Graflex blade adapter question

[Knight Of The Republic]

Hello guys. This is my first post. This is a great forum and I have learned a lot. I just have some questions:

I recently purchased a graflex blade adapter for my replica graflex saber that I got from the shop here. First of all, the blade adapter was much to tight to fit a 1 inch blade into it (I ordered the LED Graflex blade adapter). I had to do a major amount of dremeling on the blade to fit it into the holder.

Next, the small screw hole on the bottom side stripped out rather easily. No biggie, I just re-drilled it and re-threaded it for a 8/32 screw. Is the aluminum really soft? I didn't even screw it in that tight.

Next, I went to screw in my replica glass eye blade retention screw, the hole in the adapter was off set from the middle of the hole on the bottom side. I had to do some dremeling on the graflex to allow the screw to fit into its slot. Now it fits in, but there is a gap on one side of the screw and you can see under it and the other side it sits flush. The adapter is in the proper spot inside the graflex so it isn't that it is mis aligned or anything.

Lastly, the adapter has some play in it. If you handle the graflex saber and give it a wiggle, you can feel the blade wiggle. Or more accuratly, the adapter wiggle inside the graflex which in turn makes the blade wiggle. The blade is tightly screwed into place in the adapter and there is no wiggle room there, just the adpater itself is wiggling inside the handle.

Are they all this way? I was under the impression it was a solid piece that you could use to duel with, but I don't think I trust doing much with this other than displaying it. I also built a MHS saber replica of Obi-Wans saber and it is rock solid. I can easily duel with that saber.

The graflex saber itself came out great. It is very nice looking and I couldn't be happier with how it looks. I did a simple LED only build with no sound effects. I put a little switch on the lower bottom side and it is nicely done. Thanks for any responses ahead of time. Any tips on how I can make this more solid would be appreciated. Not really looking to glue it in or anything, just in case I have to replace the LED, I want to be able to get the blade holder out again.

Thanks. :)

Here are some pics.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/waynestudiosllc/g03.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/waynestudiosllc/g02.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/waynestudiosllc/g01.jpg

[Jay-gon Jinn]

I had those same problems with that blade socket...thought it may have just been mine, but it must be all of them are like that....the hole for the glass eye thumbscrew is a couple of degrees off the center line of the hilt, making the glass eye go in at an angle and not fit in the hole in the Graflex body. Looks like you got yours to fit the same way I did mine. looks nice!

[Knight Of The Republic]

Ah, so it wasn't just mine. Thanks. Yeah, I am pretty good at making things work, but I was just wondering if maybe I got a bad one.

Any tips on removing some of the wiggle between the adapter and the graflex? Maybe I'll wrap it in tape.

Thanks for the reply.

[yell0w_lantern]

Yeah, I have 2 adapters with the same problems. :(

[Knight Of The Republic]

Well this morning I went out and took it all apart and added tape in the areas that needed to be shimmed up to keep it from wiggling and now it is much better. There is a super slight bit of wiggle, but it is 99% better than what it was.

[Strydur]

Sorry about this guys.. This obviously needs some work for future runs. A few questions so I know what needs fixed.

1. As far as blade not fitting, was that one of our blades that did not fit?

2. Glass eye hole, Is it drilled off center or threaded at a angle?

3. Fitment inside, What graflex are you using? IE.. Parks replica, Real, etc..

4. 4-40 screw hole, Where you only grabbing a small portion of the threading or was the screw long enough to grab the threads good?

[Knight Of The Republic]

Sorry about this guys.. This obviously needs some work for future runs. A few questions so I know what needs fixed.

1. As far as blade not fitting, was that one of our blades that did not fit?

2. Glass eye hole, Is it drilled off center or threaded at a angle?

3. Fitment inside, What graflex are you using? IE.. Parks replica, Real, etc..

4. 4-40 screw hole, Where you only grabbing a small portion of the threading or was the screw long enough to grab the threads good?

1- The blade was not from your store. But it fit into my MHS saber perfectly. I tried several blades. The adapter was just way to tight. I tried to just sand it but it needed the dremel to get it to fit.

2- I think the hole just off center. The metal on the Graflex would not let it screw in. I had to dremel away metal so the screw would fit into the hole. So now it fits but there is a bit of a gap on the right side and it is touching on the left side.

3- The Graflex I have is the replica I purchased from your store.

4- The little screw that is just above the glass eye screw that is a little off center is the scew that stripped out. The first time it screwed in it seemed tight but then after working on it I noticed it was a little loose and then I tightened it up. Same thing happened again, but this time it kept spinning. It wasn't the screw cause I tried it in the nut that came off of the original Graflex plastic piece that I took out and it fit nice and tight.

I am pretty happy with it. After I shimmer it up it's a lot better.

Thanks.

[Strydur]

1. Can anyone else verify this? I just tried one of our blades and they fit fine.

2. Are you sure it is the holder and not the replica that is off center? I just looked at one and they look in line to me. If it was threaded at a angle that would make more sense. Anyone else have input into this?

3. Anyone use anything besides a Parks replica? I was told that others such as real ones are slightly smaller ID which is why it was made smaller.

4. I would think this is just a case of using too short of a screw. When it stripped out did it just strip out the first few threads? I do not see anyway it would strip if the screw was long enough.

