Paint for sights?

[InsideWaist]

...but I can't (or won't) leave a handgun out for exposure to the sun (or a light source) all day just so that it will be ready for use at night.

From what I understand, it doesn't need to be exposed to a light source "all day". I'm not sure what the minimum time required to "fully charge" these phosphorescent wonders.

At any rate, before I turn in for the night, I typically will catch up on some reading or go over the news on my iPad. etc. In doing this, I am in bed with my nightstand light on, with a couple of guns on the nightstand (on top and in an open VelocityVault). So, in the ten minutes or so that I'm reading, my phosphorescent sights would be undergoing a "charge". Is this enough for the sights to be used at 3 AM? It depends, I suppose, on a lot of variables—brightness of the light source, how long I read, what time I turn off the light, among others.

 

[jerrywc]

While cleaning out the paint from the left rear sight, I got about half the white paint out to where it looks about half as bright as the front and I liked the contrast so I took out about half the paint on the right side also so both of the rear dots are the same brightness. Now I can see the rear sight ok but the front sight which is very bright jumps out at you. I may change the colors or black out the rear sight altogether but I am liking the brighter front sight. I'll shoot it like this for a while and see. Thanks again for all your ideas.
Jerry

 

[FAS1]

From what I understand, it doesn't need to be exposed to a light source "all day". I'm not sure what the minimum time required to "fully charge" these phosphorescent wonders.

At any rate, before I turn in for the night, I typically will catch up on some reading or go over the news on my iPad. etc. In doing this, I am in bed with my nightstand light on, with a couple of guns on the nightstand (on top and in an open VelocityVault). So, in the ten minutes or so that I'm reading, my phosphorescent sights would be undergoing a "charge". Is this enough for the sights to be used at 3 AM? It depends, I suppose, on a lot of variables—brightness of the light source, how long I read, what time I turn off the light, among others.

I have played with the GLOW ON brand paint on the buttons and this is after a quick charge with my flashlight. I used a 1/8" drill bit to make a pocket in each of the buttons then filled the pocket with the paint. A little clear nail polish seals it up.

It will charge from your nightstand light or a quick 10 seconds from a LED flashlight and it is fully charged. It works pretty good. Glows all night, but gets very faint by morning. In a dark room your eyes see the glow all night. Still works as advertised after a few years now.

 

[InsideWaist]

I have played with the GLOW ON brand paint on the buttons and this is after a quick charge with my flashlight. I used a 1/8" drill bit to make a pocket in each of the buttons then filled the pocket with the paint. A little clear nail polish seals it up.

It will charge from your nightstand light or a quick 10 seconds from a LED flashlight and it is fully charged. It works pretty good. Glows all night, but gets very faint by morning. In a dark room your eyes see the glow all night. Still works as advertised after a few years now.

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Alright. I'm sold. I'm just ordered it.

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[GoDevil Man]

Glow on in daylight

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Alright. I'm sold. I'm just ordered it.

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I'm almost sold. I think I read that in normal daylight, the paint appears off white. Any drawbacks in shooting at outdoor range during the day? Any worse than factory 3 dot white?

 

[Funflyer]

I just got my order of green strontium aluminate powder ($1.75) and tried it on my Shield 9 and bodyguard front sight. I mixed it with some automotive urethane clear which should last a while, I hope. In the daylight it's not as bright as the original white dots but in low light it stands out fantastic and in the dark they're almost too bright. Sorry for the blurry pics, I tried to get my camera cooperate but gave up so these should give an idea of how they look, much brighter in person.

 

[Dad_Roman]

Sorry for the blurry pics, I tried to get my camera cooperate but gave up so these should give an idea of how they look, much brighter in person.

Wow those look terrific!!! Where did you get this for 1.75?


FYI....hold opposite palm in front of camera at focal point (f site or rear site)... let camera focus...move hand...snap piccy

 

[Funflyer]

Wow those look terrific!!! Where did you get this for 1.75?


FYI....hold opposite palm in front of camera at focal point (f site or rear site)... let camera focus...move hand...snap piccy

Got it on ebay. Only got 5 grams but it's enough to do a few dozen sights. I used it in auto paint but I bet it would work just as good in clear nail polish.

Green Glow-in-the-Dark Powder Pigment Strontium Aluminate for Sticks/Stars/Paint | eBay

 

[Robotech]

I was thinking Red for front sight & Green for the rears. Anyone have any ideas?

Yes, I'm using florescent red on the front, and green rear dots. This works just fine for me. I used nail polish for the colors, and haven't had any problems, where the original white dots fell out/off after only a little use on the range.