Paint ARevolver Front Sight

[s1mp13m4n]

Hello everyone. I would like to make my front sight more visable. I realize that it is not rocker science but I would like advice. I have a blued revolver. Do you prep the area with alcohol to remove oil? Should you use model paint, nail polish, or overpriced sight paint? To help it stick should you use primer first? Finally, do you clearcoat it? Dang, one more. You only paint the ramp and not the flat top, correct? Thanks for the help.

 

[sar4937]

Gun scrubber, acetone, any degreaser will do it. They sell luminous sight paint at my LGS, but fingernail polish, car touch up paint, house paint, whatever will work. It will come back off if you don't like the results If you have a plastic insert, this does not apply.

 

[jeffsmith]

Except for the ones that have Hi Viz Night sights
I use orange/red Nail polish & its lasted for years

 

[ContinentalOp]

If you do a search in the gunsmithing subforum you'll find plenty of threads on painting sights.

I have a stainless gun, so what I do may or may not be suitable for a blued gun; the other threads should offer some guidance.

What I do is degrease the area to be painted. I've used acetone and denatured alcohol with good results.

Next, I use masking tape to cover up the areas I don't want painted. Ideally, only the part of your front sight that you see in the rear notch will be painted. Of course, some people will have differing opinions on that.

I use Testor's enamel paint, but others have used nail polish or appliance paint with good results. I've even read about people using paint meant for fishing lures. You don't need to spend a lot of money on paint.

I'm assuming you want a brightly-colored front sight. In that case, I'd suggest applying at least one base coat of white paint. The white base coat will help make the color coat look brighter. You may need a second or third coat, depending on how thin the paint is. This is just my opinion, but I like to let a full 24 hours pass between coats to make sure it's fully dry; I will admit to being a bit overly cautious at times.

Then apply the color of your choice. Fluorescent orange seems to be a common choice, and it's what I have on my 642-1 right now. Fluorescent green is another good option. Basically, whatever color you're interested in trying. Again, you may need more than one coat depending on the results you want.

In the past, I've applied clear coats over the paint. I used clear nail hardening paint. It works very well to protect the paint job from wear-and-tear. One downside I found is that, depending on what you use, you may get glare on the front sight under certain lighting conditions. I've had my front sight "wash out" when this happens. I left off the clear coat the last time I painted my sight, and doesn't wash out nearly as much.

The nice thing is that if you don't like your results, you can always start over and try something different.

Final tip: Using a toothpick to apply the paint can give you a little more control over where you apply it, particularly on a serrated front sight.

Hope that helps.

 

[Salty RI]

I clean it with nail polish remover, then I use white nail polish, then use what ever color you want.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Thank you all for the help. We have model paints and fingernail polish. Looks like I may have a project tomorrow. The reason for wanting to try this is because I am legally blind. It might help while pkinking. It is nice to be able to live with family on a small farm. That means nobrange fee and you get to shoot outdoors.

 

[kthom]

ContinentalOp has it covered. Only thing I'd add is two or three thin coatings of paint is much better than one thick coat. The toothpick works great with this. Using a brush will sometimes allow a thicker "glob" of paint to be deposited. If this happens, I wipe it off carefully and let it dry well, then add another thin coat of paint.

I've been painting front sights for a very long time, especially since my eyesight has been diminishing. I've had good luck with it lasting a long time between refinishes. My preference is the fluorescent green.

 

[wood714]

ContinentalOp has it covered. Only thing I'd add is two or three thin coatings of paint is much better than one thick coat. The toothpick works great with this. Using a brush will sometimes allow a thicker "glob" of paint to be deposited. If this happens, I wipe it off carefully and let it dry well, then add another thin coat of paint.

I've been painting front sights for a very long time, especially since my eyesight has been diminishing. I've had good luck with it lasting a long time between refinishes. My preference is the fluorescent green.

Back a few months ago I did a google search on painting front sights...if you add Smith & Wesson forum to your search it comes up with all the old threads from here.

I used white and green nail polish I picked up at Walmart.

First coat white, and 2 top coast of green...with tooth picks.

Works great.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Ok folk. I finally painted my front sight. It is not perfect and I need to see how it works for me. I talked to Wifey and she said to have fun with the nail polish. The two brightest colors were white and yellow. However, the yellow was transparent and lets colors under it show through. I now have a white front sight. If it helps then great. If not the nail polish will come off. Yippie. Thanks for the help.

 

[johngalt]

Mine originally had the red ramp, so I never had a need to paint. However, the red is useless to me. I want high contrast between the sight and target. In daylight, that means a black sight. In dim light it is too dark to make a difference.

 

[Combat_Diver]

Another who degreases, base coat of white then hi vis orange.

CD

 

[Lt JL]

I prefer Elizabeth Arden Pink-Pink, which is really red. Or Mabelline Simply Scarlet. On my front sight, I mean.

 

[oddshooter]

The white first coat of nail polish is basically a requirement. I use bright white. Then triple orange and then clear coat.

Get some nail polish remover as well for cleanup.
I even paint the orange inserts when they get old and faded.
I also paint the rear sight with two white lines on each side of the notch.

No more black on black, BLACKOUT.


Prescut

 

[Eagle 477]

fluorescent model paint $1.29 at the local hobby shop

Rob

 

[gman51]

I use pink fluorescent paint from Wal Mart. Several thin coats work better. I apply with a toothpick or cotton swab.

 

[HardlyAble2]

Revlon #506, traffic cone orange, works well...