Sight Dots Wiped Away?? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Cupsz71 · 03-14-2008, 10:52 AM

Nothing too serious just something that made me ponder - WHAT??

After starting the "breaking in" my new XD9sc on Mon. with 300rnds of Winchester 115FMJ - I did a field strip breakdown and gave it a good cleaning (as I do with all my guns after a night at the range).
After re-assembly and the final wipedown before I re-holstered it I noticed that the front white dot was - almost gone. Wiped away - and the 2 rear dots were smeared??

I use the SAME cleaning materials & solvents -Hoppes#9 Semi-Auto / Gun Slick NU-GUN Aerosol and finish with Rem Oil on all my other pistols. They also have "factory" 3 DOT white sights and I've never wiped them away that I've noticed.

Common to XD's? - stop "combining" my solvents? - use others?

I'm considering fibre optics anyways, till then I'll probably re-DOT them with Testors white model paint and be more carefull.

**mhillsing23** · 03-14-2008, 11:36 AM

There have been quite a few reports of this, and it does seem that Testors model paint is a good solution.

Reeek · 03-14-2008, 12:40 PM

Applied with a toothpick for ease and perfect application

profesor · 03-14-2008, 01:38 PM

I have heard model paint works wonders...

tenring · 03-14-2008, 03:31 PM

Are you sure it wiped away the paint, and was not just powder residue getting deposited in the dimples? Mine have to be cleaned once in a while with a qtip or something the front sight gets obscured when using WWB which is pretty dirty. It looks like the paint is gone, but cleaning gently brings it out again.

USMC-8154TL/DM · 03-14-2008, 04:14 PM

Maybe time for some new sights.

But I agree with tenring about the smearing

primeduck · 03-14-2008, 04:47 PM

I go to Wal Mart & buy the white automobile touch-up paint in the small tubes that have the "pen like roller-ball end". Works very well & very bright.

tdyoung58 · 03-15-2008, 01:52 PM

I found some floresecent paint for mine, red for the front, yellow for the back, sems to work well. It's a enamel based model paint. Got them at a hobby store. They also had little bitty q-tip like things two different sizes, worked perfect.

husky390 · 03-15-2008, 06:15 PM

Sounds like a great excuse to send it back to the factory for "warranty" and try to get them to throw on night sights free of labor. They might do it if you pay for the sights. They're going to have to replace them anyways, unless they have a bottle of Testors white model paint on hand.

FWIW, I've used gun scrubber and Hoppe's and haven't had an issue.

Don · 03-15-2008, 11:26 PM

The pits in the sites are deep enough that they get dirty and are not easy to clean, so it is easy to fill them in with model enamels. I use a toothpick and dab them in, then use a blow dryer or heat gun to cure and the paint will shrink down. Fill in again and repeat until the paint is flush. It took 6-8 times on mine to fill them in. Now you can wipe them off with the thumb if needed to keep them clean.
If you use the florescent paints to fill the deep pits they can get dark, so I cleaned them out at filled with white paint, then did the florescent paints on the last two layers and they stayed nice and bright.

03-14-2008, 10:52 AM	#1
Cupsz71 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central ND. Posts: 185	Sight Dots Wiped Away?? Nothing too serious just something that made me ponder - WHAT?? After starting the "breaking in" my new XD9sc on Mon. with 300rnds of Winchester 115FMJ - I did a field strip breakdown and gave it a good cleaning (as I do with all my guns after a night at the range). After re-assembly and the final wipedown before I re-holstered it I noticed that the front white dot was - almost gone. Wiped away - and the 2 rear dots were smeared?? I use the SAME cleaning materials & solvents -Hoppes#9 Semi-Auto / Gun Slick NU-GUN Aerosol and finish with Rem Oil on all my other pistols. They also have "factory" 3 DOT white sights and I've never wiped them away that I've noticed. Common to XD's? - stop "combining" my solvents? - use others? I'm considering fibre optics anyways, till then I'll probably re-DOT them with Testors white model paint and be more carefull. __________________ WARNING- "I'm a Bitter Gun Owner Clinging to my Religion....." XD9sc w/CT Laser Grips Beretta 92FS Bersa T380 Ruger Single Six .22/.22Mag Ruger 10/22 - Marlin Mod#40 (gopher balsters)

