Removing Loctite without Heat

I dare say the Loctite is not your issue. Focus on not stripping the heads of the screw and the nuts. Make sure you can see what you're doing, so use the right tools, magnifier and good light. Watch out for double nuts used to lock things.
 
Locked

Thanks for jumping in. I want to preserve this scene as if it were an old masters painting. Apart from sounding awesome these things are becoming highly priced. Originality or faithfulness to the original design and parts is a thing. The screws are kinda proprietary, they are bolts really with a slotted head. A 25mm grub screw if you will. If I could find a screwdriver with a captivating surround I could apply a bit of force. But now a regular screwdriver just pops out.
This Loctite is for keeps!

I will try to post a picture now.
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First find a slotted screw driver that fits the slot very tightly. You want zero "wiggle room". So tight that it basically gets stuck in the slot.

Apply firm pressure to seat that driver in the slot, then twist the driver - by hand if possible, but if not then you can try gripping the shaft of the screwdriver with pliers or vise-grips and turning. You only need to crack the Loc-tite and the rest should be easy.

I have also used the edge of a long piece of metal to do this. Again the edge of the metal needs to fit as snugly as possible into the slot. The length of the metal will give you the leverage you need, but the metal needs to be strong enough not to simply bend or break. Angle aluminum for example.

https://www.clintonaluminum.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/6063-Aluminum-Angle-400x247.jpg

EDIT: Bugger. Its all over that bolt. But at least it is exposed. Hmmm... some sort of solvent might help...
 
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Slot

The slot is very shallow. I tried my best fitting screwdrivers, and they popped out. I will see if there is a product with a sheath tomorrow if any hardware shop is open. There is no space for power assisters in there and lots of irreplaceable parts. The Loctite is applied over about 10mm of the bolt. I would need to crack about 2mm of that I reckon to allow escape. I really need this Loctite dissolved.
 
Note: The problem with my brute force method is that you could end up breaking the end of the bolt off. I wrote that up before seeing the photo.

You said you want to preserve this, but I'd be temped to take vise-grips straight to the bolt itself and replace it after. There must be a way to dissolve loc-tite.
 
> what about very localized heat?

The white pyramid is a thin plastic light-shield, irreplaceable. And I think the screw is threaded in a short bit of steel which bears on a step in the plastic.

NO heat.

Why do we think LockTite? Glyptol was popular in those days. Classic Glyptol will not melt or dissolve in any heat or chemistry you want to be near.
 
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Have you tried ACETONE?

Acetone dissolves almost everything.. use a small brush to apply. it will take a while, but finally you will be able to remove that Bolt. Don's spray or apply to any plastic, it will "melt away instantly"
 
I heard somewhere that loctite doesn't like to be below freezing, you could try a refrigerent aerosol. It looks like you've got enough thread to screw two nuts on, lock them together and use the nut closest to the uv meter to unscrew it. Perhaps use a die to clear any loctite stopping the nuts going on.
 
Well, I didn't know what sub forum, but plumped for this one. I have a valuable and loved old 1176LN. The front panel meter is secured by two screws which are very well sealed with red stuff on their visible shafts. I have tried a few of the solvents I have hear but no luck. Ideas?
That STRONGLY hints at red nail enamel,a very popular sealing/locking product, predating Loctite by decades (as in: 50 or 60 years earlier, go figure).
Being a nitrocellulose based paint/enamel, correct solvent is either:
* acetone
* car paint thinner (which contains acetone and other solvents)
* ethyl ether (often contained in the above mentioned thinner)
* nail enamel remover (same thing)
* probably MEK

Alcohol of any kind, turpentine, toluene,xylene, etc. will NOT dissolve it.
 
1 how about using a Dremel tool to cut the screw. Drill out the screw and tap one size up.

2 or drill a hole though the screw horizontally, insert an Allen key (they are pretty hard) into the hole and now you may have enough leverage to remove the screw.