EK supreme cracking

[Noobie09]

hey guys,

I have just built a system with an Ek supreme wb. The acrylic top one.

I put some thread locker on the 13mm fittings then did them up just past finger tight. Now i have lots of little cracks coming out from the threads. non have cracked the surface though.


should i be worried??

 

[Shadow703793]

You said you used thread locker? Are you sure it's not the bubbles from the thread locker? Also it could be that the thread locker is reacting with the acrylic.

 

[Conumdrum]

I would be. Can't say for sure. But the cracks will get worse in time. Get a replacement top as soon as possible.

Top was poorly made, stressed during manufacturing, the threadlocker (dunno why anyone would use it) reacted with acrylic or you overtightened the barbs.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Can thread lock eat acrylic? How reactive is that stuff any ways?

 

[ouch1]

Depends on the thread locker. Some have alcohol in them that can cause the acrylic to become very brittle.

-ouch1

 

[Noobie09]

From Conumdrum,

"the threadlocker (dunno why anyone would use it) reacted with acrylic or you overtightened the barbs".

i used locktite 401 , i thought it would give me a better seal without having to over tighten the barbs. the back of the bottle states these ingredients.

methacrylate esters and cumene hydroperoxide."

am i in trouble or do you think it will be ok for a few months.

thankyou for the comments thus far.

 

[Conumdrum]

I'd get a new top on the way right soon.

The barbs have o-rings, so no need for any thread sealant.

 

[Shadow703793]

@OP: I did a quick Google search and it looks like methacrylate esters reacts with some plastics depending on the concentration.

 

[ahnirv]

Methacrylate is a monomer of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate), so yeah, its actualy designed to react with acrylic. It is a component of the stuff they use to weld acrylic and related plastics, depending on the solvents and other ingredients they used in the threadlocker it could cause damage to the acrylic stuff.

General rule of thumb for threadlockers - do not use with any kind of plastic


Threadlockers(anaerobic adhesives) are pretty much for metal only