FX-Sabers.com
FX-Sabers Discussion - Including a Gallery of custom sabers. => Data Sheets => Topic started by: todd4566 on November 05, 2005, 03:54:56 PM
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After picking up my Luke Saber, I was very disappointed that the hilt was not chrome plated, or even polished. Rather than settle for this quality, I busted out some sand paper and metal polish.
Step 1.) Tape off the areas you do not want to polish using masking tape, or duct tape. I personally polished the emitter ring, the hilt (not including the control box), and the bottom ring.
Step 2.) Sand the area with back & forth movements using 2000 grit sandpaper. It will take numerous pieces of sandpaper to accomplish this task, as the surface of the hilt has deep surface scratches out-of-the-box. *You can speed the process by first sanding with 1500 grit sandpaper, then moving onto 2000 grit.
How it looks half-way through. The ring around the control box hasn't been sanded at all yet, and the area behind I've just begun:
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi10.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa130%2Ftodd4566%2Fhalfway.jpg&hash=bbc9f8ded522ef1971d4a0d2fa1b85abd50f9e86)
After you have sanded to your satisfaction, use a metal polish to bring out the shine. I used "Semichrome Polish" for this task. If after polishing the hilt/etc you still have numerous surface scratches, repeat the sanding process with 2000 grit and polish again. As you remove more layers of metal, the surface imprefections will also disappear.
Finished product:
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi10.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa130%2Ftodd4566%2Fpolish2.jpg&hash=7e018dd3384606df0e1e9fc374f4cab2de86f043)
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi10.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa130%2Ftodd4566%2Fpolish1.jpg&hash=41529839f517010378efa9abd5706cbef87ec91a)
Questions/comments? Let's hear it. :D
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WOW MAN! That looks great. If I am not mistaken your polished hilt is more film accurate as well.
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wow...nicely done
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wow, that looks really nice...... 8).........pitty you can't sandpaper away the fat neck ;)
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cool... I first thought you would think that sandpaper would scrape the xxx out of it
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cool... I first thought you would think that sandpaper would scrape the xxx out of it
Well it kinda does, but 2000 grit is so fine that it polishes when combined with a good metal polish. :)
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Very nice job! I thought that a shiny hilt might look too tacky, but I think you changed my mind. :)
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Wow, definitely a different look.
I wonder what the saber would look like if it was polished completely. Even the Black areas, there is metal under there as those are just painted, right?
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I'm fairly certain all of the grooved area is metal, but I have some doubt that the rest of the hilt isn't without any plastic. I'd prefer to keep the hilt's appearance closer to the actual prop anyway, but the thought of polishing the entire hilt did cross my mind. It would take a lot of patience to polish those groves/etc, but the result would definitely be unique.
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VERY cool. ;) How long did it take you?
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I'm so glad I have you guys here to test these projects. I would have been much to afraid to take sandpaper to my saber. The end result does look very good. Although I'm still not certain I can bring myself to do it.
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A lot of work that is...
More appropriate then chrome, but a long time it must have taken ;)
especially to polish to such a high shine and evenly :)
a good job you did... ;D and so you know the hilt "IS ALL METAL"...
see my exploded view in the data sheets.
but for those who have never polished metal before, practice
on something else first you should ;)
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That looks beautiful todd4566, would certainly compare well in those comparison shots I took a while back with the EE.
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That one isn't mine(look at the top post for the author ;))
but it certainly looks worth doing 8)
if I had spare time I would try it but that's a lot of sanding rubbing
or even dremel polishing... to get it all even :o
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The funny part is I knew it wasn't yours Meridian, but because I'm so used to you being the one with all the great tips, I just typed it anyway!
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that looks nice, I really wish it was made that way and with a skinny neck not a fat neck
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That one isn't mine(look at the top post for the author ;))
but it certainly looks worth doing 8)
if I had spare time I would try it but that's a lot of sanding rubbing
or even dremel polishing... to get it all even :o
Thanks for the positive feedback everyone!
Yoda, it actually didn't take too long to do - about 2 hours for the areas I covered. Had I tried to polish the rest of the hilt.. well that would be more like 10 hours I'm guessing. I did initially use a dremel when I applied the metal polish, but I found that hand buffing was giving me a more consistant finish. My hilt could still benefit from a little more sanding, but for the moment I think I'll leave it alone. Now that I know the entire hilt is metal (aluminum), I am considering polishing more though. Hmm.. ;)
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If you saw my exploded view you'll see it's now got a set screw holding things
in place.
If you do a lot of polishing wher you'll actually remove the painted areas...
you may want to disassemble it to make things easier to handle especially
if your going to strip it completely to refinish in. ;)
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I briefly viewed the exploded view.. if I decide to take the saber apart I'll study it further. The portions I polished were easy enough that disassembly wasn't necessary, but I agree to do the whole thing it would be helpful. I don't plan on polishing any of the black areas though, but I am on the fence about polishing the orange ring under the emitter. I'll probably just leave it alone, but somewhat curious how that would look.
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Looks pretty nice. I would never do it because I want mine to be 100% original but it is tempting. What I don't understand was why MR made it from brushed metal instead of the chrome look in the first place if that's what was in the movie. Seems strange since they had no problem with the other sabers.
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from what I understand, the actual movie prop was milled aluminum, so the replicas and fxs to replicate the look and feel of the original to a degree. There were never any Chrome ROTJ Lukes used in the movies, im sure.
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I think Anakin is right here in regards to the aluminum vs. chrome.
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Even with the brushed aluminum mine looks fairly shiny. I just watched ROTJ and the saber looks very polished but it could be a trick of the light. I personally like the brushed aluminum look since it sets it apart...and no fingerprints...cuts up the hands though. lol.
