Saber Forum

Phase 1 started.

Using sandpaper grit 120 to create scratches and wear and tear marks. Plus dull the high finish chrome look. Next I need to figure out what type of weathering to do to it. Most likely dry brush/clear coat. Below is phase 1 (sanding). Hopefully you can see the results below. My apologies for the low res pics.

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase1-a_zps3c5361ee.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase1-b_zpsdf279e59.jpg)

That looks really nice, I haven't seen a sanded 'light' saber before on here. Gah, I may borrow you idea for my own Initiate. ;)

Point.

I am a total noob with customizing sabers. So I chose my lowest end saber. Plus the hilt is somewhat simple so modifications should look great. I plan on grabbing some paint for metal, probably gun metal gray and paint the entire hilt. Then use rags to gently wipe off the excess paint. This will leave the paint in the grooves giving it a weathered look. I'll probably apply a few coats to get the desired effect. Once I have, then I'll seal it with a layer of clear coat. At least that's what I am hoping for! :)

I'll post pics as I move through each phase.

Just checked my sandpaper grit. I was incorrect. I first lightly hit the hilt with 225U (super fine grain). Then a little harder pressure with Grit 150. Hope that helps.

Nice work so far.  Point!  I have the Dark Initiate LE V3, and I started customizing it this past weekend.  Well, I couldn't actually do it...  I paid for it, it is my only saber thus far, and still "my baby"...  So I had a friend throw it down the driveway twice, then take a dremmel to it...  Now I need to get some scrap leather and do some wrapping...  Maybe hit it with some sandpaper...  We shall see.  It is an ongoing WIP!

Wow! You are really going for the beat up look. Per your name, are you going to add some steam punk elements to the saber?

I actually just posted my own thread, discussing leather options, so as not to totally jack your thread.  ;)

I will be leather wrapping it, but I don't know if I will actually Steampunk out my hilt.  I am learning to twirl my saber and the like, so I am afraid that if I add decorative doodads to it, it will make it untwirlable.

Good point. But a steam punk saber would be badass.

Yeah, it really would.  I will look into some options that won't interfere with twirling and such...

Worked on Phase 2 of this customization project after work today. Started the weathering FX. This is my first time doing something like this, but I think for a noob it turned out pretty good. The Saber definitely looks like it has carbon scorching and allot of wear and tear. I'll let it fully dry for 24 hours then I will probably do a little more sanding in some areas, then clean it thoroughly before clear coat is applied. The photo doesn't catch all the layers of scorching but it looks really cool up close.

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Weathering1_zpsba442daa.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Weathering2_zpsea54e05e.jpg)

That looks great! Did you paint it and then weather the paint?

Exactly. I used Rust-Oleum metallic gray. After spraying a coat down, I used a rage to rub it down, then added 3 more coats the same way. Then sanded it a bit after about 1 hour drying. Then a light coat on top of that. Now I am little it dry for a full 24 hours. Then I'll use very fine sand paper and sand it a little, then I'll use warm soapy water to clear the residue. Then spray a few coats of clear coat to protect the aging look. :)

Wow, that is looking REALLY great.  Kudos!

That's very detailed. It seems like you know what you're doing.

Thanks! We'll see how it looks when it's all done. Keeping my fingers X'd.

This looks really great so far! I can't wait to see what you do with it! :D

Clear coat today. Then add some O-rings for the grips. I am trying to find a 6-32 screw to replace the current blade retention screw. specifically a thumb screw. Found one online that I might order. :)

My Initiate just has a little hole that I stick the allen wrench in to remove/install the blade.  What does your have, and what are you potentially replacing it with?

Phase 3 completed. Added a few more scrapes,  5 layers of clear coat, added some O-ring rubber grips. Pending is a new retention screw and new button cover.

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase3b_zps684f9d9a.jpg)
(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase3a_zps2916dae3.jpg)
(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase3c_zpsa2afa0da.jpg)

For SteampunkSith:

I've ordered a couple of different Knurled Thumb Screws to replace the retention screw on my Initiate. Going to try a couple of different ones to see which looks best. Of course I'll have to "damage" the screw up a bit to fit the new look of the hilt. I think I am going to install a D-ring to the pommel as well, on the fence on that one.

I can't wait to see!   :)

My new retention screws arrived! Super quick turnaround. Used a black anodized knurled thumb screw. Fit perfectly into the retention blade socket. Note the threading is 8-32 (not 6-32). I got a longer thumb screw as well but it protruded too much. This one makes the hilt keep its low profile. :)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/InitiateV3-Ret1_zpsfcb08f73.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/InitiateV3-Ret2_zpsfe34f9b2.jpg)

Very nice!  I need to go to Home Depot tomorrow or Friday...  In addition to looking for the rings, I may look at the screws, too.

And let me say - I am still in love with your most excellent paint job!  It's so puurrrrrrrrrrrrrty.

I couldn't find them at Home Depot. They had tons of 8-36 screws but none similar to this one. I found it at the "other" custom saber place. :) No links since it's forbidden here. I can send you a personal message with the link if you want it.

