Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion? **NEW PICS ADDED**

[Cameron]

Hello Sabersmiths,
Does anyone have any advice on the polishing of a Graflex Flash. I bought a, shall we say, less than perfect unit and I would like to clean it up a bit. What have you done to remove surface scratching and imperfections and to make your shinny?
Thanks,
Cameron

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Well you can remove dirt and grime. But if you buff the graflex too much you'll go through the plating to the brass and steel underneath. The plating is quite thin.

 

[Cameron]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

That is what I feared. Thank you Anakin.

 

[clancampbell]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Anakin is correct.....i speak from bitter experience.......the second you see the bright shiny brass colour emerging, it's essentially game over. I took the plunge and had my Graflex top re-chromed and made it into a Vader ROTJ....

 

[Thibault]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

And for aluminium...?
Did you guys have some tips to polish it ?
I am converting a Parksaber ROTJ into a more accurate hero one and I have tried several methods, but it does not works...



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Thanks !!

 

[clancampbell]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

If it's solid ally, you can use a fine grit wet and dry paper to get rid of the flaws, (make sure to rub it in various directions, then finish by rubbing it in the direction of the grain/machine marks, if any!) then polish it with a decent compound like autosol....it'll be a time consuming process, but worth it if done right.

Rich

 

[Thibault]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Thank you dear neighbor !
I will try that !

I will pM you the final result !

 

[clancampbell]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Awesome! Good luck with the repairs, and remember, don't worry, it'll all work out ok!

Rich

 

[Sym-Cha]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Hey Cameron,

Any pictures so we can see the used-future look of your graflex

-Chaim

 

[ARKM]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

For scratch removal on my aluminum sabers, I use a buffing wheel mounted on a bench grinder and buffing compound. However that is not recommended for a Graflex due to problems that may occur that have already been mentioned.

For polishing, I use Mother's Aluminum Polish found in the automotive section (the liquid, not the paste) and a microfiber cloth. Works great but will not remove scratching. Mother's has a chrome polish as well.

 

[kursosawa]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

i used a bit of fine steel wool on my graflex to give it a bit of an extra shine and it worked out fine. if you take that route, be sure to go with the grain of the metal.

 

[Son of Skywalker]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Agreed. Mother's is really great stuff :thumbsup

 

[clancampbell]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Would that make us all "Mother-Buffers"?:$

 

[Thibault]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Thanks for the tips !!!
It has works nicely !!!!!
So, i have done it for all my lightsabers, even the graflex !
I have removed the previous graflex clamp that parks uses for is ROTJ version in order to instal my own activation box !
I tried the sanding on this Graflex clamp, before doing it on the Graflex hilt.... And I did not revealed the brass... I have used car polish with a dry 240 sanding paper !



Thanks !!!!

 

[clancampbell]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Good stuff! Happy for you that it worked ok!

Rich

 

[thegreatgalling]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

I wouldn't play around with scratches, but for light rust:

And please correct me if this is horrible, but I used a light amount of acetone nail polish remover and a cotton ball. To my suprise, all the rust I noticed came off. I know this won't work if the rust has already began to chew away parts of the plating.

For those of you who already glued your grips on, acetone WILL melt the glue and remove the shine of the plastic. You HAVE to use care.

 

[dcarty]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

I used Turtle Wax chrome polish and rust remover for light rust.

 

[Cameron]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Hey Chaim,
At your request here is where I am with the screen accurate belt and its associated props. Thanks to Gino and Rebelscum the ANH Saber is done. The Droid Caller needs a top and I need to tweak a few small things on the belt.

I am still searching for the correct Triangle and long pouch but I just may make those.

I am one part away from final assembly on the macros!!!

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[Son of Skywalker]

Re: Polishing a Graflex Flash for Lightsaber conversion?

Great pieces you have there! This is one of my prop dreams I'm going to nail down one day...having an accurate belt with all real parts props :cool

I've got a couple pieces for my macros and a real exactra bubblestrip to start...

I like seeing yours...makes me want to start it up again :thumbsup

 

[Sym-Cha]

Hi Cameron,

Great work sofar!Thinking out-of-the-box-parts
perhaps you could consider using a little of the
top of a plastic deodorant cap for your Kobold
Droidcaller :

And if the deodorant cap is not aluminum in color
you can always paint it so

-Chaim