Vibro axe again. (See post #129 - #132)

[Tom1971]

OK, I got my SuperMax hair dryer in the mail today. Does anybody have any idea about how to disassemble it? I removed the three visible screws, but was unable to separate the two halves of the housing. This is my first time building a prop with the actual vintage parts, so I really don't want to screw this up. Any ideas, anybody?

Did you take the metal "frame" off the opening where the hot air comes out?

After that it should just come apart.

 

[BruGaleen]

Update! Got the SuperMax apart, gutted, and mounted on a 3/4" wood dowel. It took a bit of force to get the halves of the housing separated, but ultimately it just "pops" apart after you remove the screws. Whew! Adventures in propbuilding, lol. So, to summarize, I have successfully run a wooden dowel through a hair dryer, lol.

 

[SaberFreak]

So, to summarize, I have successfully run a wooden dowel through a hair dryer, lol.

Could you share what you needed to do to run the wooden dowel through the hairdryer? I see many plastic bits and pieces inside, and to run anything through it means a lot of cutting...

 

[BruGaleen]

That's basically what you have to do. A Dremel with a sanding attachment (the coarse one) makes short work of that plastic. I did, however, save the tube that the lower screw goes through, and I drilled a hole though my dowel that the tube will fit into. That way, I can still screw the halves of the dryer back together. I'd post pics, but my camera is crappy, lol.

 

[SaberFreak]

I did, however, save the tube that the lower screw goes through, and I drilled a hole though my dowel that the tube will fit into. That way, I can still screw the halves of the dryer back together.

Yeah, that's the part I was undecided on cutting, because I'm using an aluminum tube not a wooden dowel.

 

[BruGaleen]

Yeah, if you keep that one, you won't have to worry about the dryer sliding, it won't be going anywhere.

 

[BruGaleen]

Just had a thought about the windings. Has anybody tried using a coiled-up phone cord? I just put some around my dowel rod and it looks pretty sweet. Just throwing that out there.

 

[Dewka]

I had my hair dryer taken apart and gutted in 45 minutes. The Course sanding drum is invaluable for getting all the internal support structure removed for the pipe to run through. I also found a soaker on Amazon, cut it in half and gutted it, squared up the slots on the newer style soaker ( I KNOW my dad had one of the originals years ago!) and glued it all back together. I got a look at a builtup yesterday, so my next project will be fixing up the C02 cannisters I got, then moving on to the axe itself and the V-rod. Slow but sure.

 

[SaberFreak]

I also found a soaker on Amazon, cut it in half and gutted it

I've been trying to decide whether to cut open my soaker(original) or not, but can't seem to figure out a way to do it without potentially damaging it. Mind sharing how you cut yours?

 

[SaberFreak]

Just had a thought about the windings. Has anybody tried using a coiled-up phone cord? I just put some around my dowel rod and it looks pretty sweet. Just throwing that out there.

The idea of making the windings by coiling some wire and then wrap it with heat-shrink tubing have been tossed around from time to time...I might just go that route myself.

 

[zorg]

i tried it, it did not give the desired effect

 

[zarathud]

Hi. I'm working on a vibro axe for Dragoncon, and I wanted to thank everyone for all the great info in this thread.

I've got the hair dryer and some other parts are on the way. I'm currently working through Adamata's pipe assembly guide.

 

[Walter]

So I finally got around to casting my blade, needs a lot of cleanup, but it is resin with aluminum powder, so it should buff up nicely. The master was laser cut in plexi using Macklin's drawings as a guide.

 

[zarathud]

One thing has been bothering me. Some of the instructions suggest pvc for the main pole, but pvc just seems to wobbly at that length. Am I missing something?
Currently planning to use a length of metal conduit.

 

[SaberFreak]

One thing has been bothering me. Some of the instructions suggest pvc for the main pole, but pvc just seems to wobbly at that length. Am I missing something?
Currently planning to use a length of metal conduit.

Aluminum pipe is the way to go.

 

[zarathud]

Making progress. Might actually get this done in time for Dragon Con.
I'm making my own vader rod. Won't be entirely accurate, but that should be easy to mod later. I really wish I could have found washers this size with a smaller hole, but gonna make it work. I'm using a bit of uncured sculpy to hold the washers in place while they bond to the bar.
For the philips head part, I just used a segment of wood dowel and etched a plus into it with the dremel.
Got a few castings from Adamata (thanks Adamata!).

 

[Tom1971]

New pics with some noticed stuff.

 

[thebrighton]

Time to resurrect this thread as I am in the process of building an axe to go with my Weequay Skiff guard. Some fantastic info in this thread which has helped massively to locate many of the parts. I've not spotted it on here so here is a link to a source for the 'Vader' bar:https://www.shapeways.com/product/VUR76SQ65/leia-slave-vibro-axe-greeble-1?optionId=58970754&li=ostatus Regarding the pipe under the Supermax any thought s on this bit of info:https://www.yourprops.com/Weequay-G...tar-Wars-Return-Of-The-Jedi-1983-YP40163.html It suggests the pipe was a diesel glow plug. I'd love to know what one as I've not been able to source one like it yet.

 

[thebrighton]

Finished my Vibro-Ax:

 

[coregeek]

Any chance someone could provide me with the template and measurements for this build? Unfortunately the photobucket change has made the majority of the photos here dead. Any help would be greatly appreciated!