Metals

[Lord_Jyensba_Lalne]

I have an aluminum pipe as my main saber body, and I was hoping to add another metal outer layer for decoration. Some ideas I had for this are copper and brass. However, I don't know how to keep these metals from becoming tarnished. Is there a special coating of something I can put on it, or do I have to just use some kind of tarnish remover to keep it sparkly clean.

Also, does anyone know of any blue metals that you could find in a hardware store in the form of a pipe?

[Darth Zecks]

I'm sure any kind of brass polish would work or you could polish it up then put some kind of clear lacquer over it before you attach it to keep the air and your hands from making contact. As far as the blue metal you could have it anodized.

[Darth Lars]

Just to clarify: you can only anodize aluminum. No other metal.
"Blued Steel" is steel that has been treated to be almost black, with a blue tinge.

[Dregan]

If you want a blue piece of metal, with a metal finish, you're probably best to get a sink pipe and electroplate with womething. If it doesn't have to be a perfect metal finish, automotive paint is a good alternative. There are some new paint-based chroming sprays out there, but I've never used on, I'm not really familiar with it. http://www.autobarn.net/krmecaanpa.html

Anf just to clarity, aluminum isn't the only metal that can be anodized. I regularly work with anodized titanium by using a wall wart for current and lemon juice for an acid bath. Magnesium, zink and niobium are also treatable. Anodization is only running DC current through a workpiece while in contact with an acidic solution. By varying the current and the solution, different finishes (hard or soft, colored) are available.

[Lord_Jyensba_Lalne]

So you can anodize at home? Is is fairly simple to do? It seems so from your description...And what is electroplate?

Also, where can I get this "Blued Steel"?

[ArkaiHalon]

http://www.vansgunblue.com/

[petriomelony]

So you can anodize at home? Is is fairly simple to do? It seems so from your description...And what is electroplate?

Also, where can I get this "Blued Steel"?

http://bloggers.ja.bz/katou/archives/zoolander.jpg

blue steel right there ;)

[Hasid Lafre]

Every time I see an image of that guy I want to punch a baby.

hahaha Not really but I want to punch something.

[Lord_Jyensba_Lalne]

http://www.vansgunblue.com/
Would I be able to buy that at a hardware store or gun store or someplace not on the Internet?