Can You Use Other Adhesives Instead of Threadlockers?

Why Threadlocker Alternatives Can Fail

When bonding a threaded assembly, most people turn to a threadlocking adhesive. For those who don’t have a threadlocker on hand, there are some popular alternatives utilized. 

Superglue and nail polish as threadlocker alternatives are two of the most common, often quoted as effective replacements for dedicated threadlockers. 

Using these two products can indeed lock a fastener in place in the short term. And when working with smaller threads, such as repairing a pair of glasses, they will most likely perform well enough. But in larger applications, they’re more likely to fail over time. 

As they’re not designed to do the job properly, these emergency threadlocker alternatives can slowly fail, which can lead to loosening in your assembly.

Most alternative products don’t offer the same thermal benefits as threadlockers either. This means for applications requiring a strong assembly, and where heat exposure is a consideration, using such products may lead to failure. 

They may also be harder, or even impossible, to disassemble. Applying superglue, for example, to a small screw, can lead to stripping when trying to loosen it, as the adhesive isn’t made to be disassembled.

Threadlockers Vs. Superglue

Superglue is a famously diverse product, deployed widely across commercial and personal applications, from repairs to manufacturing jobs. 

When applied as part of a threaded assembly, its exceptional adhesive performance might mean it does appear to do a good job at first glance. If you try to undo the fastener, you’ll find it initially holds fairly well too.

Can I use superglue as a threadlocker?

The diverse qualities of superglue have helped it build a reputation as an all-round adhesive. However, it’s rarely a good idea to use it in place of a dedicated threadlocker. 

After the initial application, superglue is likely to struggle to display the same performance standards as threadlockers. It can’t withstand heavy vibration, for example, which can lead to loosening over time. 

In addition, superglue will not cure in place or turn into a thermoset plastic like threadlockers do. This can leave it susceptible to grease, dirt and other contaminants that may work their way into assemblies, causing failure. 

For example, any lubricants or water used in your machinery may come into contact with the adhesives in your threaded assemblies. While LOCTITE^® threadlockers are designed to stand up to this challenge without compromising performance, many superglues will start to dissolve due to contamination.

Does Nail Polish Work as a Threadlocker?

Another common threadlocker alternative for small, quick jobs is nail polish. While it isn’t an adhesive, many people working with low-torque applications believe using nail polish as a threadlocker can stop fasteners coming loose. 

Nail polishes can often fail fast if deployed as threadlockers, particularly when faced with vibration. The lack of adhesive properties in nail polishes means they can’t form any real bond between the surfaces, so will quickly fail. 

Despite being able to fill air gaps to some extent, when they’re exposed to vibration, heat or other chemicals, nail polish won’t restrict the movement between threads. 

In addition, nail polish is not designed to cure to give a strong bonding performance. Unlike a threadlocker, it doesn’t cure as a thermoset plastic. This means it won’t have the ability to seal the fastener properly, increasing the chance of failure. Nail polish also turns brittle when it dries, causing it to break apart and weaken bonds. 

Just think how easily a painted nail can chip or crack. When faced with vibrations, shocks, heat and other factors, the result is likely to be the same. And like superglues, nail polishes are also more susceptible to weakening when exposed to any lubricants or extreme heat. This can further increase the risk of assembly failure and substantial downtime.  

Avoid the risk of damage, failure and downtime in your operations by ensuring you have the right threadlocking product for the task at hand. For threaded assemblies, choose LOCTITE^® threadlockers for optimal performance. Our LOCTITE^® experts can help you identify the right tool for any application, so you know you are creating strong, safe, reliable bonds every time.

Browse the full range of threadlockers to find the right one for your task. Or get in touch with your local threadlocker expert below for help identifying your ideal product.