Paint front sight?

[creekman]

I have a 66-8 which has a red front sight, which I like. also have a 642 enhanced action. Thinking of putting red nail polish on front sight of the 642....any and all opinions welcomed.
thanks, Creekman

[armorer951]

Clean and degrease with alcohol or acetone....paint with white first, then the actual color desired. I would use high quality spray enamel (like the Rustoleum Professional Fluorescent Red Orange (over white) Traffic marking paint, flat) and apply with a toothpick. Let dry or blow dry completely between coats.

[JohnRippert]

armorer951 has it down. I do the same and use fluorescent yellow as my top coat.

[one eye joe]

IF YOU THINK THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT, DEFINITELY TRY IT.....

ITS EASY TO APPLY AND REMOVE, AND WILL CAUSE NO LASTING DAMAGE TO YOUR REVOLVER.....

[ContinentalOp]

I've used the same method as armorer951, but I used Testor's enamel paint. If you like the color chosen, you can apply some clear hard nail polish for added wear resistance.

[nachogrande]

OR shooting it.

[bananaman]

I use bright lime green model paint over a white base. It won't last forever, but wears well. Look at bright colors of nail polish. Many times, it is quite reasonable. I bought a 2 step combo bottle. White on 1 side, and red on the other. Both had a brush. No brushes clean up. Bob

[shouldazagged]

I've had a smith install blaze orange inserts on four revolvers. I didn't buy the guns with resale in mind, and the inserts wear better better than paint.

[BAM-BAM]

Originally Posted by ContinentalOp

I've used the same method as armorer951, but I used Testor's enamel paint. If you like the color chosen, you can apply some clear hard nail polish for added wear resistance.

white base coat and Testor's fluorescent orange for me..... Smith 681 and a model 18 woods gun

[Ashlander]

I just use bright orange nail polish. It's simple.

[lawandorder]

.......gun manufacturers . The quest has been going on since handguns were invented for better sights.

Some new factory supplied guns are equipped with great Improvements in sights.
It will become more common place in the future.

This is especially vital for most of the folks on the Forum who have old eyes.

Painting front sights is and has been a great improvement used by shooters for years.

[flagman1776]

I used Testors model enamel years ago... after cleaning & de-greasing with acetone. The paint is still there 30 years later but can be removed with solvent & a toothbrush easily. Red or international orange is my suggestion.

[Lobster Picnic]

I use TRUGLO Bright Sight paint. It works better than enamel paints and does not require a base coat.

[bigggbbruce]

Salon Perfect Nail Polish.. # 506 Traffic Cone..

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by creekman

I have a 66-8 which has a red front sight, which I like. also have a 642 enhanced action. Thinking of putting red nail polish on front sight of the 642....any and all opinions welcomed.
thanks, Creekman

If it helps you see it, knock your socks off. Armorer951 has the procedure down. If the next fella' that owns it doesn't like it, he can always take it off . . .

[Rpg]

Years ago I fiddled with colored front sights but concluded that plain black works best for me.

More important for me is having a nice, wide rear sight opening.

I’m more likely to open up the rear sight with a file than color the front sight.

Sights with dots slow me down so I black out the dots.

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by Rpg

Years ago I fiddled with colored front sights but concluded that plain black works best for me.

Ditto. I've used a variety of different colors, including fluorescent orange and green, but I've settled on plain black sights for me. My 642s' sights are currently painted black and I used the same black paint to cover the dead tritium sights on my Beretta 92FS.

The nice thing about painting the sights is that you can try different color combos to see what works best for you, or decide to just paint them black. A pretty inexpensive way to go about it.

[Rocket3]

I use Dykem markers.

[Fide686]

Top coat tennis ball yellow/green. Best for human eyes.

[gwpercle]

White-out or Liquid Paper correction fluid makes an excellent flat white base coat for colors. The stuff is just a flat white fast drying paint, it used to be lacquer , but I don't know what it is now days.
Actually the flat white works just fine as is . I used it on mine and found it was just as good or better than a red or yellow colored front sight.
Gary

[haywood]

Always white base and a red dot lately.

[custer1876]

I ve done my front sight bright orange (nail polish) rear sight flat Blk.. Model 642 helps a lot !!!!!

[JayFramer]

Here's my 64 with an orange front sight I painted:



It is frankly FANTASTIC and makes the front sight pop. Much better than the stock silver on silver. I used a coat or two of Testor's flat white enamel followed by a coat or two of Testor's fluorescent orange enamel. Has held up swell and makes a night and day difference in front sight acquisition in low light and with different backgrounds or just during the day. Highly recommended little mod, many people do this and for good reason. Easily removable with paint thinner and a toothbrush if you don't like it or want to sell the gun.

