Paint pens

[ElPollo]

Those of you who are using paint pens for thread locker, what brand are you using. I used a UNI-brand Posca paint-pen yesterday to attach a bolt knob on a UM Tikka bolt handle. Roughly 21 hours later, the paint is not drying or locking the threads. That is the issue I’ve had with red loctite under some conditions, but this paint pen is way worse. What am I doing wrong? Is there that much variation in paint pen brands? Thanks in advance.

 

[The Guide]

This is what UM is selling on their site now.

Jay

Paint Pen - Unknown Munitions

Preferred by many as the go to thread locker, get your paint pen here. You will receive a random color of a plastic sealed paint pen. It’s also great to add witness marks to action bolts, scope ring screws, etc. for easy identification of loose bolts.

www.unknownmunitions.com

 

[ElPollo]

This is what UM is selling on their site now.

Jay

Paint Pen - Unknown Munitions

Preferred by many as the go to thread locker, get your paint pen here. You will receive a random color of a plastic sealed paint pen. It’s also great to add witness marks to action bolts, scope ring screws, etc. for easy identification of loose bolts.

www.unknownmunitions.com

Thanks. I’ve seen that. I like UM and have bought stuff from them including the bolt handle and knob. But I was hoping to be able to find a paint pen that works locally instead of paying them to ship a $2 pen. It’s also good info to know if only certain brands of pens work for this application. Has anyone else tried using a paint pen for a thread locker and seen it fail to dry?

 

[HandgunHTR]

These are what I use: https://www.amazon.com/White-Paint-...-12-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

Just an FYI, as they are oil-based, you have to shake the crap out of them before you use them, because the product will separate inside after a while and that will affect its ability to set up.

In your particular case, if you have already done that, hit it with a hair dryer as it may just be humidity that is making it take longer to set.

 

[Formidilosus]

Those of you who are using paint pens for thread locker, what brand are you using.

I used a UNI-brand Posca paint-pen yesterday to attach a bolt knob on a UM Tikka bolt handle. Roughly 21 hours later, the paint is not drying or locking the threads. That is the issue I’ve had with red loctite under some conditions, but this paint pen is way worse. What am I doing wrong? Is there that much variation in paint pen brands? Thanks in advance.

You want Loctite 380 for the bolt knob. There’s too much rotational force being put on the knob with too large of threads for paint pen or standard loctite- it’ll come loose.

 

[Formidilosus]

It’s also good info to know if only certain brands of pens work for this application. Has anyone else tried using a paint pen for a thread locker and seen it fail to dry?

I’ve not seen any difference in any of them. As stated above, did you shake it up well?

 

[taskswap]

I use paint pens for a lot of things but nothing firearms-related. I HAVE used nail polish, which IMO works just as well if not better for things like helping engraved digits "pop" out or marking heads of screws to verify later that they haven't turned.

YMMV. I find the flow rate of paint pens is too unpredictable for me. At least with the two brands I've tried, the flow takes a sec to get started, then seems to come out too fast for fine work.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Any of the oil based "marks on anything" paint pens work fine. Amazon gets you a multipack for cheap.

 

[SloppyJ]

I heard the brighter and fruitier the color, the better it held.

 

[dirtshooter]

I had no idea people used paint pens for this sort of thing, kind of funny actually. I have so many pens from work, guess I have one new use for them now

 

[WyldGoose]

You want Loctite 380 for the bolt knob. There’s too much rotational force being put on the knob with too large of threads for paint pen or standard loctite- it’ll come loose.

For the bolt knob, if you only had Blue 242, Red 271 and Rocksett on hand….which would be the best choice?

 

[Schmo]

Red 271

 

[Formidilosus]

For the bolt knob, if you only had Blue 242, Red 271 and Rocksett on hand….which would be the best choice?

Roksett for me.

 

[NSI]

It’s worth overpaying for some 380 to have around. I find myself using it for more than just guns. Yesterday had to quickly bond flap gap seals that were … flapping.

-J

 

[mtnbound]

Rocksett Muzzle Adhesive

 

[Bowfinn]

It’s worth overpaying for some 380 to have around. I find myself using it for more than just guns. Yesterday had to quickly bond flap gap seals that were … flapping.

-J

As a cheaper alternative I buy/use arrow insert glue that has rubber mixed in with it. Attached photo are good examples of what I use instead of loctite 380. They are both a rubber toughened cyanoacrylate, and if they aren’t the same compound the differences are likely unnoticeable in use.