Red Eye Garage Tip #2 September 02 2013
If you've ever gone up against a stubborn fastener that has been secured with thread locking compound, you probably have the experience of having to go to urbandictionary.com to find some new curse words after exhausting all the common ones. To get thread locking compound to release, Loctite prescribes heating their threadlocker to 250 degrees C (482 degrees F) and disassembling the parts while still hot. You could use a torch or a lighter, but any open flame has the risk of starting a fire, especially if there is grease or oil in the area. You can also ruin finishes, damage wiring, and melt plastic.
I prefer to use a heat gun, because the heat is more controlled. A basic heat gun can be had for about $10-$30 and should get an area nice and hot in under a minute. If you want to be really fancy, you can get a non-contact infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature as you go. Keep in mind that while the heat from a heat gun is more controlled than an open flame, it can still get pretty darn hot. We recommend wearing heat resistant gloves and keeping a fire extinguisher on hand. I also like to keep something cold on hand to apply immediately to the skin if I get burned. I keep cold beer on hand for safety reasons.