Red stuff on Emmons P/P changer screws

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 21 Mar 2008 8:22 am

What's the red stuff on the changer screws on a P/P Emmons? Is it some variation of Lock-Tite?

Thanks,

Peter Freiberger

Larry Petree · Post by **Larry Petree** » 21 Mar 2008 8:45 am

Peter, I believe that's Loctite.

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 21 Mar 2008 8:59 am

Thanks, Larry. I may already have some in the garage.

Peter

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 21 Mar 2008 9:11 am

The red stuff ( actually I think it's more orange) is locktite but it is a version they make that is intended to be reusable. I've seen it in catalogs but never in the hardware store. I think these guys have it.
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Mar 2008 9:46 am

The locking patch applied to the screws is a special plastic (usually a nylon formulation) applied in a special way as a thread-locking device. The factory-applied versions work far better than other liquid products (like Loctite) that you might apply yourself. Screws with a locking patch are made by companies such as Nylok, Inlex, Blue-Patch, and many many others. The color of the plastic normally designates the manufacturer, and they're all pretty expensive when purchased in small quantities. To make sure you get matching screws, it's best to buy from the manufacturer or a restorer who buys them in bulk.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 21 Mar 2008 8:57 pm

I believe this is the same redish/orange substance used on all major travel-adjustments when the Derby PSG is assembled. It works very well!

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 22 Mar 2008 2:33 am

A word of caution on using loctite: the old red color goop was their light duty product which has been replaced by the blue. Dont use new red or you'll lock up your screws tighter than a gnats a** stretched across a rainbarrel....from personal experience.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 22 Mar 2008 4:44 am

Mike Cass sure has a way with words and it seems a lot of personal experience.

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 22 Mar 2008 4:47 am

I think if you were to try the orange locktite you would apply it to the screw and let it set completely before you installed it. I used , believe it or not, ball point pen springs on my emmons to accomplish the same thing. They simply work as a kind of "anti-backlash" device that keeps the screw from moving when pressure is released from it (during a raise) so that when the raise is finished and the finger hits the screw it has not/does not move. At a gig in the late 70's my Emmons was driving me crazy having to re tune the 5th string B-C# raise after every set (and during a few) and I came up with this idea. I asked the waitress if I could borrow her pen and gave it back without the spring! It worked so well that eventually I put ball point pen springs on all the raises, A few need to be cut to length. That worked flawlessly the whole time I owned the guitar - about 25 more years. The spring goes between the head of the screw (raise) and the lower finger that it threads through. The spring needs to be long enough to put some tension on the head of the screw and not compressed to the point that you have no adjustment range left for the raise.

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 22 Mar 2008 6:36 am

Thanks to all. Looks like Loctite 222 is the right stuff. I had put springs on the screws when I reassembled the guitar. I may have to fine tune some spring lengths though. Probably couldn't hurt to have both.

Peter