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🔧A seized bolt can turn a five-minute job into a broken stud and a ruined afternoon. Anti-seize is cheap insurance. Here is what it does and when to use it.
Every tradie has fought a bolt that will not budge, then snapped it off flush. Anti-seize compound is the simple fix: a small amount on the thread keeps fittings coming apart cleanly months or years later. It is one of the cheapest products in the workshop and one of the most useful.
This guide covers what anti-seize does, the main types, and where and how to apply it to prevent seized bolts.
📌Quick summary
Anti-seize is a thread lubricant carrying fine solid particles that sit between mating threads. That film stops the metal-to-metal contact that causes galling, and it keeps moisture and corrosion out of the join. On stainless in particular, which is prone to galling, an anti-seize grease can save a fastener from locking solid.
The real payoff comes later. A fitting assembled with anti-seize comes apart cleanly down the track instead of seizing, rounding off or snapping. For anything you may need to service, that is time and money saved.
Copper anti-seize is the common all-rounder, good for high-temperature work like exhaust bolts, manifolds and brake fittings. In some conditions it shouldn’t touch stainless or aluminium, so check the application.
Nickel anti-seize is copper-free, which makes it the choice for stainless steel and for very high temperatures. Other specialty grades suit specific jobs, so match the compound to the metals and the heat involved.
💬Not sure which grade suits your job? The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae can point you the right way. Give them a call on (02) 4020 7951.
Anti-seize suits threaded fasteners, flange faces, exhaust and manifold bolts and any fitting exposed to heat, moisture or dissimilar metals. It is especially worth it on anything you expect to undo again.
A thin film on the thread is plenty. Too much just makes a mess and can attract grit. Note that anti-seize acts as a lubricant, so where a torque figure or thread locker is specified, follow the manufacturer’s guidance rather than adding anti-seize.
Select Fasteners stocks anti-seize compounds and thread lubricants for the workshop and worksite. The trade specialist team at the Heatherbrae store has decades of experience and can match the grade to your metals and application.
Stocking up on the fasteners and bolts for a job? Grab the anti-seize at the same time so your fittings come apart cleanly next time.
Anti-seize is a thread lubricant that stops bolts and fittings galling, corroding and seizing. It is used on threaded fasteners, exhaust and manifold bolts and flanges so they come apart cleanly later.
Copper anti-seize is a high-temperature all-rounder for general use. Nickel anti-seize is copper-free, which makes it suitable for stainless steel and very high temperatures. Match the type to the metals and heat involved.
It is a good idea. Stainless is prone to galling, where threads bind and lock solid, and an anti-seize film greatly reduces that risk. A copper-free grade such as nickel is the usual choice for stainless.
A thin film on the thread is all you need. Too much just makes a mess and attracts grit, and it can affect clamping force if a specific torque is required.
Yes. Because it lubricates the thread, it changes the relationship between torque and clamping force. Where a torque figure is specified, follow the manufacturer’s guidance on whether it assumes a lubricated or dry thread.
No. Anti-seize does the opposite of a thread locker: it helps fittings come apart. If you need a fastener to resist loosening, use a proper thread-locking product instead.
A dab of anti-seize now saves a snapped bolt later. The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae will match the right compound to your metals and application.
Give the team a call on (02) 4020 7951, drop by the store at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae, or send us an online enquiry!
We supply lubricants, fasteners and trade supplies across Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog, with the largest range north of the Hunter River.
Select Fasteners is a specialist fastener and industrial supplies business based at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae NSW, serving Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog. This article is general information only and does not account for the specific conditions of your project. For advice specific to your job, get in touch with the team.
02 4020 7951
