Problem painting front sight

[Florida Guy]

I used some red nail polish to paint the front sight on my model 22A semi-auto. I taped-off the area and applied 5 coats of polish, allowing each coat to dry first. When fully dry, I took off the tape, and the polish came off with it - completely. There is no red left on the sight. It's like the gun has a teflon coating.
I cleaned the area with alcohol before applying.
Does anyone have any tips as to how to paint front sight?
Must I use something like Testor's paint for this job?

 

[Ilike9mm]

I paint mine. I found this liquid in small squeeze bottles at the hardware store. Sorry, don't have it in front of me for the name. But they use it at junkyards to mark car parts. They guy had a bunch of colors.

The generic name was: For "display markings".

I like the lime green, shows up in desert and winter shooting.

 

[walnutred]

I use Testors model paint for metal models. If you paint the first coat white the color layers show up better.

 

[DeadAye]

I use *paint pens* - Work great.
I get them at the craft store.

 

[chief38]

Testor's Blaze Orange works best for me. The KEY here is to use Alcohol to remove all the oil from the front sight before painting. Once it is clean, painting should be a piece of cake. Don't use a paint brush, use a toothpick. Two coats is all that is necessary IMHO.

Chief38

 

[dave b]

Is the front sight some kind of slick plastic? Or a slick coating?

 

[David LaPell]

What I use is Testors but acrylic, not enamel which is too hard to work with. Take a good hobby brush (sable art type) and put a coat or two of white on the sight, then after that dries your red. I always had good luck with guards red or insignia red. Then after that is dry, a coat of acrylic flat. I have never needed to mask it off to get a good sight. If you ever need to remove it, a light coat of gun oil and 0000 steel wool removes it ok.

 

[John Eilertson]

I have painted some front sights with borrowed nail polish. One coat and done, works well enough for me, and for years, too. Just give me some color that will stand out against your typical background, be it ground cover or snow.

 

[bwickens]

Never liked nail polish. Prefered Testors, using the aforementioned white base then after that dried, following up with flourescent yellow on the front sight and, for contrast, two "dots" of flourescent red either side of the rear sight notch. Works great on my hunting revolvers.

 

[Fishslayer]

I use acetone to clean the sight. Unless you're using denatured alcohol there is going to be some residue left over.

Krylon flouro orange applied with a toothpick. Tape not necessary.

 

[310Pilot]

One of my hobbies is painting (cars, motorcycles, custom details on airplanes, etc.), and the problem you are having is a combination of not adequately prepping the surface before painting (or, in this case, nail polishing) and, even more so, letting the paint/nail polish dry completely before removing the masking tape. From your description, you're not getting a good bond of material to metal, indicating inadequate surface prep (cleaning), and, when you let all those coats dry, they form a good bond to the masking tape, and the paint lifts when you pull the tape up. Next time, make sure you get the surface completely clean (and dry, no solvent left on it), and pull the tape after each coat sets up, let it dry, then re-tape before the second coat. Repeat the taping and tape removal process for each coat, and don't let the paint set up too hard before removing the tape.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

As others have said, the surface to be painted must be clean. At least that's what I've heard. I have never had nail polish fail to stick. No need to tape. Just use the brush that comes with the nail polish. Two coats have always been sufficient for me. Usually, even one is enough.

 

[Moonman]

I use ORANGE applied with a toothpick, No taping off of the sight.

 

[Florida Guy]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Is it possible that the front sight of my 22A is not metal? I tested it with a magnet and it would not stick.
Can anyone confirm this?
Is there another type of prep or paint necessary for a composite application?

 

[m1gunner]

To completely degrease prior to paint application, I find nothing beats the spray "brake cleaner" sold in automotive supply stores. The original (very flammable) formula works best.

As mentioned above, if you are careful, you do not need masking tape.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Is it possible that the front sight of my 22A is not metal? I tested it with a magnet and it would not stick.
Can anyone confirm this?
Is there another type of prep or paint necessary for a composite application?

I can not confirm if it is plastic but if you buy a can of Krylon Fusion (for plastic whatever it's called now) it will stick to anything. Expensive for a spay can and what you want to paint. Just spray some on a piece of cardboard, use a tooth pick or model brush.

As 310Pilot said, pull the tape before the paint is dry but you really do not need tape.

There should be no reason to need so many coats for a sight.

 

[Mickey D]

I can't add much more.









One post up in the count.

 

[Iggy]

I put some Testor's red model paint on my model 58 back in 1966. It's still there.

 

[smith revolver cop]

I have used (for decades!) Testors flat red enamel. Don't use the glossy, because it will glare in sunlight. With the polish, it's probably bonding to the tape, and all coming off as a single piece. I've always used a very fine brush, and never needed to tape off the area. (Of course, this is pretty easy on a serrated ramp or the flat of a Patridge front sight.)

 

[sipowicz]

I paint my left pinky finger nail red and hold it over the sight.