This is the way... (How to Guides)

Sandpaper, filler, paint and polish on the workshop bench
Tools and supplies
Find tools, supplies and parts for your next build. Browse by task and check your guide for what you need. Read more...
Maintenance and Care of Painted Props
How to keep a painted prop looking the way it did on the bench. Handling rules, what never touches the finish, and the two repair paths — a graphite refresh rub or a full repaint round — for when a piece takes damage anyway. Stage 08 of the Armor Finishing series. Read more...
Alumaluster chrome coating on the workshop bench
Chrome for 3D Prints: The Graphite and Alumaluster Paths
Two ways to turn mirror black armor into chrome. Path A rubs graphite powder into polished clear and embeds a second round in the 3–5 hour window; Path B sprays... Read more...
How to Mirror Polish 2K Clear Coat on 3D Printed Armor
Wet sand and buff cured 2k clear coat to a true mirror. 1200, 2000, and 3000 grit cut the orange peel flat, then cutting compound, polish, and swirl remover bring the gloss back before the chrome goes on. Stage 05 of the Armor Finishing series. Read more...
Spray gun beside a gloss-black forearm armor part in the workshop booth
How to Paint 3D Printed Armor: Sealer, Base Coat & 2K Clear
Take a primed part to gloss black with an automotive paint system. Black primer sealer, Toyota Obsidian Black base, and 2k clear — exact mix ratios, spray technique that builds... Read more...
Wet sanding station: utility sink on a stand over a 5-gallon bucket with recirculating pond pump
Build a recirculating wet sanding station for your workshop
How I built the recirculating wet sanding station I run at Foxhead Workshop, what it cost, and the lower-cost alternatives if a permanent sink is too much footprint. Read more...
Finished beskar gauntlet with Whistling Birds dart tips lit — the result this series builds toward
Armor Finishing Guide: Raw 3D Print to Bare Metal & Beyond
The complete method for finishing 3D printed armor: the steps to a professional finish, from slicer settings to bare metal, documented from the workshop bench with real footage, exact materials,... Read more...
Completed smoothing stage: the guide coat has been fully removed, leaving a uniform matte primer surface ready for paint.
Smoothing 3D Prints: Primer, Guide Coat, Block Sanding
Smooth any 3D print to a paint-ready surface with the guide coat method. A dusting of a contrasting color over filler primer shows your sanding progress — it marks every... Read more...
Two 3D printed jetpacks side by side: welded seams ground down on the left, Bondo-filled and sanded seams on the right
How to Smooth 3D Prints: Preparing FDM Plastic for Paint
Take a raw 3D print from off-the-plate to primer-ready. This stage is about locking in the core shape, not layer lines: remove the supports, glue or plastic-weld multi-part prints into... Read more...
A vertically printed gauntlet part with supports on the print bed
3D Printer Slicer Settings for Cosplay
Printer calibration, slicer settings, filament, orientation, and support tuning for 3D printed cosplay armor: the choices that decide how much sanding, filling, and repair work you face later. PETG, gyroid... Read more...
Best 3D Print Files for Mandalorian Armor: Side-by-Side Comparison of Top Kits
Best 3D Print Files for Mandalorian Armor: Side-by-Side Comparison of Top Kits
This comparison looks at three of the most widely used kits side by side: Galactic Armory, Great Ape, and Chamanleon FX. The images below highlight key components across chest, back,... Read more...