Turn down heatsink?

[Knighthammer]

A while ago I had Tim customize a blade holder for me and put it top & center with the switch on the hilt (and blade holder screw lines up as well). Looks awesome like all Tim's work does.

Finally getting around to finishing up the saber, but discovered a problem today. Once the heatsink is in place, I'm enough off of center from the switch to be noticeable now. Do you think there is a way to turn, down or sand down the head sink enough for it to line up?

[Tarrell]

Maybe post some pic's so we can better see whats happening.

[Jedi-Loreen]

I'm guessing that you got either BH12 or BH17. So it would be a bit too counterclockwise from the switch hole, correct? You can also sand a little off the bottom of the blade holder, removing a little of the threading at a time. Keep cleaning off the threads and screw it back on, checking it till it lines up how you want it.

Just make sure everything's smooth and clean before doing your final assembly.

[Knighthammer]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hK-ttvXD7SI/TesRC_uoNyI/AAAAAAAAAMg/97_-Y0Ow9Zo/misaligned.jpg

Here is a picture of it, and JL had it right #12 it is. So, just sand down the BH threads huh? Probably easier.

[xl97]

IMHO..

DO NOT TOUCH the bladeholder..

1.) you got it modified you said.
2.) it costs MORE than a heatsink..

so mod'ing the cheaper and easily replaceable heatsink is my suggestion.

I say get some 400-600 grit sandpaper..

hold the heatsink upside by its 'nub' and rub back and fourth a few times over the sandpaper... keep checking fitment ever few passes or so..

[thejedilestat]

eather one should do the trick. i have sanded down a blade holder the same way you are saying to sand down the heatsink xl97. aslong as its done little by little shoud be easy squezy.

[J-Saber33]

KH, it would be easy for a machinist to face the threaded portion of the bh, but like both JL and xl said- it would be much more practical to sand the heatsink (called lapping). You could also lap the bh so that they meet in the middle. However, I would suggest getting something rougher than 400 paper. Copper is soft and will come easy, but anything finer than 300 is going to do more polishing than material removal.

[Jedi-Loreen]

I'm the one that said to sand the blade holder threads, not the heat sink.

I had to do this recently on an MHS saber I but together for a friend. It's using one of the new style blade holders and heat sinks. I didn't check it first, before I drilled and tapped the blade retention screw, because I didn't think it would have the same issue as the old style. But apparently it did.

The screw hole didn't line up with the switch hole, and I remembered reading about someone slowly sanding down the threads on a blade holder when they had the same issue and I tried it and it worked.

It did take a bit more elbow grease to get it sanded down than I thought it would, but I was satisfied with the results.

[Knighthammer]

Thank you Jedi Loreen. I will probably do it 2 ways. 1) start with lapping the heatsink (can't hurt), then 2) finish by sanding what I need to on the threads. That idea after you mentioned it made since to me.

[xl97]

keep in mind that if you use that BH with another heatsink that is NOT too thick.. but perhaps the normal thickness.. it will be loose. and you will have to shim it.

[Lord Maul]

keep in mind that if you use that BH with another heatsink that is NOT too thick.. but perhaps the normal thickness.. it will be loose. and you will have to shim it.

QFT.. I always sand my heatsinks, not the blade holder

[Jedi-Loreen]

I might have thought to try that, if I hadn't already put the LED onto the heat sink with the thermal tape, that stuff gets messed up easily if you try to move the LED after it's stuck down. :rolleyes:

[Arkhan]

You need to take off .055" approximately to make a full 360 turn of the blade holder.

All you need to do is figure out your approximate angle of "offness", divide that by 360 and then take that answer * .055" and you'll have a good idea of how much needs removed.

or you can sand it a little bit at a time :0

[Knighthammer]

QFT.. I always sand my heatsinks, not the blade holder

Ended up going with LM's suggestion. grabbed some 220 and went at it. Took all of 5mins to do. Came out pretty darn close to spot on.