Re: The Graflex Legacy Builds - Shaping the Chamber Fins
Thanks. It's been a good learning experience and a real eye opener.
So, really big update today.
I finished stacking all of the components on top of each other to get a good idea of what it looked like.
Then I had to start making tiny adjustments here and there to make it a nice snug fit in the brass tube.
I started braiding 30 gauge wire through the chamber into the battery and speaker housing. That 30 gauge wire is awesome, it hides really well and can fit through pretty much every piece without being seen. It's also really strong, too. I decided to make it all one piece inside of the Graflex so that it can be taken out easily to work on if necessary
Helping hands are a lifesaver for a lightsaber.....
They really are though
Once it was all wired up, I started assembling it all together. I put a rubber band around the top where the wires are to keep them housed easily.
I don't know why that photo is blurry... That's dumb, but whatever.
So, upon assembly, it's finally complete. Feast your eyes, ladies and gentlemen, on my first ever fully complete custom crystal reveal.
This thing is awesome. It added a really nice weight to the Graflex, and of course the visual portion.
This was a really great learning experience for myself, and I hope for others that are looking in on my build. This was a completely 100% hand built chamber using nothing but a dremel, some hand files, some simple hand made designs and a some found parts in various stores. All in all, the build materials (besides the electronics) was maybe 20 to 30 dollars.
To those that have always aspired to have nice looking chambers and professional looking builds, look no further than your own hands and that note pad in your house. Everything you need is essentially in front of you; lathes and mills make it easier, but it's not available to everyone, including myself. Visualization is the hardest part for most people, and my biggest tip is to think simple. If you really look at the build, it's nothing more than a tube with a few windows cut in it, 6 fins, and some aluminum tubes. It's all extremely simple designs and ideas, but when stacked together, it turns into a great looking design. So, don't worry too much about having those extravagant designs with crazy pipes and tubing and lights flashing everywhere.
Anyways, it's been a lot of fun. I can really look back through this build thread and see all the great times I had learning new things and the hunt of collecting all of my Graflex's. Who knows what my next build will be, but I look forward to it.
Thanks guys!
