Why is thread lock fluid hard to find in the UK?

[MisterBoy]

Watching hardware related stuff on US channels, they're all over thread locker, typically loctite red/blue.
But in the UK I struggle to find it at all except on Amazon/eBay, generally my searches just come up with super glue.

Is it just not used much here for some reason? Or maybe called something else?

 

[Burnerman]

I get mine from bearing factors and sometimes the motor trade.....no problem really.
John

 

[MisterBoy]

I get mine from bearing factors and sometimes the motor trade.....no problem really.
John

Sure but it seems like a staple in the US, however not found in Screwfix or b&q. I found one in Toolstation but it seems it's a bit specialist here.

Do we use different threads/nuts maybe?

 

[JohnD]

Do we use different threads/nuts maybe?

Yes, of course.

We are a developed nation so we use metric threads.

though I wouldn't have thought that makes much difference.

Try motoring or engineering supplies places

https://www.frost.co.uk/set-of-3-locksealers/

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-repair/adhesives/loctite-threadlocker-526632.html

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/p...ives/bearing-fit-and-studlock-10g-179741.html

I am a bit surprised there is not more of a range in the High Street. a bottle of blue lasts me several years. I can't think when I last had a screwed fastening come loose. Perhaps US advertising is more convincing. Don't they have Nylock fasteners?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2505460.m570.l1313&_nkw=thread+lock&_sacat=0

 

[MisterBoy]

I was wondering about nyloc, or I'm aware there are different styles of thread though I don't understand the difference; didn't the UK switch in the last few decades?

It's quite notable how many differences there are on the most basic things between countries that you'd just take for granted as "the way this are" so I wouldn't be at all surprised if the USA ended up with more slippy bolts.

 

[Burnerman]

Your motor factor will be able to provide you with what you need.....there won't be so many choices and it could be made by another manufacturer - Granville for example.
However, you'll get either a thread locking compound or a bearing fit compound which should sort you out.
Regarding threads, originally Britain led the way with BSW or BSF - the British Standard Whitworth was perfect for holding into castings and the British Standard Fine for everything else.
Then came UNF (Unified Fine) and UNC (Unified Coarse) threads that performed well.....found frequently in the car industry.
In order to standardise mainly, metric threads came along in Coarse or Fine applications - although Fine are fairly rare in most applications.
Nyloc are fine for studs providing there isn't heat involved, and theoretically you should use the nut only once - but no one ever does!
John

 

[Mr Chibs]

Euro car parts usually have thread lock compound.

 

[bernardgreen]

Sure but it seems like a staple in the US,

There are so many loose nutters in the USA they need locking up

 

[CBW]

Try this maybe, seems you may have been answered already (motor trade places)

https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/uk...s&facetedSearch.productcategory=Threadlockers

https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/uk/en/about/how-to-buy/distributor-locator.html

 

[troutybrown]

Go to an engineering supplies and you will find it been using it for the last 40 years

 

[MisterBoy]

Looks like Halfords is probably easiest other than online... prefer to pop in somewhere and pick things up, especially as P&P for a single item can be very high in some online places.

I was expecting to walk into my local hardware store but all I find is 100 types of superglue As discussed maybe we rely on nyloc for general use more than they do over the pond... or maybe it's just a cultural thing that they use it on everything and we tend to use it only in certain areas.

Looks like I can source some anyhow

 

[Notch7]

hardware related stuff on US channels, they're all over thread locker

perhaps its used in guns, Ive heard they have a few over there

 

[Diver Fred]

Yes, of course.

We are a developed nation so we use metric threads.

though I wouldn't have thought that makes much difference.

Try motoring or engineering supplies places

https://www.frost.co.uk/set-of-3-locksealers/

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-repair/adhesives/loctite-threadlocker-526632.html

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/p...ives/bearing-fit-and-studlock-10g-179741.html

I am a bit surprised there is not more of a range in the High Street. a bottle of blue lasts me several years. I can't think when I last had a screwed fastening come loose. Perhaps US advertising is more convincing. Don't they have Nylock fasteners?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2505460.m570.l1313&_nkw=thread+lock&_sacat=0

ex-Parteners brother and family live in California; when his kids were at school they were taught both Metric and Imperial measurments which is what the UK should have done and should still do until all the old fogies are departed. It's a regular complaint I hear in local from the old crowd who in to watch the news - "why can't they (the newsreaders) use miles/gallons/pints instead of the measurements we (I) don't understand!"

Maybe if (UK) people understood both systems then we would be better off.

Had a Brizillian VW from the late 60's - most of the nuts & bolts were Whitworth sizes... Now that was interesting to work on.

But then we could be Ireland some road signs in MPH, Some in KPH and it's shear guesswork which is which...

 

[JohnD]

until all the old fogies are departed

that time will never come.

 

[MisterBoy]

perhaps its used in guns, Ive heard they have a few over there

Guns need to be easily user-serviceable and I'm not sure they use the sort of 'bolts' we're talking about here.

On the metric thing, USA uses both. Everyone has two sets of spanners since a lot of imported goods work on metric. It's not unusual to find both metric and standard (imperial) used in the same unit!