Re-painting the front sight on an 870...

TCW · November 28, 2001, 03:10 AM

Hi,
I bought a jar of Testors enamel Fluorescent orange model paint for the front sight of my 870 (rifle sighted). Right now it is just silver metal. I want this paint to last...Is there any kind of preparation I should do to the metal? Priming? Cleaning? Post-paint-coating?

Thanks!
TCW

Al Thompson · November 28, 2001, 07:02 AM

IMHO, degrease with rubbing alcohol, paint, after the paint dries, coat with clear nail polish. Should last a pretty long time.........

Giz

Dave McC · November 28, 2001, 08:06 AM

I use straight grain alcohol to degrease and clean, then dab it on with a toothpick.

BTW, my Deer 870 has a glossy White dot, it stands out better in low light against a deer's shoulder. Yellow and Orange are better for general use, IMO.

Dfariswheel · November 28, 2001, 08:09 PM

As above, degrease throughly. Paint the sight with a coat of white paint first and allow to dry. Then paint with the fluorescent
red. The white under coat makes the red fluoresce (sp) better.

Another high vis color is fluorescent lime green.

KSFreeman · November 29, 2001, 08:41 AM

I had an 870 once with a front bead that I painted with orange jig paint [insert banjo music here]. It helped me though.

Good luck and good shooting (how can shooting ever be bad?).

Clemson · November 29, 2001, 09:33 AM

Brownells sells an assortment of different sight beads -- hi vis, ivory, Ray-Bar's, etc. -- most under $5 and none over $10. It seems to me that it might be your best bet to screw in a new bead.

TCW · November 30, 2001, 02:20 AM

Thanks for the repiles. Good info!
TCW

TCW · December 19, 2001, 02:22 AM

Well...all the recommendations worked except for the clear nail polish. It disolved the enamel paint! It turned the white and orange layers into a gooey mess.

Hmmm...

Dave McC · December 19, 2001, 08:50 AM

Some do, some don't, from when I did a lot of fly tying. Try again,and skip the polish. You may have to repaint more, but it's a quickneasy job.

Al Thompson · December 19, 2001, 09:16 AM

Oops.. I used the automotive spot paint found at Wal-Mart.

Giz

slick slidestop · December 19, 2001, 10:53 PM

If you use alcohol, use pure graine, not regular rubbing alcohol as it will leave an oily residue. I'd stick with hot thinner

Dave McC · December 20, 2001, 09:22 AM

Straight grain alcohol is good stuff. Besides its talent as a beverage ingredient, that is. Good fire starter in wet weather, antiseptic, and general small part cleaner/degreaser.

TCW · December 20, 2001, 03:48 PM

Where can you get straight grain?

Dave McC · December 21, 2001, 07:22 AM

Liquor stores, especially those near Frat Row at colleges(G). Everclear is a common brand.

TCW · December 21, 2001, 01:49 PM

Thanks, Dave...I won't ask how you knew that

November 28, 2001, 03:10 AM	#1
TCW Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2000 Location: PRK Posts: 431	Re-painting the front sight on an 870... Hi, I bought a jar of Testors enamel Fluorescent orange model paint for the front sight of my 870 (rifle sighted). Right now it is just silver metal. I want this paint to last...Is there any kind of preparation I should do to the metal? Priming? Cleaning? Post-paint-coating? Thanks! TCW

November 28, 2001, 07:02 AM	#2
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,574	IMHO, degrease with rubbing alcohol, paint, after the paint dries, coat with clear nail polish. Should last a pretty long time......... Giz __________________ http://www.scfirearms.org/

November 29, 2001, 09:33 AM	#6
Clemson Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2001 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 816	Brownells sells an assortment of different sight beads -- hi vis, ivory, Ray-Bar's, etc. -- most under $5 and none over $10. It seems to me that it might be your best bet to screw in a new bead. __________________ NRA Life Member, NRA Certified Instructor CWP Holder US Army veteran Gunsmith

December 19, 2001, 09:16 AM	#10
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,574	Oops.. I used the automotive spot paint found at Wal-Mart. Giz __________________ http://www.scfirearms.org/

November 28, 2001, 08:06 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	I use straight grain alcohol to degrease and clean, then dab it on with a toothpick. BTW, my Deer 870 has a glossy White dot, it stands out better in low light against a deer's shoulder. Yellow and Orange are better for general use, IMO.

November 28, 2001, 08:09 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 6,574	As above, degrease throughly. Paint the sight with a coat of white paint first and allow to dry. Then paint with the fluorescent red. The white under coat makes the red fluoresce (sp) better. Another high vis color is fluorescent lime green.

November 29, 2001, 08:41 AM	#5
KSFreeman Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: Lafayette, Indiana--American-occupied America Posts: 5,424	I had an 870 once with a front bead that I painted with orange jig paint [insert banjo music here]. It helped me though. Good luck and good shooting (how can shooting ever be bad?).

November 30, 2001, 02:20 AM	#7
TCW Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2000 Location: PRK Posts: 431	Thanks for the repiles. Good info! TCW

December 19, 2001, 02:22 AM	#8
TCW Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2000 Location: PRK Posts: 431	Well...all the recommendations worked except for the clear nail polish. It disolved the enamel paint! It turned the white and orange layers into a gooey mess. Hmmm...

December 19, 2001, 08:50 AM	#9
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	Some do, some don't, from when I did a lot of fly tying. Try again,and skip the polish. You may have to repaint more, but it's a quickneasy job.

December 19, 2001, 10:53 PM	#11
slick slidestop Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 385	If you use alcohol, use pure graine, not regular rubbing alcohol as it will leave an oily residue. I'd stick with hot thinner

December 20, 2001, 09:22 AM	#12
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	Straight grain alcohol is good stuff. Besides its talent as a beverage ingredient, that is. Good fire starter in wet weather, antiseptic, and general small part cleaner/degreaser.

December 20, 2001, 03:48 PM	#13
TCW Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2000 Location: PRK Posts: 431	Where can you get straight grain?

December 21, 2001, 07:22 AM	#14
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	Liquor stores, especially those near Frat Row at colleges(G). Everclear is a common brand.

December 21, 2001, 01:49 PM	#15
TCW Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2000 Location: PRK Posts: 431	Thanks, Dave...I won't ask how you knew that