Coverteck Button 8/32 socket head

[Mastrada101]

I looked everywhere for information but couldn't find any, so I ask this here. I plan to use the Covertec button to attach my saber to my belt. My problem is this. The socket screw that you get from TCSS seemed a bit too short to be able to hold the button in place on the hilt. I've already drilled and tapped the hole for threading and all that and went to screw the button on but found I couldnt seem to get it to go in, and I used a fair amount of force (I was careful not to use so much that I'd break something) to no avail. Any suggestions here? If not, is there a glue substance I can use to make it stick and not fall off should the hilt swing a bit when attached to the belt via the covertec button and clip? Any help is appreciated!

[Lord Maul]

You should be using this screw.
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/8-32-x-14-socket-head-P107.aspx
It sits flush with the inside of the hilt when installed.


If you're trying to hold in a chassis or something, then this screw gives you an extra 1/8"
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/8-32-x-38-socket-head-P414.aspx

[Mastrada101]

That IS the screw I'm using. I thought I made that clear with the post title.

[RevengeoftheSeth]

Did you tap the hole with the correct 8-32 tap? It's hard to tell the difference between it and a 10-32 tap just by looking at it.

[Jay-gon Jinn]

I've used that screw on every saber I've built to hold the Covertec button on, and it's always had plenty of length to attach the button to the saber. Without pictures of your hilt and the button it's hard to tell you what the problem is.

[Mastrada101]

I have another question. What materials are the hilt main bodies/extentions/chokes etc. made out of?

[Rafalema]

Aircraft Grade Aluminium

[RevengeoftheSeth]

I believe it is T-6 Grade to be exact.

[acerocket]

Arghhh!!! Not again with the aircraft grade. The term aircraft grade is highly misleading. They use several different alloys (grades if you will) of aluminum in building an aircraft. They use titanium, stainless steel and composites to build aircraft also. Ever hear anyone say they are making something from Aircraft Grade Stainless Steel or Aircraft Grade Carbon Fiber? Probably not. Calling something Aircraft Grade is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to make people feel like they are buying something a little more special. Usually when someone says Aircraft Grade, they are refering to 6061 aluminum - the most common aluminum alloy produced. I would imagine most, if not all, the MHS parts are made from 6061 aluminum. 6061 is near the bottom in terms of structural strength. 2024 is a much higher strength alloy, and 7075 is one of the strongest alloys. Accordingly, the higher the strength, the more expensive the alloy.

So, to answer the question. I believe most MHS parts are 6061 aluminum.

[Skottsaber]

BUT IT SOUNDS SO COOL!!

Who doesn't want to tell their friends that their Lightsaber is made of the same stuff used in Aircraft?!

[ARKM]

I have had a problem getting the screw to go all the way in with the black Covertec knobs. The black anodizing makes the smaller of the screw holes, too small in diameter, which will not allow the screw to go in properly. I have had to drill the holes bigger on all of my black metal Covertec knobs. Perhaps this is the problem that Mastrada101 is experiencing.

[Shadar Al'Niende]

Arghhh!!! Not again with the aircraft grade. The term aircraft grade is highly misleading. They use several different alloys (grades if you will) of aluminum in building an aircraft. They use titanium, stainless steel and composites to build aircraft also. Ever hear anyone say they are making something from Aircraft Grade Stainless Steel or Aircraft Grade Carbon Fiber? Probably not. Calling something Aircraft Grade is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to make people feel like they are buying something a little more special. Usually when someone says Aircraft Grade, they are refering to 6061 aluminum - the most common aluminum alloy produced. I would imagine most, if not all, the MHS parts are made from 6061 aluminum. 6061 is near the bottom in terms of structural strength. 2024 is a much higher strength alloy, and 7075 is one of the strongest alloys. Accordingly, the higher the strength, the more expensive the alloy.

So, to answer the question. I believe most MHS parts are 6061 aluminum.

Strike a nerve much? ;) I like that people on this forum know so much about the hobby, it makes me smile :D

[acerocket]

Strike a nerve? Not exactly. It's just a pet peeve I have. I get people asking me to make parts all the time and they go out of their way to specify aircraft grade aluminum because they think somehow it will make their parts so much stronger. I always think back to the Doc Brown quote in back to the future. "...They wanted me to build them a bomb, so I took their plutonium and in turn, gave them a shiny bomb-casing full of used pinball machine parts..." I could so easily do the same thing - quote expensive 'aircraft grade' alloys and use regular run of the mill 6061. I figure they would never know the difference anyways.

[psab keel]

I absolutely love that so many of us here are willing to make Doc Brown references whenever is seems appropriate! Sorry, I won't side track this thread any further, I just got a kick out of your reference Acerocket! : )

[RevengeoftheSeth]

Arghhh!!! Not again with the aircraft grade. The term aircraft grade is highly misleading. They use several different alloys (grades if you will) of aluminum in building an aircraft. They use titanium, stainless steel and composites to build aircraft also. Ever hear anyone say they are making something from Aircraft Grade Stainless Steel or Aircraft Grade Carbon Fiber? Probably not. Calling something Aircraft Grade is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to make people feel like they are buying something a little more special. Usually when someone says Aircraft Grade, they are refering to 6061 aluminum - the most common aluminum alloy produced. I would imagine most, if not all, the MHS parts are made from 6061 aluminum. 6061 is near the bottom in terms of structural strength. 2024 is a much higher strength alloy, and 7075 is one of the strongest alloys. Accordingly, the higher the strength, the more expensive the alloy.

So, to answer the question. I believe most MHS parts are 6061 aluminum.


Within the 6061 spectrum of grading there is also T-4 and T-6 tempering, which T-6 is the better of the two. I assume Tim uses T-6, here.