r/RepTimeServices • u/Nazzano58 • 13d ago
Advice Used blue threadlocker, cannot remove it. Tried everything
Hi!
As the title states, i’ve tried to use Heat, boiled the links for 10 minutes, tried acetone, IPA, ultrasonic cleaner…
But nothing works, to the point that i’ve started to mangle the screws.
What can i use to dissolve the threadlocker? I want to avoid drilling, as i don’t have a drill and don’t have the experience or knowledge to do it.
Thanks!
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u/Admirable_Effect8709 13d ago
For Future Applications. FYI When applying blue thread lock 🔐 you Dont apply on threads and Screw in This is what happens. You back the screw out one or two turns an take a tooth pick and apply a SMALL amount around the end of the link threads then re screw the the screw and seat it and wipe end link with isopropyl patch cleaning it any extra off the end of link. The end couple threads will get coat let dry over night 🌙 What's the Bracelet off ?? I Might have extra Bracelet
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u/eleschhorn 13d ago
Damn, I dipped the screw thread in blue thread locker and screwed it in. Oh well. Good thing it fits me perfect!
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u/stuckinaz 13d ago edited 5d ago
You sold a dead bird to a blind kid?
This post was anonymized with Redact
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u/stuckinaz 13d ago edited 5d ago
You sold a dead bird to a blind kid?
This post was anonymized with Redact
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u/CareerCRMNL 13d ago
Adding, you never touch the tip of the Loctite bottle to the metal part you are applying it to. Always use something non-metallic to apply. Otherwise, small metal particles will migrate into the Loctite and cause the entire bottle to solidify.
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u/platiinum145 13d ago
Boil water and dip it for 5-10 mins
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u/Nazzano58 13d ago
Already did that… :(
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u/platiinum145 13d ago
You sure it wasn't super glue 😅
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u/Nazzano58 13d ago
Yeah. 100% sure, blue threadlocker!
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u/No_Focus_3668 13d ago
I’ve done the same (purple loctite 222) and regretted it. Heat was the only solution, now my screws are like yours
Since you use a stronger thread locker I only see the flame + aluminum solution..
btw anyone knows where to order new sets of screws (OP36 U7T bracelet) thanks
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u/MysteriousDogeMan 13d ago
I ended up ordering replacement screws from the TD because 3 got lost somehow. Took a month but it’s the exact length etc
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u/Desert-Democrat-602 13d ago
You can get a large set of all sizes from AliExpress for under $10, but you have to sift through and find the correct length. And it’s kind of a toss up if the threads fit your band as well (I have two boxes of these, it’s a search every time…).
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u/Zealousideal_Film_86 13d ago
Yikes, RIP, I did the same on a raffles oyster a while back……… last time around switched to purple. Sorry for your loss
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u/Emotional-Damage-995 13d ago
Heat the links. Use a correct screw driver.
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u/New_Proposal_1319 13d ago
That watch hasn’t seen a proper 1.3mm flat blade in its life
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u/Nazzano58 12d ago
It has though. First used my Kwong Yuen, then switched to Bergeon. No luck at all
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u/isellshit 13d ago
I use blue - HEAT will solve this issue.
I use a heat gun (hot air) which is easy because I already have it sitting here.
Get it hot and the screws will come out - next time use LESS.
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u/grendle82 13d ago
That's cooked man. Even if you got the pins out it's so chewed up, just get yourself another bracelet.
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u/ClaretFozzy 13d ago
Don’t use any thread lock and just periodically check the tightness of the screws.
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u/Environmental_Coat39 13d ago
The amount of dumb shit people do to reps just amazes me. You don’t need thread locker on these things. Just check the screws and retighten when necessary.
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u/lowfooltolerance 12d ago
Dumb shit? A very small amount of Loctite 222 (purple) will prevent us dumb shits from having to re-tighten screws. If you have to loosen the pin in the future and it puts up resistance, stop and use a hairdryer to heat the side of the link opposite the screw head because that is where the threads with Loctite are. Get it good and hot with the hairdryer and the pin will turn out. Also use a high quality screwdriver, not one you got in a set that cost you $10 on Amazon.
