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Rocket Man
05-24-2006, 09:40 PM
So I am new to the saber world and want to know what you guys recomend for my first saber. I have decided on LEDs but am not sure about a MR(converted), MHS, or something else. I am afraid of building it myself as I have no experience w/ electronics and do not want to screw it up.
thanks in advance.

-RM

ryanlb
05-24-2006, 10:40 PM
I, too, am new to the saber arena. I want to build my own saber, but am leary about spending money on something to then mess it up with my incompetence. What I ended up doing is ordering a custom saber from Ultrasabers.com, which is comprised of the basic MHS components found on this site. Once it arrives I'll start disassembling it and reverse engineering it in a sense, to get a better understanding of what modifications I'd like to make and how to do them. Look around at the tutorials, they've given me a better understanding of what I'm getting and what I can do with it.


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LAN-ED-TUL
05-24-2006, 11:45 PM
tims mhs sabers are pretty foolproof. you just pick the parts ya want, and they all screw together. for blades, he sells completed blades, for MR's he does conversions on them.

in any do it yourself saber the hardest part is really the electrics.
the mhs is a good kit too. he has a basic kit he sells.

you just need to know how to solder a bit, and follow the diagrams thats here for wiring if you dont know how to hook it up.

and everyone here will be glad to lend some advice to help out, but before you go asking too many questions and get slammed by master x-wing, i would advise you just do some reading in the threads, as there are answers to most questions already asked posted, you just need to read a bit.

so do some reading, and if you dont see a answer then ask away.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

GFORCE13
05-25-2006, 01:08 AM
So True it looks overwhelming and harder than it is, just take you time and it will come together.[8D]

<center>
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Jedi Ranger
05-25-2006, 02:28 AM
Go with an LED system in a MHS setup. LED is SOOOO much easier to build than EL was/is.

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Jedi_Niklus
05-25-2006, 04:34 AM
I've been pondering which to go with myself. If LED is easier, is it cheaper as well?

james3
05-25-2006, 05:55 AM
By the time your done with a build I think LED and EL pretty much are a wash. With EL the expense is in the blade and with LED it is in the hilt. It is possible to do LED a hair cheaper but we are not talking a huge difference.

As far as tackeling your first saber I would say that nothing would give you more joy and boost your confidence then getting yourself a MHS kit w/ a completed blade. With the new builder you can really come up with whatever you want. If you have skills with a dremel tool sink tube sabers are very fun to do and of course you can build up a hardware saber but I think that is something that comes with building a saber or two so you start to really get an idea of what your trying to do.

Good luck, enjoy, and welcome.

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Zhi-don
05-25-2006, 06:26 AM
Agree with the others, I do.

I have built and assisted in the building of several static and EL hilts. The MHS is the way to go. Did you get the sound option for your saber? He didn't offer it when I ordered mine, so I returned it for conversion.

If you don't want to build a saber yourself, Ultrasabers are the way to go. Alex is one of us. This means that he is reputable and trustworthy. I forgot the most important thing. He is a really nice guy. He stands by his work. Just ask here on the boards and you will find out.

Zhi-don Aquintas
XO RL Sunrider Base
Treasurer/Head Instructor
Lightsaber training OCSWS

Do-Clo
05-25-2006, 08:08 AM
With the MHS builder and the basic electronics package short of some soldering it is easy to build a saber, and nothing can compare with the sense of accomplishment you feel when people say cool saber and you can reply that I built it myself.[:D]

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Rocket Man
05-25-2006, 08:31 AM
thx everybody, I think I'll start to tackle it in the next few weeks, I'll be sure to do my reading first.

-RM

"There's always a bigger fish..."

suit_man
05-25-2006, 08:37 AM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jedi_Niklus

I've been pondering which to go with myself. If LED is easier, is it cheaper as well?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

led is cheaper if you want different color blades. with an el, you have to buy a new blade for each color, but with led, you can either get a white led and disks or buy the quick change kit and different leds. new el color: 50-60 dollars or new led color: about 20 dollars.

