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[Darth Hambone]

My first saber build.

Specs:

All parts hand machined
Aluminum hilt
Chrome plated brass shield pieces
Removable LED String blade with 90 - 14000 mcd flat top green LEDs
7.4v NiMH battery pack (soldered 6 AAA size batteries together)
Recharge port
Latching switch with white LED ring
Illuminated crystal chamber
--2 point quarts for power crystal
--Cubic Zirconia for focusing crystal
--2 green LEDs for light effect
2 small rumble motors
Removable pommel system- allows for switching pommels or coupling two sabers together

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[Evilpancreas]

Amazing job on your first build! I know that it looks way more intricate than my first saber. Hope to see more good work like this.

[Darth Hambone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP3q4jGzoC0

[Darth Hambone]

Blade plug and alternate pommel are done. Not sure I like the pommel, but the blade plug turned out nice.

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[Silver Serpent]

The alternate pommel is nice, but doesn't seem to fit that saber. It might look better on another one.

[Darth Hambone]

I agree. The other pommel is much better on this saber.

[Darth Hambone]

The alternate pommel is nice, but doesn't seem to fit that saber. It might look better on another one.

How do you think it would look if I painted the second pommel with the same black rubberized paint as the rear grip?

[IndustrialAction]

Were any of the shots done with the string blade? It didn't look like it as they all seem to fade towards the top.

Saber is awesome. Only thing it needs is sound. Awesome build

[Darth Hambone]

Were any of the shots done with the string blade? It didn't look like it as they all seem to fade towards the top.

Saber is awesome. Only thing it needs is sound. Awesome build

It's the string blade. I used LEDs with a narrower viewing angle for the farther end of the blade to give it a slight tapered look. It was strongly emphasized by the way my camera picked up the glare. In real life, the blade has a more consistent glow, but it does appear slightly brighter closer to the emitter.

[Darth Hambone]

Here's a better representation of what it looks like in person.

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[Darth Ryo]

Followed the build log, just gonna say this is beautiful :) love the way you did the crystal chamber and windows for it!

[Crystal Chambers]

Great job. I like the original pommel better. Looks great overall. My only crit is it would look better IMO with a few inches shorter between the pommel and chamber. Also it's difficult to tell in pics but string blades should be the brightest which makes me wonder if there's room for improvement there or just photo conditions. Regardless, great saber.

[Sunrider]

It's the string blade. I used LEDs with a narrower viewing angle for the farther end of the blade to give it a slight tapered look. It was strongly emphasized by the way my camera picked up the glare. In real life, the blade has a more consistent glow, but it does appear slightly brighter closer to the emitter.

These string blades can have a voltage drop at the far end making it dimmer. It is good to make sure you have less than .3 ohms resistance from one end to the other. A small copper wire or braid can be added to fix this.

[IndustrialAction]

Yeah, something looks a little off in the string blade. It has the bright flare at the emitter and fades like a single LED through a focusing lens. I'm thinking something isn't quite balancing because it doesn't look as full and even as most string blades do.

[Darth Hambone]

These string blades can have a voltage drop at the far end making it dimmer. It is good to make sure you have less than .3 ohms resistance from one end to the other. A small copper wire or braid can be added to fix this.

Thank you Sunrider. I'll have to try that. When adding the wire, do you solder it at each LED?

[Darth Hambone]

Blade plug and final details to include a pommel comparison.

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[Silver Serpent]

Definitely the slanted pommel with that saber. The other pommel is a really nice one, but it doesn't seem to fit in with the design of the rest of this saber.

I guess you'll have to build another. :D

[Sunrider]

Thank you Sunrider. I'll have to try that. When adding the wire, do you solder it at each LED?

No not every led just here & there will work but it will probably look better if it is more flush.

[Darth Hambone]

Definitely the slanted pommel with that saber. The other pommel is a really nice one, but it doesn't seem to fit in with the design of the rest of this saber.

I guess you'll have to build another. :D

Definitely. I start on my daughter's this week.