Loctite Blue Question

[Bolster]

Hello, friends. I recently purchased some Loctite Blue 242, which is labeled "removable." I've not used the blue stuff before, by "removable" does it mean that you can move the screw or nut a little, after it's dried on?

I'm looking for something that makes the movement of a grub screw (set screw?) difficult but not impossible to move. It's on a tile saw and holds a critical dimension; the tile saw shakes and I want to make certain that set screw doesn't rotate on its own and change dimensions. HOWEVER sometimes I need to adjust, so I'd need the screw to move when I want it to, but with plenty of friction and resistance. Currently it's in place with teflon tape which is working OK, but I'm thinking the Blue might work better?

 

[greenreese]

Yes, you will be able to remove/turn it. There are many, many grades of loc-tite. The more common ones are green, blue and red. Green is low strength, blue is mid strength and red is high strength.

 

[alex71]

by removable, they mean removable with hand tools, i.e. not permanent. It will dry, so it will not do what you want it to. You want some kind of oil-based paste that will stay tacky. Not sure what the stuff is called, but it shouldn't be hard to find if you are looking, i imagine.

 

[Eds_tls]

loctite doesnt do much after you break it free the first time

what size is the set screw?

 

[DHCrocks]

it means you can remove the fastener without heat. The red one says you need to heat it up with a torch to remove. The blue can be broken loose without heat. But it's not meant for turning/adjustment after it has set, you should remove it and clean then reapply. just make sure you make the adjustment before it sets.

 

[srmofo]

personally I wouldnt use blue on a set screw that you will be adjusting occassionally. I might use something as simple as maalox or mylanta (the stomachache stuff) or a weaker version of loctite. once it dries it gets really chalky and swells a bit and creates friction in between the fasteners making it difficult for them to turn. just my .02

I know loctite isnt meant for adjustment but its still difficult to turn the fastener until you remove it and clean all the gunk out of the threads

 

[Bolster]

The set screw is a 8-32 and 3/4 length. I added it to the aluminum sliding table of my tile saw so I could get better alignment when cutting 45 bevels on edges. Moving it a quarter turn makes a big difference in whether a tile gets an even bevel across the edge, or whether the bevel is thick on one end and thin on the other (ugh).

Every once in awhile I have to twiddle with the screw to get the bevels even again. Maybe the set screw is vibrating, or maybe the tile just sits in a little differently every once in awhile. For some reason when I cut the threads for the set screw, the threads are fairly loose. I used a quality tap (a greenlee I think) and a tap guide, and tap magic lube to cut it, but maybe it was a "1" or a "2" tap when I needed a "3". So I wrapped it in Teflon tape but that's not enough friction. I need MORE FRICTION!!

So you guys are saying that blue is NOT going to provide me a kind of stiff, high-friction solution here. And that Maalox might!!

I should have added, the set screw gets wet all the time. I guess that's probably obvious, it's a wet cut tile saw.

 

[Eds_tls]

I've never tried the Mallox trick. Its worth a shot

Your next best bet is to find a set screw with a nylon strip or nylon pellet. They're hard to find, but I have seen them.

I'll look thru my stuff at work and see where you can find them

 

[bgott]

Do you have room to run a lock nut on the screw?

 

[Bolster]

Your next best bet is to find a set screw with a nylon strip or nylon pellet. They're hard to find, but I have seen them.

I've only seen those with spring loaded ball tips on them. I had given up looking for non-spring-ball-tip ones, but that's exactly what I need. If you find a source please do let me know, thanks.

 

[garfunkle24]

@Bolster

8-32 Nylon self-locking set screw:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#self-locking-set-screws/=4kuhwy

Sorry, couldn't find 10-24's, but they do have a bunch of sizes.

 

[sanddrag]

@Bolster

8-32 Nylon self-locking set screw:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#self-locking-set-screws/=4kuhwy

Sorry, couldn't find 10-24's, but they do have a binch of sizes.

McMaster does indeed carry 10-24 self-locking nylon patch set screws (as well as many other sizes). I've used these in places I've had to take the bolts in and out many times, and I think it would be just perfect for your application.

 

[eddyyy302]

Bolster,
Get the size and length of your set screw and pm me, let me take a look, I have a bunch of locking set screws in the hardware bins, I will send you some if you can wait till the snail mail delivers them.

Dan

 

[Blwnsln]

You have a few options as far as sealants, a couple I would recomend

Hylomar

Teflon Pipe Seal (its basicly a liquid form of teflon take but its much thicker)

 

[nate379]

Put some RTV on the threads.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I use a product at work called Vibra-Tite Formula VC-3. It is reusable meaning that you can coat the threads, assemble, disassemble, and reassemble several times. I was looking for something that would work for a wide variation of vibration frequencies and called the company. The stated that it is used on US made Fighter Aircraft and it is the only thing that will hold the main gun cannon trunnion bolts in place on the US Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. I think that is a pretty wide spectrum of vibration.

Available from for $19: http://www.mcmaster.com/#75145a69/=4l2u9t

Cut Sheet: http://www.ndindustries.com/pdf/sell_vc-3.pdf

 

[Eds_tls]

page 3041 of the online mcmaster-carr catalog has a locking pellet set screw

pn: 91385A915
10-32 x 1 set screw

read the notes on that page for pellet info

 

[Bolster]

Nice find, Gar! Many thanks! I'm a little concerned they put the patch right at the end of the screw. I hope the patch will still be in the threads when it's turned to where it needs to be...

http://www.mcmaster.com/#91385a197/=4l51zm

Vibra-Tite Formula VC-3. Also excellent suggestion!

EDDYY .. . the size of the screw is 8-32, just measured it. Mine's 3/4, but any length over 1/2 will do. Thanks!

 

[Skyline]

Is it just me....or is it wrong that Locktite Blue comes in a red container???

 

[nate379]

All the Loctite I have is in red containers. There is a band around the bottle that shows what color/type it is though.

I only use 242 (Blue), 271 (Red), and 609 (Green) though. Mainly 271. Stuff isn't cheap, that's for sure. Last couple bottles I bought were close to $40 each.

 

[alex71]

this is the stuff...

I use a product at work called Vibra-Tite Formula VC-3. It is reusable meaning that you can coat the threads, assemble, disassemble, and reassemble several times. I was looking for something that would work for a wide variation of vibration frequencies and called the company. The stated that it is used on US made Fighter Aircraft and it is the only thing that will hold the main gun cannon trunnion bolts in place on the US Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. I think that is a pretty wide spectrum of vibration.

Available from for $19: http://www.mcmaster.com/#75145a69/=4l2u9t

Cut Sheet: http://www.ndindustries.com/pdf/sell_vc-3.pdf

 

[Jared]

Could you just use a jam nut?

 

[senlow]

As others have mentioned, a set screw with a nylon pellet in the side is perfect. A jam nut will also work if you have a long enough set screw and clearance for the jam nut. In most cases, I prefer the nylon locking set screw, since it has half the parts count of the other solution. When using a nylon locking set screw, be sure to adequately chamfer the tapped hole. Otherwise, the lead thread may damage the nylon insert.

 

[Bolster]

Ha! Glad you told me to chamfer the hole. I should have (standard tapping technique as I was taught) but didn't. Also I will insert the screw from the back side, so the tip/teflon portion enters the hole last.

No room for a jam nut, but good idea all the same.

 

[aczr2k]

You can also use two shorter set screws against each other. One acts as the set screw the other is merely a lock.