Matt Griffin Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Just curious, my FO fell out and I notice that the front of the sight doesn't have a hole, just a detent for the rod. How then do you secure the FO rod in the sight? On my Dawson, you melt both sides and are good to go, but this seems different. H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) Most people just drill thru and make it like the other ones. It collects more light that way anyway. You can also use watery, clear super glue (not gel) and it will wick in and hold it securely. Edited November 25, 2008 by Toolguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Getting the bits out of the hole is usually the problem. When putting in a new piece of fiber on SDM shove it in. What we then do, YMMV, is melt the fiber on both sides of the hole on the rear of the sight(front side and back side of hole). Not a lot of melt but enough. Like all things revolver, it's different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Griffin Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 Hmm, I might just go ahead and drill the front. I have a good cobalt drillbit from working on Glock triggers, so it shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the info, guys. H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 As the F/O rod breaks or darkens to an unacceptable level on my SDM sights, I've been drilling them through so the F/O is easily replaceable. If you use a Starrett punch to carefully create a centered dimple on the front of the sight, it's pretty easy to drill the sight from the front with a hand drill, so you don't even have to remove the sight from the barrel. Then you can melt both ends of the F/O properly. Also, I've been using more EGW sights lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Hmm, I might just go ahead and drill the front. I have a good cobalt drillbit from working on Glock triggers, so it shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the info, guys.H. That'll work. The SDM sights are not particularly hard. They're pretty easy to drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 What we then do, YMMV, is melt the fiber on both sides of the hole on the rear of the sight(front side and back side of hole). Not a lot of melt but enough. The problem with that plan is that melting the F/O rod along its length (and not just at the ends) can negatively affect the light transfer that makes the sight work, and more importantly can weaken the integrity of the rod, making it more likely to break quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJDOUBLETAP Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 What we then do, YMMV, is melt the fiber on both sides of the hole on the rear of the sight(front side and back side of hole). Not a lot of melt but enough. The problem with that plan is that melting the F/O rod along its length (and not just at the ends) can negatively affect the light transfer that makes the sight work, and more importantly can weaken the integrity of the rod, making it more likely to break quickly. If you don't melt it how do you get it in? Glue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 You should melt both ends whether you glue it or not. Don't melt the middle part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom E Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) The original FO is 1.5 mm, .060". The muzzle end is staked and the FO usually pre-cracked because of it. The sight can be drilled for a 2 mm, .080" FO. It will lay on the bottom of the cut out and seems much harder to break. I didn't drill mine thru but super glued it. Foam safe super glue. I didn't drill it thru (left it blind) 'cause the muzzle end is usually what gets wacked and drilling it thru would let it get deformed more easily. Edited November 26, 2008 by Tom E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 http://www.cylinder-slide.com/index.php?ap...mp;ref=SWsights Those are basically like the dawson's it looks like. No drilling required. Once I play with the black front for a little while, if I go to a FO I'll probably get one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPatterson Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 That's a good looking sight but a little pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 That's a good looking sight but a little pricey. 28$ from midway....look at just the front sights not the set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RePete Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Just curious, my FO fell out and I notice that the front of the sight doesn't have a hole, just a detent for the rod. How then do you secure the FO rod in the sight? On my Dawson, you melt both sides and are good to go, but this seems different.H. I had this same problem, so an e-mail to SDM solved that. Here is the reply. Hi Peter Below are the directions I send with replacement elements and bulk F.O. If this does not answer your questions let me know Scott To flare and clear the visible end. roll the element back and forth between thumb and forefinger and slowly approach a heat source ( bic lighter, candle etc) don't get it to big or it will not fit in the counterbore on the sight. To cut Roll the element on a clean hard surface while cutting with a single edge razor blade ( Best method ) or use a very fine very sharp cutter ( like fingernail clippers ) To remove broken pieces from sight Break off and pull out all the pieces you can. The hard one is the piece stuck in the blind hole. Here is the trick to get it out easily. Take a small pin ( sewing type ) and bend the tip into a tiny "L" shape. ( it has to fit in the blind hole ) While holding the pin with hemostats or needle nose pliers heat the tip till it glows red and push it into the broken piece in the blind hole as far as it will go. Do not move it until it cools completely. Then pull it out with the pliers. The broken piece will come with it. Installing the new element On the left side of the front of the sight you will notice a small dimple. This is where the element was crimped in place. Just pushing the new element in should be all that is needed. The dimple will hold it. It may be hard to push in all the way. Using a blunted round tooth pick may help. Please let me know if you have any question. Or feel free to call, I can walk you through it. Hope that helps. Regards Scott D. Mulkerin SDM Fabricating Inc. 3775 Foskett Road Medina , Ohio 44256 330-723-3098 email sdmfab@zoominternet.net web www.sdmfabricating.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now