Fun with red thread locker

[Mossback70]

First off, thanks for all that you guys have put into this site! There's a wealth of info to find. New guy here from the NW working on my first Wilton.

After years of admiration, I pulled the trigger on an old abused Wilton 9450. Bent handle, broken jaw and all threads locked up. In the break down/clean up process I've found 3 bolts that are real stubborn. Looking at some of the others that came out I see traces of red lock-tight. While there is a TON of rust, the lock-tight explains some of my struggle. A couple of these broken bolts I'm going to try welding nuts on. Worst case drilling them out. Not looking forward to that option.

My question, is there a better way that I'm missing? The issues are one jaw bolt on each on each jaw. One flush, one 1/2" exposed. The last one is in one of the swivel lock-downs. Head snapped off so there is a couple inches of thread sticking out of the lock-down.

I've been applying PB Blaster for over a week, tried some heat and some jamb nuts on the lock-down. Doesn't want to budge. I'm thinking more heat but thought to ask the pros . . . . what do you guys think?

 

[tarbellb]

More heat

 

[four.cycle]

what do you guys think

Hello @Mossback70 and welcome to the site from the City of Destiny.

What do I think?

I think that KROIL is a far superior product to "PB Blaster". Spendy. Use sparingly. You'll never look back.

You need to apply heat (as suggested) to "kill" the red loctite.

And then apply the KROIL.

keep this link handy

and HERE is the "Big Vise Thread"

 

[Kurt4440]

Heat is definitely the solution to red thread locker and rust.

 

[Mossback70]

Roger that gentlemen. Heat is coming up along with some KROIL! Much appreciated

 

[Zewnten]

Kroil though good wont help with red lock tight. You need to heat until it melts or you will strip the threads. If the bolt is near paint the paint usually burns away once it's hot enough.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That was the factory recommendation when they first introduced the product.
The first question guys were asking was "Okay great, but what if we need to pull those main bolts out of that 454?"
The solution has always been heat.

 

[Mossback70]

Thanks again, right on the money. Once the map gas got her to start glowing it started to let go. The last two are one in each jaw. I was thinking of welding a nut on each. Just not sure if that short weld will heat it up enough. Those jaws are a pretty big heat sink.

 

[yhprum]

I have had some luck spraying a solvent like carb or brake cleaner to soften it up. Or you could put the vice on a fire or bbq to cook it good enough to the same effect.

 

[goldtang]

made Me think of this

 

[Mossback70]

I have had some luck spraying a solvent like carb or brake cleaner to soften it up. Or you could put the vice on a fire or bbq to cook it good enough to the same effect.

I've heard bad ju ju about welding on surfaces cleaned with brake cleaner. Some chem reaction makes some pretty noxious gas. Take a look here: https://www.thefabricator.com/thewe...ore-welding-a-risky-move-that-can-turn-deadly

 

[Terra Nova]

Thanks again, right on the money. Once the map gas got her to start glowing it started to let go. The last two are one in each jaw. I was thinking of welding a nut on each. Just not sure if that short weld will heat it up enough. Those jaws are a pretty big heat sink.

Map gas will struggle on a big heat sink, but if you're just trying to defeat loctite you only need to get the fastener hot enough to melt the loctite. I would weld the nut on and then hit it with some the map gas to get it hotter and give it a twist.