How to go about weathering a saber?

**thrgk** · 08-31-2011, 06:34 AM

Im building a starkillerish MHS saber. After i paint it, and have it all set I will want to weather it. I was wondering how to do this, i thought ya just like put black aluminum stuff on it and wipped it off, but is there a definite way?

**Crystal Chambers** · 08-31-2011, 07:03 AM

Nope. hehe. No definite way. Use some scrap aluminum to test out your own techniques and you can find techniques you're happy with. Aluminum black is one solution that is very popular but there are other chemical reactions/paint methods/treatments and sanding/filing that can create desired effect. I suggest doing some research and experimenting. It's fun. Modeling and antique/faux finishes are a good start.

Eastern57 came up with olive oil weathering...makes me wonder what pickle juice and dirty kitty litter would do. lol Maybe drag it behind a car on a dirt road. jk on the last one though I am curious.

**thrgk** · 08-31-2011, 07:06 AM

Umm, is there a list of products though, i have no idea where to start.

**Silver Serpent** · 08-31-2011, 07:38 AM

Aluminum black works on aluminum, so if you're painting the saber you won't get much interaction on the painted surfaces. It does very nicely on unpainted aluminum though. To weather the painted surfaces, I've seen people do it with light sanding, scrubbing with steel wool, or just scratching it up with a file.

For lots of little dings and dents, I've always been a fan of putting the saber in a 5-gallon bucket (with lid) with a few handfuls of gravel, then kicking the bucket down a hill.

You could also try taking a blowtorch to the saber and try lightly scorching areas as well. There are many, many different ways to weather a saber. As CC mentioned, get a scrap piece of aluminum and experiment with it until you find a technique you like.

Also keep in mind, some weathering techniques should probably be done without electronics in the hilt. You really don't want your sound card in there while you're kicking it down the hill.

**Natesroom** · 08-31-2011, 09:12 AM

You could always buy some of the stuff they sell at Modern Options called Sophisticated finishes.... We use that in the sign industry

**eastern57** · 09-01-2011, 01:30 AM

A lot depends on what you want the weathering to look like. That olive oil bake is for making a rusty look, but probably not the best fit if you want a "cared for, but old" feel.

thrgk, I recommend that you start searching through the gallery, or heck, just start cruising through google images for example of weathering that you could mimick. From there we can at least point you to a technique that could possibly match the look that you want.

Some google tags that yield awesome metal weathering are WWII guns, old shovel, and rusty bike

**Nick Knight** · 09-04-2011, 07:33 AM

You could lend it to Er Dan Gill's boss. from what we all seen he will weather the heck out of it. I feel for that guy.

**Vlad Doon** · 09-04-2011, 09:51 AM

For a used but not-so-old saber as a rotj luke, a black paint layer and you sand it. For a relic lightsaber, Eastern57 olive oil technique is easy and the results really amazing