Thread Lock

When I first bought Loctite products they were the only ones of their kind and information about storage and use was hard to come by. Later, I was able to get hold of their 1996/97 Design Handbook of 450+ pages which was rather more than I needed! Numerous brands are now available and I can recommend Truloc partly because the makers actually reply to requests for help.

Ega

So do Loctite I asked which to use for retaining and sealing studs in the back head for the fire doors and had an answer within 24hrs

Stan

stan pearson 1:

"So do Loctite" - good to know and I'll bear that in mind.

Loctite as well as being a founder is also a generic name now, like Hoover.

Once the patents run out on these products it's a free for all.

Anyone remember when Helicoil by Armstrong were the only game in town, boy did these guys make you bend over with your trousers down. I can remember paying nearly a pound per insert when a pound was far more that it is today and what for ? A piece of cut off spring.

Fast forward to today ad these are literally pence, In fact the last stock of M6 in bulk cost me 8 pence each.

Mind you one good upside to this is the customers don't realise this and after they got used to paying between 10 and 20 pound for a stripped thread to be repaired they have now got used to it.

Just means I can have two pies with me pint

Getting back to Loctite though and any of these other primary brands, if they had done their marketing fairly them more people would stick with them but when they charge obscene prices then people are only too happy to swap when they get the chance.

I am guessing that Wolfie raised his opening post because if one looks directly on Loctites site, the choice is overwhelming for any new comer to the world of retainers and thread lockers. They are a good bench mark to reference by if you know what you are looking for.

Loctite is a long established brand, owned by a giant German conglomerate - Henkel, with production facilities around the world, depending on product.

Truloc was established in the 70s by an ex-Loctite product developer..who has since retired. It is a great British brand, family owned and run company, with retainers and thread lockers made by them in the U.K.. Their support products such as epoxys and silicons, etc. are bulk purchased from 'high quality' sources such as Ciba for example, and repackaged in the U.K....Their products are industrial grade, and not to be confused with cheaper alternatives offered at big DIY stores...even if the DIY stores products are suitable for the needs of the hobbyist.

I wish that ARC could promote more British made products such as Truloc and Rock Oil, which represent real value for money when comparing like to like, for an industrial grade product range.

Ketan at ARC.

Ketan.....may I take this opportunity to ask you about Truloc Superseal 937? I make Gauge 1 models which use copper pipework broadly in the 1/16" - 1/8" range. The pipework is generally joined with conventional union nuts and cones with a piece of PTFE tape wound around the cone to give a good seal. This is not always easy when space is limited. I have also tried pipe sealants but invariably the sealant seems to find its way into the pipework. Not necessarily because too much is applied but more probably because of the fiddling around trying to line up the cones and nuts in the aforesaid limited space. Does the Truloc product offer me any advantages do you think?

Mick

Mick,

To be honest, I wouldnt know. Give Trueloc a ring on 01442 244205, or email [email protected] and see what they say. They have always been helpful to anyone I have directed to them for technical advice.

Ketan at ARC.

Just before Micks post, I had this email come in from Clive Perry - Truloc Ltd. Contents posted below:

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Hi Ketan

Thanks for the link, very interesting. Having read some of the comments I would like to add some clarification if I may.

Retainers and thread lockers are of the anaerobic family group, these are liquids or pastes and cure in the absence of oxygen i.e.when thread lock liquid is applied to a thread and a nut fitted the air is squeezed out allowing the product to cure. These products react in different ways to different metals; using brass, copper or bronze the product will cure faster than the published figures. With stainless steel the product will take longer.

The different colours do not represent anything other than a particular brands choice of dye colouring during
the manufacturing process, so Truloc Superloc 360 stud grade is red in colour whereas its Loctite equivalent 271 is green, both do a similar job. The retainer name is a generic term used for products used on smooth surfaces to hold components in place. i.e. Truloc Superfit 211 (bearing retainer), Superfit 231 (shaft grade) are recommended for non threaded applications, whereas Truloc Superloc 360 (stud grade), Superloc 375 (nut grade) are recommended for threaded applications.

Where a product is labelled 'low strength' or 'high strength' this applies only to the amount of
effort required to disassemble components. All retainers and thread lockers enjoy the same anti vibration properties and we recommend using the correct strength product for each particular application.

Superglues are from the Cyanoacrylates family of adhesives, Contrary to popular belief superglue does not 'stick' everything and each application should be researched before use. Superglue will not bond glass effectively; it will bond many plastics but not all. Research is the key.

Some company’s recommends storing superglue in the fridge, that is not the position of Truloc Ltd, take a bottle of milk from the fridge into a warm room and see what happens, condensation happens and water and superglue do not mix.

Truloc Ltd provides a shelf life of two years on anaerobic adhesives, but with careful storage will last longer; one year is the limit for superglue.

For storage of both products, store as you would paint - away from direct heat and sunlight. Keep the tops screwed on the anaerobic bottle or tube and just a turn or two on the superglue or it may not be easy to undo.
I hope this helps, as ever our technical department is available for technical help from any direction.
Regards

Clive Perry

Truloc Ltd

Michael,

Per discussion with Clive at Truloc, the 'e' is a really old suffix ~ 20 years+, suggesting that the product is more oil tolerant. it used to be stated on some of the imported Loctite 222.

Now a days, most Loctite and Truloc thread locks are 'more oil tolerant', even though not specifically stated for Superloc 395 (Loctite equivalent 222). Term 'more oil tolerant' means the oily thread can be wiped clean with a cotton rag, rather than having to be cleaned with a solvent, before introducing the thread locker. However, it is up to the user what process they wish to chose to clean the thread before applying the product of choice. Also, just for clarity, this comment does not apply to a thread which has grease on it. It would need to be de-greased before application of a thread lock.

Ketan at ARC.

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Ketan,

Many thanks for posting this ... and also to Clive, for providing the information.

20+ years sounds entirely reasonable for my bottle of 222e

[and, on the oft-discussed matter of 'shelf life' ... it's still working fine]

MichaelG.