Sanded Dark Initiate LEV4

[Hansrad]

Wanted to do some weathering on my Dark Initiate LE V4. Started sanding. More sanding. And more sanding. After a while decided to continue until there was more of a two tone look to the saber. Here's the result.


Pretty happy with the two tone and some weathering. I think it gives it a well cared for but well used look. Hope you like.

[DarthScrub]

Very nice! Are you thinking about adding further weathering? Perhaps some paint and tattered fabric?

[scifidude79]

That looks outstanding! I love the two tone look.  I'd like to eventually do something similar with my Dark Sentinel.

[Hansrad]

Thanks.
 

Very nice! Are you thinking about adding further weathering? Perhaps some paint and tattered fabric?

I think I'm going to leave it where it is for now. Haven't done much with fabric, but it is something to think about.

[DarthScrub]

I've seen some pretty cool stuff with leather used for grips, could be used to break up some of the silver in the bottom half. Overall, your sanding already produced a solid weathered look

[Dauntless Seven]

Hi.  I really like what you have done to this Dark Initiate !  It looks like a 3 tone with your weathering variations.  May have to borrow your idea.  Please share about how you sanded off the anodizing as it looks so neat and clean.  How did you buff the silver sections to get that glossier finish ?   

+1 point   

[RevanReborn]

Wow, wicked job Hansrad!!  This looks amazing!  Love the two tone, great call. 

D7, I could be wrong, he may have polished it after, but when you sand down to bare aluminum or sand aluminum that's already bare, it gives it a really nice, lighter, paler, look like that.  Very white, soft looking- beautiful. 

And dude wicked plug .  Love that brass in the centre- great idea!  Point incoming. 

[Hansrad]

Thanks D7 and Revan. I used 80,150,400,1000, and 1500 grit. Then I used some Metal Glo polish I had lying around.

[scifidude79]

Did you do the sanding by hand or use power tools?

[Dauntless Seven]

Thanks D7 and Revan. I used 80,150,400,1000, and 1500 grit. Then I used some Metal Glo polish I had lying around.

Hi again.  More points to you and Rev for most helpful info.  That seems to be a lot of different grits.  Could you have eliminated any of them and how long did this take to complete ?  I forgot to mention the emitter plug.  Looks so good.  Great overall job ! 

If you don't want the red center on the guarded switch, you could sand it a bit and then use quick drying silver or black nail polish that has a hardener in it.  The more that I look at your saber, I like the pop of the red. 

[Hansrad]

I did it by hand. I worked on it over the last couple of weeks whenever I felt like picking it up, usually while watching a movie. Probably no more than than 15min at a time since I sometimes have problems with my wrists. I probably could have skipped a couple of those grits. The biggest delay was that I didn't go coarse enough to start with and was wearing very little away. Eventually I grabbed the 80 grit and it sped up significantly after that, but I wouldn't recommend it for a more subtle removal of the anodization.

[scifidude79]

Great information, thanks a lot.