How to Blacken Sights?

paulo · Post by **paulo** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:34 pm

This shooter was mixing a liquid with another element which caused bubbling inside an aluminum container, after closing the small canister the gas was ignited in much the same way as a lighter.

Richard H · Post by **Richard H** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:02 pm

That would be calcium carbide and water which makes acetylene. You can buy lighters that do this check out Ray Vin at http://www.ray-vin.com/

Rover · Post by **Rover** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:10 pm

I swapped one NIB from Don Kling at the Desert Midwinter Saturday.

He had it quite a while (since 1983), I think, so the info may have changed. They really work quite well.

The label reads:

Gun Smoke
P.O. Box 502
Natick MA 01760

paulo · Post by **paulo** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:25 pm

Thanks for the info.

Found a post that got my attention:
"calcium carbide calcium carbide + H 2 O = accetelyne. Accetelyne over 15 psi without acetone to stabilize it can go BOOM"

I believe that in the amounts I saw being used on a Gun Smoke it will be safe, this was an old instrument and the o-ring was bad and the gas was igniting from the side leak as well, even like that it didn't look dangerous.

Also somebody mentioned to clean sights after each application as soot builds up and modifies sight height.

2650 Plus · Post by **2650 Plus** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:16 am

Clean your sight after the days shooting as tha blackening can cause rusting of the metal . It does work better than any other solution for blackening sights [in my opinion.] Good Shooting Bill Horton

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:29 am

Its a lot of hassle for blackening sights now and then, the carbide goes off too.
I use the black spray.

guest22 · Post by **guest22** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:52 am

Beside the commercial sprays you can also use camphor.
I put a little amount in an empty pellet tin, light it and hold the sight in the smoke.
Cheap and no risk of explosion!.
Good shooting. Guy

ken4all · Post by **ken4all** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:43 am

how are original sights blackened?

paulo · Post by **paulo** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:07 am

Where can you get camphor?

Richard H · Post by **Richard H** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:35 pm

Masking tape works well too nice black sooty smoke.

echosierra3 · Post by **echosierra3** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:50 pm

You can also light up a plastic spoon, just be careful of the melting plastic. Having said that, I own the Ray-Vin smoker and really like it, nice people as well.

paulo · Post by **paulo** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:37 am

Thank you all, I have found a used GunSmoke instrument, it will be a great and useful tool to have.

Spencer · Post by **Spencer** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:38 am

Richard H wrote:Masking tape works well too nice black sooty smoke.

caution
the adhesive on masking tape typically contains urethanes
burning urethanes = cyanide
cyanide is not good

Richard H · Post by **Richard H** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:53 pm

Yes the inch of masking tape that is burned will kill us all I'm sure. For that fact maybe we shouldn't bother blackening the sights at all as it adds to global warming. Just as the lead will make us all slow. I said burn a piece of tape, not a roll or case of tape, devil is in the details. I'm sure the products coming off a polystyrene spoon burning are good for you too.

Guest22 · Post by **Guest22** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:27 pm

paulo wrote:Where can you get camphor?

Any drug store will sell it.

Guy

paulo · Post by **paulo** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:04 pm

I am now waiting for some Calcium Carbide, I went with a used GunSmoker.
It might not be for you, but I suggest beginners like me try it, it makes a great difference.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:11 pm

I have tried something different lately and it seems to work very well. It is ink in the 'carbon' marking(color). Very dark and blacker than the original factory black on the sight. I apply it using a small sponge brush and put it on very thinly. Bought it at the hobby store. Kind of luckily happened onto this as was taking my daughters to the hobby store for their supplies and noticed the inks and thought 'I bet they would really darken my front sight!".

Nigel · Post by **Nigel** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:09 am

Spencer wrote:
Richard H wrote:Masking tape works well too nice black sooty smoke.
caution
the adhesive on masking tape typically contains urethanes
burning urethanes = cyanide
cyanide is not good

That's one way to take out the competition. Banned under the spirit of fair play?

LukeP · Post by **LukeP** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:42 am

Ted wrote:I have tried something different lately and it seems to work very well. It is ink in the 'carbon' marking(color). Very dark and blacker than the original factory black on the sight. I apply it using a small sponge brush and put it on very thinly. Bought it at the hobby store. Kind of luckily happened onto this as was taking my daughters to the hobby store for their supplies and noticed the inks and thought 'I bet they would really darken my front sight!".

Hi Ted, i'm interested in your metothd,
do you have a link or internet reference to understand what are you talking about?
Best regards,
Luca.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:43 am

Luke,
Just go to a store that sells ink in small bottles. A hobby or crafts store should have these. The ink bottles come in different shades. Some shades are 'gray', black' 'carbon'. I have found that the 'carbon' shade is the darkest. A bottle cost about $5 here in the U.S. I use a small sponge brush to brush it on my front and rear sight.
This is about as detailed as I can get. I don't know of any references to this technique as I have happened upon it myself. Hope this gives you more detail.
Ted

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