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

LAN-ED-TUL
05-25-2006, 06:15 PM
another option to go with on led sabers is if you use tims quick change led kit, you can swap out various different led colors in a matter of a few minutes. so you can , if you wanted, get every led colr and kits for them, and have the full range available of colors.

or another way is go with a white led and use the color disks. many many options and ways to go about it. i havent yet got a mhs myself, but now that there is some more parts comin in im thinkin bout startin one. soon as i save up the cash.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

suit_man
05-25-2006, 06:54 PM
lan-ed, did you totally miss the post right above yours?

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

LAN-ED-TUL
05-25-2006, 11:04 PM
yep, overlooked that line.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

suit_man
05-26-2006, 11:31 AM
no problem, it is easy to skim over things when there are many new posts [8D]

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

LAN-ED-TUL
05-28-2006, 01:43 PM
yep, jumpin in ta help, just breezed over your line. it happens to all of us.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

987654321a
05-29-2006, 01:03 PM
Go with LED, cause for EL you have to solder so much crap in the blade its not worth it, and if the wires disconnect u will b screwed u have to take the blade apart to re-solder them, even if u glue the mono plug, it still might not work. plus LED is so much cheaper, for EL i spent like 60 bucks for 1 blade, for LED i spent only 30 bucks, thats with the LED

I DONT KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!!....LOUD NOISES!!!
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james3
05-29-2006, 08:01 PM
Countdown you know you have to consider total cost of a saber. In EL the cost is in the blade in LED it is in the hilt by the time your done it all evens out.

And as a side note if ya want to get real picky, the EL is cheaper to do in MHS then LED in MHS complete saber. Granted we are talking just a few bucks but there ya go.

I will agree countdown that for those who DO NOT have strong soldering or electrical skills an EL blade may be a bit intimadating.
I for one only had one blade that I made that went out after I finished it and that was because I forgot to solder the darn thing. After that I only do blades when the girls are down for their naps so I don't get distracted.[;)]

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/James3sig.jpg</center>

GFORCE13
05-30-2006, 12:16 AM
Yeah I definitely would go with Led, one of my original El Blades is acting up again this will be the 4th. time I had have to take it apart.

<center>
" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"
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What
06-15-2006, 08:12 PM
This is my first lightsaber as well, I made a pommel. Now i just got the emptly hilt. I have ordered parts, but i am not sure how to secure the blade into the top.

This is a picture of the top (the inside of the tube is empty)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8448/dsc00161editededited5df.jpg
IGNORE THE SCRATCHES ON THE TIP, i will have to find a way to fix those...They were part of a dremmel accident...

Madcow
06-15-2006, 09:52 PM
Hot tip to avoid dremmel accidents...

Masking tape over the peice as you work on it. This has saved my bacon many times... mmmmmmm.... baaaaaconnn....

MC


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You want to go home and re-think your life

LAN-ED-TUL
06-16-2006, 02:01 AM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by What

This is my first lightsaber as well, I made a pommel. Now i just got and emptly blade. I have ordered parts, but i am not sure how to secure the blade into the top.

This is a picture of the top (the inside of the tube is empty)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8448/dsc00161editededited5df.jpg
IGNORE THE SCRATCHES ON THE TIP, i will have to find a way to fix those...They were part of a dremmel accident...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

when you get your holder from tim, if thats sink pipe you'll also have to get the adaptor. the adaptor bolts in sinkpipe. then holder screws into adaptor. then someplace in the holder paret, and i like mine drilled for the set screw near the shouldered area, but where the metals still the thickest at.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

GFORCE13
06-16-2006, 03:31 AM
Oh No a Sith Lord has crossed the Line!!![:D][:p][:o)]
Yeah I will probably get the usual Neck Crushing Sensation for this, but just couldn't resist.[:D]

<center>
" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"
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</center>

gstealer
06-16-2006, 04:19 AM
Go with the LED, I just finished my 1st saber and I love it

It was cool the 1st time I fired it up with just the LED and basic electronics. Even my wife was impressed and I didn't get the usual glossy eyed look.

A couple days later I took it apart and added the FX sound board and it was an even better feeling when it worked.

I took it apart again last night to redo the sink tube as I figured out how to do a couple of things different.

I normally build models (resin and plastic) and this is much more satisfying as people can actually see, touch and realize the work that went into it.

