Loctite 7063

[mick]

This is used for cleaning surfaces prior to use of thread locking liquid. Can something else be used in its place?

 

[vyv_cox]

The data sheet says it comprises isoparaffin, dimethoxyethane (= ethylene glycol) and ethanol. Iso paraffin could be any number of things but it's probably a light solvent hydrocarbon like heptane. In my laboratory days we used SBP3 for this type of duty. All of them available here but unless you are doing an awful lot of studlocking it's probably cheaper to buy the real thing.

 

[GrahamHR]

Vyv,

Dimethoxyethane is not ethylene glycol, the two -OH groups in ethylene glycol are replaced with -OCH3.

Graham

 

[vyv_cox]

Sorry, I seem to have confused myself with the help of Google! The data sheet says dimethoxymethane but I reported what Google first came up with, which was dimethoxyethane. What a difference one letter can make!

Wikepedia does say that dimethoxyethane is ethylene glycol dimethyl ether but the last two words were on the next line and I missed them.

 

[GrahamHR]

No problem, I only knew the difference because ! have used a lot of ethylene glycol during my career (it's used as a chain extender in some polyurethanes)

 

[VicS]

The data sheet says it comprises isoparaffin, dimethoxyethane (= ethylene glycol) and ethanol. Iso paraffin could be any number of things but it's probably a light solvent hydrocarbon like heptane. In my laboratory days we used SBP3 for this type of duty. All of them available here but unless you are doing an awful lot of studlocking it's probably cheaper to buy the real thing.

Two points

FWIW it contains dimethoxymethane not dimethoxyethane

Dimethoxyethane is not ethylene glycol.
Not aware of a common name for dimethoxymethane

Heavens know what "Isoparaffinic hydrocarbons" are. Branched chain, saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) with the general formula CnH(2n+2) presumably.

I'd think any volatile degreasant could be used on a casual basis.

 

[mick]

I'd think any volatile degreasant could be used on a casual basis.

Vic,
Would that be paint thinners, meths, acetone, or what? I ask because I have lots of that sort of stuff.

 

[Ruffles]

I didn't know you had to degrease before applying loctite. Always assumed it must cope somehow. At the price they charge it should degrease itself!

 

[VicS]

Vic,
Would that be paint thinners, meths, acetone, or what? I ask because I have lots of that sort of stuff.

Yes I would think so. Maybe not meths. Its not a particularly good solvent for mineral oils and the ordinary blue stuff will leave a slight residue.

 

[mick]

Yes I would think so. Maybe not meths. Its not a particularly good solvent for mineral oils and the ordinary blue stuff will leave a slight residue.

Thanks Vic (and others).

 

[vyv_cox]

I guess the reason that the manufactured solvent is so complex is that greases are not easy to remove completely. The oil is soluble in a solvent but the soap isn't, hence the ethanol and the other solvent.

To make your own, kerosene and white spirit might well be a bit too oily, gasoline could be better but in conjunction with ethanol/meths and maybe acetone/MEK.