JB Weld to raise the front sight blade?

[tacotime]

M36 shooting high with the preferred load. Thinking a dab of JB Weld on the front blade, with some careful shaping, will give the needed height increase, and be removable. This is a well worn gun, not a collector.

Thoughts?

And how to darken it to match?

Thanks.

 

[dlbx2]

I don't know if the JB Weld will absorb it, but Birchwood Casey Super Blue is good. They also make it in an applicator that looks like a felt tip marker, which is nice if you want to gradually apply the bluing until it closely matches what you have, plus it doesn't spill. Just a thougt. Good luck!
DLB

 

[Larry from Bend]

I heightened and widened a Ruger BearCat front sight with JB Weld. Worked fine. Made the gun useful as POA and POI now coincide.

 

[What the]

You never know until you try.....I think it's been done with success before so I say go for it!!! As in most modifications.....preparation is key.

 

[M3Stuart]

If it's a shooter then just give it a try! I'd probably use the JB Weld myself. Or maybe some of that radiator repair stuff and a Birchwood-Casey bluing pen...or maybe some chewed up gum...or that wood-repair stuff...

 

[tacotime]

I may also try some pancake batter from the recipe used by Lisa Douglas on Green Acres.

It was successfully used as a head gasket to repair some guys's truck that broke down by their farm. Tough stuff.

 

[dfariswheel]

JB may or may not hold, and won't take much wear and getting bumped.
It would hold better if you can drill some shallow, undercut holes in the top of the sight to give the JB something to lock onto for a better hold.
Without some way of increasing adhesion, the JB won't likely stay put long under recoil.

No cold blue or other chemical finish will color JB. JB is nothing more than epoxy with some powdered metal and it won't take any bluing.
You'll have to paint it.

 

[AUTigerBlender]

JB Weld held the bowl on my generator's carburetor together after Hurricane Ivan. So it will probably hold your gunsight.

 

[What the]

You can use a permanent black marker to color the sight so no worries there. If your only adding a 1/16 of an inch or so it should hold up for you.

Or switch your ammo choice, 158 grain slugs will shoot closer to your POA. Switching may be your most viable choice.....just saying

 

[400short]

I had the local gunsmith mig weld heigth to my front site. I think it cost 10 or 20 bucks. I took a file to the range and filed and shot and filed and shot till I got what I wanted.

 

[Oldherkpilot]

I used JB to raise the front sight on my Kahr pistol .150 inches "just until I could get it shipped off to Novaks for the proper sight." It is dead center at 10 yards and within a couple at 25 yds. I am at 300 rounds and carried it for 4 months and it is still hanging in there. I used double layers of masking tape to block it up (add extra height and file it down) and a black Sharpie to keep it black. I did not bore any holes for extra adhesion, but agree with that recommendation. I must get that pistol in the mail soon. Good luck!

 

[BubbaBlades]

On non-removable front sights, I like to weld and file. On removable sights, I sometimes make an entire new sight. I mention this and include pictures because I do not HAVE to use JB Weld, however, I have used JB Weld for build up of nine different front sights. None of the nine sights have fallen off under recoil or normal use. As mentioned the JB Weld sight can be darkened with a magic marker or by use of any color paint.
I clamp two small pieces of the plastic .22 tray that come with the 50 count .22 boxes to the sides of the existing front sight to build up a smooth and straight side prior to pouring in the JB Weld. The JB Weld does not stick to the plastic and no additional finishing work is needed for the sides of the new higher front sight.
Good luck.

Mark

 

[Prof_Fate]

Great info.
I want to replace the front sight on my XDm I use for PPC and was thinking JB weld would work. Figured worst case if failed and I"d have to buy new sights - which if I didn't try the JP i'd have to buy new sights so there's nothing to really lose.
It's a winter project.

As for darkening the way most do it is via smoking the front sight. Soot from a fire is the preferred method. Seem to be as many ways to make sooty fires as there are people. Or you could go to sears -
Birchwood Casey Birchwood Casey Sight Black - 3.5 oz Aerosol - Fitness & Sports - Camping & Hiking - Specialty

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I got a new chiminea for Christmas about 10 years ago. As I was setting it up-I dropped it and it broke into three large pieces. I JB welded it back together and it is still holding up. JB weld is up there with duct tape and WD 40 as the greatest inventions known to mankind.

 

[tacotime]

Excellent info. Before I read about using plastic for sides, I put a little dab of JB on the ramp and wiped it and it made a pleasing little rounded hump on the top of the blade that looks like it belongs there and may be high enough to correct the POA. If not, I'll simply add to it, and file down if overdone. Beautiful. If only every task gave that much flexibility...

 

[tacotime]

The dab turned out to be about right on first crack. Shoots about even on the target now out to 40 yards.

The rounded top of the dab is a little easier to sight with than the old square top. Looks very natural there and appears durable. It was a cheap and effective way to adjust a fixed sight gun.

 

[153]

Brownell's sells (or used to) "epoxy black", a fine black powder that can be mixed into the epoxy to color it. Better than paint or marker as the color is in the epoxy!

 

[tek4260]

I have added height to quite a few sights, especially since I shoot Ruger SA's and they all seem to be too short.

On the JB Weld, make sure you use JB Weld, not JB Quik. They are not the same and the Quik isn't nearly as strong. Also, whenever possible pin the sight then add the JB

It is much stronger.

There are other better ways if you are interested.

 

[tacotime]

I may be limited to JB here because the raised sight may not be needed permanently... if I have to remove it I can, if the handload and purpose of the gun changes.

But... I would be interested in knowing other ways the front blades can be raised on these guns.

Thanks.

 

[riverrat38]

One problem with any type of epoxy is that heat will ruin the bond, as well as the epoxy mix. Might not be a problem, as others have indicated, unless a lot of rapid fire is done. I have gotten my revolvers quite hot, at least to the touch. Other than that, the bond can be very good, if the metal was completely cleaned of all oil and other stuff. I have repaired the gas tank on my car many years ago with Marine Tex, which is similar to JB Weld. The first repair failed due to poor prep, but when I did it right, the repair held and it was on the outside of the tank.

Rick