Thread de greasing

[CW.]

What, if anything, do you guys use to clean/de grease screw threads before applying thread lock?

[JoeBailey]

Thread de greasing

3m adesive remover, it's pretty potent stuff and removes all traces of grease, sticky stuff and flesh .

[bigpops]

Isopropyl Alcohol here.

Meths/denatured alcohol works too.

[davec_7]

What, if anything, do you guys use to clean/de grease screw threads before applying thread lock?

I use metholated spirits as that all I have handy, or if there has been thread lock applied before run a nut down the thread
Cheers
Dave

[LaurenceGough]

Isopropyl Alcohol (no added water). Is is not necessary to remove old thread lock unless there is too much on there.

[aamacgregor]

Surgical Spirit (90% Ethanol, 5% Methanol, 5% other random stuff). Seems to work pretty well - can get it from Boots.

[CW.]

Thread de greasing

I've been using meths but not convinced it was evaporating fully, and it stinks!
Can you buy isopropyl Alcahol locally? Chemist etc.

[Mark_T]

Yes, most chemists will have it behind the counter.

[Rctintin]

Isopropyl Alcohol here also. Bought from my local Pharmacist in a 500ml bottle.

I also have a 1l tin in the garage, and that came from RS.

[Guest]

I think IPA is pretty weak stuff once you've used acetone.. that stuff really degreases extremely well. And melts some stuff .. and makes your fingers go white sucking all the moisture out of them. But it's the big guns

I tried using dichloromethane in a fit of frustration at removing a sticky pad from a vbar .. result is one of my vbars now has my fingerprint melted into it!

[jimmyhorns]

Yes, most chemists will have it behind the counter.

My Chemists (three different places actually) have now told me that they are not able to sell isopropyl alcohol anymore as it is deemed a chemical, rather than a pharmacutical product

[Guest]

IPA and acetone very cheap on ebay btw .. I'm glad ebay wasn't around when I was a kid, the only thing that held back my misadventure was that it was so hard to get hold of chemicals.

[Mark_T]

My Chemists (three different places actually) have now told me that they are not able to sell isopropyl alcohol anymore as it is deemed a chemical, rather than a pharmacutical product

That's annoying. It will take me some time to get through the quantity I got from the Pharmacist last time I bought some, but I'll have to look into a different source for the future.

[waveydavey]

This is where I got mine, but it would take you ages to get through it

IPA ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL ISOPROPANOL- 5 LITRE min 99% pure | eBay

I chuck all my new build screws in a jar give it a good shake and leave them overnight. Chuck whats left away. If there is too much threadlock on a bolt and you haven't got a new one, use a pen type blow torch and gently heat the bolt, this will flake the old stuff off. Don't heat it red though, just a gentle heat and then rub it off with a tea towel.

[aamacgregor]

I tried using dichloromethane in a fit of frustration at removing a sticky pad from a vbar .. result is one of my vbars now has my fingerprint melted into it!

At least you'll be able to prove it's yours!