The Blue Stick or the Red Stick?

[PiotrTheGreat]

Okay, so this is probably the most general of the questions I've posted here, but...

Loctite

Should I be using red (the HELLA tight stuff) or blue (the still-really-tight-but-not-as-much stuff)

Or should I use both, just on different things?

[Big Rich]

Red on something that you never ever want to come loose ever again (think engine internals), blue for everything else.

Fwiw, the service manual specifies which should be used on what.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I only use the Blue on firearms 

Other than that I have never had bolts back out, even on racing bikes, so I'm not a big user of the stuff 

(If I did need it..I would start out with the Blue)

[Watcher]

Technically, the red must be heated to be removed.  The blue does not need to be heated to be removed.  Depending on the material, trying to remove a red loctited part without heating it can actually damage the part, so I rarely recommend it because most people don't want to need a torch to work on their stuff.

In my experience the red is mostly done as a deterrent by manufacturers so users won't tinker with whatever.  I've used it the same way when repairing paintball guns for idiots.
I used to work at a small paintball shop and would often see parts red loctited in place on the guns that weren't even in danger of vibrating loose or anything, but WERE parts that would void the warranty if they were tampered with or that the manufacturer thought should be returned for service.  Mostly valves.

If you need to use it the blue is all I'd ever use.  It'll keep stuff from vibrating loose but won't be hard to remove.
As far as engine internals and such go, I've rarely use it for that.  Proper torque should be all you need.  Loctite is more for adjustable things and stuff that can't be tight but can't back out either...


What are you using it on?

[bmf]

I use the red on studs etc where you really don't want them backing out when loosening the nuts.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk