Luke ESB Luxeon [Archive] - The Custom Saber Shop Forums

Drewbacca

07-15-2006, 10:36 PM

So I know this has been done before, but the topics have gone way too far off and I'd like to start fresh.

A friend of mine bought a Luke ESB when it first came out. His very first saber I might add. He kept it in good condition until another friend of his bought a saber. Needless to say, it became a Light nunchaku. So he decided that he would just rip out the rest of the blade and either sell the hilt at a flea market or keep it for decoration. Having some sentimental value, he kept it. (He's broken several others, and sold the hilts for what he paid for the new saber)

Not having access to the internet, my friend had no idea about conversions or replacements of any kind. Recently after introducing my girlfriend fully into the SWG (yea, i know...), I got the itch to buy myself another saber. I had originally owned a MR Mace Windu, which I sold after a few months. (Ironically, the same saber that broke the Luke ESB...which now also has a few black spots...so sad)

Anyway, I decided that I wanted something I could actually spar with, so my online search began. I had no idea there was an "underground" network of saber modifiers and builders! I've come across many places offering "duelable sabers", and so far this is THE best spot I could have ever hoped for. Tim's MHS system is so mind blowingly awesome!!

So here I am. Writing this post with the hilt of a broken Luke ESB saber that my friend has loaned me. My goal is to return it to him with a hella bright blade that he dazzle all the womenfolk with. (yea...right)

My question for all of you is...how the hell do I do it?

Please remember that I have never attempted to take a saber apart, modify one, or build one...yet.

james3

07-15-2006, 10:48 PM

The best thing you can do is go through the boards and learn. I know that seems kinda lame but it really is the best way to do it. For building a Lux3 saber out of the hilt you would want to e-mail Tim about getting a custom blade holder made up since the dimensions on the FX's are not the same as a Graflex. From there it is all in what you want, does the sound still work on that puppy? Does it still have all the electronics in it? I don't remember if it is a 9 volt EL or LED out of the box so that could change how ya do it. Welcome to the boards, I hope you enjoy learning and building a saber that you can really be proud of.

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/kotor2.jpg</center>

Drewbacca

07-15-2006, 11:01 PM

Thanks James. I'll shoot Tim an e-mail about it here soon. It still has all the guts in it, and the sound is spotty at best. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I think that when he wacked it and broke it he may have knocked a wire lose. Also...I have no idea how to take this beast apart. It's sort of similar to the Anakin in appearance...but since the switches are in different places, I can't figure out how to take it apart...aside from brute force.

Lord Maul

07-16-2006, 10:24 PM

Don't you dare use brute force on that puppy[:D]

GFORCE13

07-16-2006, 10:45 PM

" Yes Control you must learn Control"[:D]

<center>
" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c237/G-FORCE13/th_DCP_1240.jpg
</center>

Do-Clo

07-17-2006, 06:59 AM

Waves hand "You must give your Luke saber to me"[:D]

I would recomend this web site for more inforamtion on the Luke ESB saber: http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/

<center>http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/Do-Clo/DoCloSig.jpg</center>
<center>Darth Technous Sith Lord</center>
<center>Give yourself to the Dark Side</center>

Lord Maul

07-17-2006, 09:15 AM

not so sure the Force works over the internet Do Clo. [:D]

Do-Clo

07-17-2006, 09:24 AM

Worth a shot[:p]

<center>http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/Do-Clo/DoCloSig.jpg</center>
<center>Darth Technous Sith Lord</center>
<center>Give yourself to the Dark Side</center>

Lord Maul

07-17-2006, 09:53 AM

agreed[:D]

Drewbacca

07-17-2006, 09:07 PM

I'll just hold onto it until Strydur crafts some parts!

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

james3

07-18-2006, 04:19 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Drewbacca

I'll just hold onto it until Strydur crafts some parts!

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Can't ya see that we are trying to continue with the curse of the Luke thread? Ya can't be tryin to get back on topic for fear of a complete break down of society[:D]

<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/kotor2.jpg</center>

Drewbacca

07-18-2006, 06:27 PM

UPDATE!!!

So I followed some disassembly instructions I found on another site. They were "how to take it apart...and hopefully figure out what I broke and how to not do that"

So I now have a metal tube, the cylinder like "guts" holder with a 1/2" broken blade sticking out of it.

My next question is...wtf do I do now?

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

Firebird21

07-18-2006, 06:45 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Drewbacca

...I had no idea there was an "underground" network of saber modifiers and builders!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Huh hu hu huh....

We're a cult...

Hu hu huh..

[:p]

Glad you like the place. Pull up a chair, put your feet up and grab a Dr. Pepper! Popcorn's in the `nuker... It'll be a min.

Have you read your Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577) today?
FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552)
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_sabre.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/auto/car-smiley-032.gif Official Designated TCSS Jester! http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrinjackbox.gif

Drewbacca

07-18-2006, 06:59 PM

Ok, made sure the sound board was all wired up right and it does indeed seem to be fried...that sucks.

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

xwingband

07-18-2006, 07:09 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Drewbacca

UPDATE!!!

