TargetTalk

Is there any product that gives a good quality, (semi-)permanent result?
The trick I have learned 40 years ago was to burn the plastic from a box of ammo and smoke the sights.
I see that a carbide burner is being sold for this application (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnZcdk1oEVc), but it seems too much work and not permanent.
Thanks

Try Black Party Hair spray, good matt black, holds well for a match, washs off with metho,
and $8-$12 a can.

Best, easiest, cheapest…………..burn a twist of masking tape.

Gimgim. I use a non permanent flat black marking pen. I have never used smoke so I can't give you a comparison.

Permanent black marker, quick light cigarette burnish

You've all missed the acetylene "lighter" (BIC?) made for the sole purpose of smoking sights. Of course, it is illegal in the U.S. I guess you might burn yourself.

Rover wrote:You've all missed the acetylene "lighter" (BIC?) made for the sole purpose of smoking sights. Of course, it is illegal in the U.S. I guess you might burn yourself.

That's the carbide one - carbide releases acetylene when it comes in contact with water. This was how the early charlatans sold water as fuel for the Model T.

The army training manual describes this technique btw.

Yeah, I had one of those "sight lighters" years ago when I shot bullseye ... Are they actually illegal in the 'States? (Not that that would come as a surprise or anything ...)

-TT- wrote:

Rover wrote:You've all missed the acetylene "lighter" (BIC?) made for the sole purpose of smoking sights. Of course, it is illegal in the U.S. I guess you might burn yourself.

That's the carbide one - carbide releases acetylene when it comes in contact with water.

That sounds more like the "Gunsmoke" device where you place carbide into a container, add water and then place a top on the container with a nozzle in it.

What I believe Rover was talking about was the "BIC" style of lighter which looks just like a disposable cigarette lighter. You only have to flick it just like you would a normal lighter.

https://www.schiesssport-buinger.de/sho ... LACK-MATCH (other styles are available)

Carbide smoker from Ray-Vin is excellent! But it's not the semi-permanent solution you're looking for. But I prefer a fresh sight blackening each range trip or event.

https://www.ray-vin.com/tools/smoker.htm

I had a couple of the carbide type smokers. Useless, filthy pieces of crap. The masking tape is far better.

I use Birchwood Casey Sight Black, an aerosol spray product in a small can. It's very non-reflective and deep black. Unfortunately it's also messy. It's non-permanent, smudges off at the slightest touch, and, because it's an aerosol spray, you can never blacken JUST your sights. You will almost always also blacken the front of your piece around the front sight and the area surrounding the rear sight.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I tried today with a black marker and the results were good enough to cover the shiny edges.

Rover: I tried burning white masking tape (I assume you don't mean duct tape) in my garage, and it works well, thanks. The range is an open sport park though, and I don't know if there is a safe place where I can burn the tape.

The BIC typo acetylene lighter looks very cool. I wonder if I can recharge a regular lighter with acetylene, but from what I read, it's not trivial (acetylene cylinders are filled with porous mass and a solvent, not just pressurized gas).

since Im a non-smoker

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Testors-2549 ... r/37548003

gimgim wrote:(acetylene cylinders are filled with porous mass and a solvent, not just pressurized gas).

Right. Welding tanks are typically filled with brass wool or similar material. Acetylene is unstable and can explode if its container is jarred. Don't mess with it.

Rover wrote:You've all missed the acetylene "lighter" (BIC?) made for the sole purpose of smoking sights. Of course, it is illegal in the U.S. I guess you might burn yourself.

In the 1950's we used those carbide devices. I believe they were carbide lamps. I have not seen them for many decades.

Another option that I used for a while was a Zippo lighter with some oil added to the lighter fuel.

I used a zippo lighter with 2-stroke mix.
Regular gasoline works too.
Beeing older and lazier l just use a cigarette lighter, but then l prefer a frenchmade Bic. Recently l have come across spanish made Bics. They are useless.