Darth Vader ESB FX Blade Removal

[Darth Kahnt]

Since I have two Vader ESB FX Sabers I decided to try to remove the blade from one of them after seeing a tutorial on another forum. Turned out great. The blade is now detachable and the hilt looks pretty darn good so I can have that hanging off my belt and it is pretty lightweight. The electronics are still intact if I want to use that option as well.

Here's a few pics of the end result. The only problem I had was taking the pin out of the side of the saber so I had to grind it down. Now I will have to use a Dremel and get rid of the rest of the pin and get a new one, hence the reason why the saber hilt is not fully put back together yet :

 

[rmschneider104]

I did the same thing with an extra Vader FX I found at Best Buy. Makes a great belt hanger for under $100.

 

[FalconV8]

Does the blade still light up, etc when you re attach it? Could you send me a link of the tutorial you saw?

Thanks.

CM

 

[BLEE]

<div class='quotetop'>(FalconV8 @ Oct 23 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]1343405[/snapback]</div>

Does the blade still light up, etc when you re attach it? Could you send me a link of the tutorial you saw?

Thanks.

CM
[/b]

Yes the blade still lights up and it can be dueled with but you have to be more careful. I once swang it too hard and the blade flew about 10 feet away. I am tempted to do it to my spare ESB saber also.
Here is the link on how to do it.....http://fx-sabers.com/vader_ESB_tutorial.html
It is very easy. I am now able to totally disassemble and reassemble it in less than 6 minutes.

 

[OldKen]

yes yes yes...

DO NOT SWING HARD....

i shot my anakin blade a good 30 40 feet and when it hit the ground under someones car... it sounded... painful.

its easy to see why MR wont release detatchable blades... it could be done, but a locking system would HAVE to be created... serioulsy its a LED death missle if swung with all your might...

here is a tip though, take a piesce of electrical tape and wrap it 3/4ths around the blade, where it is just barely out of sight when sunk in place... it isnt SAFE still but you can swing it alot harder... still dont let an intoxicated friend play with it (trust me) thats why its good to have 2 before doing this, one for people with the OOOH A LIGHTSABER GIMME. and another that you can wear and occasionally slap the blade in...

FYI


<div class='quotetop'>(BLEE @ Oct 23 2006, 05:35 PM) [snapback]1343532[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(FalconV8 @ Oct 23 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]1343405[/snapback]

Does the blade still light up, etc when you re attach it? Could you send me a link of the tutorial you saw?

Thanks.

CM
[/b]

Yes the blade still lights up and it can be dueled with but you have to be more careful. I once swang it too hard and the blade flew about 10 feet away. I am tempted to do it to my spare ESB saber also.
Here is the link on how to do it.....http://fx-sabers.com/vader_ESB_tutorial.html
It is very easy. I am now able to totally disassemble and reassemble it in less than 6 minutes.
[/b][/quote]

 

[DARTH ANIBAL]

I did this myself a while ago, and I'm glad I did. I recommend it to all you other Vaders.

 

[xwingband]

This does not work on all Vaders. Unfortunatly there really isn't a way to tell until you open it. SOme have the DIN plugs and can be made removable but the rest aren't.

 

[OldKen]

actually its quit easy to tell...

if its an ep5... they all have it.

if its an ep4... none of them do.

only the ep5vader ep3ani and im almost possitive the maul are currantly capeable.

unless the newer ep6luke and mace with LEDs had there guts changed (but i have heard nothing like that)

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Well I am very glad I did it, but thats all some pretty good advice regarding the duels and holding back.

I would like to see MR release a version with a detachable blade and I think a locking system could be pretty easy to put it.

 

[OldKen]

<div class='quotetop'>(Darth Kahnt @ Oct 23 2006, 09:18 PM) [snapback]1343648[/snapback]</div>

Well I am very glad I did it, but thats all some pretty good advice regarding the duels and holding back.

I would like to see MR release a version with a detachable blade and I think a locking system could be pretty easy to put it.
[/b]

did you try what i said with the electrical tape?

it really helps hold it in place (but still be careful.)