So I followed some disassembly instructions I found on another site. They were "how to take it apart...and hopefully figure out what I broke and how to not do that"

So I now have a metal tube, the cylinder like "guts" holder with a 1/2" broken blade sticking out of it.

My next question is...wtf do I do now?

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Well, you need to figure out what to wire the lux to... you're going to need to ask someone like Tim or Ultra who's messed with them or get a tester and do it yourself.[:)] It's not going to be any different like you have to tack extra stuff in... you'll just have to know which wires are negative and positive.

Next, would be modifying the guts for a heatsink. I have never seen the insides of the Luke ESB... much less a tutorial for taking it apart. (a link?) So that would be up to you unless you want to post pics.[:)]

There is a thread I indexed for doing a conversion sans TCSS blade holder, that might help you get the idea.

<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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Lord Maul

07-18-2006, 07:15 PM

you could buy the luke rotj sound board and put it into your luke esb. just a thought

Drewbacca

07-18-2006, 07:16 PM

I'll try and get some pics up of what I've encountered so far.

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

Lord Maul

07-18-2006, 07:19 PM

good, now we should be able to help you out a bit

Drewbacca

07-19-2006, 02:54 AM

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/gorehack/lukeESBinnards.jpg

I found this image on www.fx-sabers.com/forum since my digital camera is being a douchebag.

This is right where I'm at though. The wires to the smaller black box were cut when my friend was digging out the rest of the blade after he broke it.

Also, it seems the only way to get the guts out without taking off the grips is straight out the top. Apparently if you take the grips off, and pry off the rivets, everything can slide out the bottom. Either way, you'll still need to take everything apart the same...Though if you go out the top, you don't have to mess with the grips.

By the way...this is the link to the disassembly!
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=1043.0
________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

xwingband

07-19-2006, 06:30 AM

Even though it will be a real pain in the arse that box is going to need to be resoldered. That is the shock sensor and you'll want that if you want the clash sounds.

Those post are going to have to go. If you dremel that'd be easy to cut off. Otherwise it's whatever you have to cut them then sand it down.

I also see that it's going to be tight there... ugh, a heatsink will have to be put in somehow.

<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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Lord Maul

07-19-2006, 09:42 AM

that is the smallest sleeve for the electronics i've seen yet. it will be a pain in the butt to fit a heatsink in it cause you have NO room. have fun [:D]

Drewbacca

07-19-2006, 11:15 AM

I know! It's so freakin small.

I'm not even going to go with sound on this bad boy. My friend destroyed it when he originally broke it. The shock sensor is nowhere to be found.

I'm honestly not sure if the battery holder is even getting power to the board, since the sound is shot.

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

xwingband

07-19-2006, 11:33 AM

That's something you need to figure out then. If it's getting power but no sound that board has taken a beating. It could be that connections are broken and need to be repaired but you can't really not do sound on a conversion as the board controls the sound also. The only way to not do sound would be to not attemp to fix it.[:p]

If that board isn't getting power than you are really going to need to get in there to figure out what's going wrong. If you're not willing to do that you might as well gut it completely.

<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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Drewbacca

07-19-2006, 08:36 PM

I'm not really willing to go in and do a bunch of repairs. How should I go about just gutting it and putting in an LED?

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

Lord Maul

07-19-2006, 10:17 PM

just a thought, but couldn't you buy a anakin fx, convert it, and put the electronics into your luke esb?

Drewbacca

07-19-2006, 11:27 PM

Hmm...I wonder if that would actually work

I need to find some pictures of the Anakin conversion to determine if indeed that would be possible.

The Luke ESB electronics sleeve is the smallest one I've seen out of them all.

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

Lord Maul

07-20-2006, 10:25 AM

yes, but the anakin is a 3 cell and a luke is a 6 cell. you might need to add on to it a little bid but it should work fine. you can put the electronics from the rots into a anakin aotc and they will work fine.

At last we will reveal ourselves to the jedi, at last we will have revenge.

xwingband

07-20-2006, 10:53 AM

The Anakin AOTC is a 6-cell too... not to mention EL, but if you convert it that wouldn't be that much of an issue.

Basically that idea should work. You'd save quite a bit of room by substituting the electronics, but you'd have to get a cheap enough Anakin ROTS for that to really be a decent deal.

<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>

james3

07-20-2006, 10:58 AM

If your looking at gutting it out and starting over what about using a Corbin driver and whatever sound board you want? I am sure Tim would make a blade holder setup for it once he gets his shop in order.
Edit-spelling
<center>http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/Dadof3/kotor2.jpg</center>

Drewbacca

07-20-2006, 11:00 AM

Well my buddy already has an Anakin ROTS...he's got like 10 sabers.

So now I have to convince him to let me convert that to an LED, and "refurbish" the Luke ESB.

Not quite sure how he'll handle me asking to take apart his toys.

________________________________
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."

Lord Maul

07-20-2006, 12:08 PM

worth a shot [:D]

At last we will reveal ourselves to the jedi, at last we will have revenge.