Using Thread Locker on Scope Mounting Screws,
Thread locker should be used on ALL scope mount attaching screws. Screws not thread locked will come loose eventually.
I know many of you already know how to use thread locker but for those of you that do not, please read carefully.
We will discuss small screws such as #6 and #8 screws. Generally scope mounts and items like that use these size screws for mounting. Much of this applies to most any size screw.
The enemy of thread locker is oil. Any oil on the screw or in the threaded hole decreases the strength of the thread locker. It interferes with the curing of the locker and decreases it’s strength. I use simple carburetor cleaner on both the screw and the threaded hole. I squirt both surfaces with the carb cleaner and then compressed air dry each. When the surface is clean it will look dull. Shiny generally means oily.
For the size screws we are talking about I use small screw thread locker. It can also be called service removable. It is generally blue or a sort of pink in color. You can use the permanent red thread locker if you like but it is a little more difficult to remove the screw afterwords.
To remove a small screw that has been permanent thread locked (Red) just apply heat to the screw itself. I generally do this with a soldering iron or a small butane torch. Apply the heat slowly so you don’t discolor the item being held by the screw. Here is the trick. As you apply heat you will smell a sweet aroma, that is when the thread locker has been melted and is ready for removal. Remove the screw as quickly as possible so the locker does not try to bond again.
Back to our applying thread locker to a small screw. I apply a small amount to the screw then the threaded hole. Taking just the screw, I run it in and out of the threaded hole to get the thread locker evenly distributed between the threads of the screw and the threads in the hole. You are now ready to mount whatever it is that you are trying to mount.
Generally thread locker drys in an hour or so. If it has not dried in that time period it is possible that the surfaces were not cleaned sufficiently and you would need to repeat the above process.
Always check to be sure you have not dripped thread locker into your receiver, barrel or other such places, it can cause huge problems. You can use carb cleaner to wash off excess thread locker.
We offer Thread Locker on every one of our scope mount application pages. Click teh following link and select your firearm from the list. You will find a shopping cart button for thread locker.