Will Threadlocker Damage Plastic Screws and Nuts?

[Alvin777]

Hello Mac friends, another other things I use this amazing adjustable 3 lens magnifyer head mount, it's made screwing very small things like iPhone screws really easy but over time the big plastic screws by the ear area loosen and I was wondering if anyone has tried threadlocker (blue or red) on plastic screws (did it eat the plastic or it's compatible?). Thank you.

Have a blessed week.

 

[Rafterman]

Hello Mac friends, another other things I use this amazing adjustable 3 lens magnifyer head mount, it's made screwing very small things like iPhone screws really easy but over time the big plastic screws by the ear area loosen and I was wondering if anyone has tried threadlocker (blue or red) on plastic screws (did it eat the plastic or it's compatible?). Thank you.

Have a blessed week.

View attachment 2227367

Hey, I got that exact same headset. Yes it is very useful for small screws and such. But I never had a problem with the band. I never change it since my head size never changes

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Hello Mac friends, another other things I use this amazing adjustable 3 lens magnifyer head mount, it's made screwing very small things like iPhone screws really easy but over time the big plastic screws by the ear area loosen and I was wondering if anyone has tried threadlocker (blue or red) on plastic screws (did it eat the plastic or it's compatible?). Thank you.

Have a blessed week.

View attachment 2227367

Are you referring to the two "star nuts" (or knobs) that hold the headband in place? There are different types of "thread lockers" (Loctite is one of these), but most are made for metallic threads and screws (not plastic). More than likely the headband has nylon washers between the white color nuts and the headset. I would make sure that the washers are cleaned and free of any lubricant, including any residue from your fingers when you put it together. But you could always look for hard-plastic lock washers (non-metallic) and put one under each plastic nut.

I don't think that it is a good idea to use thread lockers unless the nut has a metallic-thread insert (no plastic), and once you lock the threads it could be difficult to remove the nuts without damage. How about asking the headset manufacturer?

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

That looks like it's designed for constant removal? Or you need to constantly loosen them and tighten them? In that case Not sure threadlocker is a good idea. But if you plan to never loosen it, Loctite 425 is designed for plastic. Not sure that's what you want.

 

[Alvin777]

Are you referring to the two "star nuts" (or knobs) that hold the headband in place? There are different types of "thread lockers" (Loctite is one of these), but most are made for metallic threads and screws (not plastic). More than likely the headband has nylon washers between the white color nuts and the headset. I would make sure that the washers are cleaned and free of any lubricant, including any residue from your fingers when you put it together. But you could always look for hard-plastic lock washers (non-metallic) and put one under each plastic nut.

I don't think that it is a good idea to use thread lockers unless the nut has a metallic-thread insert (no plastic), and once you lock the threads it could be difficult to remove the nuts without damage. How about asking the headset manufacturer?

Thanks. This extremely very helpful gadget's (I came across it from Adam Savage's Youtube channel, the lights are rechargeable w/ built-in battery) visor can swing upwards and downwards (pivots), needed to adjust your eyes to align w/ the maximum 3 lens combined magnification (max is about 13x, a little above a jeweler's loupe of 10x). This amazing gadget even helped discover small features of tools that are hard to see and helps w/ focus even when one's not using it (one becomes precise w/ other tasks)- it helps figure out faster what's going on w/ certain pieces, plus find small things on the floor and elsewhere, things you were looking for, for many years. It helped analyze which screws when to which thread in the iPhone (or similar gadgets with subtle-ly different screws) if one just mindless unscrewed things (w/ out those magnetized screw holder w/ iPhone diagrams).

The big asterix looking screws on the side is used to tighten the part where the lens are held, like a motorcycle helmet's visor (there's a bigger knob at the back which you pull out a bit to unlock, then screw in to the size of the head, then push back in to lock). It does have nylon washers but there has to be something to keep the tension so it doesn't loosen up coz' you need to pivot it up and down as mentioned above but also so that the lens would not get in the way when you want normal vision (else you'll ruin the eyes and get dizzy- like wearing someone else's thick prescription glasses) when you need to get back to the Mac or get the door or go fetch something.

The Loctite 425 could be the solution to keep them tight even with constant pivoting but I wash thinking of nylon washer spring with an diameter (measured from the outside) 23mm if those exist and won't damage the white plastic.

 

[Alvin777]

Hey, I got that exact same headset. Yes it is very useful for small screws and such. But I never had a problem with the band. I never change it since my head size never changes

Yup, it's now in my favorite top 7 gadgets It's great to have the specific tool for a specific job w/ w/ decent brands to the no. 1 brand even if it's the most expensive (from small things like pencils to Macs & iPhones), the result is just better & feels better improving performance again (coz' one feels good about the tools).

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Thanks. This extremely very helpful gadget's (I came across it from Adam Savage's Youtube channel, the lights are rechargeable w/ built-in battery) visor can swing upwards and downwards (pivots), needed to adjust your eyes to align w/ the maximum 3 lens combined magnification (max is about 13x, a little above a jeweler's loupe of 10x). This amazing gadget even helped discover small features of tools that are hard to see and helps w/ focus even when one's not using it (one becomes precise w/ other tasks)- it helps figure out faster what's going on w/ certain pieces, plus find small things on the floor and elsewhere, things you were looking for, for many years. It helped analyze which screws when to which thread in the iPhone (or similar gadgets with subtle-ly different screws) if one just mindless unscrewed things (w/ out those magnetized screw holder w/ iPhone diagrams).

The big asterix looking screws on the side is used to tighten the part where the lens are held, like a motorcycle helmet's visor (there's a bigger knob at the back which you pull out a bit to unlock, then screw in to the size of the head, then push back in to lock). It does have nylon washers but there has to be something to keep the tension so it doesn't loosen up coz' you need to pivot it up and down as mentioned above but also so that the lens would not get in the way when you want normal vision (else you'll ruin the eyes and get dizzy- like wearing someone else's thick prescription glasses) when you need to get back to the Mac or get the door or go fetch something.

The Loctite 425 could be the solution to keep them tight even with constant pivoting but I wash thinking of nylon washer spring with an diameter (measured from the outside) 23mm if those exist and won't damage the white plastic.

Agree. It seems to be a very handy tool for working with circuit boards or removing/installing small screws and other parts.

 

[BR3W]

The Loctite 425 could be the solution to keep them tight even with constant pivoting

It will most likely just break the device...or the adhesive will break. Loctite 425 is super glue.

The other loctite formulations are also superglues for metal with varying levels of strength. The stronger ones need to be heat activated to unlock, which wouldn't be good for plastic. Loctite is not intended to be used with something that can be readily adjusted--often times a fastener that requires loctite is a one-time use fastener (or people using loctite to use one-time use fasteners again).

The nylon is wearing down with use, the threads themselves are almost certainly not the issue (although they could be stretching--just like metal threads, which also stretch). "Gluing" them in some way is almost certainly not going to give you an ideal result. The better approach, as someone mentioned, is to provide extra tension on the threads through a friction surface like a better washer.