The pivot screw on my BM Kulgera keeps getting loose enough for their to be play in the blade. I want to get some Loctite for it, but I'm not sure which kind to get. Sometimes it takes a little bit of fiddling around with the Kulgera to get the pivot screw as tight as I like it, so I need something that doesn't really "set" all that quickly. I know not to use the red stuff since it pretty much locks it in place, but does the other stuff set so quickly that I wouldn't be able to adjust it to where I want before it dries up?
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What kind of Loctite?
- Thread starter KennyB
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- Jun 13, 2007
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Loctite is a glue that dries in the absence of air.
I've never had much luck with the blue so I use the red, if done in the following way it will NOT lock the threads but will keep the screw in place.
First clean off old loctite, like any glue surface prep is important. Once clean apply one small drop near the end of the screw but don't glob it on, just enough to fill the valleys of the threads. Think of it like filling a ice cube tray. Also only cover about half of the threads.
Next, insert screw and fully tighten then slowly back out screw checking blade tension and play until you find the sweet spot. Close blade and let sit untouched until dry.
When the loctite has set it will hold the screw at the exact tension you set it. When time comes to once again remove the screw don't worry it will come out no harder than a factory set screw.
With knives that do not have pivot bushings the pivot screw is not a torqued screw and sits "loose" in the female socket. This requires you to modify the technique used and red thread locker seems to be the way. Again, this will not lock the screw if done in the above way.
I do this to all my folders and none ever come loose, the always come apart too. I have some going on 3 years with no adjustment needed.
I'll see if I can get a pic or two up tomorrow.
I've never had much luck with the blue so I use the red, if done in the following way it will NOT lock the threads but will keep the screw in place.
First clean off old loctite, like any glue surface prep is important. Once clean apply one small drop near the end of the screw but don't glob it on, just enough to fill the valleys of the threads. Think of it like filling a ice cube tray. Also only cover about half of the threads.
Next, insert screw and fully tighten then slowly back out screw checking blade tension and play until you find the sweet spot. Close blade and let sit untouched until dry.
When the loctite has set it will hold the screw at the exact tension you set it. When time comes to once again remove the screw don't worry it will come out no harder than a factory set screw.
With knives that do not have pivot bushings the pivot screw is not a torqued screw and sits "loose" in the female socket. This requires you to modify the technique used and red thread locker seems to be the way. Again, this will not lock the screw if done in the above way.
I do this to all my folders and none ever come loose, the always come apart too. I have some going on 3 years with no adjustment needed.
I'll see if I can get a pic or two up tomorrow.
- Joined
- May 28, 1999
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- 2,606
Medium strength blue. Takes about an hour to fully set, and once it's dry you can re-adjust the pivot a few times before you need to reapply. High strength Red CAN be used, but you have to be really careful about how much of it there is, very easy to apply too much when you're looking for a temporary bond. I damaged two T6 torx drivers once due to using too much red loctite on a small screw. Blue is more friendly to first time users. Go by the text on the package and bottle, not by the color of the packaging. My red is in a blue tube, and my blue is in a red tube, dunno who the genius is that thought of that one but I hope they fire them.
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2009
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- 242
Where most people screw up with Loctite is that they use a bunch. It only requires a tiny drop.
Applying a little heat can help break the bond if you get carried away. A hair dryer should get it hot enough to break loose.
Applying a little heat can help break the bond if you get carried away. A hair dryer should get it hot enough to break loose.
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- 1,122
I've heard of people using a soldering iron to break the lock tight loose. They simply touch the screw with the iron to heat it up. I tend to use the blue because it seems to hold and doesn't require heat to break it free. Plus, if you do get a big glob it doesn't seem to matter.
So then if I did something like cut up a lot of stiff cardboard and put a little bit of play into the blade, I would need to reapply the loctite rather than just adjust and let reset?
Oh, the other thing I was wondering is if this will even help it stay locked up tight when it comes to using it for heavier cuts than usual. I mean, opening up packaging and what not are the usual types of cuts I make, if I have something where I'm putting lots of force on the knife I sometimes tend to work a little bit of play-play into the pivot at the setting I usually leave it--probably the same reason that it works itself loose after a while too.
Anyway, will the loctite even help the stresses that it encounters during those heavier cuts or will I just need to keep the pivot tighter?
Anyway, will the loctite even help the stresses that it encounters during those heavier cuts or will I just need to keep the pivot tighter?
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2009
- Messages
- 1,421
The mistake a lot of people make is failing to clean up the threads before applying and not letting it cure long enough before messing with it.
I use blue since I don't want to have to heat things all the time. I clean the old compound and oil with alcohol on both the screw and the pivot, apply a few tiny drops of loctite to the screw. I dab it on using a paper clip. Then I adjust the pivot before anything dries, and once I'm satisfied I leave it alone for 24 hours.
It holds up quite well.
I use blue since I don't want to have to heat things all the time. I clean the old compound and oil with alcohol on both the screw and the pivot, apply a few tiny drops of loctite to the screw. I dab it on using a paper clip. Then I adjust the pivot before anything dries, and once I'm satisfied I leave it alone for 24 hours.
It holds up quite well.
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2005
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- 10,038
Well, I couldn't find any Loctite thread locker at Fredmeyer and I was using a gift card, so I got some "Permatex" thread locker instead. Seems like pretty much the same stuff, I just made sure to apply a pretty little amount and see how that works first--drag the waters you know.
I'll let you guys know how it works out after the full cure.
I'll let you guys know how it works out after the full cure.
