Tan's Hardware Graflexes

[Tan Djarka]

I gave away the plastic ESB Graflex in hopes that it would kick start my saber building with an obsessive desire to replace it. It did not work. I still haven't set up the drill press I bought years ago.

But I went into my stash of plastic pipe to start another one. Not just to make another Graflex, but to answer a burning question: Can you use a shoulder puller on plastic pipe?

I suppose the character of the plastic has some bearing, but the answer is a resounding "yes". It cracked a little on the edges, but I just puttied that over.

The tube is mostly fabricated and the real question now is how to finish it. The old gloss black/silver/acrylic floor finish topcoat or that new fangled nail powder?

 

[Nerdywan01]

I gave away the plastic ESB Graflex in hopes that it would kick start my saber building with an obsessive desire to replace it. It did not work. I still haven't set up the drill press I bought years ago.

But I went into my stash of plastic pipe to start another one. Not just to make another Graflex, but to answer a burning question: Can you use a shoulder puller on plastic pipe?

I suppose the character of the plastic has some bearing, but the answer is a resounding "yes". It cracked a little on the edges, but I just puttied that over.

The tube is mostly fabricated and the real question now is how to finish it. The old gloss black/silver/acrylic floor finish topcoat or that new fangled nail powder?

I'm a big believer of the metallic nail powders I've used them now on all my PVC and 3d printed sabers. It's a very cost effective way to get a good metallic or chrome look

 

[sparkmatter]

I'm a big believer of the metallic nail powders I've used them now on all my PVC and 3d printed sabers. It's a very cost effective way to get a good metallic or chrome look

Do those dull under a clear? Molotow liquid chrome is not joking about being mirror finish but its hard to topcoat when i use it

 

[Nerdywan01]

Do those dull under a clear? Molotow liquid chrome is not joking about being mirror finish but its hard to topcoat when i use it

It does dull a little under clear coat but not near as bad has some of the liquid chrome paints. Here's the video I where i discovered it.

He uses gloss black rattle in the saber video can which gives decent results.

If you follow the nail powder directions using a nail undercoat and a nail top coat and UV cure light it gives it an even better chrome look

 

[thd9791]

There is this really shiny “mirror” spray paint I’ve seen Adam Savage use. It’s a little can …I think it’s available on amazon

 

[Benjo]

As far as I remember, Adam Savage used a regular chrome spray paint on his Barbarella rifle one day build. He talked about it as being "as bad as the best you can get". Getting a durable/cheap chrome paint is always a big deal.

I would try that metallic fingernail powder. I have the very impression it's one of the best options available.