Front sight insert homebrew

[mikerjf]

Just finished this up along with a few other mods and thought the forum might be interested.

I made the notch with small triangular and flat files. Not hard, just be careful. It's hard to see in the pictures but the triangle file will undercut the ends enough to lock the insert down. Once done I used a drill press to put a couple divots in the base of the cut to lock it in sideways.

My first try with Testor's orange paint and 2-part epoxy was laughable - an icky smeary looking mess that somehow dried greasy (thankfully not on the gun, just a piece of scrap).

The trick is to pour out most of the paint and leave maybe 1/8" in the bottom of the bottle. Let that sit around open a couple weeks until it gets almost like wet putty. NOW you have something that will mix up nice with the 2-part.

I degreased the sight and stuck a piece of Scotch tape on each side, added the orange mixture using the end of a toothpick. Once dry, peel the tape off and carefully file the top flat.

Side-by-side with a painted front sight, the look is basically the same. So for practical purposes you could just paint and have the same thing... but this was interesting and will last longer.

 

[bgrafsr]

Nice job on doing the insert.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I use tooth brush handles........Available in any color you want. Some installed have been on the gun more than 30 years.

 

[StrawHat]

Swizzle sticks work also.

Kevin

 

[iPac]

Yeah, mixing the wet Testors paint in with the epoxy doesn't work. Apparently it didn't set for you but I found it to not be "solid" & bright enough of a color, so didn't even try to get it set.

What I did was paint the Testors onto a piece of sheet steel & let it dry. Then scraped it off with a flat blade & powdered it up. Mixed that into the epoxy. Worked pretty good with that method.

The sight on the right is a factory orange insert, my creation is on the left.

 

[walter o]

Lots of ways to skin a cat, as long as you get the job done.

 

[mikerjf]

iPac, I tried pouring some into a dixie cup to let dry and powder it, and what it gave me was a strange rubber pancake, LOL. Next time I’ll try the steel, good idea. Yours looks great.

Mine could use a better polish on top, that would help the look.

 

[H Richard]

I just paint the front sight with Testers. Paint with a white first let dry good, then two coats of the Int. Orange.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I did a lot of these inserts back in the 1970s and 1980s. Mill file to cut a slot, triangular file to complete the dovetail. For the inserts I used bits of colored Plexiglas, offered in dozens of colors, sheets are 1/8" thickness so perfect for many sight blades, easily cut and trimmed to the triangle shape dimensioned as a forced fit to the dovetail, then trimmed flush with the front sight.

I used to do these in about 30 minutes using a padded bench vise, the two files, and a bit of fine garnet paper (low gloss finish). I still own several revolvers so modified over 40 years ago and doing fine.

 

[Irate45]

Many years ago, probably around 1980, I purchased a sight insert kit from Brownell's. Included were yellow, red, white, orange and fluorescent orange 6"x2"x1/8" sheets of plastic and a 3 square needle file. I still have it. They no longer carry it.

The only gun I have with a homemade plastic insert front sight is a S&W 625-7 with an orange insert. My Ruger Blackhawk had one, but I changed it out for a brass insert.

 

[45Smashemflat]

I use tooth brush handles........Available in any color you want. Some installed have been on the gun more than 30 years.

I assume you cut/file the appropriate shape and glue into place? Or is there another trick?

 

[JohnHL]

I assume you cut/file the appropriate shape and glue into place? Or is there another trick?

That is what I have done.

John

 

[heeter3]

Nice work mikerjf.

 

[dfariswheel]

Another good technique is to cast an insert using acrylic fingernail material.
This comes in some bright colors and can be used right out of the bottle.

 

[chief38]

I just use Testor's #1127 Gloss out of the bottle. I do 3 -4 light coats and apply with a toothpick.

The M15 below was done about 16 years ago to the best of my recollection. It has stool up to solvents, oils and muzzle flash.

 

[drgbike]

I have used red or yellow plastic shotgun shells.

 

[gdogs]

Good job, never thought about paint and epoxy before. Powdered dye and an acrylic finger nail kit is my go to for front sight inserts. A small piece of thin aluminum cut from a drink can makes a good "form" for holding it while it dries. Then follow up with an easy razor blade clean up.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I assume you cut/file the appropriate shape and glue into place? Or is there another trick?

I trim it to slightly oversize. Then put glue in the ramp cut. I force it in the tlii the slot is filled. Then after drying I carefully trim away the excess.