the industry standards in knife pivot lubricants. A tiny drop on each bearing is sufficient for Zippy balisongs. Unless you needed to clean your bearings, however, you shouldn't ever need to add new lubricant. The Cycloid is not like a bushing balisong that benefits from being relubed every day. Due to the light weight of the balisong, lightweight oils are preferred, including but not limited to: 10W Nano-oil, KPL-light, Daiwa Reed Oil, and Super Lube. But, if you apply in small amounts, any normal balisong lubricant will do the trick. A good practice is to try and avoid lubricants labeled "heavy" or "thick". In contrast, the Diode can be lubricated with any lubricant and benefits from frequent lubrication due to the washer pivot system.
