Just ah thought now that my SKS has all its' stuff [ sling,cleaning kit,manual ] has anybody tried touching up the glow in the dark nite sights since they don't glow no mo? Not that I'd have a use for them but sounds like cheap fun.
frenchy
Most larger vendors have the "Glow-in-the-dark" sight paint, in various colors.
Depending on the production batch of Yugo M59/66, you could have either painted nightsights (mine does) or the later Tritium sights. The Tritium capsules have a life-time of about 12 years, from what I have read - so they are long dead. A good gunsmith could replace them, but it probably wouldn't be really cost-effective. How often do you shoot your SKS at night......?
The sights were originally painted with a radioactive material werent they?
Common misconception. That topic was thoroughly exhausted some time ago and I think the conclusion was that it's not radioactive and even if it was, it wouldn't be enough to hurt you. Cell phones do more damage than those things would if they were radioactive. Now, Yugos are the only ones with any type of glowy sights, and the older ones generally don't work. However, I have a Yugo rear sight assembly around here that still glows in the dark. Don't know how old it is though.
Thanks for all the great ideas and options, I'll try them. Laufer my yugo cleaning rod doesn't thread in ether, so i guess that's normal. It was loose but 1 wrap of electrical tape on the rod at the bayo cam snugged it up and being black you can't see it. Sounds like i got the accent right, never been down south but am really hoping to someday! Big Dog I'm sure I'll never shoot at nite but I love to tinker!
frenchy
As stated the night sights on the Yugo M59/66A1 come in two forms most common are the Phosphorous and least common are the Tritium vials. Both in most cases are long dead but you do occasionally find some that work.
Best option is to clean out the old Phosphorus with a dental pick tool,both the front and back are easy to do the front flip up sight is only about 1/16" deep the two rear holes are only about 1/32 if that so a little paint or glow powder goes a long way. Here is the best you can get,I will see if I can post a pic of mine lit up tonight when it dark.
The cleaning rods don't thread into the stock the notch under the front sight holds the rod in place and the bayo usually will hold it snug so it doesn't make noise.