Loctite for your sights
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steveno
Member
if you are talking fixed sights that are dovetailed in I would use red loctite as first choice. I would also take a brass hammer & punch and tighten up the dovetail. if red loctite doesn't work then use green loctite as second choice. green loctite works very well but make sure you have the sight where you want it as you will have to heat things up a little bit to remove the sight and start over. you don't need to use very much
1 old 0311
member
Use the blue. It can be removed, if needed. You will probably have to get it at a auto parts store. They all should have it. Clean the threads with brake clean, or rubbing alcohol. Put a few drops on a folded paper towel, use a toothpick to smear a little on the threads, tighten it up, clean any that smears, let it dry for a few hours, and you are good to go.
The red goes on the same way, but the red is PERMANENT.
The red goes on the same way, but the red is PERMANENT.
wally
Member
If the sights are already installed but wiggle or creep with shooting, use Loctite 290 "wicking grade".
Its a very low viscosity formula that will wick into gaps to bond as great as 0.005"
You can order it from Mcmaster-Carr, www.mcmaster.com. Fantastic website for the hardware inclined where you can get the genuine "Allen" brand hex head wrench sets for about the same cost as the Chinese junk you'll find at Lowes etc.
Any Loctite that holds pretty much needs to be heated to ~500 F to release unless you use the low strength stuff on rather large fasteners.
--wally.
Its a very low viscosity formula that will wick into gaps to bond as great as 0.005"
You can order it from Mcmaster-Carr, www.mcmaster.com. Fantastic website for the hardware inclined where you can get the genuine "Allen" brand hex head wrench sets for about the same cost as the Chinese junk you'll find at Lowes etc.
Any Loctite that holds pretty much needs to be heated to ~500 F to release unless you use the low strength stuff on rather large fasteners.
--wally.
Blue
The front sight to my Hunter .22, and both of the Ultra-Dot rails mounted on my .22s were coming loose during target training.
I used the Locktite Blue. That was the end of loose screws. I needed to remove one of the rails once, and it came off easily enough.
Got mine at the Hardware store.
have a great day,
cavman
The front sight to my Hunter .22, and both of the Ultra-Dot rails mounted on my .22s were coming loose during target training.
I used the Locktite Blue. That was the end of loose screws. I needed to remove one of the rails once, and it came off easily enough.
Got mine at the Hardware store.
have a great day,
cavman
wally
Member
What to use depends on if screws are coming loose or if the sight is walking in the dovetail. If the former the Blue from Lowe's, Home Depot, Auto Parts stores, etc. is OK, if its the later, then 290 is what you want.
--wally.
--wally.
FullEffect1911
Member
for set screws and such you'll want to use blue loctite 242, it is removeable with tools.
If something like a sight is loose in a dove tail or what not, i've used loctite 680 which is a retaining compound (high strength). This is usually used for things like shaft keys that you don't want coming off and press fitted bearings. I've used it on sights with some good results. I would think if the sight comes off after using that stuff then you should probably take it to a good smith to have refited.
but you'll want to use threadlocker on threads and retaining compound on loose fitting things.
hope this helps
If something like a sight is loose in a dove tail or what not, i've used loctite 680 which is a retaining compound (high strength). This is usually used for things like shaft keys that you don't want coming off and press fitted bearings. I've used it on sights with some good results. I would think if the sight comes off after using that stuff then you should probably take it to a good smith to have refited.
but you'll want to use threadlocker on threads and retaining compound on loose fitting things.
hope this helps
wally
Member
I've had better success with 290 than the retaining compounds (6x0 series) on loose sights. Not saying 680 won't work, but...
I think it boils down to if you can move the sight in the dovetail without tools, then the retaining compounds are your only hope short of peening the sight.
OTOH, if you still have to drift the sight back into position with a brass punch and mallot, the 290 is your best bet as its low viscosity lets in wick into the small gap and do its thing.
The 6x0 series is too high a viscosity to work well with small gaps unless the parts are totally disassembled, cleaned and coated before reassembling. If you pull the sight completly off, might as well peen it while you have it. OTOH, some of the 6x0 series can bond gaps as large as 0.020".
www.loctite.com has *.pdf data sheets and other technical info for the various loctite formulations. (Javascript must be enabled in your web browser or you'll get nothing from the sight, I hate it when they do this!).
--wally.
I think it boils down to if you can move the sight in the dovetail without tools, then the retaining compounds are your only hope short of peening the sight.
OTOH, if you still have to drift the sight back into position with a brass punch and mallot, the 290 is your best bet as its low viscosity lets in wick into the small gap and do its thing.
The 6x0 series is too high a viscosity to work well with small gaps unless the parts are totally disassembled, cleaned and coated before reassembling. If you pull the sight completly off, might as well peen it while you have it. OTOH, some of the 6x0 series can bond gaps as large as 0.020".
www.loctite.com has *.pdf data sheets and other technical info for the various loctite formulations. (Javascript must be enabled in your web browser or you'll get nothing from the sight, I hate it when they do this!).
--wally.
ronto
Member
I've used "Indian Head" gasket shellac in the past and it worked for me. Should be available at most auto parts stores.
grendelbane
Member
I believe that you are referring to the staked in front sight on many 1911 type clones.
In my case it was a Delta Elite where the front sight was loose and wigging around. I degreased it with a can of mystery degreaser from Midway, (it says it is chlorinated, but that is all). I only use this stuff outdoors.
Then I placed a few drops of Loc-Tite on the stem of the sight, slide dissassembled and upside down. Few is probably too many, more like 2.
I did this on the front deck, and left the slide upside down, balanced upon its front sight in the the hot August Sun.
Fired over a hundred rounds Saturday, and it is still tight. I believe it will hold.
In my case it was a Delta Elite where the front sight was loose and wigging around. I degreased it with a can of mystery degreaser from Midway, (it says it is chlorinated, but that is all). I only use this stuff outdoors.
Then I placed a few drops of Loc-Tite on the stem of the sight, slide dissassembled and upside down. Few is probably too many, more like 2.
I did this on the front deck, and left the slide upside down, balanced upon its front sight in the the hot August Sun.
Fired over a hundred rounds Saturday, and it is still tight. I believe it will hold.
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