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Description
Commissioned me for a remake of a single Four Sword Adventure sword (Green Pommel).
Check out his finished cosplay here: fav.me/d4lz0wa

Blanks got cut today so it's only a matter of time now.
And time is key.
Hopefully you'll all be able to enjoy SwiftShadows' Link cosplay at Anime Expo in LA.

Also, keen observers may have noticed I've revised my construction method. It uses less material and hopefully saves a bit of time.

--UPDATE: 6-10-11
Ok, so I lied...update came sooner....but this is a good thing! I found myself enjoying sugar and an energy smoothy after work so I was like "SCREW YOU NEIGHBORS! I'M RUNNING MA ROUTER AND SANDER AT 8 PM AND WE'RE DOING THIS, YEEAAHH!" and so I did.
I'm pulling out more of my hand tools on this one because of the hours I've been able to work on it. Like the edge mating for example, if you have space, time, one properly shaped half, and no one is going to yell at you for running a loud tool, a router and a laminate trimming bit can do it right quick. However, a good vice, rasp, and a sanding block will do the same and not even wake the mice. But I split the process, used a hand rasp and my power sander. I tell ya switching to that orbital sander has made mating edges and smoothing surfaces so easy and quick, big improvement over Finishing sander I was mistakenly using before.
Maybe it's because I've had 4 swords to practice on but this one feels like it building out super fast.

--UPDATE: 6-13-11
I think I overdid it. Lots of leather working yesterday. Sheath belt is a major improvement from the version 1's. Still iffy on water-based "Eco-Flo" dyes...gives a exelent weathered look because of its sheer difficulty to obtain an even coating via brush/dauber...it sucks for uniform color...although I haven't tried vat dying or airbrushing it on.

--UPDATE: 6-16-11
Sheath halves routed today. Had a mother and her son stop by to see what I was working on while they were out for a bike ride...had a fun awkward moment wondering if I put the handcuff projects out of view.

--UPDATE: 6-20-11
All final shaping has been completed on blade and sheath and staining has started. In a few minutes I'm going to finish shaping the guard, now that it's glued in place, and stain that. Tomorrow it'll get a finish coat on the sheath and sword and put the finishing touchs on with some enamel paints.
I don't like that this is so close to deadline but I can't see shipping taking more that 7 days from here to LA considering we're only a 7 hour drive.

--UPDATE 6-28-11
Project Complete. Enamel touch ups and final coating on the sphere applied. Neatsfoot Oil added to belt to soften and hydrate the leather. *Plastic Wrap added to protect finish from accidentally picking up transfer inks from the packing material during shipping.

Description
Commissioned me for a remake of a single Four Sword Adventure sword (Green Pommel).
Check out his finished cosplay here: fav.me/d4lz0wa

Blanks got cut today so it's only a matter of time now.
And time is key.
Hopefully you'll all be able to enjoy SwiftShadows' Link cosplay at Anime Expo in LA.

Also, keen observers may have noticed I've revised my construction method. It uses less material and hopefully saves a bit of time.

--UPDATE: 6-10-11
Ok, so I lied...update came sooner....but this is a good thing! I found myself enjoying sugar and an energy smoothy after work so I was like "SCREW YOU NEIGHBORS! I'M RUNNING MA ROUTER AND SANDER AT 8 PM AND WE'RE DOING THIS, YEEAAHH!" and so I did.
I'm pulling out more of my hand tools on this one because of the hours I've been able to work on it. Like the edge mating for example, if you have space, time, one properly shaped half, and no one is going to yell at you for running a loud tool, a router and a laminate trimming bit can do it right quick. However, a good vice, rasp, and a sanding block will do the same and not even wake the mice. But I split the process, used a hand rasp and my power sander. I tell ya switching to that orbital sander has made mating edges and smoothing surfaces so easy and quick, big improvement over Finishing sander I was mistakenly using before.
Maybe it's because I've had 4 swords to practice on but this one feels like it building out super fast.

--UPDATE: 6-13-11
I think I overdid it. Lots of leather working yesterday. Sheath belt is a major improvement from the version 1's. Still iffy on water-based "Eco-Flo" dyes...gives a exelent weathered look because of its sheer difficulty to obtain an even coating via brush/dauber...it sucks for uniform color...although I haven't tried vat dying or airbrushing it on.

--UPDATE: 6-16-11
Sheath halves routed today. Had a mother and her son stop by to see what I was working on while they were out for a bike ride...had a fun awkward moment wondering if I put the handcuff projects out of view.

--UPDATE: 6-20-11
All final shaping has been completed on blade and sheath and staining has started. In a few minutes I'm going to finish shaping the guard, now that it's glued in place, and stain that. Tomorrow it'll get a finish coat on the sheath and sword and put the finishing touchs on with some enamel paints.
I don't like that this is so close to deadline but I can't see shipping taking more that 7 days from here to LA considering we're only a 7 hour drive.

--UPDATE 6-28-11
Project Complete. Enamel touch ups and final coating on the sphere applied. Neatsfoot Oil added to belt to soften and hydrate the leather. *Plastic Wrap added to protect finish from accidentally picking up transfer inks from the packing material during shipping.