Do you loctite screws on your folders?

E

EDCanAdamas

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Sep 8, 2013
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After a few months of carry, the mid-sized handle screws in my ZT 566 began to come loose and rattle around. I took some blue loctite and loctited them in place. So far my knife has been perfect, and I don't have to worry about losing any of the screws (I did the pocket clip too, as I don't intend to change it's position)

So here's my question; Do you use loctite on any of your folders? Some older threads suggested using blue or purple threadlock (not Red because its rather "perminant" barring extreme heat/force). A few members also suggested using loctite on the pivot, which does not make sense to me, as the pivot is the one screw that should (in my opinion), be loose to adjust/rotate.

I would also like to note that I don't plan on disassembling my ZT or adding new scales to it, so having the screws fixed works for me. The only possible problem that I could forsee is if KAI had to service my knife and take it apart.

Your thoughts?
 
If it needs it... here's an example. I occasionally sharpen the UPS driver's knife. I don't know what he does, but every time he handed me a knife, it was about to fall apart. Everything was loose. So I put blue loctite on every screw, including the pivot, and haven't had an issue.

I've had others with blue loctite on them, was pretty easy to break the seal if needed. Just use a tiny bit... I put it on with the end of a plastic toothpick. Doesn't seem to take much to hold a screw in place.

An alternative I've tried too on the pivot screw is plumbers tape... Seems to hold just as well without the issue of not being able to undo it.
 
Blue Loctite 242, plumbers tape, finger nail polish and if you don't have any of that you can always use a dab of Maalox no kidding, old hot rodders trick when you didn't have any loctite).
Loctite the pivot screw and set where you want it. Pivot screws will back out over time if you don't loctite them.
 
I have switched from blue Loctite to purple Loctite on some of my smaller screws. 2-56 screws only need purple...6-32 and 8-32 screws still get blue as do all of my pivots.
 
I only use it on the pivot. I have never had a problem with body screws coming loose, but I want the pivot to stay after I find the perfect position for it!
 
Handle / scales get proper torque.
Pivot gets blue locktite because setting it at proper
torque means blade will not move.

The Blue holds the pivot at my preferred Sweet Spot.
 
I used to 242 (blue) everything, but now I just do the pivot and then carry the knife and see if I have an issue with anything else. If something comes loose, it gets a dab. Otherwise, I just leave it be. I agree with the above about the Loctite holding the pivot in the sweet spot, which is why I always use it there.
 
vic2367 said:
i never use any loctite ever,,my screws never seem to come out of place ,
Click to expand...

+1

So far I have not used it on any knife and have not had anything come loose. Maybe it will be needed on the pivot when I takedown, clean and lube my CRK 25 for the first time.
 
The only knife I actually needed it on was my 710. The pivot would get loose and blade play would develop after 5-10 openings. Blue Loctite kept it in place perfectly. I have since taken the knife apart and put back together and I didn't need to reapply the Loctite. Seems to be as secure as before.
 
I use purple Loctite. My 566 came nib with blue loctite on the scale screws and pivot. I'm suprised that yous did not.
 
wvriverats said:
I use purple Loctite. My 566 came nib with blue loctite on the scale screws and pivot. I'm suprised that yous did not.
Click to expand...

The only thing on my 566 that appeared to have some form of loctite already was the pocket clip screws, but it was grey not blue. Either way, the screws were getting loose from all the walking that I do during the day. Perhaps that UPS driver's knife was subjected to the same vibrations from walking and driving that my ZT was/is subjected to on a daily basis.
 
I use VC3. It does the same thing as Loctite, but accomplishes this in an entirely different fashion. It is always easy to remove (it dries to a gel), and one application can be used many and many times over without a need for reapplication or cleaning old product off. It also does a great job at preventing corrosion on the inside of screws, which can be a problem with folding knives that are constantly used and washed, as water can get inside the screws.

The biggest advantage to me of VC3 over Loctite tho, is how you don't have to worry stripping a screw or damaging the knife with excessive torque to break the bond Loctite made. This does not happen with VC3 because it uses a thick gel that is always easily removable, yet does a great job preventing screws from backing out and if you need to adjust the pivot, you can do so without having to clean heavily and reapply like Loctite, as it's reusable. I've got some on one of my Seb 21's and it has probably been taken apart and put back together 10+ times since I last applied VC3 and it works exactly like the day I initially applied it which was at least a couple of years ago if I had to guess.
 
My philosophy is if you need it...use it. I have only one knife where I couldn't set the pivot without it drifting. I use blue loctite to gently snug it up to my liking.
 
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