TCCS photon blade - diffusion

[Galef]

As I understand, we can talk about The Custom Saber Shop as they are not competitors of US, but have compatible parts.
If that's wrong, mods please delete this.

If this is ok, then I have some questions on the Photon blade. It looks like they sell a 40" blade without diffusion film or blade tip. They do sell the tip, but I don't see that they sell the diffusion film.
Any ideas where I can get some?

Secondary question: I've seen people use sandpaper/steel wool to scratch up the outside of the blade to add a 2nd layer of diffusion.
Is t better to go up/down so there are vertical lines down the blade, or side-to-side so there are horizontal lines?
Personally I think horizontal might catch the light better, but wanted some feedback

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[firehand10k]

In my photon blade I used craft cellophane I got at Michaels. I mostly assemble my own blade so i bought a 40" by 100' roll. Its pretty much the same as US and other saber makers roll onto theirs.

Most of those sanded blades are done up and down. One noted saber maker has stated that the more inappropriate it looks when your sanding the blade the better it should look when finished.

My Photon blade with just cellophane diffusion in my Archon 3.1 emitter on a single diode Guardiann Blue:
 

[Tazflyr]

Fire, have you ever sanded any of your's?

[firehand10k]

No. I have a sanded blade from the other guys that started it but I don't like it. I don't have any Photons done like that.

[Galef]

I just sanded my sons' Heavy grades (non-UG) and I did a "cross-hatching" pattern by accident but it works.
I meant to go side-to-side and travel down the blade, but that made diagonal lines. When I went the other direct up the blade, it made opposing diagonal lines.

My son said it looks like the saber is not "locked in ice" which is cool
It gives the blades a bit more glow to the outer edges and also a kind of "vibration" look.  Not like a Kylo Ren unstable blade, but more of the "humming/pulsing" look of the OT sabers. So definitely a success that I would repeat on a Photon blade

About how much $ is cellophane from Michaels? How much do I need?
I plan on eventually getting the 40" Photon blade from TCCS and 2 round tips, cutting about 6-8" off the blade so I can get a 32-34" blade and a 6-8" "spear hear" So I can couple my Sentinel and my wife's Dark Apprentice and have a staff/spear

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[firehand10k]

I think about $12 for a 100 foot roll. You don't need too much but I've never measured. I do mine by feel when i have a thickness i like. I ordered my last roll from Amazon because Michael's was out from holidays.

[Tazflyr]

I just sanded my sons' Heavy grades (non-UG) and I did a "cross-hatching" pattern by accident but it works.
I meant to go side-to-side and travel down the blade, but that made diagonal lines. When I went the other direct up the blade, it made opposing diagonal lines.

My son said it looks like the saber is not "locked in ice" which is cool
It gives the blades a bit more glow to the outer edges and also a kind of "vibration" look.  Not like a Kylo Ren unstable blade, but more of the "humming/pulsing" look of the OT sabers. So definitely a success that I would repeat on a Photon blade

About how much $ is cellophane from Michaels? How much do I need?
I plan on eventually getting the 40" Photon blade from TCCS and 2 round tips, cutting about 6-8" off the blade so I can get a 32-34" blade and a 6-8" "spear hear" So I can couple my Sentinel and my wife's Dark Apprentice and have a staff/spear

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You know the deal...pics or it didn't happen.

[Galef]

You know the deal...pics or it didn't happen.

Oh don't worry, I have all day tomorrow off and will be taking several videos and pics.

In costume

[Infinit01]

Good work, I like it

[Galef]

Ok, so I pulled the trigger on a few thin walled photon blades to cut to size, sand to diffuse the outer surface and I'll get some cellophane to put inside.

I now have 2 questions:
A) Will photon blades work with TriGreen? I know it doesn't really "glow" unless you use Blue, but would they be as bright as a standard Mid-grade blade at least? I'd like to cut 2 of them to about 26" to use as Day blades for my Tri-green staff.

B) Does anyone know the processing time for TCSS right now? I didn't see anything on their site

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[Maestro Jones]

Ok, so I pulled the trigger on a few thin walled photon blades to cut to size, sand to diffuse the outer surface and I'll get some cellophane to put inside.

I now have 2 questions:
A) Will photon blades work with TriGreen? I know it doesn't really "glow" unless you use Blue, but would they be as bright as a standard Mid-grade blade at least? I'd like to cut 2 of them to about 26" to use as Day blades for my Tri-green staff.

B) Does anyone know the processing time for TCSS right now? I didn't see anything on their site

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I don't know the answer to #1, but I ordered a day blade, a "Corbin style" show blade, and a 18650 battery holder on 2/1/2020 and I got a shipping notice Friday stating it would be here this Wednesday.  So, it seems to be a week (at least for my stuff).

[Galef]

Sweet thanx. Looks like they'll probably show before my late January US order then.

Gotta keep those sabers and saber accessories flowing.

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[firehand10k]

The photon blades with green look a slightly more yellowish green. Kind of like Ahsoka's second saber is The Clone Wars. How its hard to tell if its green or yellow depending on the scene.

[Galef]

The photon blades with green look a slightly more yellowish green. Kind of like Ahsoka's second saber is The Clone Wars. How its hard to tell if its green or yellow depending on the scene.

That works for me, thanks. I ordered 3 blades, 2 of which I'll cut down to 26-27 inches for my TriGreen staff just because I want them as Day blades but also because the 24" UEHG blades I'm using now are too heavy to comfortably spin. I just want the color to be nice, green and still as bright (or brighter) than they are in the UEHG. A little yellowing won't hurt and kinda fits as my Jedi character was once a Sentinel.

The 3rd blade I'm planning on cutting ~34" with a pointed tip for my sound saber, which is VA but can be made just blue with a dark green color disc.

Eventually I'll have to get a Tri-Blue saber (or maybe Tri-Silver with a color disc?) to get the full photonic effect.  
Any recommendations? I'm torn between an Aeon/Dominix V2, Apprentice V4 or V5. I want it to be as comfortable for spinning as possible.

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[Galef]

Oh man that was fast! Made an order with TCSS on Sunday and it shipped Tuesday, so it might get here by next week.
I am very likely to make another order while I wait for my Sentinel V5 LE with sound. I wanna see how VA looks in a purple day blade

Guess I need to go get that roll of cellophane form Michaels to be ready when these arrive.

Quick question: What kind of glue do you recommend for the blade tips? Super glue, plastic cement or something else?

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