03-14-2008, 11:36 AM	#2
mhillsing23 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: +38 26 31 -90 22 48 Posts: 3,178	There have been quite a few reports of this, and it does seem that Testors model paint is a good solution. __________________ Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them. - Ronald Wilson Reagan

03-14-2008, 12:40 PM	#3
Reeek XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,788	Applied with a toothpick for ease and perfect application __________________ U.S Navy Veteran - CTT - Naval Security Group Guns: XD9SC with Heinie Straight 8 Night Sights CZ P-01 with Meprolights - green/green EAA Witness (Tangfolio) Elite Match .45 Taurus PT1911 with Heinie Straight 8 Night Sights Kel-Tec P3AT Fulton Armory FAR-15 Predator, 24" SS 1x12 Barrel w/Mueller TAC II Savage 93R17 BVSS .17 HMR Remington 870 18" 6+1 w/Choate Mark 6

03-14-2008, 01:38 PM	#4
profesor XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,167	I have heard model paint works wonders... __________________ Red Ryder BB Gun... where it all begins!

03-14-2008, 03:31 PM	#5
tenring XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MI Posts: 997	Are you sure it wiped away the paint, and was not just powder residue getting deposited in the dimples? Mine have to be cleaned once in a while with a qtip or something the front sight gets obscured when using WWB which is pretty dirty. It looks like the paint is gone, but cleaning gently brings it out again. __________________ "The Sound of freedom is a .45 empty bouncing off the ground" ~ Rob Leatham

03-14-2008, 04:14 PM	#6
USMC-8154TL/DM XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Louisiana Posts: 6,989	Maybe time for some new sights. But I agree with tenring about the smearing __________________ Time is neither fast nor slow - it has been the same since the begining of Time - Originally Quoted By Me Link to my bolt knobs for sale. http://www.bigrivertactical.com/cata...32/5933264.htm or http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...%20BOLT%20KNOB

03-14-2008, 04:47 PM	#7
primeduck XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ellis County, Tx Posts: 293	I go to Wal Mart & buy the white automobile touch-up paint in the small tubes that have the "pen like roller-ball end". Works very well & very bright. __________________ XD 45ACP Compact Dark Earth P22 Target Military 3.4" OD Green Taurus PT111 Millenium Pro 9mm Tan

03-15-2008, 01:52 PM	#8
tdyoung58 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 319	I found some floresecent paint for mine, red for the front, yellow for the back, sems to work well. It's a enamel based model paint. Got them at a hobby store. They also had little bitty q-tip like things two different sizes, worked perfect. __________________ ‘‘Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.’’ — Thomas Jefferson http://paguncarry.wordpress.com/

03-15-2008, 06:15 PM	#9
husky390 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Baking in Arizona Posts: 193	Sounds like a great excuse to send it back to the factory for "warranty" and try to get them to throw on night sights free of labor. They might do it if you pay for the sights. They're going to have to replace them anyways, unless they have a bottle of Testors white model paint on hand. FWIW, I've used gun scrubber and Hoppe's and haven't had an issue.

03-15-2008, 11:26 PM	#10
Don XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Pullman, WA Posts: 4,284	The pits in the sites are deep enough that they get dirty and are not easy to clean, so it is easy to fill them in with model enamels. I use a toothpick and dab them in, then use a blow dryer or heat gun to cure and the paint will shrink down. Fill in again and repeat until the paint is flush. It took 6-8 times on mine to fill them in. Now you can wipe them off with the thumb if needed to keep them clean. If you use the florescent paints to fill the deep pits they can get dark, so I cleaned them out at filled with white paint, then did the florescent paints on the last two layers and they stayed nice and bright. __________________ Don geek with guns Why don\'t you all f-f-f-fade away.... FAQ - Don\'s Guide Rod

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