Hello Everyone!

[HAVOK]

Hello everyone, I feel like this has been along time coming, however I taking the leap into my first hilt construction. I also am having my mother-in-law make me an amazing costume for my Sith character.

Anyway Im having a hard time deciding what saber to go with, so a little creative criticizm would be awesome.

Thanks everyone glad to join.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/SABER.jpg

[Jedi-Loreen]

What is this being made out of? What are the dimensions? Especially, the diameters? Are the black parts supposed to represent carbon fiber?

[Skottsaber]

Err... Welcome to the forums. We could use some more information on those designs. If they are what I make of them, then I would go with AS.

[Jedi-Loreen]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say "Welcome", sorry about that.

What's "AS", Skott? Aluminum siding? :p

;)

[Skottsaber]

Looks like somebody didn't read the post again! http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/moods/tut_tut.gif

AS is the design on top, genius.:rolleyes:

By the way, HAVOC, how did you do those renders? They're pretty nice!

[Jedi-Loreen]

I did read the whole first post.

I just, um, forgot about the AS and BS. :oops:

[HAVOK]

I used Illustrator to render the saber.

Also thank you for pointing out the size issue, it was 16" long!!!

so I resized it and Im leaning more toward "B".. (I dont know where the "s" came from.)

now over all length is 12.75"

Yes it is carbon fiber... the will be added last

and it will be made out of PVC, i hate the shinny look, so i swayed from the sink pipe construction, i want a dull matte finish.

Also this is going to be a single LED at the base of the blade.. there is a tut. here that I am following for installing the LED.

This site ROCKS!!!!

[HAVOK]

Here are the supplys I got today for the hilt.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5249.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5250.jpg

And then the "mock-up"

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5251.jpg

Next on supply list is the LED and power supply

Then the blade

then the Carbon Fiber

[IcyPhoenix]

When are you looking to have this completed?

[HAVOK]

when.... thats an ODD question?

well I ordered the LUX III kit today, so as soon as the kits gets to me the better.

I cut the top part today and installed the 4 set-screws to hold on outter part.
(this is the part that will CF, with and angle) more pics when I get home tonight

-Tonight sand and paint everything and then another "dry fitting".. and of course pics!

[HAVOK]

Well here are the latest pics, as everything is now "base" painted with a matte chrome paint.
PIcs are all the parts

and then close up of the emitter... you can see where there set screws go

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5253.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5254.jpg

[Jedi-Loreen]

This should really be in a separate build thread in another area, this is the Welcome to the forum area.

[HAVOK]

um at the cost of starting a new thread mabye a MOD can move this ..... to its proper home!

[Jedi-Loreen]

I asked Lord Maul, the Moderator, to split this off into a build thread.

[HAVOK]

thanks!!!

more to come tomorrow!!!

[Skottsaber]

This looks really cool for your first project! Remember, don't rush, take your time. I hope your electronics setup will be as good as this!

[HAVOK]

yeah im so glad im doing this right and building it from scratch. While the machines ones are amazing, I feel more connected to my saber, knowing I built it, assembled it an everything along those lines....

I cant wait for the electrical (LED kits I got from TCSS) to arrive.


then after im certain I am happy with everything hilt wise, I will order the blade from TCSS

Im already planning my next saber, with a screw together design for access to a power crystal chamber.

[Skottsaber]

Which electronics did your order?

[HAVOK]

http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Build-Your-Own-Luxeon-III-Electronics-Kit-P6.aspx

[Jay-gon Jinn]

What size pvc are you using? I'd be a little concerned about where the batteries are going to go in this saber....if you have 1" pvc, the battery holder in that kit isn't going to fit inside the main hilt tube. you'll need something to use as a heatsink for that Luxeon III led too. I think that fella that wrote the tutorial you mentioned earlier used Lux I led's so that's how he got away without using a heatsink....those don't get as hot as Lux III's do.

[HAVOK]

well here is the completed hilt without the electronics.... which should be here soon.

the rear section of the saber is 1.5" I purposfully made it like that to hold the electronics.

so without further delay,

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5255.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5256.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5257.jpg

i thinking i might want to do some kind of leather wrap for the middle "handel" part, i dont know thought..

so all i need is a

"d" ring for the back, and the blade, the to finish it off the carbon fiber.

[Jedi Master Taka]

What size pvc are you using? I'd be a little concerned about where the batteries are going to go in this saber....if you have 1" pvc, the battery holder in that kit isn't going to fit inside the main hilt tube. you'll need something to use as a heatsink for that Luxeon III led too. I think that fella that wrote the tutorial you mentioned earlier used Lux I led's so that's how he got away without using a heatsink....those don't get as hot as Lux III's do.

I would guess he's going to put the battery pack in the pommel section were that end coupler "should" give him enough room. I used a slightly similar solution on a saber glaive I built after reading your fabulous tutorial on PC sabers.

Jay-gon is absolutely right on the Heat sink though. You are going to need one. You could build your own, or pick up the perfectly fitted for PVC builds http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Luxeon-star-heatsink--P220.aspx
that the store carries. :)

My only question at the moment is were your planing on putting the switch? I don't see any openings drilled out to accommodate it....

