I thought I’d share with the community, mostly new peeps, some of the sources that I’ve come across along my saber building path that I’ve found useful. Some are common, some are maybe not so common and most if not all are interesting and valuable.
While several of these things are mentioned in other places, I wanted to include them in this list anyway. No harm in finding good info/resources in more than one spot.
SOURCES FOR GREEBLES, CRYSTAL CHAMBER BITS, & OTHER STUFFScale/Simulated HardwareModel Motorcars recently took over Scale Hardware.The tiniest bolts, nuts, rivets etc you'll ever see. Really cool for tiny chamber design elements.
Small Parts & Hardware ? Model MotorcarsTattoo Machine Parts Supply Shops(google for your local or online options. I’ve bought from monster steel once or twice.)Great for screws, thumb screws, washers, and little bits and bobs in simple or ornate styles and uncommon finishes like brass and copper
1/2" Copper Fancy Thumb Screw Turn 8-32 Tattoo Machine Part Baltimore Street Irons - 3/8 Knurled Brass Set Screw 8-32 ThreadLamp Parts(google for your local or online options.)Another great source for screws/thumb screws.
8/32 Brass Ball-Head Thumb Screws 20883 | Antique Lamp Supply http://www.mylampparts.com/Departments/SCREWS/THUMB-SCREWS.aspxMcMaster-Carr (US Shipping Only) McMaster-CarrFrom tools to raw materials. Seriously, if you can’t find what you need here there’s a good chance it doesn’t exist. Among everything else they have, there are tons of options for washers and round shims which make great chamber pieces.
K&S Metals Home - K & S Precision Metals: Full Line Metal SpecialistsFor all your hobby metal needs including tubes rods and sheets in brass, copper, aluminum and steel. You can usually find their rack in an art supply or hobby shop. I’ve also been able to find limited supply in my local Rainbow/Ace Hardware.
Helpful Tools for K&S products
• Tubing benders. These are coiled springs in various sizes that aid in bending hollow tubes without crimping.
• Mini Tube Cutter for small diameter tubing.
• Wire Forming Tool or Jig. Great for bending solid rods into many different shapes. I use one for making d-rings and bent chamber rods.
• Precision Razor Saw and Hobby Miter Box. Perfect for 45 degree cuts.
Jewelry Supplies(find in most craft/hobby/art stores like Michael’s) Sounds weird and you may not think to look there but…Prefect for little metal accents like beading eyelets/rivets, crimps, clamps and metal wires in brass, copper, steel, aluminum and some even colored if that’s your need. I recently used some of these things to create conduit like tubing for my crystal chamber. Much easier to source and cheaper than real mini flexible conduit. Also used some of the smaller eyelets for accent led bezels
The Good Old Stand By’s: Plumbing Supplies and Old ElectronicsPlumbers have some nifty little doodads and your old electronics are treasure troves of found parts, don’t trash em.
FINSHING & WEATHERINGIn my opinion props shouldn’t look like they came straight out of the factory. Whether you go heavy or light, give it some life and character!
ARKM’s Salt Water Etching Tut ARKM's Saltwater Etching TutorialGreat step by step instructions.
Eastern57’s Olive Oil Baking Weathering tutorial (w/olive oil)Another great step by step.
DIY Anodizing Without Acid http://www.observationsblog.com/sciencetechnologyexperiments/anodizing-and-dying-aluminum-without-battery-acidI’ve done it. It works. It’s safe(ish). FYI I’ve found that professional grade dyes work much better than the fabric dyes.
Here’s a helpful calculator…you’ll understand after reading the tut.
720 Rule Anodizing CalculatorPatinas• Sophisticated Finishes has a great line of patina/antiquing solutions for all types of metals to produce green & blue patinas on your red metals and rust on your ferrous metals.
Sophisticated Finishes• Sculpt Nouveau also has a great line of products
http://www.sculptnouveau.com/index.cfmArtist Inks for Washes Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Water-Resistant Artists Ink - BLICK art materialsThey are acrylic based paints that are watered down to an ink like consistency and you can add more water if needed. I usually stick to black and sepia.
Rub 'N Buff Rub 'n Buff® Wax Metallic Finish
Metallic wax finish in a variety of colors that dries hard. Good for grit and grime.
Lastly…
Don’t be afraid to take a hammer, a file, stones, chains, whatever to the hilt if you want some “wear and tear”
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION & LEARNINGEven if you don’t have machines, like me, some of these are just fun to watch and you may learn something that you can adapt for the shop set up you have.
The Madcow TCSS Videos Of Course TheCustomSaberShop - YouTubeEastern57’s Machining Without Machines Machining without machinesYep Eastern57 makes the list again. Hey the guy’s good.
mrpete222 (Tubalcain) mrpete222 - YouTubeRetired high school shop teacher that has hundreds of shop videos. Tons of machining, fabrication, casting etc.
Clickspring https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCworsKCR-Sx6R6-BnIjS2MA/videosClock maker and machinist
Tested Tested - YouTubeEspecially for Adam Savage’s One Day Builds
Punished Props (Bill Doran) Punished Props - YouTubeDoes a lot of molding and casting stuff. Use your imagination.
The Ben Heck Show The Ben Heck Show - YouTubeElectronics and DIY based. Yeah, it’s a bit goofy, but some of the things he makes are pretty interesting.
Well, there it is. Hope some of this helps. I'll add to the list as more things come along or if I remember something I've forgotten.
Feel free to list anything interesting or uncommon that you've come across in the comments.