Saber Forum

A year or so ago, I was obsessed with lightsabers, and tried to make my own. I still have the attempt. This is as far as I got.

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/LeoninJesterXII/140806_0000_zpsfea66802.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/LeoninJesterXII/media/140806_0000_zpsfea66802.jpg.html)

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/LeoninJesterXII/140806_0001_zps1b1b67d0.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/LeoninJesterXII/media/140806_0001_zps1b1b67d0.jpg.html)

That is a custom shroud, cut out of PVC with a pair of wire nippers, and a length of galvanized steel pipe.

Looks like a good start.  I really like the shape of the shroud.  Any plans to finish this?

Well, it won't fit MHS parts, but I DO have the equipment to do it all... But I'm not sure. It would take a lot of money that I don't have to get it working.

I say keep at it dude, looking good so far. Don't be discouraged or anything. I feel the same way sometimes on custom builds if I can ever afford it again. Or it could be a good static belt prop saber? Use like a red thumb screw for the power switch, and other greeblies. Just a thought for you though but I hope you get the saber done. I'd go red with this one. :D The top shroud looks like krayte bone or something. (Sorry if I spelled that wrong).

I agree.  If you don't have the money to get it wired right now than it will at least make a nice belt prop with some finishing touches.  Maybe you can get electronics for it later on. 

I think another PVC shroud on the lower half for a grip or handle would be good.

I really like the shroud design, I say you should keep it up. I also agree with Zern on using thumb screws, It adds a nice touch ;)

I had planed on this. Making another piece that had the same shape of a claw, then have it to where the tips touch the flats on the opposing piece two give a "cat's pupil" look. But, all the PVC I had to do it with disappeared in my last move.

And, it will fit all the electronics US offers, and either a 3-AAA setup or a Li-ion setup.

No sound or emerald, of course. But I could take my Aeon apart and stuff it into this thing right now. I just don't wanna ruin my Aeon. XP

That sounds pretty cool.  PVC is cheap, might be worth getting back to sometime.   


I don't blame.  The Aeon is a nice saber, I wouldn't want to gut it either.

It's the only saber I own. Were I going to electrify my home-made I would probably order a V2 Initiate and gut it. Cheaper than buying the electronics themselves, probably.

That's true, unless you bought the parts to build your own LED module and a resistor instead of a buckpuck.  It can be done cheaper, but buying a US LED module saves you some extra work.

I've never done high-watt LED work.

I'm not sure what you mean by high-watt, but I bought an LED, lens, lens holder and copper cap for a heatsink and am going to try building my own module.

I'm used to wiring up little dinky low-volt LEDs. I don't know how to work with resistors and how to create colours or any of that.

I don't know about creating colors either.  I just bought a white LED and the resistor so the battery voltage doesn't blow out the LED.  I don't expect it will be more complicated than just soldering the wires.

What colour would a force-sensitive clone wield? Possibly a synthetic, white crystal? That would make for some lore... I know there are clones made with skill in the force, and thus that wield lightsabers, due to the Force seeing each one as an individual and not just copies. But what colour?

Well, I found the PVC I used to make the shroud. I can finally finish my grip and body. Then I'll clean the rust out of the galvanized tube and coat it in and out with primer. Hehehe. Can't wait to see this done.

Anybody know where I can get a good, but inexpensive dremel tool?

I got my Black & Decker RTX-B 3-speed off Amazon for around $30. 
It's a pretty good little tool but you don't get much in the way of accessories with it.

Grip section cut out and ready for design work!

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/LeoninJesterXII/140812_0001_zps52779a20.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/LeoninJesterXII/media/140812_0001_zps52779a20.jpg.html)

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/LeoninJesterXII/140812_0002_zpsa3128122.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/LeoninJesterXII/media/140812_0002_zpsa3128122.jpg.html)

(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/LeoninJesterXII/140812_0003_zps0ca9d92b.jpg) (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/LeoninJesterXII/media/140812_0003_zps0ca9d92b.jpg.html)

I finished up the emitter shroud with a bench grinder and did the cutout on the grip with a hacksaw, hacksaw blade, and a knife.

Looking good.  8)

It looks like you could use the emitter as a weapon too, that thing looks sharp.

Lol. The PVC is pretty flimsy for that. Plan on doing cutout grooves on the grip.

Anybody know how I can make an end cap for this thing?

A PVC end cap?
Just need to drill a screw hole or two to secure it.

I don't want to use a pre-made PVC piece because it would break the style.

If you don't want to use a pre-made end cap, then it might get tricky. If you want a molded piece of PVC, then you need to heat up a sheet, place it with supports over a hole and then press the saber down into it to form an end-cap.  Other than that you could try using a slightly larger piece and create a way to thread/mount it on the base.  You "might" be able to find a small threaded portion for pipe that small, then you can use that as a cap, but I'm not sure how small they go for the threaded sections.

My point is... I don't want anything wider than than it is. Unless I can curve it outward, which I cannot, because I have no lathe. I would much prefer something that fits inside the tube.

Also, I'm thinking a colour scheme of white on the PVC and black on the base tube. Make it... force clone-y. I'm thinking of writing the persona of a Sith assassin around the saber. Thinking of getting DVA for it. Maybe Something else ambiguous.

In that case, Heat up a flat sheet of PVC and press it into the hilt (use a lubricant to ensure they do not stick/melt together). Then you can turn it around the other way so the end is at the bottom of the hilt.

Nice. For some reason I can still see this as a Sith saber. Maybe paint the shrouds flat black. That would match the silver body pretty good.

Zren.

Oh didn't know you already had a color picked out. My bad. Would look awesome in DVA as well. =]

Still not completely sure on what colour I want, though.

I really need a dremel tool.