Pre-applied and pre-cured threadlocker?

[vinceb]

Some screws come with a cured threadlocking compound already applied to the threads (usually blue). Does anyone know what they use for this? Is it something available off-the-shelf?

[Gene_SC]

Looks to be a hard plastic substance. When applied, it is wet and as it is cured it gets very hard but still applyable. Gamo uses it allot.

Gene

[vinceb]

Sounds like it'd really be useful...

[DanoInTx]

I use something like that at work, but it's red.  I believe there is also a type of loc-tite that will work the same.  You most likely already know this, but loc-tite is just a brand name, the Loc-tite brand has a bunch of different types of threadlockers and glues.  I use Loc-tite 401 at work alot, which is just superglue.  I can't remember all of the numbers off the top of my head, but we also use green(270) and purple loc-tite and more commonly blue(243/242).  We use this red stuff, but it's not a loc-tite product on machine screws and such a few hours prior to assembly...that stuff tightens REALLY tight, but it will back off with wrench force later on if you need to take it apart.  Green loc-tite is practically "forever", we usually get out the heat gun when we need to loosen that stuff up.

Here's a product selector that might point you in the right direction:
http://www.henkelna.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_us/hs.xsl/1554_USE_HTML.htm?countryCode=us&BU=ut&parentredDotUID=brands&redDotUID=productfinder¶m1=x%3D0%7CsubsubapplicationRedDotUID%3D%7CsubapplicationRedDotUID%3D00000002IP%7CbrandRedDotUID%3D0000000389%7Cmode%3Dadvanced%7CapplicationRedDotUID%3D0000000276%7Cy%3D312%7C

We also get some of our machine screws straight from our vendors with a threadlocking compound already on them, usually blue or sometimes yellow.  Not sure what brand that is, but I bet I could find out if I bugged one of our engineers enough.  Let me see what I can dig up tomorrow at work.

[SDale]

That's actually NOT a thread lock compond. It's an anti-galling coating. It IS a rubbery/plastic type substance that's supposed to act as a lubricant while threading a new bolt or screw. But, as a side effect of it taking up space in the threads, it acts as a very light thread locker. It comes in blue or red/orange. The blue is usually on smaller bolts & screws while the red stuff is usually found on larger bolts and pipe fittings.


Locktite  makes a wax type thread lock that comes in a chapstick style tube called Locktite Blue Stick Threadlocker. I use it at work and it does the job quite well.

[Gene_SC]

I think it is LocTite #268, 9 gram tube Sam. It will dry to a hard plastic. Thetube is like a chapstick tube.That is red and is permanent. Do not use this on any air guns unless you do not want to remove screws without drilling or burning the screws or nuts out. Gene

[melloroadman]

I know Big Ed was using a re usable loctite on his discovery adjustable sear . You might be able to find it here . I had it saved but that computer is down .You could re tighten it several times before it would fale .Marvin http://www.henkelna.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_us/hs.xsl//1556_USE_HTML.htm?countryCode=us&BU=ut&parentredDotUID=brands&redDotUID=brands&brand=0000000389
It was loctite vibra - tite that he used .

[DanoInTx]

Actually the red stuff we use IS a thread lock compound.  It's not really rubbery, reminds me a bit of finger nail polish, but smells tons worse.  As it is required that any and all fasteners used on aircraft have some sort of positive locking, be it safety wire, cotter pins, self locking nuts, heli-coil inserts, or of course thread lock, we have to use one of those means for every fastener we install.  I don't know the first thing about pipe threads, but I assure you what we are using is thread lock, we can actually order bolts from our suppliers with or without and the suppliers list it as such.  It's funny there's probably salesmen out there somewhere that dream of loc-tite products, it's like when someone says,"I glued it with Hysol"....there's a billion or so different formulas of that too, but what most people remember is the words "Hysol" on the can(s)....I'm happy I'm not a Loc-tite salesman, I think I already know more about that stuff than I ever wanted to know.  Oh yea, the blue Loc-tite (243/242) tastes real sweet, don't ask me how I know that:)

[Jaymo]

Held the screws in your mouth before installing, did ya? Are you an A&P, Dano?  I like the green loctite sleeve retaining compound. I used it to repair the stripped threads in the floorpan of my 66 Dodge Dart, where the steering column bolts down. Never came loose again. I use red and blue at work, simply because that's what we're issued, and it covers 99% of my needs at work.

[Jaymo]

I don't know what it is, but GM uses a yellow one that is a MOFO  when it comes time to remove bolts.

[DanoInTx]

Yep Jeremy, hit the nail on the head, I AM an A&P....however I haven't worked on an aircraft in 8 years or so.  I'm still in the business though, I'm the Supervisor of Prototyping for a company that builds commercial aircraft seats.  So instead of freezing to death out on the flight line in fuel soaked clothes, I'm all nice and cozy in a climate controlled shop working away at creating prototypes and models of the latest and greatest tush targets.  I would have never thought it 18 years ago when I started working on planes that I would find working on seats more exciting than working on airplanes, but I do.

Nope, no screws in the mouth with loc-tite on them, more like loc-tite all over my hands and not washing before I smoked, ate, or drank something....I'm a real mechanic, hardware in the shirt pocket, wrench in the back pocket, pencil behind the ear, and lunch on my mind:)

Cheers!

[DanoInTx]

Vibra-tite is what I was unsuccessfully trying to describe as the "red stuff that smells like nail polish" we pre-treat bolts with at my work when it needs to stay put, but needs to be loosened at some point too.  Vibra-tite will hold through a few tightening and loosenings, but also eventually goes away.  Stuff smells bad, and it is one of the few chemicals we use at my work that I insist on wearing gloves when using it....the ingredients say something like,"Some ingredients unknown, potentially hazardous to your health"....kinda freaks me out:)

[melloroadman]

Thanks Dan I will put it on my do not pick up list then .Marvin

[DanoInTx]

melloroadman - 11/21/2008  5:31 PM

Thanks Dan I will put it on my do not pick up list then .Marvin

I use it all of the time, I'm just very careful not to touch it bare skinned and to wash my hands real good before eating, drinking, etc.  I'm no saint, but I try my best to keep these chemicals out of my body.

[Jaymo]

Yeah, I got my A&P back in '93. Never got a chance to use it. Couldn't buy a job in that field at that time. There were several graduating classes with only 1 or 2 guys who got on with the airlines, and those guys were the ones with friends/family who could get them on.The bad part is that they were usually the absolute WORST mechanics you've ever seen.