I'm really eager to start my own lightsaber project, I can hardly look at all the cool custom sabers out there without getting all pumped up! However, I am no craftsman or artist by any stretch of the imagination and I am at the very start of this project, and step 1 is design. So, my first question in this journey is this: Whats a good program to use to design a hilt? Ive seen some of you post 3d prototypes before actually making them. Any programs that are better than others, and free to download or use? Any advice is warmly welcomed.
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Welcome! I machine custom sabers, both commissions and my own designs. I've used all kinds of "blueprints" from simple sketches to 3D renderings. Personally, I usually just sketch out my designs with good old pencil and paper.
Unless you're having them 3D printed, I don't see a huge need to get a computer involved.
Welcome! I machine custom sabers, both commissions and my own designs. I've used all kinds of "blueprints" from simple sketches to 3D renderings. Personally, I usually just sketch out my designs with good old pencil and paper.
Unless you're having them 3D printed, I don't see a huge need to get a computer involved.
Thank you all for the warm welcomes and suggestions! Looks like I'll be sketching some ideas out then. I'd like to clarify that I believe I have plenty of imagination, just not very good when it comes to drawing. 
haha, seriously though, I can't wait to see what I can make with your help. Sounds like I may be getting in contact with you calaeyrn at some point when I'm ready to bring a creation to life!
haha, seriously though, I can't wait to see what I can make with your help. Sounds like I may be getting in contact with you calaeyrn at some point when I'm ready to bring a creation to life!I'm no artist, man. Grab a ruler...maybe a drafting square. One trick I use is to fold the paper in half...then draw one side of the saber along the fold. Then I fold the paper and scratch my fingernail over the pencil to transfer or "mirror" it to the other side of the fold, creating the other half of the saber and making it nice and symmetric. And feel free to hit me up when you're ready. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
xl97
Master Member
I'm not clear if you want to make (machine) your own parts buy parts? or what? (looking to design your 'ideal saber' and have someone else make it?)
I would say two major forums TCSS (The Custom Saber Shop.com) and FX (fx-sabers.com) are great places for beginners to start... not only in getting prep'd in the terminology but also what sort of things are are making/doing.
FX-sabers is for learning or seeking others to do for you...
where as TCSS has its own store attached to the forum and sell a plethora of misc. saber parts for you to browser through and build your own design from.
they also have an 'awesome' builder tool *(biased opinion)*
where they have a majority of their available parts to use and build/design BEFORE you buy:
http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/mhsbuilder/mhsbuilder.php
the part are really affordable and let you design a hilt any way you want/looks good to you.
good luck!
I would say two major forums TCSS (The Custom Saber Shop.com) and FX (fx-sabers.com) are great places for beginners to start... not only in getting prep'd in the terminology but also what sort of things are are making/doing.
FX-sabers is for learning or seeking others to do for you...
where as TCSS has its own store attached to the forum and sell a plethora of misc. saber parts for you to browser through and build your own design from.
they also have an 'awesome' builder tool
*(biased opinion)* where they have a majority of their available parts to use and build/design BEFORE you buy:
http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/mhsbuilder/mhsbuilder.php
the part are really affordable and let you design a hilt any way you want/looks good to you.
good luck!
Thaks x197! I'll check those out. Im hoping to design my saber and then either have someone machine it out for me or sell me the parts to make my own. In the end I want something that can house electronics. Im really wanting to make a saber based off the design Dark Hoarse gave Oppo Rancisis in the comics.
