Thread Locker recommendations.

JJ45 · January 14, 2018, 12:51 PM

What's the best thread locking compound that will hold well but is not permanent.

It's for the sling stud/screw that replaces the fore end screw on a Savage 99F.

Carrying the rifle slung does put some pressure on that stud, I am currently using Blue Locktite and after following mfgr instructions the set up has a tendency to loosen up.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

lamarw · January 14, 2018, 01:41 PM

I would think the blue would work, but your experience demonstrates it does not. Blue is medium strength and the red Loctite 277 is hight strength. My understanding is hight heat will loosen red loctite. Is it also possible to simply replace parts in case you ever have the need to loosen the bolt? In other words cut the old bolt off and replace.

Mobuck · January 15, 2018, 07:57 AM

The blue should be adequate.
I can tell you what NOT TO USE. Do not use bearing and stud retainer.

ms6852 · January 15, 2018, 08:30 AM

I sometimes use clear nail polish, just make sure wife or girlfriend give the okay. But blue loctite is adequate and easier to remove than clear nail polish.

OzeanJaeger · January 15, 2018, 09:28 AM

If blue doesn't work use red. I seriously doubt it will loosen with the red. I've honestly never had a bolt or screw completely freeze on me using red. It just takes more torque to break it loose.

Doyle · January 15, 2018, 10:04 AM

I've never had blue fail on something like you are describing. Are you sure that both threads were cleaned of any oil residue before you applied the blue? If either had oil residue on them, that could easily explain the failure.

BarryLee · January 15, 2018, 10:12 AM

I know they offer a primer/activator which might help.

Ricklin · January 15, 2018, 10:37 AM

Anaerobic sealants like loctite share one common theme.

The parts must be clean and free of oil or grease. Use a Q tip or similar in the threads to really get them clean.

Don't worry too much about using Red, heat is our friend.

I use a "sacrificial" screwdriver bit for screws. Choose a good fitting screwdriver and heat the screwdriver to transfer heat to the screw.

Your nose will tell you when to apply torque to the screw. Loctite has a distinctive sweet odor when it is hot enough to let go.

Beware of Locktite around plastics. It will destroy ABS.

PeteH · January 15, 2018, 09:41 PM

Blast the parts clean with brakleen or kleenbore gunk out and blow dry with computer duster stuff.
I use red or blue on my harley engine parts depending on need, both can be broken loose with mild heat IF you can get a good purchase on the head of the bolt or screw.

Dufus · January 15, 2018, 09:50 PM

Looks like a Harley engine would get hot enough to make both red and blue turn loose easily.

**4V50 Gary** · January 15, 2018, 10:34 PM

Blue or even the wife's nail polish.

**44 AMP** · January 16, 2018, 04:16 PM

Red, blue, yellow, green, the color code is a general thing. There is a whole range of products within each group. Locktite 242 (red) and 262 (red) aren't exactly the same thing.

For gun screws, I've found a product called "Guntite" works well. Applied properly (screw and hole degreased - denatured alcohol works well for this) screws stay put until you remove them, no heat required.

I would expect Guntite to hold a sling swivel stud well enough, though its not meant to be a permanent thing.

**Unclenick** · January 16, 2018, 04:38 PM

I agree. You should go to Loctite's product pages and read the descriptions of the different Loctite's. They generally include information on how much torque they will take with a standard size bolt. If cleaning doesn't do it for the product you have, look up it's torque rating and then look up the next higher one for that same bolt. Fastenal and other industrial supply vendors will carry the complete line or be able to order specific products for you.

gw44 · January 21, 2018, 10:52 AM

I use red on mine, it does not loosen up and if I need to remove it I can, I love my 99 and would never do anything that would mess it up !!!!

jugornot · February 10, 2018, 05:43 PM

They also make a pink for small screws like on rings and rails. The primer also significantly reduces set up time.

Yosemite Steve · February 10, 2018, 05:56 PM

I use red and have taken apart and put together many things afterwards with no troubles. DO NOT USE RED ON ALUMINUM unless you don't plan to loosen again. It will strip the threads. I have never seen it damage steel. DOn't over do it. Try a dot on one side of the threads. If that doesn't work try more next time.

Ridgerunner665 · February 10, 2018, 06:27 PM

Use a little more blue than you have been.

Yosemite Steve · February 10, 2018, 07:00 PM

I wasn't meaning I use it all the time. Moving parts most of the time. Model 94 for example.