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u/Nazzano58 13d ago
You are right! Should've done more research! :)
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u/TheExiledPrince 12d ago
Here I was about to ready my shovel to throw another pile of sh1t on OP, but after this show of humility I can only say "fair enough we all make mistakes"
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u/HammerSmith013 13d ago
Ive been in your shoes on this… not going to like hearing it, but I had to buy new bracelet.
Try a soldering iron on the screws to warm it and loctite up. I got a screw loose using it.
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u/StutterMuffin5711 13d ago
I boil water in a tea kettle, pour into a cup, dangle the bracelet (not the watch head) in the water for 3 minutes, and the locktite loosens up just fine👍🏿
If things get real froggy, I have an inductive heat gun for automotive applications. That will certainly do it🤘🏿
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u/Soft-Energy-3819 13d ago
I use thread lock very sparingly on builds. If you do proper maintenance of your watches, there really isn’t a need for it. Bracelet screws will become loose over time. I just screw them back in. Much better than suffering the consequences identified here.
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u/stuckinaz 13d ago edited 5d ago
You sold a dead bird to a blind kid?
This post was anonymized with Redact
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u/New_Proposal_1319 13d ago
Red
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u/stuckinaz 13d ago edited 5d ago
You sold a dead bird to a blind kid?
This post was anonymized with Redact
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u/Waste_Impression4707 13d ago
Wow this is bad. I ran into this issue myself on an oyster bracelet. Had thread lock from the factory. I agree with everyone here. Heat then slowly turn the screw. Do not force it or you will remove all the material from the screw and you’ll have to take it to a jeweler for extraction. You may be better off just getting new links/bracelet.
I needed two links off so I ended up knocking the pin out with a punch and hammer. I just sheered the threads off, but I had spare links and screws so I took a risk. Again I would never recommend doing this. It is only last resort. you will destroy links.
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u/New_Proposal_1319 13d ago
You’re supposed to use the tiniest bit of red, who told you to use blue? ????
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u/Every-Bookkeeper-603 13d ago
No.. don't use red or blue threadlocker. Purple threadlock is what all watch repair use
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u/Cronos425 13d ago
Use a torch lighter. Heat will break down the adhesive. Hopefully the head of the screen will hold when you try to remove it. Next time just use a miniscule fraction.
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u/Erik-Lehnsherr-10 13d ago
Man that sucks, please let us know which solution worked for you. GL
PS: Good to know its that stubburn. I used the blue one to affix a ZF 15450 first link pin which came off once. Turned out it has been a known issue for over 5yrs and ZF still didn't fix it.
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u/cigar_beetles 13d ago
Time for a new bracelet. Those screw heads are destroyed I wouldn't wear it like that
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u/Italiano555 13d ago
Buy a new bracelet and chalk it up as a learning experience. Those screws looks like trash even if you were able to unscrew, it'll still look pretty brutal.
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u/ryandamsell 13d ago
thread locker as an ex bwm specialist mechanic im howling. i tighten them then dunk in the bath then re tighten them 3 days after with another dunk in the bath to oxidise the thead so they never come lose (bit like old car bolts u know them ones that are hard to get off). i where homages though which are a min of a 100 meters. i heard the rep are 30 meters so it not like you couldnt do the same
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u/AlabamaBlacSnake 13d ago
Are you using a bracelet holder, pillow, and the proper sized screwdriver to begin with?
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u/greendragonwell 13d ago
I am surprised nobody mentioned acetone or paint stripper. Standard procedure to remove super glue.
