remshooter
Member
painting front site white or orange ,which works better to see the site ?... model paint ,or finger nail polish
painting front site ,which works better?
- Thread starter remshooter
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For various reasons, I prefer a bright green front sight if I'm going to color it myself. Green contrasts well against just about any background and is easy to pick-up quickly. Other than that, I'd opt for white or yellow. I use paint pens that you can usually find in any arts/crafts department. They come in a package of several different colors (red/green/black/white/yellow/blue). I have used model paint and finger nail polish in the past. All seem to work equally as well.
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My preference is model paint. A base coat of white, then the Green fluorescent paint, or bright safety orange. From a quick draw point, I find the orange is faster to pick up, but bor better sighting I prefer the green.
I've used Testor's model paint for years, and it has held up fine for me. I'm sure fingernail polish would also work, but I wouldn't expect it to be as durable.
Testor's hobby enamel has always worked well for me. A base coat of matte white, followed by fluorescent green works well. The fastest sight picture may just be plain black rear sight with a bright dot of paint on the front sight.
I use my wife's nail polish-- orange on the top half and white on the bottom half. That way I can use the orange for close range and both the white and orange for longer shots. Works well. Red is equally good as orange.
I wanted to add some pictures. I put glow on paint covered with clear nail polish on all of my smith revolver front sights. During the day I get white on black and a quick 3 second hit with a flashlight and I get night sights.
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Night
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Both work ok, just be sure to let them dry well before putting the gun away. I did a 1911 and that night put it back in its rug thinking it was dry. Next time I took it out I'm like, "Where is my sight paint?" as the front sight was completely back to stock.
The paint was stuck to the cloth the gun was wrapped in. Nothing on the gun at all.
The paint was stuck to the cloth the gun was wrapped in. Nothing on the gun at all.
I use either nail polish or model paint. I like Red for the front.
MTC(SS)Ret
US Veteran
RalphMP9FS
Member
Interesting, I never thought about yellow, but I must try it.
Green Frog
Member
When I needed to be able to see my Model 439's front sight better I went to Dollar Tree and bought a bottle each of white and orange/red fingernail polish. The white was used for a base coat and the "red" was the shade I could see the most easily. It seems to be staying on very well for at least a year or so.
Froggie
Froggie
Catwrangler
Member
I run fluro. Green on my 64-3 & 642. I'd like to have a gold bead installed in the Patridge sight on my 586 no dash. Millets on my 1911- all others stock.
Smithboomer
Member
One layer of white nail polish (or white-out) then two coats of the brightest orange that I can find.
I use white nail polish for under coat and bright red enamel model paint for top coat but have used green nail polish also. I apply with toothpick start with a small amount. Never used the nail polish brush you will apply WAY too much and get frustrated. I also wear my flea market headband magnifiers. I have not tried clear nail polish to finish as suggested in other posts
