Iodine Stained Ivory I installed an NECG mammoth bead on my LC Smith's barrel last week. I wanted to age it to horse teeth yeller. I came across the site linked above. I stained it with iodine using a Qtip after it had been installed. Worked like a charm.
cool! I have heard the tannins in black tea also work well.
Steve
CraigF
I like ivory beads so I looked up NECG's website. I noticed they have two sizes. I'm having trouble visualizing the size, can I assume the larger size would be for the front bead and the smaller for a middle bead.
Thanks for help with this question.
Steve
The 4mm bead is the one I used for a front sight. I have an old Crescent double with an ivory bead that's the same size. Three other double all have metal beads smaller than the NECG 4mm bead.
It's too large to use in combination with the 5mm bead in front.
Personally I would not want a front sigt any larger than the 4mm one (5/32").
BTY-Staining only took a minute or two, wiped it with alcohol let it dry then swabbed the iodine on and let that dry.
I see they show them as .157 and .197; I assume you used the smaller one? Also, did it thread in or did you have to file it down to press fit it?
4mm = 0.157"
5mm = 0.197"
I used the smaller one.
My Smith had previously been tapped 6-48. The NECG sights are 6-48 undersize. The sight screwed in easily with just my fingers. I put a dab of clear nail polish in the threaded hole and screwed it home.
CraigF
Just installed one of the 4mm beads on a A grade Fox. I thought the 4mm was a little big on the 16 ga but it looks nice. I am going to try the iodine and see how it works.
Thanks Craig. Rob did the 6-48 thread into your Fox? I've asked on the Fox site several times if anyone knows the thread size for the bead on my Utica Sterly but haven't gotten an answer. Your A is Philly though I think.
It is a philly and they are a taper fit. The threads are a snug fit into the taper. I am just going to put a little epoxy in there and it should be fine. I ordered two sights and they were different. One of the beads threads was a snug fit and the other would fall right out. I think the sterlingworths are a threaded bead. I would think if the thread doesnt match you could just sand it down and make it fit and secure with a little epoxy. They are cheap enough to give it a try.
Yeah; I got a couple a while back from Brownell's and that's what I did. Just thought maybe these would screw right in. I also chucked them in my Dremel tool and used a fine file to make them a bit smaller; worked great. Aged mine with tea before I installed them.
Yeah; I got a couple a while back from Brownell's and that's what I did. Just thought maybe these would screw right in. I also chucked them in my Dremel tool and used a fine file to make them a bit smaller; worked great. Aged mine with tea before I installed them.
Great idea. Wish I'd thought of that before I finished with the last two I used. Can't beat 'em for the price.
I can't find the ivory beads on their website, even by using their search engine. What category are they listed under?
SRH
Stan, on the NECG site click on sights, then on front sights, then scroll to bottom of page.
Thanks, guys. I was looking on NECGs site and never did find it. Didn't think to look at Brownell's.
SRH