It took me a while to get used to the CNC machine, but its definitely rewarding once you get it right. I decided to CNC the outline of a greatsword for my project. Here is how the file looked on noun project:

I created the lines running through the sword to be pocket cuts, and decided to contour the outline of the sword instead of contouring a rectangle around it. After securing my wood pieces and preparing my file in Carbide Create, it was time to begin CNC milling. The cuts came out nicely.

There were lots of wood shavings and rough edges, so the swords needed a good sanding. I sanded them down with a 150 grit, then finished with a 320 grit. Here is how they looked after sanding.

For post processing, I decided to paint the swords with a black gloss paint. Here’s how they turned out!

COST BREAKDOWN:

$4 for two pieces of 5 x 4 x 1 inch pine wood

$16.48 for Ultra Cover Semi-Gloss Black General Purpose Paint

$36 for 3 hours of labor at $12/hr

Total Cost: ~$56.48