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Blacken the sights
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:10 am
by kbc
Hello everyone,
I like to find out what is a good way to darken the rear sights on Steyr air pistols? The black coating on my rear sights have worned off due to the use of calibers to measure the rear sight depth. So I can see the glare on the upper edge of the rear sights and it is annoying. Does any one of you have any good suggestions and what are their pros and cons?
Thanks in advance and
Merry Christmas to you all.
kbc
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:34 am
by RobStubbs
Soot is generally the best sight blackener. Either use a cigarette lighter or a candle, unless you can buy the special sight blackener lighters from a gun shop near you.
Rob.
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:58 pm
by pgfaini
Doc Sexton showed me a neat way, several years ago. You fold a length of masking tape down the middle, and light it. It gives off more soot than anything else I've tried, carbide generators included. I also use it to blacken my bullet molds to aid in bullet drop out.
Paul
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:52 pm
by jimsoars
Wow - that was a great tip. I lost my carbide lamp years ago. This works better than the old lamp.
Thanks - Jim
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:37 pm
by Muffo
I use camfer. it works, in my opinion better than the specific lighters than you get from gun shops
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:31 pm
by Ken O
I use the spray stuff.
I have a very old AMU markesmanship manual that says to light a picnic spoon or knife. I never tried it myself.
Black Hair Spray
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:20 am
by David M
I use 'Cinta Black Hair Spray", it is a matt lacquer that sprays on well, gives a good sight picture and does not brush off like soot and is about $3 in the reject shops.
It will slowly build up, but it cleans off easy with a little turps.
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:23 am
by JamesH
Birchwood Casey Permablue Touch Up Blue comes up pretty well black.
I use it to re-blacken all my adjusted sights.
Assuming the material is steel of course, and remember to wash in water afterwards.
It will take the skin off your fingers very efficiently too.
camfer?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:17 pm
by kbc
Thank you all for all the great inputs.
Muffo, what is camfer?
Re: camfer?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:20 pm
by Spencer
kbc wrote:Thank you all for all the great inputs.
Muffo, what is camfer?
camphor wax - used like moth balls in storage of clothes.
this has come up before; the camphor/camphor wax we get at the supermarkets in Australia gives off VERY sooty smoke and makes a great sight blackener.
the camphor vapour is a great anti-rust; a bit of camphor in with the firearms (tools, whatever) is terrific.
Spencer