Fiber optic rod diameter

[Lokichoki]

Good evening Gents, I have a request to install some fiber optic sights on a Taurus TX22 and to replace the front sights fiber rod with a brass rod. My questions are 1. Do those fiber optic rods vary in diameter between manufacturers (in this case Williams Fire sights) and could someone Mike a rod and throw a number at me I can always go bigger on the brass rod and turn it down 2. Anyone buy small diameter brass rods & where? I'm sure I cant turn stock down that small without it breaking.

 

[Kp321]

1/16” is a common size for FO rods, not sure what yours are. Welding shops should have 1/16” brazing rod. Hobby/craft stores have brass rods in smaller sizes.

 

[a5werkes]

I measured these.

 

[Jim Watson]

Right, if you are buying fibre in bulk you see 1mm and 1.5mm for most brands of sights. HiViz is an oddball. Williams looks pretty fine to me.

Do you not have the gun and sight in hand?

You might look at brass wire instead of rod. 14 gauge is .0641" and 18 gauge is .0403". You might have to sand down the wire or ream the sight hole but it looks simpler than trying to turn a thin pin.
I googled brass rod as small as 1/16" but not 1mm but I didn't spend a long time at it.

 

[Lokichoki]

I do not have the sights on hand I have the Taurus though but no help, great info guys thank you I've found a solid brass tack that cleaned up beautifully so I can order the sights without delay. If time permits I'll post the results. I am fond of a blacked out rear and brass or gold front sight so im interested how this fairs

 

[a5werkes]

Use a #drill bit matched to closest brass rod diameter and hand turn the drill in a pin vise; drill the hole a tiny bit undersize so you can tap the rod into place for a press fit; maybe a bit of epoxy deep in the sight hole to assure it doesn't loosen with recoil.

 

[Lokichoki]

Could do that depends on how these Williams sights feel I planned to mushroom one end the insert and isolate in the open middle and fenegle it to mushroom the front portion, that way I can mushroom and profile the back where you see it while shooting

 

[DIV03]

Fiber Optic Products, Inc.

 

[shoobe01]

I'd probably ask WHY they want a brass rod instead? If it's to be the old "bead sight" they are used to, brass won't stick out in this housing as much as a shotgun bead, and it will tarnish so need regular polishing.

If that's what they want, I'd try to find a gold bead insert (they are usually plated or a less-tarnish-prone allow) and likely not remove but drill out the fiber to accept the bead stud, with a result sorta like this:

Many of these are sold as "gold beads" and... I have no idea if they are gold plated but I suspect not, and it's some low-tarnish gold color plating or alloy.

If you just want to straight do what was requested, go to the local hardware store (NOT HOME DEPOT OR LOWES) and find the K&S Wire and Tubing Center


They are pretty cheap, get several sizes of brass rod about the size you need. You can peen, turn down, ream, etc to get it to fit.