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Even with the brushed aluminum mine looks fairly shiny. I just watched ROTJ and the saber looks very polished but it could be a trick of the light. I personally like the brushed aluminum look since it sets it apart...and no fingerprints...cuts up the hands though. lol.
Yah, it's pretty rough on the hands on certain moves. I've had to check mine a couple of times to see if I had taken of any skin! haha
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Even with the brushed aluminum mine looks fairly shiny. I just watched ROTJ and the saber looks very polished but it could be a trick of the light. I personally like the brushed aluminum look since it sets it apart...and no fingerprints...cuts up the hands though. lol.
Yah, it's pretty rough on the hands on certain moves. I've had to check mine a couple of times to see if I had taken of any skin! haha
Anakin, have you tried with the gloves on...Or is it harder to swing with the gloves on?
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no, I haven't tried it with any gloves on yet. I guess I should at least wear ONE black glove on my right hand to get that TRUE Skywalker feeling.
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no, I haven't tried it with any gloves on yet. I guess I should at least wear ONE black glove on my right hand to get that TRUE Skywalker feeling.
That would look great... ;)
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I have a pair of tight fitting leather gloves with minimal seams that work great with the sabers. They will probably protect the gold accents on the sabers somewhat as well. (Looks slick with just the right glove...I'm such a nerd. lol).
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What a great picture! :o
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I shrunk it so it looks a little low quality, but these Luke ROTJ sabers seem to keep their core effect in photos even in the daylight. The pic I took a few posts up was in the morning next to my balcony door. I was surprised it didn't wash out the blade color. The gloves are pretty good. Some people laugh at a couple of pics because I pretty much have a Luke look and hair style so I dressed in black with the one glove and my saber, then parted my hair on the proper side. All in good fun! The gloves were an odd find. They are mens gloves, but I found them in the suit section so I assume they are less clunky looking because they are leather dress gloves. No finger or palm seams and you can pick up a quarter with them so they work well with a saber. Great Jedi gloves. Just need some jack boots now. lol.
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I showed my friend those nice pics and now he plans to do the same to his luke rotj, but we're both afraid of screwing it up somehow...
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simply AMAZING, that's the hilt I dreamed on!
my compliments!!!!
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wow thats really really sweet.....is it more movie accurate with a polished finish?
nicely done- may need to do this to mine....
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Not really more movie accurate. Looks awesome though. ;D
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Would look fantastic with one of Yoda's new Luke ROTJ copper foil kits. ;)
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I've been working on this all day, and I'll say its easy to do. It just takes lots of sanding and polishing. Todd was right when he said about ten hours. Materials are pretty cheap to do this. I spend about $5 on polish and about $6 on the sandpaper. I'll probably have to go get more sandpaper. Looking good so far. ;D
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I think my next FX is probably going to be the Luke ROTJ, and I have plenty of polishing experience from my days of customising motorcycles.
I don't think I will be able to resist polishing the hilt.
It really makes the saber look the part, IMO.
Who cares if the neck is too fat when it's all shiny.
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Would look fantastic with one of Yoda's new Luke ROTJ copper foil kits. ;)
Yes it would :) very shiny 8)
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I've been working on this all day, and I'll say its easy to do. It just takes lots of sanding and polishing. Todd was right when he said about ten hours. Materials are pretty cheap to do this. I spend about $5 on polish and about $6 on the sandpaper. I'll probably have to go get more sandpaper. Looking good so far. ;D
Wow. I've seen a few pics of your saber while searching the board today, and you have done very well yourself! I got a little lazy on the emitter ring, but your pic makes me want to go back for some touch up work. So who will be the first to polish the entire hilt? :D
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A hilt that is brightly gleaming all over would look so cool, IMO.
I really enjoy polishing too. It's really slow, relaxing work, and something you can do whilst watching the TV, or listening to music.
It makes the hours pass so quickly.
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Any ideas on where to find or order 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper? Hardware stores seem to only go to 600 or so. Would hobby or craft stores work, or is it best to do an online special order at a particular place?
Thanks.
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Walmart or an auto part store typically those grits. Haven't tried a paint store, but I be surprised if you couldn't find it there too.
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I have a Luke ROTJ the EL blade version. I'm just not satisfied with the original lackluster hilt. Can I polish it or is the hilt different than the LED version? Has anyone polished a 2003 Luke? Would polishing an original EL Luke decrease its value at all? Thanks for any info!
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Well the "value" of the original Lukes from 2002 has been decreasing so
I wouldn't worry about that aspect if you display it any way.
It is the same hilt and looks better polished.
However if your keeping it boxed and saving it for value alone then don't touch
it, but as I said... the Value isn't what it was because it has been followed by the
improved LED blade model.
Infact Anakin AOTC Sabers used to be very valued and now they barely bring $100
no to mention the enormous size of the hilt compared to an actual Anakin AOTC.
Perhaps Box up the Original Luke and get a new one to polish ;)
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Thanks Yoda. I'm going to do as you said and polishup a new led Luke instead. I saw a Luke for sale in this forum and I bought it. I'm just waiting to have it shipped. Can't wait to be blinded by that Luke 'cause I like the EL and all but it's just not bright enough to dual weild with my Anakin ROTS. Thanks!
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You will be impressed with the LED version of the ROTJ. It is one of, if not the best, FX sabers out there in my opinion. Oh, and welcome to the boards!
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Is that really a custom black Luke?! :o If it is do you have pics?
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Yes it is. It is commonly refered to as a V2. Several members have converted their ROTJ's to V2's. The V2 is the stunt saber that was used by Luke during most of the filming of ROTJ. It is actualy Obi-Wans stunt saber from ANH. Here are links to other V2's.
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=4557.0
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=4371.0
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=4891.0
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=4770.0