Custom Lightsaber

[rioross]

Hello, I am brand new to RPF.
I decided to come here after Adam Savage mentioned the wonderful community that is here.
I have finally started to create my life long idea: A light saber that is custom made for myself.
As of right now, I have taken apart a Star War Light Saber toy that I bought for $30. It's the one with the permanently extended "blade"
I have taken key measurements of the vital components, so I know how thin I can make my light saber.
I have a basic idea of what I'll do. I will run to the hardware store and buy a short section of pipe for the body, cut a hole in the side to house the on/off button, and fab up a bottom and top plate to hold the blade and speaker in.
As far as the components, I'll drill holes through the pipe that correspond to the holes drilled in the circuitry of the light saber. That way, I can us bolts to hold it together.
As far as the appearance, I was going for the whole "Function over form" idea with a flavor of steampunk. I have seen steampunk light sabers before, and I'd say I draw inspiration from those.
I'd love to get feedback and idea from any one else interested in my build, and I'm excited to be a part of the RPF community!

 

[vidman]

Let me be the 1st to welcome you to the RPF.

As far as ideas go there are allot of threads you can look thru to get an inspiration from.

Remember there is no definite way to customize your saber as in the STAR WARS universe it is your interpretation and only yours that makes each Saber a unique weapon to its owner.

Enjoy being part of the BEST place in the Universe and remember to post your CUSTOM BUILD in this thread.

Happy building :cool

 

[Apollo]

Welcome!

Looking forward to your build, although this should be posted in the main prop forum not the screen used one

 

[rioross]

Thank you, I was unsure of where to post.
Do you have a link to a better place to post my thread?

 

[Sym-Cha]

Hi there,

no worries it's in the correct forum now ... and indeed welcome ... looking forward to your works in progress.

Chaim

 

[rioross]

Here is what I am starting with. It's a super simple set up. There are a few circuit boards, some wires, a speaker, 23 LEDs, and three AA battery holders.


I plan on getting three separate holders for the batteries so that I don't need to chop up a perfectly good light saber handle.
If any one is curious about the construction of these, I'll be more than happy to upload pictures and explain it's disassemble. I'll note now that there is a hidden screw!
I made sure to note the locations and colors of the wires, just in case they come apart.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

That's how a LOT of people on here started out. You're already on the right track. The only other advice is to just look around for anything that looks like a lightsaber part. Take apart any old electronics you have laying around. VCRs, old VHS camcorders, and hard drives have some good parts for emitters.

 

[rioross]

To be honest, I have a problem when it comes to that.
Every time I head out to a hardware store, I see something and want it for a project that I'm not even working on.
"That doohickey looks like the perfect gun turret for a space ship!" "That whatchamacallit looks like a radio transmitter!"
There are so many things that I see and want that in then end, I would have a collection of random parts that I never needed in the first place.
I suppose it's a good thing.
I plan to head out to a place called Axe Man this week. I don't know if you have those where any of you are, but it's basically a place to get things that nobody else has.
They have an assortment of ball bearings; not the whole thing, but the actual balls themselves. Buttons, switches, knobs... you name the thing you want, and they should have it.
I'll check out the local second hand store too for old electronics too.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

I think most people on here have a big collection of junk just because it looks like it could go on a *insert scifi movie item here* or it could be useful somehow down the road. :lol

 

[rioross]

I just picked up battery holders and the best darn pair of wire snips I've ever owned.
They cut the plastic and strip the wire with one squeeze of the handles. Awesome!

Any of you know how to mount something in a tube without screwing holes in it or welding it? I need it sturdy enough to be able to whack the blade around without the components coming undone. I'd also like the whole thing to be come apart if I want it to.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Sometimes I rely on industrial ducktape, which I fold so it becomes double sided to avoid drilling holes ... let alone welding. It depends on what you want to mount though.

Chaim

 

[Luke Skywalker]

Welcome to the RPF Building a lightsaber is on my to-do list also. I have the vintage parts, etc. I hope that when i get to it, I will have the information I need. I am sure it can be found on this site. There is a wealth of information and pictures from ridiculously talented people.

 

[Canobi]

Great first thread bud, welcome aboard


My intention here is not to hijack your thread, but to show the options, so my apologies for it being a little long.


I ventured into my first saber project last year and made some for my kids. My remit was to keep it cheap but look cool whilst being durable and kid safe. They also wanted to be able to wear the hilts on their belts so the blades also had to be removable as well.

Here was my solution:

I used 1" OD polycarbonate tubing for the blades as they are very nearly unbreakable, which I discovered was snug fit for the stick glue tube so that became the blade seat. the glue stick tube also happens to be a good fit for the PVC down pipe section, and the red part of the empty disposable inhaler provided the pommel, also a very good fit.

Unfortunately, if you want removable blades, you either need to make some kind of quick connect for the hilt and base of the blade and seal the LEDs inside, or go torch style.

I chose the latter because it's a lot simpler, but still effective.



The trick with this type of setup is getting the light even all the way to the tip. I solved it by gluing a small acrylic mirror to the underside of the blade tip, and inserting a roll of celephane into the blade tube and glued it to the inside at the base to secure it.




I scratch build my emitter heads from all sorts, here a few in the mock-up stage.




...and one finished

 

[The Mad Professor]

Damn, son... that is one fine lookin' saber...

 

[Canobi]

Thanks

The finished one was my first and I was enormously pleased with the results considering they only cost around £35 total to make :thumbsup

 

[rioross]

Awesome, Canobi!

I went to a hardware store today to see what they had, and I found very little.
Good sections of pipe, but none the length I needed. I found ten foot sections, but I don't need nearly that much.
I stopped at a second hand store too, and not a whole lot there, either.
I did picked up drill bits, though!

 

[The Schlitzie]

A strange suggestion but, I used to be a landscaper and they always have cuttings of PVC from irrigation repairs up the wazoo that usually just get thrown away.

If you want to attach anything without gluing holes in stuff you could get some JB Weld for pretty cheap.

Here's a couple of my pvc saber hilts I made for a costume: (Sorry for the pics hijack, just though you might get some ideas)

 

[rioross]

Those are awesome! I love the "damaged" one, it gives makes it almost speak it's own story.

I have seriously considered PVC, however, I want the heft and look of metal.

 

[NeoRutty]

Unless you're in Canada, 12 inch sink pipe is pretty common and usefull for these sort of things.

I'm in Canada, and for some reason sink pipe that long is not available (at least where I am)

 

[rioross]

I did look at that too!
I found all sorts of sink pipe that was the right size, however, all of them had flares at the top of them, which I don't want. I could have cut the pipe, but I'd prefer to cut as little as possible.