Is there a good way to embed your switch into the end of your pommel?

[razgriz22]

First off, this is my first post. This is an incredible site! The weath of knowledge and craftsmanship accumulated here is phenomenal. I hope to join the ranks some day. I am in the works of finalizing my designs for my first saber. I have wiring/ soldering skills and also metal working skills (jewelry and design classes). So I hope it goes smoothly.

Back to my original question. I dont know what the saber form is called, ashoka I believe uses it along with Galen Marek and a few other jedi. Its a single hand reverse grip. i feel with this form it would be beneficial to have your switch/button on the bottom (or top if its held upside down like with this form) of the hilt. Then the user could push it with their thumb and it clears all space on the hilt for gripping.

I searched for posts with an answer to this question already but have had no luck. My saber forum surfing may not be up to par though. So if I missed it, please forgive this saber building padawan.

Is there any easy way of going about this? Thank you all so much in advance for your help.

[Darth Quin]

If you look through the store in the pommel section there are pommels just for that purpose and pommel inserts as well. Good luck with the build.

[Jedi-Loreen]

That's what these pommels are designed for.

This one holds a guarded switch:
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Pommel-style-1-P425.aspx

And this is for the Anti-Vandal type switch:
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Pommel-style-2-P476.aspx

[razgriz22]

And wow. I feel like that was way to obvious. I totaly looked over those. Thank you. I saw those before but for some reason thought they were different from the rest because thre were supposed to be used with the tonfa style blades. I dont know what I was thinking. They arent exactly the style I was looking for but I suppose they will do. I was hoping to put a button into the mps pommel style 8. Maybe that could be a custom job?

[captain_mills]

I'm gonna tell a story about my first saber... Which, coincidentally is still under construction because I chose to put my switch in my pommel. I chose the switch-in-pommel idea to conserve room on the saber and because I'm not skilled enough to understand options besides putting them right where I grip it. I also wanted sound in my saber, and the speaker fits pretty darn snug just above the pommel threads. This makes it almost impossible to run wiring to your switch... since there's a wonderful 3mm between the speaker and the end of the switch terminals...

Of course all of this is dependent on the style of hilt you build, but if I had my druthers, I would choose a spot other than the pommel for my first build...

The end...

[Sunrider]

You can take any of the pommel inserts and stick a switch in it like so. ;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/5837646649_8c18f69457_z.jpg

[razgriz22]

Thank you for that warning Mills. And sweet jesus sunrider ( who makes incredible sabers) how did u get that pummel together? What switch would you use for that?

[Sunrider]

Thanks. The switch is one of these with a shorter plunger.

http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/SPST-Momentary-tactile-switch-P285.aspx

I solder the leads on then screw it down while holding the insert from turning.

[cardcollector]

I'm gonna tell a story about my first saber... Which, coincidentally is still under construction because I chose to put my switch in my pommel. I chose the switch-in-pommel idea to conserve room on the saber and because I'm not skilled enough to understand options besides putting them right where I grip it. I also wanted sound in my saber, and the speaker fits pretty darn snug just above the pommel threads. This makes it almost impossible to run wiring to your switch... since there's a wonderful 3mm between the speaker and the end of the switch terminals...

Of course all of this is dependent on the style of hilt you build, but if I had my druthers, I would choose a spot other than the pommel for my first build...

The end...

For future reference (and speaking from experience), you can bend the switch tabs flat and save space that way...

You can also mount the speaker off center from the pommel and run at least 6 wires through the gap.

[Loachri MacTalabh]

You can also use Jay-Gon's technique to run wires past the speaker.

http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/showthread.php?12408-Wire-Routing/page2

[Big_Furry_Oaf]

I used 2 of the pommel insert style 10 and placed them face to face then secured them with a guarded switch. This makes the switch stick out a few mm more and the insert is not flush but it makes the switch a little loose so you can unscrew the pommel without twisting wires. That comes in handy if you have a non-exposed charge port or you need to swap batteries.
Here's a pic of what I mean:
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae69/GiantSlor/101_0841.jpg
With this set up you can hold the switch in place with one hand as you unscrew the pommel and the wires won't twist. I stumbled upon this on accident and there may be better ways to do it, but it works very well for me.