I'm no engineer but I work in an industry that makes up a lot of threads, some over 100,000 ft/lbs.
Grease is a lubricant, it allows you to make up the threads eaiser. Anti seize has the grease or
carrier plus micro particles of some soft solid. The grease can wash out but these particles are
compressed between the threads. When you want to remove the bolt these compressed soft particles
shear (antiseize) and allow the part to screw out. They also help seal out water to prevent rust.
Rust cancels whatever you put on the threads. I like to used plumbers tape or teflon grease on my
bike. I have put the teflon paste on every metal to metal contact point on a crank to kill some
noise that another guy had suffered with for years. worked great. Make sure you have anti seize
under the head of the bolt as a lot of the torque is at this contact point rather then the threads.
Titanium is a problem material. Someone suggested that it is reactive, I don't know about that but
when it is cut rather then ground or polished it tends to leave microscopic wickers. These are like
putting sand in the treads before you make them up. They don't unscrew easy or not at all. Since
thay are jammed into the threads they tend to grip the threads so tight that when they are removed
they gall or mechanically weld (not a true weld) themselves together. This will pull the threads
right out of the materail they are cut into rather then unscrew. Like I said, I'm no engineer but
if you keep these things in mind when you make up threads you should have no problems on a bike.
One last thing get and use a torque wrench. It's easy to convince yourself you have the experience
to get the right torque on a bolt, but it's just as easy to pick up a torque wrench and do it
right. Chris
"RandomChris" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> When building new components on a frame, is it best to use anti-seize or grease on threads? I'd
> heard that anti-seize is less likely to get washed away by water but it comes in such small tubes
> (the finish line ti prep stuff) that I thought it must be for specific parts....
>
> Also, are there any special considerations for using Ti bolts in Alu threads?
>
> cheers Chris