Yes, please!  Thank you.

I really look forward to seeing how different, yet similar, our two sabers turn out.  It is nice to see each of them progress!

Phase 3.5 completed. Added more rubber gripping to the upper body. Gives the saber a more industrial look to me. Still looking for a button replacement, but no luck so far. Updated pics below:

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase35_c_zps43598385.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase35_b_zps634fc3d0.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Phase35_a_zps7a3df5ad.jpg)

Oh wow, I really like how that looks!

Very nice. Do you know what type of switch you are going to put on it?

No clue. I am open for ideas. ;)

I think a black AV switch, illuminated green (dot or ring) would look sick! You would probably have to make the hole bigger though to fit an AV switch. Or you could just glue something over that button that would fit inside the guarded part when pressed.

Pretty much what I was thinking too. :)

Awesome saber, love the paint layers & weathering.

If you're comfortable with tinkering with the wiring to put in a new switch "the other guys" have 12mm illuminated AV switches that fit in the same hole as the guarded switch.

Looks awsome, what size was the o-ring that you used on the choke point?

I'm not bad with electronics, but not 100% confident I'd do it right! :)

Unfortunately I think all of the 12mm switches are momentary switches, not latching switches.

Seems you're right... There's an adapter circuit to make a momentary switch latching, but I suck with electronics. Would be really cool, though.
Damn. I was excited about that.

Yeah...I only know because I ordered a latching switch a couple weeks ago and I had to modify my saber to fit it lol.

How hard was it to wire up and how difficult was it to drill through your US hilt? And is it an illuminated switch?

Don't mean to hijack the thread, it seems potentially relevant.

It is illuminated, but I took the easy way out lol. I decided to get all new electronics for the sabe, including LED (I wanted a different color), the AV switch, a buckpuck, and a battery holder with Li-ion batteries to make sure the blade would be nice and bright. Everything came pre-wired with connectors so I literally just had to plug it all together inside the hilt.

It shouldn't be too hard to add a switch to a saber though if you can solder decently. There are wiring diagrams you can follow, but you will need a resistor for an illuminated switch so keep that in mind.

Excellent advice. Thanks!

Added another mod to my initiate. Using painted poly washers and O-rings, I created a grip pattern on the bottom of the hilt. Gives the saber a military look. Not what I was going for initially, but I like it. Looks like this saber has seen some action. Now I need to think about the next Mod. I'd like to do something with the emitter section. Any ideas would be welcomed.

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Mod31-c_zpsf9e0fa85.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-Mod31-b_zps4b2f689b.jpg)

That grip is very nice... What exactly are poly washers? They look angled, or did you make them like that?

Poly washers are in the sink repair area. Same location you can find O-rings. They come in twos and are angled. Just put the opposite sides to make the patter. ;)

Very cool, hasn't seen those while scavenging from the plumbing section. Great idea

Great job on that saber. It's really come a long way from the first pics. Keep up the good work!

Amazing job! Point on the customization!!

Thanks! Turneed out a bit differently than I originally thought out, but it looks okay now. I'll probably tweak it some more of course ;)

Removed the washers and did a little more detail work on the scoring. Pics below show more details in the weatherization. I may do a little more work to finalize the effect.

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-weat1_zps0795c529.jpg)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/Initiate-weat3_zpsc6c1ba38.jpg)

Love that.
Just dremel work?

No dremel used at all. Just used Metallic gray Rustoleum, used rags to rub it down while still tacky to make it streaky. Let it dry. Then hit it with clearcoat. Let it dry.

Then used 3 different grits of sandpaper, heavy to light grits to mark it up and create the worn and scratchy look, finally I popped on some O-rings. I may hit it some more, but so far it looks like I envisioned.

Looks great!
has a real worn-in look about it.  Me likey ;D

Looks incredible. Might try that technique on a scrap of something before attempting it on a real saber.
Your custom work continues to impress.

Thanks! It was really a trial and error experiment. I just went for it. I actually did some more work last night to get more of the aluminum to show through. It looks really cool now, with the scoring showing less so it's not "muddy" looking.

if you have the tools and some spare sheets of metal you can cut yourself a new shroud - i would recommend if you do that drill a hole that will fit with your blade retention screw and you can use that as a way to hold the shoud to the saber

Unfortunately I don't have the necessary tools for this type of work. I'd have to commission someone to make one for me. But that is an awesome idea to add a shroud. I've made a few more adjustments to it, seems I can't stop tweaking it. I finished sanding down some more to let more of the natural aluminum show as well as added a new grip using an O-ring pattern. #18 in the gaps and #17 (thinner) in between. I didn't do every section as I did not want to hide all the weathering, I think the saber is looking pretty good. Has a battle worn look to it. I am ording a D-ring as well, once it arrives I'll weatherize and attach it to the pommel. Then I think this project will be done (I hope!).

Updated pics below:

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/InitiateV3-ProjCont1_zpsc525b559.jpg)
(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s528/richmbailey/InitiateV3-ProjCont2_zps013bd62c.jpg)

Wow!  I love the evolution of this saber.  Point!