DIY "LE" Saber?

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

I searched the forums and didn't see anything quite like this, so I figured I would ask.

How hard would it be to take a non LE saber like the Dominix or the Dark Initiate and polish out the anodizing so get the same look as the LE versions? Has anyone tried this?

I'm thinking it would be a matter of masking off the areas NOT to be polished REALLY REALLY well and then just having it it. Thoughts? Anyone? Bueller?

[Sarich Belmont]

I don't think anyone really has. I know that Ultrasabers anodizes all the hilts black then machines the grooves back to being silver when they make the LE versions. Anodizing is a different process than painting or powder coating, so I don't know for sure if it would be possible to do it by hand.

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

That's why I'd start with the Dominix or Dark Initiate, as they're already anodized. According to the listings for the LE version of the DI, they machine the grooves and then polish them. While I /sorta/ have access to a machine shop, it's a 30 mile schlep in the car to get to it. I should hit up the hardware store to see if I can find an itty bitty file that'll fit into the grooves, as that would make quick work of the anodization in there. Polishing should just a matter of ye olde rotary tool (dremel) and some aluminum polish.

[Ultra]

Don't need a machine shop if you have time and steady hands.  With luck and lots of masking tape, you can make an LE yourself with a dremel.  A course metal polish on the dremel's felt polishing cone will strip away the anodized layer of aluminum.

[navajas]

Not trying to be an asshole, but, to me, 30 miles of gas + my time > $5.

*shrug*

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

Don't need a machine shop if you have time and steady hands.  With luck and lots of masking tape, you can make an LE yourself with a dremel.  A course metal polish on the dremel's felt polishing cone will strip away the anodized layer of aluminum.

Thanks for the info Ultra. I was wondering if varying grades of compound would work. Just like sandpaper, start coarse and work toward fine. I would probably use a few layers of tape, with duct tape or the like as a top layer for protection.

Not trying to be an asshole, but, to me, 30 miles of gas + my time > $5.
*shrug*

Meh. It's my father's shop, and since much of the "schlep" of it involves getting my 3 month old ready and in the car, I'd double up a visit to grandpa for it. Plus, I live in Southern California, 30 miles is a short trip.

As for cost, sure it's only a $5 difference (for the DI v2, it's actually a $10 difference, odd, that), plus I've already got a Dominix v2 in hand, so it wouldn't just be $5 as I'd have to pick up a whole other saber if that were the one I were to try this on.

Also, I like to tinker. I spent 2+ years restoring a Neo Geo cabinet. It probably cost me more (especially counting in time) to buy the beat up one and restore it than it would have to just buy one in great shape, but the cabinet is distinctly /mine/. Little touches and differences that are unique to it. It would be the same with the saber. I suspect I'd start off going for the LE look and ultimately end up doing something just a little different.

I'm still planning on getting another metal hilt and gutting the electronics (or getting one w/out them) and tossing it into a cement mixer full of rocks to "age" it, so *shrug*.

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

Well, just got a Dark Initiate v3 LE in BR and a grab bag that turned out to be a Dark Initiate v2 in VA.

I'm thinking I'll keep the Dominix in BR, instead of giving it to my brother in law, and giving him the DIv3 (though with a full sized blade, which he can cut down as he chooses).

The Dominix and Dark Initiate v2 just look SO GOOD together, as well as the the Dominix in BR and the Aeon in AS being SUCH a nice pair. I'll probably have at the Dominix and DIv2 with the dremel and some polishing compound to see if I can LE them up. Then I just need to figure out a way to to the opposite with the Aeon, painting the channels black.

Anyone (Ultra?) have advice on that? I'm thinking Krylon (or the like) that's designed for metal, and just masking VERY VERY carefully.

[Darth Eyece]

I am doing that to my Dominix v2 now actually.  I bought a Dominix  v2 LE about a year ago, and just with the Halloween sale, I was too late for an Aeon LE (WILL BRIBE OWNERS FOR BODY ONLY!!), *and* for the Dominix v2 LE, which was my "Plan B."

My trick was simple:  Make a lathe with a 1" wooden dowel (which shimmies down a gutted Dominix snugly), and cut the head off a screw, put that in your drill chuck, put dowel with Dominix through milk crate diamonds, screw the drill-screw into the dowel nice and straight, and with a half round needle file, crank up your drill speed, rest file in grooves, very little pressure and time is needed to make the LE. 

If my %#@!& camera was working, I'd post pics.  But, it really is simple man.  I'm cutting out "windows" in the emitter section of both of them, one is almost done...

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

If my %#@!& camera was working, I'd post pics.  But, it really is simple man.  I'm cutting out "windows" in the emitter section of both of them, one is almost done...

Definitely post pics of the windows when you're done! And I'll certainly keep your method in mind if I decide I'm not in the mood to mask the hell out of the hilt to use the dremel. Thankfully, I have a flex shaft for my dremel, so that makes it MUCH easier to work with.

[Darth Eyece]

check out my most recent posts, the windows are mostly done, just got wet/dry sanding to do to polish it all up nice...

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

check out my most recent posts, the windows are mostly done, just got wet/dry sanding to do to polish it all up nice...

Looking good!

I've started the work on my Aeon, Dominix, and DI (all v2) and posted the progress here: http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=3785

[Dark Lord Proscidior, Titus Solvan]

Aaaaaand polished up:
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=3785

Not a mirror sheen, but I'm going to be doing more work on these. I didn't want to spend the time (and dremel bits) getting the stripes THAT polished just yet.

[Darth Eyece]

I've been following those pics, you've done a fantastic job!  I like the alternate colored rings, especially when you use the matching switch as you have...

Very cool, good to see you having fun with it!

[Amplus Vir]

If you have a metal lathe its not.