Luke ESB Saber completion

[Risu]

So I just got a really good deal on a graflex replica in the junkyard and I was hoping you guys could help me find out who the maker of this replica is and point me in the right direction to finish my conversion to an ESB. There are two spots on the saber that are inaccurate that I know of. One is the lack of text on the butt end and the second is a missing greeblie to the left of the red button. The clamp is a combination of the one I just got and one I already had which was either a real graflex clamp or a very accurate repro, so the clamp won't have any identifying factors. The inside of the emitter is about 3 inches deep before it narrows aff and there's a set screw inside the glass eye, so I'm assuming it was made to hold either electronics or a stunt blade. I'd like to know the maker because I need to get another red button to make it an ESB saber and I want one that matches the other and will properly screw into the space where the eye used to be.

The second thing I need to know is what is the best glue to hold down the t-track grips? These are blast-tech, but I had them on a hardware saber and they only have enough glue on them now to hold them long enough to take a picture. I've got gorilla glue, elmer's, rubber cement, and some epoxy on hand, which is the best? Here are some pictures.

Oh, and one last thing, does anybody know where I could get that missing greeblie or something close enough and how I could attach it? Big thanks to anybody that can help me out.

 

[scarf man]

kurtboy has a proper replica D ring for sale in the Junkyard.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=64483

You will have to drill some new holes for that, then might as well drill some holes for the rivets and screws in the grips (add double sided tape too).

The missing switch could be cut out of a soda can and JB welded on.

I'm not sure who the maker is, possibly Graflex Reborn or Parks.
Replica bottom maybe?

Don't forget the textured tape.
Oh and pry that beer tab off.

 

[Risu]

Thanks for the tip on the kobold, but I'm fine with the blast-tech d-ring. I've also got some textured tape. There are already two extra holes drilled in the end of the saber, but until I get access to a drill I can't remove the d-ring that's been riveted on and tell if the holes are in the right places.

Are you saying that double-sided tape is the best method for attaching the grips? I want to attach them as permanently as possible, since I may be using this saber as more than a display piece.

Oh, and what do you mean by beer tab?

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

It could be a Biskit, maybe a GR, but I don't think a Parks (unless it's one of his early ones before he started making them in China).

 

[Darth_cepe]

by beer tab he means the d-ring last time i checked you needed an additional red button other than that it s beautiful congrats on your find Dumpster Divin :lol

 

[GINO]

Let me know if you want to upgrade to more accurate grips.

.

 

[Risu]

Yea, I just can't get the red button until I know who made the saber. The ones I've seen are either a real button that screws in or a thumbscrew. I don't know if the size and threading of the button match the hole on my saber and the thumbscrew probably just wouldn't work at all. Also, all the buttons I've seen look way more accurate than the button on my saber, so they could look pretty mismatched. I could save myself that by buying two buttons, but the button on this saber is permanently attached by that little metal piece.

 

[teecrooz]

by beer tab he means the d-ring last time i checked you needed an additional red button other than that it s beautiful congrats on your find Dumpster Divin :lol

Beer tab is the piece of metal under the red button.

 

[Clutch]

Your clamp look like the one on the left or right? Notice the positioning of the letters.

 

[clancampbell]

kurtboy has a proper replica D ring for sale in the Junkyard.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=64483

You will have to drill some new holes for that, then might as well drill some holes for the rivets and screws in the grips (add double sided tape too).

The missing switch could be cut out of a soda can and JB welded on.

I'm not sure who the maker is, possibly Graflex Reborn or Parks.
Replica bottom maybe?

Don't forget the textured tape.
Oh and pry that beer tab off.

But do remember that only the Ranch saber had that awful textured tape.....

Rich

 

[Risu]

My clamp looks more like the one on the left, but the blocks on each side were different from any other I've seen, which is the reason I replaced them. They were solid blocks of aluminum, not sheet metal with the sides folded down. It was obviously poorly constructed because clamping down the lever didn't tighten it's grip at all.

It's definitely not a parks, I looked into that and his look way more accurate than this one. I couldn't find the sites for graflex reborn or biskit through a google search.

 

[scarf man]

I couldn't find the sites for graflex reborn or biskit through a google search.

Those two haven't been around for years.
Try the way back machine.

 

[Risu]

I found an old thread that gave some details, but no pictures. It sounds like this one is a biskit. So my question is, are the currently available re buttons and red button thumbscrews compatible with a biskit saber?

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Biskit top shells should be threaded to take either a real Graflex red button or a repo. I have 2 Biskit tops and both are interchangable.

 

[Risu]

Excellent. I'll probably pick one of the thumbscrews up from the custom saber shop.

Anybody have a recommendation on which kind of glue to use on the grips?

 

[Clutch]

 

[Risu]

Is that the really gummy black stuff? I think I have a generic brand of that type of stuff for my car window seals somewhere. It looks kind of like tar.

 

[Clutch]

It's a yellowish contact cement.

 

[Risu]

Oh, not the same stuff then. Any chance gorilla glue or rubber cement would be a viable alternative?

 

[Sith_Lord_Hritz]

I like gorilla glue for almost any wood project im doing and I have thought about using it for the same thing as you are asking. But I would have to say that it will for sure hold the grips but it will foam up and expand as it dries. Might not look that great and then you pretty much trash the grips if you try to remove the glue. I would say use a epoxy rubber/metal type.