What
06-16-2006, 07:36 AM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by LAN-ED-TUL

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by What

This is my first lightsaber as well, I made a pommel. Now i just got and emptly blade. I have ordered parts, but i am not sure how to secure the blade into the top.

This is a picture of the top (the inside of the tube is empty)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8448/dsc00161editededited5df.jpg
IGNORE THE SCRATCHES ON THE TIP, i will have to find a way to fix those...They were part of a dremmel accident...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

when you get your holder from tim, if thats sink pipe you'll also have to get the adaptor. the adaptor bolts in sinkpipe. then holder screws into adaptor. then someplace in the holder paret, and i like mine drilled for the set screw near the shouldered area, but where the metals still the thickest at.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

But wouldnt doing all of that defeat the purpose of making the top angled. If i put the MHS 1.5" sink tube adapter and a holder that will cover up the top.... GRRRR I think i already skrewed up my first lightsaber...

xwingband
06-16-2006, 07:40 AM
No, it's fine. The blade holder goes inside the tube therefore you can have as much or as little as you want showing.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?.

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What
06-16-2006, 07:49 AM
But the tube adapter ???? He said i connect the holder to the adapter, does the adapter goes inside it too?

xwingband
06-16-2006, 07:56 AM
Yes, it does.[:)] The adapter is needed because Tim had an older style holder that was like the MR kits where the heatsink bolted on. He stopped carrying them in favor of the MHS version where the heatsink "floats" (no wire twisting) until it's fully tightened. So this is where the adapter works, it screws on and is what you'd attach to the tube with screws.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6703/xwing8az.gif</center>

What
06-16-2006, 08:16 AM
I guess next time i make a large order, i got some parts to order for this saber agian....... i didnt think id have to order until i finished this saber.

Jedi-Loreen
06-17-2006, 01:39 AM
<font size="3"><font color="blue">And with your next saber, or if you redo this one, use masking tape, or better, the blue painters tape, outside of your cutting area to protect your sink tube.[;)]

I don't really think you can fix those marks, the chrome plating is usually pretty thin. </font id="blue"> </font id="size3"> [:I]


In order to see the Light, you must sometimes risk the Dark.

What
06-17-2006, 06:22 AM
Well I could use a silver sharpie over the top and even it out. It may not look that great so i might have to paint the top black.

LAN-ED-TUL
06-18-2006, 10:22 PM
what xwing said is what i was refering to. the adaptor, and blade holder will go down in the sink tube as far as you want it to. of course the further you shove that down in there, the less room inside you will have if you chose to run corbins board, or a hasbro, board, or a MR board. may have only enought room to run the led and that it, no sound. but if you have the holder not so far into the pipe, then you might squeeze a sound board in there.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...

iainm
06-27-2006, 12:02 AM
Alright, the parts are all in place (flashlight body, faucet knob, CustomSaberShop LED adaptor, blade holder and heatsink). It looks and works OK. I have not bought a blade yet. When I do, though, how do I stop the blade from simply falling out of the holder? There seems to be no way to secure it. Should I drill a hole or two and use thumb screws to secure it? Or will the blade fit nice and snug into the holder with no extra securing pins etc required?




Duct Tape is like the Force: it has a dark side, a light side, and it binds everything together.

jtsteph
06-27-2006, 05:08 AM
One set screw will work.

I must fight this sickness.....

What
06-27-2006, 01:27 PM
Lan-Ed-Tul , I really dont plan on anything special, since this is my first saber. Im just going to be putting in the battery holder, some wire, on/off switch, more wires, resistor, and Led. I think it will all fit. Right now im just waiting until i save up some more money so i can buy all the parts im going to need for my next lightsaber and enough to finish this one...... [xx(]

LAN-ED-TUL
06-27-2006, 10:08 PM
if your keepin it simple then you should have plenty of room. you may have to run the led on a seperate circut tho. i did a el saber, and ended up running the 9 volt for the el and 2 leds off a small 2 aaa pack on a seperate switch. which is ok, you can flip that one on, have your leds doin their thing, whilst hangin on your belt.

<center>http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/LAN-ED-TUL/LANSIG.jpg</center>

Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...