Which LocTite?

[bquinlan]

I finally picked up some LocTite, but I know have a question for the more knowledgable. That includes just about everyone here...

I've heard people talk about various colors of LocTite. I have also heard references to temporary and permanent variaties. What I found were two types: "LocTite Tite'n for Bolts" and "LocTite Tite'n for Screws". The stuff for bolts says "Removable" on the front and lists wood and metal. The stuff for screws just says "Secures Screws" and lists wood, particle board, drywall, plastic, and metal.

Can anyone give me the lowdown on these two types, what colors they correspond to, if any, and whether or not the stuff for screws is temporary or permanent? Any info would be appreciated. I don't want to get myself in trouble by using the wrong type in the wrong place.

Thanks!

--Bob Q

 

[Alan_B]

Check out http://www.loctite.com

Perhaps the answers to your questions are there. This is from the FAQ on their site:

Q: What do colors mean?

A: Many times Loctite anaerobic materials are called " the red or the blue stuff". With threadlockers, colors designate strength. Generally red means high strength and blue means moderate strength, and purple is low strength. Other colors do indicate strengths in relative areas.

I generally use the blue stuff for knives. My bottle says LOCTITE 242 Threadlocker. The confusing thing is that even though the liquid contents are BLUE the bottle is RED with a small blue stripe where it says THREADLOCKER.

I have mistakenly used RED loctite on pivot screws before and had to send the knife back to the manufacturer for repair.

-Alan

 

[ExamonLyf]

Yeah use Blue for knives..., much easier to deal with...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"

 

[bquinlan]

Thanks for the help!

The stuff I bought that says it's for bolts turned out to be the blue stuff in a different packaging.

--Bob Q

 

[DEA]

Originally posted by Alan_B
I have mistakenly used RED loctite on pivot screws before and had to send the knife back to the manufacturer for repair.

-Alan

uh-oh
why?
my avalanche is working fine with loctite red

 

[calyth]

I've heard plenty times that loctite red requires some heat to loosen it.

 

[Alan_B]

Originally posted by DEA
uh-oh
why?
my avalanche is working fine with loctite red

My problem with the red loctite on a pivot is that if I ever need to make an additional adjustment (or if I didn't get it right the first time), then it is extremely difficult to loosen even with heat. In the case of pivot screws, the other side often is just a smooth head with nothing to attach a wrench to so it just spins and spins. It sound like you did not experience the problem I did so for you it works just fine.

 

[A. G. Russell]

Hold a souldering iron to the pivot screw until the other end is too hot to touch and you will find that the red locktite will turn loose.

A. G.

 

[Alan_B]

Thanks A.G.!

I tried that but maybe did not get it hot enough. I was not sure how much heat the nylatron or teflon washers could take but that fear may have been misplaced since we cook on teflon at much higher temperatures. Thanks again.