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>(oldken @ Oct 23 2006, 09:24 PM) [snapback]1343654[/snapback]</div>

did you try what i said with the electrical tape?

it really helps hold it in place (but still be careful.)
[/b]

Im going to try it tonight, I just read it a few minutes ago.

 

[xwingband]

<div class='quotetop'>(oldken @ Oct 24 2006, 01:13 AM) [snapback]1343645[/snapback]</div>

actually its quit easy to tell...

if its an ep5... they all have it.

if its an ep4... none of them do.

only the ep5vader ep3ani and im almost possitive the maul are currantly capeable.

unless the newer ep6luke and mace with LEDs had there guts changed (but i have heard nothing like that)
[/b]

Nope... it's pretty random. EP5's are mostly the molex connectors. I guess you can generalize and say the older ones are but unless you bought it yourself you'd have no clue as to how old it was when manufactured.

Not sure about EP4's as there is scant info on them, but EP5's are definatly both. All of the new FX's are molex connectors because they are physically the same boards... just programmed differently.

EDIT: Drill and Tap for a thumbscrew... the Vader is meant to have one anyway. If you gorilla duel tape isn't going to cut it.

 

[OldKen]

i really dont think your understanding what im sayin, and are you seriously suggesting putting a screw into the plastic of the blade where the pin was? :confused

ive opened a few ep5 vaders, and a few anakin ep3s... never saw the older connectors... hmm...

 

[xwingband]

<div class='quotetop'>(oldken @ Oct 24 2006, 08:31 AM) [snapback]1343792[/snapback]</div>

i really dont think your understanding what im sayin, and are you seriously suggesting putting a screw into the plastic of the blade where the pin was? :confused

ive opened a few ep5 vaders, and a few anakin ep3s... never saw the older connectors... hmm...
[/b]

Trust me EP5 Vader's are both. In fact I haven't opened any of the DIN plug Vaders, but I know they exist. Not sure on the Ani's... I may have heard of it, but never seen it. All of the new ones they are putting out have the white molex connectors and can't be made removable. That you can trust me on.

I was suggesting a thumbscrew on the Vader. You just need to replace the one for the shroud with a longer one that would reach the blade. It doesn't go in the blade... it just contacts the blade and puts enough force to hold it in. It's done all the time in Luxeon conversions.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Oct 24 2006, 08:17 AM) [snapback]1343820[/snapback]</div>

I was suggesting a thumbscrew on the Vader. You just need to replace the one for the shroud with a longer one that would reach the blade. It doesn't go in the blade... it just contacts the blade and puts enough force to hold it in. It's done all the time in Luxeon conversions.
[/b]

Gotcha, I can see what you are saying now. I think thats a good idea. When you want to remove the blade you loosen the thumbscrew.

 

[spidermale]

In early spring I bought a broken one off of ebay for the express purpose of removing the blade. didnt cost me much at all. However, when it arrived, the shroud was broken and that wasnt pictured in the auction. Now Im wondering if the shroud thats available at blast tech will fit, cus if not, I have no idea how to fix this. also, the pin on the side of the activation switch came out but didnt want to go back in. But I figured when its hanging on my belt, whos gonna know.Wish I had seen the tutorial on how to do this tho, it would have made it a bit easier then who I had to email to find out how to take it apart.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

I dont know if the Blasttech shroud will fit it. Anyone wanna chime in?

 

[xwingband]

It should. My MR fit my Heiland. So by reverse, any one meant to fit a Heiland/MPP should work on the MR.

 

[JediG60racer]

In the hole where the screw is that originally went through the blade, from the outside, you can install a long metric allen bolt that is the same threadpitch and it works nicely as a set screw to hold the blade in place. My buddy used a black zinc coated bolt, so it's not very noticeable as being different, and it only sticks up about 3mm so it's really not obtrusive.

Much safer than tape to hold it in, and it only takes a few more seconds to release the blade with an allen wrench (like with an EL-O or EL-QG).

 

[Darth Kahnt]

I think I am going to try the bolt with mine. Trip to Home Depot today.