Paint on Glow?

Colokeb · December 24, 2011, 12:44 PM

Is there a paint on raidoactive sight product available to buy?

Old Grump · December 24, 2011, 01:38 PM

Ready Set Glo, http://www.readysetglo.com/products/...--Powder-.html

It's a powder you add to your paint. I use Testors paint and add the powder for my fishing lures.

Dfariswheel · December 24, 2011, 08:45 PM

These paints are not radioactive.
They don't generate their own light like Tritium sights do, and the old Radium paint as once used on watch dials is so hazardous you can't buy it.

These paints only glow after being "charged up" by exposing them to light.
That means that if you put the gun in a holster or drawer, when you take it out, it won't be glowing.

Old Grump · December 26, 2011, 03:45 PM

Just guessing here but I suspect he meant luminous not radioactive.

**Unclenick** · December 26, 2011, 05:53 PM

The tritium sights are both. The purpose of the tritium gas in the vials is the beta particle radiation it emits that strike a phosphor coating inside the glass vials and make it glow. Having a source of light fueled by a radioactive source is called radioluminescence. Beta radiation can only penetrate about a quarter inch air and can't penetrate skin, so is fairly safe as long as you don't inhale the tritium gas. Tritium has a half life of about a dozen years.

It was unsafe gamma radiation from radium that caused it to be a health hazard. Too bad. It takes about 25 years just to lose just 1% of its energy, IIRC.

As for the recommended paint additive, they claim you can see it for 24 hours, but don't say how dim it is by then. Whether or not it would be bright enough to use by the end of the night, I don't know. It's a common practice to hit watch dials with a flashlight to get them glowing. Might need to do the same with it on sights.

drail · December 26, 2011, 06:06 PM

If it is so dark that you need to have your front sight glowing how can you possibly see your target and identify it?

**Unclenick** · December 26, 2011, 07:57 PM

By the muzzle flashes.

Actually, there are lots of reduced light conditions where you can easily make out a target but not have enough contrast to pick up a front sight quickly. These sights are aimed at enhancing speed of sight acquisition under those marginal condition rather than to promote shooting into pitch blackness. That's why they need a certain amount of luminous intensity. In pitch black even a fairly dim glow would still be visible.

Old Grump · December 27, 2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

If it is so dark that you need to have your front sight glowing how can you possibly see your target and identify it?

This is the reason I finally had to break down and start mounting slopes on my hunting rifles and one of my shotguns. After 55, diabetes and cataracts I could still see the deer and squirrel in the dim light of an overcast winter day but could not see the sights anymore. That ended my pistol hunting for deer and small game except on exceptional well lit days.

Since then I have discovered paint and got some of my handgun shooting days back even though my eyes continue to drift south while I mosey on north. Hi Viz on two of my shotguns make a huge difference too, even on good light days. Most of the guns I shoot regularly are now painted.

December 24, 2011, 12:44 PM	#1
Colokeb Member Join Date: February 15, 2008 Location: west Posts: 86	Paint on Glow? Is there a paint on raidoactive sight product available to buy?

December 24, 2011, 01:38 PM	#2
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	Ready Set Glo, http://www.readysetglo.com/products/...--Powder-.html It's a powder you add to your paint. I use Testors paint and add the powder for my fishing lures. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

December 26, 2011, 03:45 PM	#4
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	Just guessing here but I suspect he meant luminous not radioactive. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

December 26, 2011, 05:53 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The tritium sights are both. The purpose of the tritium gas in the vials is the beta particle radiation it emits that strike a phosphor coating inside the glass vials and make it glow. Having a source of light fueled by a radioactive source is called radioluminescence. Beta radiation can only penetrate about a quarter inch air and can't penetrate skin, so is fairly safe as long as you don't inhale the tritium gas. Tritium has a half life of about a dozen years. It was unsafe gamma radiation from radium that caused it to be a health hazard. Too bad. It takes about 25 years just to lose just 1% of its energy, IIRC. As for the recommended paint additive, they claim you can see it for 24 hours, but don't say how dim it is by then. Whether or not it would be bright enough to use by the end of the night, I don't know. It's a common practice to hit watch dials with a flashlight to get them glowing. Might need to do the same with it on sights. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 26, 2011, 07:57 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	By the muzzle flashes. Actually, there are lots of reduced light conditions where you can easily make out a target but not have enough contrast to pick up a front sight quickly. These sights are aimed at enhancing speed of sight acquisition under those marginal condition rather than to promote shooting into pitch blackness. That's why they need a certain amount of luminous intensity. In pitch black even a fairly dim glow would still be visible. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 24, 2011, 08:45 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	These paints are not radioactive. They don't generate their own light like Tritium sights do, and the old Radium paint as once used on watch dials is so hazardous you can't buy it. These paints only glow after being "charged up" by exposing them to light. That means that if you put the gun in a holster or drawer, when you take it out, it won't be glowing.

December 26, 2011, 06:06 PM	#6
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	If it is so dark that you need to have your front sight glowing how can you possibly see your target and identify it?