How to make a Green Lantern ring- including a glowing version!

Step 8 Polishing and painting

Now the ring is polished. First I go over the entire ring using a polishing buff with tripoli compound. This is then followed by another buff using a green rouge compound. The important thing when polishing is to remember not to stay in any one area for too long- always keep the ring moving.

If you want a polished finish that's all you need to do.

To paint the ring you have to get rid of the high polish finish- paint won't stick to it! It's important to still polish the ring first to get a nice smooth finish.

First rub the entire ring with a coarse Scotchbrite pad. Now spray the ring with a primer and follow this with a silver base coat. After the silver base coat has dried spray the ring with several coats of translucent green. Then give the ring a final clear coat to protect it.

All the paints I used were made by House of Kolor. The particular colors are:
FBC-02 Orion Silver fine metallic base
K0902 Organic Green Kandy

The paint is available in small quantities here:
http://www.blackgoldweb.com/HouseOfKolorAerosolCanPaint.html

It's important to stay with only one type of paint as certain types of paint can melt previous layers.

That's it! There are advantages and disadvantages to each method of ring construction- just choose the right one for you and go for it.

Comments

[gtreddragon]

hey im only 16 and i don't have access to all that machinery but im a huge fan.. is there anyway i could purchase a ring like that?

[Honus]

Sorry I don't sell them!

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

why not!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Honus]

Copyright infringement- something DC doesn't take lightly. Read through the comments.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

well ifd you started mass producing them and selling everywere that would be one thing but making a few and selling them to a couple of teenagers online

    1 they would probably never even find out
    2 if they did its not like they would track you down and kill you
    3 they are not that expensive anyway u are not making a 1000 dollar annual profit or something just a few for a couple people online cheaply 
     4 is sewing sleves onto a blanket illegal ?(diy snuggie)

[Honus]

I've explained this time and again- it doesn't matter if you make money or not. According to copyright law, in a civil suit, an infringer may be liable for a copyright owner's actual damages plus any profits made from the infringement. Alternatively, the copyright owner may avoid proving actual damage by electing a statutory damage recovery of up to $30,000 or, where the court determines that the infringement occurred willfully, up to $150,000. The actual amount will be based upon what the court in its discretion considers just. (17 U.S.C. 504)Violation of copyright law is also considered a federal crime when done willfully with an intent to profit. Criminal penalties include up to ten years imprisonment depending on the nature of the violation. (No Electronic Theft Act, 18 U.S.C. 2319)

The bottom line is that it's against the law and it's just not going to happen so people need to stop asking.

[CodeInstruct]

Respect Honus, total and utter respect dude!!!

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

as my mom says when my dad drives at the speed limit "Quit being such a boy scout!"

[Honus]

It's not a matter of being a Boy Scout- it's about respecting the rights of others. I always find it amusing how people with nothing to lose are so willing to stick out the neck of those who do. I'm a dad with three kids to take care of so I can't afford to take obvious risks with a corporation known for protecting its intellectual property.

If you feel it's not a big deal, then go ahead and make them and sell them.

[Steve66oh]

Honus - Much respect for the example you're setting for your kids! My son wanted to build a Soap Box Derby car... then he wanted to paint it as Grave Digger(TM). I told him we'd need permission from the trademark owner - we contacted them, they typed up an agreement, they approved our paint job, and now we have THE Official Grave Digger(TM) soap box derby racer!

It's not inconceivable that you could get the right to make licensed Green Lantern merchandise - if you were interested.

Anyway, I just wanted to say, Nice Job!

("GRAVE DIGGER" is a trademark of Feld Entertainment Motorsports)

[Lirki]

In any case, DC Dierct will be selling the full set of glowing LED, PVC version of the power rings in July 2010. http://www.dccomics.com/dcdirect/?dcd=14440&lst=new&cat=PROPS+%26%2338%3B+REPLICAS

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

sorry

[sharp1e]

arrobasilver.com I know its been a while since this conversation, but if you're still interested in a GL ring, they sell officially trademarked rings

[flying-monkey-chuck-norris]

i'm only 12, and my family loves superheroes, and i really like green lantern, and want to make one , but i have access to duct-tape,a dremal(if i can find it), a lot of knives and pliers, and old coke cans.(and imight have the right kind of wood) 
Any ideas would be nice

[Honus]

I would try to carve the ring from wood and spray paint it green.

[droidonthemoon]

FANTASTIC! I want one! a silver one! I tried making one with art clay and that just doesnt work so well... I wish you could see a bit more of the silver after its painted, but that is brilliant! Thanks!!

[erckgillis]

You can make most any Ring mould or model into Fine Silver (99.995%) using Art Clay Silver... It takes just a few tips.

www.artclayworld.com/

www.youtube.com/watch

[Honus]

Thanks! As for seeing more of the silver, just high polish and then mask off the silver sections before painting.

[pricelessdiamond]

What size LED did you use? I have a 5mm wide X 8mm tall LED and it seems too big.

[Honus]

I used a 5000mcd super bright 3mm LED (part # NTE30031)

[Couso]

Awesome instruct I'm definitely faving this for future reference. To comment on the LED part(and the comment about switches), what you could do also is have a tiny push button switch on the bottom(or side) connected back to the top where the battery is and then connect that back to the LED. Depending also on the battery and LED you also can use a resistor to extend the life of the LED and to extend the reach of the wire around the ring. Its a little tough to explain in writing(I'm much more used to the doing part lol) but when I finally can afford to make my own rings I could probably do a simple instructable on making a switch light work for it.

[MrSnid]

Wow, impressive... I've always been a huge fan, but debase myself at your feet for this one... dang. On the glowing one, you could also extend the wires around the ring & attach the battery to the underside, then use your thumb or other digit to close the 'switch' couldnt you ? I'll definitly have to try this one out, I'm still just stunned, great instructable, THANKS

[Ward_Nox]

I've been thinking about the best way to do that since i found this i "THINK" i have an idea how to do it but i gotta try to make the normal one 1st

[Honus]

You're welcome! You could extend the wires around but then the bottom of the ring would have to be pretty big in order to hold the battery- I don't know how comfortable that would be to wear......