Another solution for cheap saber grips...

[GeorgeC]

I went to 2 places the other day looking for a cheap hardware solution to the grip problem on my saber project (which I've resumed after 4 years).

I ultimately found something workable at Big Lots, that rare source of cheap, decent-quality remainder goods... Seriously, it's a better store than many people think!!!

Anyhow, what's the solution? It's ironically what many people thought was the original source for the Luke/Vader original trilogy saber grips --




replacement wiper blades! :lol

Seriously, 2 replacement wiper blades for $1.20 at Big Lots provide more than enough T-shaped plastic to fashion grips. I'll probably measure them at regular intervals with a long metal ruler and mark them with a silver hi-liter for cutting by hand-saw. I'd rather use a saw since high-speed cutting by dremel tends to melt plastic and create a big mess that's a pain to sand or cut off...

This is a cheap solution for making grips and not meant to be accurate. If I were to be accurate (say after buying replica MPP's or Graflex tubes), I'd probably go on the RPF and ask if anybody member is still making T-grips for the sabers...

 

[Darth Lars]

What kind of make and model are they? That tip is useless without pics!

 

[CSMacLaren]

Photos! Need photos! :lol

 

[GeorgeC]

Just to be clear, the shape of the wiper blades are very different from the grips on the official props.

I wasn't striving for absolute accuracy -- I just wanted something cheap, dirty, and simple.

They are molded in black rubber and plastic so they don't need to be painted. Technically, you could just take off the rubber and use the bases for the grips but it wouldn't be as comfortable to hold.

The rubber blades do bend but are elastic and should bound back into shape.

I think when I get done sanding and shaping my saber tube (it's a simple 1 1/2" diameter sink tube like they use for plumbing) I'm going to glue the grips. I'll probably just use a silver highlighter to mark off the where to cut the blades into equal parts and cut with a saw blade. I'm afraid if I use a dremel or power that it's just going to cause the rubber and plastic to melt and that's a mess to deal with!

I'll try to put up pictures of the wipers within a day... I've got a digital camera but have to unpack it. I already have a site that I regularly use to upload pics for free.

Again, this was a very cheap item to buy at Big Lots, a chain of discount stores specializing in low-cost or clearance items. They have these stores all over Ohio. I wouldn't be surprised if they''ve gone national but I really don't know that for sure. Big Lots is way, way better than Dollar Store or Family Dollar. The chain has improved dramatically over the years and I'm not ashamed to walk through one of those stores. I've bought any number of things there for very good prices -- generally anywhere from 33-40% lower than other stores on average. You can usually find something neat that you can use or enjoy. Besides having the cheapest cans of soda in Columbus, it also has the cheapest, unopened older DVD releases! I've bought 4 DVDs there for around $12... And they weren't bad films, either!

 

[GeorgeC]

Here are the pics of the wiper blades I picked up at Big Lots...

First, my tube. It's maybe 85-90% done. I really have to level out the grip because it's at a slight angle. I want it as close to even as possible. You can't see the grip end in this pic...



Here's the package for the wiper blades. The brand name is Magic Wipes. Two wipers come per package and they can be cut to the length of your car's blade holders. They recommend going a little extra over on the packaging...



As close to a X-section of one end of a wiper blade as I can get. Not quite the T-shape of the movie saber grips...



This is the other end of the blade. Note the catcher that keeps the rubber from sliding off one end. I'm going to keep these catchers and make two grips unique on my saber...



As you can tell by this picture, each blade is quite a bit longer than the sink tube I'm modifying.



And that's pretty much all to show for these blades. All images are 230 dpi. I had to reduce the sizes so they didn't overwhelm the framing of this posting. I hope I was successful!

They can blown up to get clearer looks if you want inside a picture viewer or application like Photoshop...