Atlantean sword advice:

[BRRogers]

Question question:
What tools, techniques, and materials would you guys use to make this sword:

Look like this one:

Basically, I just purchased the "Barbarian War Sword" off of Kult of Athena, and I want to make it look as high end as the ALBION or Marto Highlander.
I realize there are cosmetic differences in the casting that I won't be able to change... but I assume I can reshape the blade, or grind it down, and add weathering.


Has anyone gone through this process with this wall-hanger Atlantean to make it more SA?

 

[Minder Thr33]

The only thing I did was darken the string grip handle. The classic teabagging technique worked great.

 

[Jamanticus]

If you want to add a patina to the hilt like in the nice version, there's a great line of Sophisticated Finish patina solutions that you can find at a place like Hobby Lobby or Michael's (looks like the blue patina solution would work best, from what I can see). You just paint on the bronze-particle paint, and then apply the oxidation solution.

You can then darken it (and the blade engraving) with a diluted black paint wash, or a black tint fluid (another hobby store thing, probably right next to the patina finishes :lol)

Reshaping the blade or grinding it down, that's a difficult proposition. Possible, but the chances of doing something accidentally and permanently wonkifying the blade are quite high.

 

[stephen210]

Here is link to what I did
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=77696&highlight=CONAN

This was done with Apple Barrel hobby acrilic paint from Wal-mart or Hobby Lobby.

This is a Marto standard version. If you hilt has the bronze look already you can take the black acrilic and paint it on then whipe it off leaving the low areas a black. it also brings out the bronze look.

if you isn't very bronze you can use Rustolium Antique Brass and also then black wash it wtih the acrilic. it then will give it the bronze look.
Here is example of what I done for the bronze look using the Rattle can and wash

Use Metalalic blue mixed with Green Apple to make the Green patina.
Hope this helps some too.

Steve

 

[BRRogers]

Thanks for the detailed info Jamanticus...Steve.

Steve I saw your sword on yourprops a while back... love the treatment
I'll probably attempt something close.

However, the thing I MOST want to do is grind the blade so that it doesn't have the ugly beveled look.
I probably WILL try to do this, but I want to make sure I do it the RIGHT way.

I'll get a benchtop grinder, I have a full face shield and welding gloves I'd use... but I'm more concerned about grinding technique, and what sort of grinding disk would be best suited for what I can only assume would be stainless steel.

I'll probably wind up wearing my chainmaille shirt to be safe haha

 

[BRRogers]

*bump* for my safety.

Should I be trying to grind stainless steel?

The Internet is unclear...

 

[BRRogers]

Ok, sword arrived earlier today...

I was actually surprised! Very sharp detail, looks just like it's pictured.
It's bigger and heavier than I thought it would be...

The cord-wrap on the handle is crap.. I'm going to redo it completely... might replace the handle itself with wood while I'm at it and make it taper towards the pommel.
Anyway, started the weathering to make it look old and 'untouched'.
just about 30 minutes in.... still playing with the paint to get it to look the way I want it...
one side untouched: one side painted up

 

[BRRogers]

I'll come back at it tomorrow....
I feel like I'm blending my colors too thoughtfully... So it's looking washed out and not "old and gross".
thoughts? suggestions?

 

[Jamanticus]

I think you're doing a stellar job!

With weathering, one can never be too subtle. Okay, one can be, but it's way better than being too blatant. I think all you need to do in terms of color is darken everything, and you're good to go. And when I say everything, just go nuts. The pommel, the guard, the engraving on the blade. That way, I think it'll give the sword the 'ancient' look that it needs.

Just a nice black paint wash- some black acrylic mixed with water I think will do fine- on all the hilt parts, and you've got something that at least in the finish, looks extremely close to the high-end version you posted at the beginning of the thread.

EDIT: And now I can really see why you want to change the blade shape. Still don't have any advice on that front, but I hope you can find a way to grind it down to a more accurate look.

 

[BRRogers]

And by tomorrow I mean..... 10 minutes later! LOL!

I got an idea... then the itch... and I just had to scratch it.
the rust sinks INTO the low areas.... here's some updated paint.
Looks much better now IMO.
I will however, continue to tweak it... but this is a good direction.

 

[Jamanticus]

That sword's looking about 300 times better than it did before you set to work on it

Can't wait to see what it looks like when you're completely done with it.

 

[propsculptor]

Your sword looks great, thanks for posting pics!!

This Dagger is not bad either...

 

[jasonw2112]

The sword looks really nice! As far as tring to mess with the blade
you may want to ask some metal shop's around your area if they could
perform the task for you. I understand wanting to do it on your own, but you can go to far, real fast, depending upon what your using to do grinding. If anything you could try building a jig to hold it in place, while you do your modifactions, without going too far. Once again it can be very dangerous! Also check with a store (sorry but the one I used to use went out of buisness,so no info) that sells knife building supplies. They should have grinding dics, and tooling supplies for working with knifes and swords.

 

[Smitty]

Ok, for grinding the blade, DO NOT USE A BENCH TOP GRINDER. I do alot of metal work and I have quite a steady hand. Attempting that with a bench top grinder would RUIN your blade. Actually what you want is quite cheaper and one of my favorite metal tools of all time.

The Handheld grinder.

Additionally you need to get the right wheel for the job. We call em flapper wheels in the shop.

About a 120 grit flapper wheel will give your stainless steel an excellent finish. Once you get your hands on that equipment I highly recommend getting somethign to practice on. An old fender from a junk yard with some contours and edges would be perfect. Its not a hard tool to master and you'll feel confident with it in no time.
Basically you will run the tool down the length of the bevels until they have diminished to your liking.

As with any grinding activities you should wear a simple dust mask similar to a surgeon's mask. You dont want stainless steel in your lungs, not that it would kill you right away but it just doesn't come across as the best of ideas.

Your sword is looking fantastic too!

The bronzing tips above are most excellent and I'll be using them myself when I get my KOA Sword!

 

[stephen210]

Lookin Good!!

 

[BRRogers]

Thank you guys!
To be honest... I went ahead and started grinding with the benchtop. Which, has actually proven to be just fine apart from the size. and maneuverability of the grinding.
Though, My dremel and drill have proven to pick up the slack with the tighter areas.

I chose to do this project one side at a time... just so that I and other people could truly see the difference between finished and unfinished pieces like this.
Now that I've done one side, I can confidently go about the other side and proceed to finish both to a glossy smooth shine.

Untouched side:

(Almost)
Finished side:

There's still some roughness and some contours I need to work out and then re-polish, as well as some goof-ups I need to go back and polish out.
On to side 2!

different angle>
side 1 untouched:

side 2 almost finished:

 

[Jamanticus]

Looking better and better!

Now the blade has that 300x better thing going, too :lol

 

[Replicant]

Great thread!
That sword is looking great.

 

[jasonw2112]

Yea,that looks pretty good!

 

[BRRogers]

Here's a candid shot:

Room-mate got curious as to what I was doing after I started the other side today... lol, he's not generally aware of what I do in my garage but today he said it was the most manly thing he's ever seen me doing. hahaha