Ensure a good dry time between coats, make sure you degrease the sight before painting, allow a good dry time (a few days ideally) between coats. Really no downsides, I'd do it. In fact I've a 67 that might get painted tonight...

[Abbynormal]

I clean with acetone, use 2 coats of white fingernail polish. 2 coats yellow/red/flour. etc, followed by 2 coats of clear.

Did my M-28 10 years ago and haven't had to redo it yet.

[CajunBass]

I'm another one. Two bottles of nail polish from the dollar store. They come with their own applicator brush. About a buck each. One white, one orange.

Enough to last me the rest of my life I'm sure.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by bigggbbruce

Salon Perfect Nail Polish.. # 506 Traffic Cone..

That color looks good on you BRUCE! Bob

[gnystrom]

Originally Posted by JayFramer

Here's my 64 with an orange front sight I painted:



It is frankly FANTASTIC and makes the front sight pop. Much better than the stock silver on silver. I used a coat or two of Testor's flat white enamel followed by a coat or two of Testor's fluorescent orange enamel. Has held up swell and makes a night and day difference in front sight acquisition in low light and with different backgrounds or just during the day. Highly recommended little mod, many people do this and for good reason. Easily removable with paint thinner and a toothbrush if you don't like it or want to sell the gun.

Ensure a good dry time between coats, make sure you degrease the sight before painting, allow a good dry time (a few days ideally) between coats. Really no downsides, I'd do it. In fact I've a 67 that might get painted tonight...

I did the exact same thing to my 64 but first covered it in white and then only painted the top half red. The division gives me a clear option on my sight picture when using those gutter style sights.

[iPac]

I've found Testors enamel works good for just painting. Use a coat of white first then pick a fluorescent.

That's what I did initially, but if you carry your gun and have a holster that puts pressure against the sight, it may damage the paint and ruin what you did. My holster did that. I found that layers of paint then an overcoat just wouldn't fully cure hard.

I ended up getting a front sight that already had a red insert, for which I removed and created a new, more vibrant orange colored insert. Used Easy Cast epoxy kit and Testors enamel fluorescent paint dried and pulverized to a powder for dying. Doesn't work well with liquid Testors, too dull of a color from dilution. The powder worked well.

Now it is a strong colored insert in the same shape as the original sight and doesn't get smashed or deformed when in my holster.

[diyj98]

Originally Posted by bananaman

That color looks good on you BRUCE! Bob

I agree. And my hat's off to you for not being afraid to be your true self!

[VaTom]

Do it. Back in the 1970s we were issued nickel Model 10s. Painted front sight red with nail polish. Lots of officers did it back then.

[bigggbbruce]

Originally Posted by bananaman

That color looks good on you BRUCE! Bob

Originally Posted by diyj98

I agree. And my hat's off to you for not being afraid to be your true self!

Thanks.. during the summer I use it when I get a pedicure.

[C Islander]

Originally Posted by bananaman

That color looks good on you BRUCE! Bob

Not as good as your favorite....pink.

[hittman77]

I've been known to paint sites on revolvers I shoot.
After cleaning the site, I lay on a coat or two of white model car paint, then cover than with whatever trips my trigger that day. They make that Testors brand model car paint now in neon colors like red, orange and green. I've used all three but seems like orange suits me best.

[Gaschiermeyer]

Gun sight tape on ebay. I can cut it very precise.

[Amp]

You have good replies here.
Just wanted to add that I painted my sights 20 years ago and still like em.

[Bill In Texas]

I also use the same system as Armorer951. I use nail polish though, and I see green really well, so that's what the front sights' color is. I've tried a few different colors, red, orange, etc, but bright green really stands out for me! My wife jokes that I've got more nail polish colors than she does!

I also use a black sharpie to blacken the rear sight deck (?), not sure of the proper term on a fixed sight revolver. The blackened rear helps make the front sight color stand out.

[oysterer]

put blue masking tape on the side and use my younger daughters nail polish 'cotton candy'. Glitzy pink but dries to a bright red on the gun. 5 minutes job and works great on all my model 28s.

[cahotshoe]

My club has a steel challenge once a month in the summer. The RO's like to mess with us by painting the steel different colors so your sights just disappear. Many a frustrated shooter that has blaze orange sight on a blaze orange target. Where hundredths of seconds count, my bubble gum pink sight stands out. I am confident that nobody is going to paint a target pink. I use nail polish, and its easy to change and touch up.

[Not Getting Any Younger]

Another vote for fluorescent orange nail polish (from Walmart).
I also bought fluorescent green and yellow, but the orange is what's on my 638 and LCP II.