January 14, 2018, 12:51 PM	#1
JJ45 Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2015 Posts: 908	Thread Locker recommendations. What's the best thread locking compound that will hold well but is not permanent. It's for the sling stud/screw that replaces the fore end screw on a Savage 99F. Carrying the rifle slung does put some pressure on that stud, I am currently using Blue Locktite and after following mfgr instructions the set up has a tendency to loosen up. Any suggestions would be helpful.

January 15, 2018, 08:30 AM	#4
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I sometimes use clear nail polish, just make sure wife or girlfriend give the okay. But blue loctite is adequate and easier to remove than clear nail polish. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

January 15, 2018, 10:12 AM	#7
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	I know they offer a primer/activator which might help. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

January 15, 2018, 10:37 AM	#8
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,011	The key is clean.... Anaerobic sealants like loctite share one common theme. The parts must be clean and free of oil or grease. Use a Q tip or similar in the threads to really get them clean. Don't worry too much about using Red, heat is our friend. I use a "sacrificial" screwdriver bit for screws. Choose a good fitting screwdriver and heat the screwdriver to transfer heat to the screw. Your nose will tell you when to apply torque to the screw. Loctite has a distinctive sweet odor when it is hot enough to let go. Beware of Locktite around plastics. It will destroy ABS. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

January 15, 2018, 10:34 PM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	Blue or even the wife's nail polish. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 14, 2018, 01:41 PM	#2
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I would think the blue would work, but your experience demonstrates it does not. Blue is medium strength and the red Loctite 277 is hight strength. My understanding is hight heat will loosen red loctite. Is it also possible to simply replace parts in case you ever have the need to loosen the bolt? In other words cut the old bolt off and replace.

January 15, 2018, 07:57 AM	#3
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	The blue should be adequate. I can tell you what NOT TO USE. Do not use bearing and stud retainer.

January 15, 2018, 09:28 AM	#5
OzeanJaeger Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2014 Posts: 301	If blue doesn't work use red. I seriously doubt it will loosen with the red. I've honestly never had a bolt or screw completely freeze on me using red. It just takes more torque to break it loose.

January 15, 2018, 10:04 AM	#6
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I've never had blue fail on something like you are describing. Are you sure that both threads were cleaned of any oil residue before you applied the blue? If either had oil residue on them, that could easily explain the failure.

January 15, 2018, 09:41 PM	#9
PeteH Member Join Date: December 8, 2017 Posts: 24	Blast the parts clean with brakleen or kleenbore gunk out and blow dry with computer duster stuff. I use red or blue on my harley engine parts depending on need, both can be broken loose with mild heat IF you can get a good purchase on the head of the bolt or screw.

January 15, 2018, 09:50 PM	#10
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	Looks like a Harley engine would get hot enough to make both red and blue turn loose easily.

January 16, 2018, 04:16 PM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,818	Red, blue, yellow, green, the color code is a general thing. There is a whole range of products within each group. Locktite 242 (red) and 262 (red) aren't exactly the same thing. For gun screws, I've found a product called "Guntite" works well. Applied properly (screw and hole degreased - denatured alcohol works well for this) screws stay put until you remove them, no heat required. I would expect Guntite to hold a sling swivel stud well enough, though its not meant to be a permanent thing. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 16, 2018, 04:38 PM	#13
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	I agree. You should go to Loctite's product pages and read the descriptions of the different Loctite's. They generally include information on how much torque they will take with a standard size bolt. If cleaning doesn't do it for the product you have, look up it's torque rating and then look up the next higher one for that same bolt. Fastenal and other industrial supply vendors will carry the complete line or be able to order specific products for you. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 21, 2018, 10:52 AM	#14
gw44 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 311	I use red on mine, it does not loosen up and if I need to remove it I can, I love my 99 and would never do anything that would mess it up !!!!

February 10, 2018, 05:43 PM	#15
jugornot Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2017 Posts: 197	They also make a pink for small screws like on rings and rails. The primer also significantly reduces set up time.

February 10, 2018, 05:56 PM	#16
Yosemite Steve Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2017 Posts: 460	I use red and have taken apart and put together many things afterwards with no troubles. DO NOT USE RED ON ALUMINUM unless you don't plan to loosen again. It will strip the threads. I have never seen it damage steel. DOn't over do it. Try a dot on one side of the threads. If that doesn't work try more next time.

February 10, 2018, 06:27 PM	#17
Ridgerunner665 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2007 Location: Upper East Tennessee Posts: 477	Use a little more blue than you have been.

February 10, 2018, 07:00 PM	#18
Yosemite Steve Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2017 Posts: 460	I wasn't meaning I use it all the time. Moving parts most of the time. Model 94 for example.