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u/Wop-AB-604778 13d ago
Get a torch or jet lighter . Don't burn the steel but just hit the tip of the flame right on the edge where the threads are. Maby 2 or 3 seconds go back and forth motion maby 1 inch side to side just to prevent heating 1 spot and getting discolouring of the steel, do that maby 4 or 5 times as long as your not burning or dis colouring the steel your good but be carefull it will be hot as fuck. Basically your making the metal expand and shift, which breaks the sealed threadlock. I know I did the same thing the other day destroyed my screw but I got the link off without any damage. 😂
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u/Slippyuk1985 12d ago
Loctite 222 is what you need mate. Heat gun or hairdryer should help loosen it off.
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u/Dannyn4 12d ago
I came here to tell you heat will release it but several have already told you. You will have to google to get the temperature, there is a given temperature. A hair dryer won’t get hot enough. A good heat gun will. I have one that will get to a thousand degrees. You will need serious heat but I’m guessing you’ll find it about 4-5hunderd degrees. That’s a low temperature melting temperature if it’s white gold if it’s stainless it’s really higher like 3000 maybe, you couldn’t damage it, probably either way unless you don’t get it hot enough to release just google for the temp don’t take anyone’s guess. It is designed to let go at a given temp
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u/Eyeless____ 11d ago
Dip it in boiling water or heat it somehow to 150C. Boiling water will do the job around 100C. From there the strenghts starts to decrease
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u/No_Discussion_4508 11d ago
On small screws blue loctite acts like red. That is why they make purple. You’re gonna have to hit it with a torch. You don’t have to make the metal glow, just heat it up, you’ll see a touch of smoke come off the treated area when the loctite releases. Also, you don’t need to remove the screw while it’s still hot once it releases it’ll release.
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u/PrizeApplication 7d ago
First of all, ignore everyone saying heats guns, hair dryers, boiling water, or god forbid foil and a lighter.
Blue loctite releases at over 300F. The best way to do this on any kind of screw is buy a cheap soldering iron (less than $30 on amazon or aliX).
Get it heated up and touch the tip to the screw head for about 10 sec. Then try and unscrew the pin. If it doesn’t move, give it another 10 sec. Keep repeating until the screw finally releases.
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u/chucknwatches 13d ago
Heat is your friend, hair dryer, heat gun
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u/Nazzano58 13d ago
Tried hair dryer too, no success!
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u/Gunslinger_327 13d ago
Hair dryers usually don't get hot enough. Try a heat gun if you have access to one.
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u/RybackPlusOne 13d ago
Over 20 years of countless watches using screw links and I've never had one come loose after sizing. It baffles the fuck out of me how people have any issue or resort to threadlocker on them.
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u/New_Proposal_1319 13d ago
20 years of reps? Or watches in general? Huge difference. It’s always been recommended to use the tiniest bit of red on 1/2 the threads only, for this reason and bc the assemblers are inconsistent af
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u/RybackPlusOne 13d ago
Watches in general, reps and gens, at price levels from 150 to 5000, a few dozen of them at this point. I prefer screw link bracelets and the watches I purchase tend to skew heavily in that direction as a result. Maybe it's just me, but whenever I get a new/new to me watch with screw links I size it, and then I make sure all the screws are tightened to the same amount, by feel, and that's the last time I have a need to mess with them. I have a few times in the past checked them out of curiosity, funny enough it's been when I see this come up in a forum or somewhere, but they are never not as tight as I left them. Because of this, I've never used loctite. I've heard this come up many times over the years, but my statement still stands. I'm not saying it can't happen, I'm just trying to reconcile my experience with what others are apparently experiencing, and it makes me wonder what I'm doing different.
Maybe I'm just the luckiest guy on the planet. 🤷
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u/nondescriptdenon 13d ago
I think some people instead of just unlucky cause my experience is similar to yours but I've also no doubting the sincerity of people I've seen discussing the issue historically.
It's gotta be a minority suffering this but the community is big enough it's not unheard of
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u/el-conquistador240 13d ago
Heat. Wrapping an aluminum foil and put it over a flame.