Is loctite always necessary

[Cursum Perficio]

Pivot screws only (tiny dab of blue), and then only if they tend to loosen up themselves.

 

[JDRanger]

I’m another person who uses blue on several of my knives’ pivot screws.

 

[not2sharp]

For most folders, good set of tools that lets you torque everything down nice and snug without stripping anything is just as good as loctite in most cases. The only time I really use it is for pivot screws that tend to back themselves out.

I took my PM2 apart to clean it a while ago, and reassembled it with blue loctite, and the next time I took it apart it was a major pita to bust all the screws loose.

Please help me to understand why we are so keen on taking these knives apart. For dozens of generations pocket knives were permanently pinned together and everyone was happy with that. It has only been over the last 10 years that we have had a growing number of knives assembled with fasteners instead of pins. Is this a fad driven by internet memes or are there real advantages. I understand that cleaning and maintenance would be a bit easier, but, on the other hand, we seldom worried about missing screws or drifting alignment. Knives should be tools not Barbie dolls.

n2s

 

[azjeff]

Because these knives are more than just sharp tools to many here. The same could be said for firearms but we've got the 10/22s, 1911s, and Glocks and AR-15s to be taken apart and customized and discussed and sometimes used. There's also no need for aftermarket scales or standoffs or spacers or 10 kinds of blade steel but we have those choices. Those past generations also probably didn't spend a day or week's wages on a pocket knife either or own 10 or 50 or 100. Just different times.

 

[eveled]

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/better-than-loctite.1591500/

This a link to a thread I started about a different thread locker. Vibra tite vc3. It goes on once preassembly then lasts through many cycles of removal / reassembly. It’s pretty neat stufff.

 

[Willief23]

good to know to only use a small amount of loctite on the pivot. also most people tend to use blue loctite but if you disassemble your knives alot it seems like the purple loctite would be the better choice.

 

[jpm2]

good to know to only use a small amount of loctite on the pivot. also most people tend to use blue loctite but if you disassemble your knives alot it seems like the purple loctite would be the better choice.

Yep, purple [222] is the correct loctite for knife size screws. A dab'll do ya.
But no, it's not always necessary... only when you have a problem screw/nut.

@not2sharp Like all my tools that are made to disassemble, I do so to maintain them for better function and longer life.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I don't use it. Have had to adjust pivots before, but I'm a casual user so doesn't present a problem.
The fellow that suggested fingernail polish has a good point; also I used to use Silicone Seal for off-road motorcycle screws that always came loose due to nasty vibration.

 

[miso2]

I am crazy because I use red thread locker for some of my folders.

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

I stopped using loctite on handle screws because of a few incidents I had. I haven't found the screws to loosen in between cleaning and disassembly times. I got some MXG gear for a couple ZT models and I'm curious how necessary is loctite for the lockbar insert screw? Is it more likely to loosen than the handle screws?

I don't always use it but I'm of the mindset that I don't want anything loosening at the worst possible time and would rather have the peace of mind that everything will stay tight. Pivot screws back out commonly and if you want your action and tightness to stay exactly how you adjusted it locktite is necessary. You want to have quality tools on hand if you use loctite, and if you're unsure of using blue you can user low strength purple or get vibra-tite. There are times where you want to be careful with threadlocker like when the screws are tiny or the screws threads into a soft material or insert where either the threads or screws can get damaged, otherwise I would use purple loctite at the least ( a little goes a long way).

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

Please help me to understand why we are so keen on taking these knives apart. For dozens of generations pocket knives were permanently pinned together and everyone was happy with that. It has only been over the last 10 years that we have had a growing number of knives assembled with fasteners instead of pins. Is this a fad driven by internet memes or are there real advantages. I understand that cleaning and maintenance would be a bit easier, but, on the other hand, we seldom worried about missing screws or drifting alignment. Knives should be tools not Barbie dolls.

n2s

There should really be no reason not to take a really simple tool like a knife apart , makes it much easier to fully clean and relube. Guns are also tools and taking them apart for cleaning and lubing is pretty much needed, same with knives. Most non knife people probably wont need to take a knife apart, but most non knife people also don't care about keeping them as smooth and clean as possible. The knives of the last ten years are much better tools then the old traditional pocket knives you mention which had inferior steels, inferior grip and ergonomics, inferior opening comfort and speed, lacked pocket clips.