Hardware/Replica Chronicles Obi Wan Kenobi Saber

[thd9791]

Hi Everyone, I'm very very new at prop building, and am looking to put together a general version of Obi Wan Kenobi's lightsaber from Revenge of the Sith, and A New Hope. "General Version" aka I bought a radial bearing to use as the wind vane, similar but much easier than gluing T Track around a tiny circle.

I do not have a huge budget, aka the hardware thing. I've been looking at sink drains, flanges and hook-ups an can't find anything, have no idea how to mock up a forward grip, and am planning on buying a graflex clamp to cover that part. Will it fit around a 1 1/2 inch chrome pipe? Should I use a pvc Spacer behind the clamp and use a 1 inch pipe instead so I can stack up a grip and it will be flush with the clamp?

agh, any ideas, tutorials, hardware ideas would be great! (again not looking for accuracy, but close to it!) Sorry if I'm repeating another thread, Im also new to forums as well

 

[Mr_Creepy]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

These links might help you out

http://www.therpf.com/f9/mostly-hardware-obi-rots-anh-hybrid-39290/

http://www.therpf.com/f9/wip-mostly-hardware-obi-anh-38197/

http://www.therpf.com/f9/hardware-obi-anh-tutorial-68335/

 

[Sym-Cha]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Hello there and welcome.

You can also use the 'Search'-button for any info you seek.

-Chaim

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Thanks guys, I did look at Tan Djarka's work (fantastic!) but was still unsure on details. Any other ideas?

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Okay guys, I got my base parts, how could I plant a 1/2 inch copper pipe inside a 1 inch tube? I cant seem to find washers that width

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Thanks guys, I did look at Tan Djarka's work (fantastic!) but was still unsure on details. Any other ideas?

Hey, that's me! And thanks. If you have any specific questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Okay guys, I got my base parts, how could I plant a 1/2 inch copper pipe inside a 1 inch tube? I cant seem to find washers that width

A combination of PVC pipe and duct tape or epoxy putty (if I'm understanding your question). The 1/2" pipe is the neck, which I'm assuming is the neck/stem and the 1" tube (metal?) is the forward grip/main body, right? Just find some PVC pipe or a fitting which has an interior diameter to fit around the copper pipe and an outside diameter to fit in the 1" pipe.

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

right on it! Actually I found some rubber hose that I can tape up to slide into the 1 inch pipe (thick walled PVC).

The Radial Bearing fits perfectly over a copper reducer (takes care of the windvane) and I think I'll go from there. I've decided to cut larger PVC into rings, glue those in place and caulk the beveled edges for the grip, maybe dremel lengthwise too. I think beveling the edges of pvc rings might be tough for me, im not that coordinated with power tools, so im hoping the caulk will work. kinda like grouting tile

I did have a question, this emitter.....I don't have the resources to buy a pre-machined one, and i cant find any sink drains or flanges that look anything close. Tan, what exactly did you do to piece your emitter's together? I saw your website but got lost in the details..? Thank you!

Also, does anyone know where to get a graflex clamp copy?

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Unfortunately there are no one piece solutions for the emitter. I've used a variety of materials, but the construction is usually about the same.

The flange can be from a sink drain, a metal washer of the correct size, or even just some sheet plastic. The rest on the emitter is just PVC and plastic pipe of various diameters to create the inner tube, the main tube, and the step below the flange.

If you want to go as far as to recreate the "ring of holes" inside the flange opening, there are some toy trucks (some from Tonka) with wheels that look just about right.

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Thank you for all the help everyone! Im still planning/gathering materials. does anyone know if Caulk sticks to electrical tape? I have to make some space behind the rings, so i thought I would just tape up the main tube...

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

So, how'd this turn out? Enquiring minds want to know. Well, I do anyway.

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Hah, I ran into a really cheap graflex handle (50 bucks) with no tarnish and just completed a luke saber. Im back at school, so when I move home My dad and I need to get this thing back up and running. Things kind-of came to a halt, someone borrowed tools, never gave them back, his workbench collapsed, etc. (complete fail) We're still looking around for parts for the emitter, I think I'll glue bits of pvc to the bottom of that door lock plate and go from there haha. I promise to finish!

 

[cayman shen]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Been awhile since I've seen a fun hardware saber thread. I used to eat that stuff up. I've actually got an unfinished one I should wrap up and post, now that I think of it...

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Yeah, hardware sabers used to be all the rage. Then evryone kept discovering what the parts were, doing super accurate runs, and that just ruined everything!

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

I haven't given up, Honestly I just need to find the time/money and tools to finish this up.

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Hey there, anyone stumble across any cool substitutes for exact machined copies? Big Yellow Box is back up and running and I saw his foundation for a Ben Kenobi-esque lightsaber. I especially liked the female hose adapter as part of the neck. I do stil have that bearing so I won't go that route, how often do aftermarket parts come up in the junk yard?

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

We found a vintage graflex clamp on ebay for around 40. It;s a little small, and we tried loosening the lever (spinning it) and that opened it up millimeters. Doesn't fit around a pvc coupling though...Barely too small

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

We found a vintage graflex clamp on ebay for around 40. It;s a little small, and we tried loosening the lever (spinning it) and that opened it up millimeters. Doesn't fit around a pvc coupling though...Barely too small

Nope. The clamp will fit around a tube 1.5" in diameter. A coupling (I'm guessing, for 1" PVC?) is a bit bigger in diameter (not quite 1.75"). The clamp will fit on a 1.5" PVC extension tube (sink drain), which when cut to length, will fit over a 1" PVC pipe if you wrap the pipe with a few turns of duct tape.

 

[thd9791]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Ah! we're off by a millimeter or two, but that piping is a great idea too...You're right this coupling is bigger than I thought. The pipes at the store near me are measured by the inside diameter, so pipes with a thicker wall tend to be larger or smaller than we need. (Stupid Home Depot) haha

 

[Tan Djarka]

Re: Hardware Lightsaber Obi Wan ROTS/ANH

Ah! we're off by a millimeter or two, but that piping is a great idea too...You're right this coupling is bigger than I thought. The pipes at the store near me are measured by the inside diameter, so pipes with a thicker wall tend to be larger or smaller than we need. (Stupid Home Depot) haha

Not so much Home Depot as just the plumbing industry. For truer dimensions (1.25 & 1.5) it's better to use "extension pipes" meant for drains. The standard PVC pipe has thicker walls to accomadate the water pressure in the supply lines. Even the thin walled pipe will be off a bit, as the exterior diameter is the same as the thick walled, so the same couplings can be used for both.

I've used the PVC pipe and couplings for some of my sabers, and it required custom fabricating slightly oversized Graflex-style clamps out of sheet metal to fit. Except in a side by side comparison, they don't look too much out of scale, especially since I use thinner aluminum or stainless steel for ease of bending.