[Skottsaber]

That looks really good! I don't know what Carbon Fiber feels like, so I don't know if using it as gripping would be good or bad, but I think its fine in the center. Just let it get some heft with a blade and electronics and it should feel ok.

P.S: You have scary arms...

[HAVOK]

and now the electronics are done!!!

not 2 happy with the color, I was looking for more of a deep blue, but the color was cyan, so i guess im gonna need to get those color discs.

on to the pics!!!

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5292.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5293.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5291.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5295.jpg

the whole thing with button!
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5296.jpg

with the lights on.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5297.jpg

with the lights off no flash
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5298.jpg

next week the blade~~~

[Jedi-Loreen]

Ok, I have to ask, why did you solder your wires to the same pads that the LED is soldered onto? They give you 2 other neg and pos pads to solder to, so you won't risk desoldering, or even damaging the LED.

That's not how you see other people soldering wires to their LEDs in the various tutorials.

[HAVOK]

you know I wrote a big long rant, but It comes down to becuase I felt like it!

[Jedi-Loreen]

I don't think that's really why, but whatever you want to tell yourself, and us. :p

You're actually supposed to do it like this:

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o141/Jay-gon_Jinn/My%20pvc%20sabers/100_4939.jpg

[jjshumpert]

filters dont work so well with colored lux...

[Rafalema]

Do you have a heatsink?

[Lord Dottore Matto]

filters dont work so well with colored lux...

Yep. They won't change the color at all. You ought to just order a new LED in the color you want. AND never solder to the connection between the LED emitter and the star because you risk separating the LED from the star. the picture that J-Lo posted is perfect. You also need some heatshrink on your soldered connections or a short is forthcoming. Other than that good first effort.

[Jedi-Loreen]

That is one of Jay-gon's pics from his PVC Hilt Tutorial thread.

One of the very threads you should have been reading through. http://media.ign.com/boardfaces/20.gif

I see some blue butt splices sitting next to your battery pack in the 3rd pic. Were you going to use those instead of soldering? Solder connections are always better than mechanical connections like that.

Heh, my mom has that same cordless phone. :p

[HAVOK]

I was going to use those however, everything got soldered together, I decided that was the better root to go, then over the soldered wires, some of the heatshrink wrap, and then to hold it all together blacktape,

I have a heatsink on its way.....

and as far the star goes, i THOUGHT thats where they were supposed to go, however no harm no foul and everything worked out in the end,

[Shadar Al'Niende]

...I see some blue butt splices...

J-Lo, have you been watching secret un-edited clips of Star Wars again? :shock:;):lol:

[Skottsaber]

OMG... killed myself again with laughter... :lol:

Nice hilt there HAVOK! Nice that you got it working! Now where's that Carbon Fiber?

[HAVOK]

im still on the fence about the carbon fiber, Im really not happy with it at this point, but I do this alot.... build something, dont like it tear it down, rebuild....its just missing something


dont say the blade either. I mean the hilt is missing something or its off somehow.

[HAVOK]

2 things Im seeing, 1st the "pommel" section, its way to large, I went with 1.5" to fit the battery pack, however I could have went with 1.25" and been safe. it becuase it doesnt sit streamline with the rest of the saber. 2nd the end piece im not a fan of, i thought screw on / easy battery access. Not so, I build potato guns, and this looks to much like a mini tato gun. So i dont know know if i should revamp this one, or start over... kinda makes me angry.

well see what happeneds in the next few days.......

[Skottsaber]

My suggestion? Leave this one... start again. Then one day you can look back and see how far you've come ;)

[jjshumpert]

without failure we cannot learn to appreciate victory

[HAVOK]

well here are some hilt on a stand pics

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5302.jpg

and what really belongs on the stand

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5303.jpg

My next one is gonna be either a sink tube or a maglite

[Skottsaber]

What was on TV? lol

I think you should do a maglite, but heavily customize it, if you're up to the challenge.

Can we get some 'lit blade' pics?

[Rafalema]

Are you going to get that Carbon Fiber to that hilt?

I think it would look great with it.

You can find quite thin Carbon Fiber tubes (I.D. 1.5") at McMaster Carr.

[HAVOK]

No, Carbon fiber on this one. Im giving it to my son who when he came to visit this past weekend loved it. Didnt put it down for a minute.

I need to get 2 blades now.... shame on me.

[HAVOK]

so with some serious revamping, here is what my sons saber looks like. I added a piece to the front for added stablility for the blade, and added a new pommel to the rear, over all now its about 8.5" in total. Its so much better now, however I like it alot now to.....

here are the finished pics. (the blade is on its way)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5320.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5321.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5322.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5323.jpg

[HAVOK]

HOORAY,

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5325.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5326.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5327.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5328.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/x360graphicsx/Sabers/DSCN5331.jpg

[Shadar Al'Niende]

i actually really like the way this turned out. I am excited to see what you do with MHS ;)

[Skottsaber]

Wow. That last picture looks scary. Why so sad?

I like how bright this one is. Very nice indeed.

[Crystal Chambers]

Maybe he just broke a lamp shade and now he's in big doo doo....lol...been there. One of the pics looks like a lava lamp with bubbles in the blade. I had that briefly from the moisture of blowing dust out. I forgot to put tissue in the blade before cutting it.

[HAVOK]

nope, thats just how I look, i was trying to balance the saber and the camera at the same time