Is thread locker necessary on folding knife hardware?

Thanks for swinging by – I appreciate it!

To lock or not to lock?…is a very good question when it comes to screws used in folding knives.  And there are tons of opinions on the topic!

SlicKnives folders under the FlicKnives and SlipjointKnives Series are produced using a low-strength thread locker and are built to hold together well over time.  We also provide easy-to-swap scales options and hardware kits that require the initial thread locker to be unscrewed during installation.  So, what do I suggest after swapping out the scales and/or hardware?

Well, it depends on your use and experiences.  As I’ve swapped out the scales and hardware using all of SlicKnives’ various options and I’ve had good experiences without removing the original thread locker or adding any additional thread locker.  However, if you experience screws loosening up, a new small dose of thread locker can be used to ensure that the screws don’t work out over time.

My advice is to swap out the optional scales and/or hardware and then use the knife for a while to see how the replaced hardware and overall blade/frame alignment holds up through use.  If you see the pivot screw(s) or frame/scales loosening up over time, or the blade centering begins to wander a bit, I suggest that you try the lower strength thread lockers first before stepping up to stronger thread lockers.

The hardware on SlicKnives’ folders, as well as many other brands, use very small hardware, due to the small general size of most folding knives.  Thus, we don’t want to lock down the hardware so tightly that we can’t get it unscrewed for future servicing or updates. 

Generally, the following two thread locking options as a good starting point:

• Low Strength – The most common and inexpensive low strength thread lockers are Loctite 222 (purple) and Permatex Low Strength Threadlocker Purple. 
  • These are both good options for all screw sizes on the SlicKnives folders in the FlicKnives and SlipjointKnives series – not much is needed to successfully lock down hardware that loosens up.
  • I suggest sticking with the low strength thread lockers on all T6 or smaller screws to avoid the possibility of getting them permanently stuck.

• Medium Strength – The most common and inexpensive medium strength thread lockers are Loctite 242 (blue) and Permatex Medium Strength Threadlocker Blue.
  • These are both good options for larger folding knife screws but can be a bit too strong if too much locker is used on smaller knife screws – a small amount goes a long way when using blue thread lockers.
  • Using too much can end up holding onto the screw too tightly leading to the possibility of snapping off the screw head or stripping out the grooves in the head of the screw when trying to remove the screw.

The use of thread lockers boils down to your preference and your specific knife use and hardware.  Don’t be afraid to try different approaches when swapping out scales/hardware to find what works best for your knife and usage.

Hopefully, this information helps, so that you can work on the solution that makes the most sense for your usage and knife!

Thank you,
Brendon