[Knight Of The Republic]

1. Can anyone else verify this? I just tried one of our blades and they fit fine.

2. Are you sure it is the holder and not the replica that is off center? I just looked at one and they look in line to me. If it was threaded at a angle that would make more sense. Anyone else have input into this?

3. Anyone use anything besides a Parks replica? I was told that others such as real ones are slightly smaller ID which is why it was made smaller.

4. I would think this is just a case of using too short of a screw. When it stripped out did it just strip out the first few threads? I do not see anyway it would strip if the screw was long enough.

1- I have several blades that I got from Ultra-Sabers and they are both 1 inch diameter blades. They fit like a glove in the MHS saber I built. Just the Graflex adapter was tight. It may be that I was using a wrong blade. Do you have blades in stock? I might order one and use it instead of the one I dremeled down.

2- The hole does look pretty centered when you look at it on mine. So it may be that it is just not drilled at a 90 degree straight down angle. If it is angled, it would have the same effect. So you might be right on that.

4- It may have been the screw that I was using wasn't getting enough purchase on the adapter. The new one I am using is actually longer and I use it as a blade retention screw along with the other larger glass replica blade retention screw.

[Strydur]

1. UltraSabers uses oversized 1" tubes so that is probably the issue. We always have blades in stock. Generally Ultra blades wont even fit MHS.

2. The holes are hand tapped so that is probably the case.

[Noyl Wendor]

Nice work KOTR, looks really good. I do like the switch in the back between the grips. I ordered a tactile momentary that should fit in the gap on the blade holder. It allows you to use the red button that came with the Graflex. I will say that button (tactile) may only work with the soundboard driver set up. Something to look at if you choose to do some more work on it at a later time.

This is good to know. I just placed my order for that same LED blade holder for my new Graflex. I will check out mine when I get it.

[yell0w_lantern]

Pretty sure that the threads for the glass eye are at an angle.

Oddly enough, I rechecked one of my Graflex Adapters with the new Transparent White blades and it was actually loose.

[yell0w_lantern]

Do you think filling the tapped threads with JB Weld and re-tapping would fix the problem?

[Noyl Wendor]

You may be able to do that. Don't quote me on that one.
My impression is that JB would harden to a point where that may not be possible (retapping). I could be wrong, but a suggestion I could give would be to test that theroy on a tapped piece of scrap, possibly close to what the aluminum piece is you want to work on.
The last thing is if you filled the threads the tap may follow what is there already (the hole) giving you the same angle with freshly cut threads.
I would only guess if you re-drilled with the appriate drill bit (on a drill press) giving you a "new" hole to tap, you could get rid of the angle and re-tap then. Of course you may have a sizeable gap to wich the threads may not take.
Again I am not an expert.
I'm only one voice, give it a couple days for people to respond before you do any serious work. Lots of guys on here have more expierence with this stuff.

[TimeRender]

Do you think filling the tapped threads with JB Weld and re-tapping would fix the problem?

Nope.

[Jay-gon Jinn]

1. Can anyone else verify this? I just tried one of our blades and they fit fine.

2. Are you sure it is the holder and not the replica that is off center? I just looked at one and they look in line to me. If it was threaded at a angle that would make more sense. Anyone else have input into this?

3. Anyone use anything besides a Parks replica? I was told that others such as real ones are slightly smaller ID which is why it was made smaller.

4. I would think this is just a case of using too short of a screw. When it stripped out did it just strip out the first few threads? I do not see anyway it would strip if the screw was long enough.
1. My blades from you fit just fine.

2. The hole for the glass eye is centered, but it's drilled at an angle:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o141/Jay-gon_Jinn/Brass%20Graflex%20Saber/100_6891.jpg

3. I have the brass graflex replica.....it fit in mine, but I had to insert it from the bottom of the top piece of the hilt. I also had mine clear powder coated to protect the polish on it, so that may have affected the fit.

[Noyl Wendor]

I just got my holder in today. The tapped hole for the retention screw was at an angle.

[Strydur]

Again...sorry about all of this.

I have pulled the rest and I will be doing a new run of these ASAP. Anyone who ordered and wants a replacement will get one.

We will be making sure all of the holes are threaded correctly as well as enlarging the OD slightly. The parts will also not be sand blasted so the anodizing finish will be nicer.

[Knight Of The Republic]

I would love a replacement.

[TimeRender]

I'm looking forward to the new batch. I'll be ordering one as soon as they come in.

[Noyl Wendor]

I'll be ordering another here soon.
Thanks.

[B5813]

When I wanted to secure my socket more securely to the hilt to reduce wiggle I actually removed that little slider "switch" to the left of the bottom of the red button "bear tab" and threaded a 6/32 button head screw through it and into the socket body. I kept the oblong/oval piece in place though. This just gives you another point of attachment from the body to the socket and does reduce that wiggle that a lot of us experience.

[Strydur]

The new ones are done so if you want a replacement please E-mail me with your original order number.

[Marco]

Are the current holders in the shop now the new ones? If so I do an instant order :D

[kargos]

I had the same. OD of the adapter was to small in my real garflex and even tried it in the heiland and again to small.
A 3 inch piece of poly carbonate tubing from some broken golf ball picker upper cut to size has cured that.
The holes lined up fine. thou i did clean them up on the garflex a bit long b4 the adapter.

[Strydur]

Half say its too small.. half say its too large.. Guess I cant win that battle.

The ones in the store are the new ones.