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snilam
09-23-2014, 02:27 PM
got all my parts out, look like everything is here cept for a crystal for the CC and some parts for that got the next couple of days off so I should be able to get a lot done. (Aslong as I can keep the honey-do's to a minimum)
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01027_zpsa6e00245.jpg

setelf3of5
09-23-2014, 02:46 PM
got all my parts out, look like everything is here cept for a crystal for the CC and some parts for that got the next couple of days off so I should be able to get a lot done. (Aslong as I can keep the honey-do's to a minimum)
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01027_zpsa6e00245.jpg

Looks cool, I look forward to seeing your creation become a saber!

Noyl Wendor
09-23-2014, 02:55 PM
Looks like you have what you need for a saber. Looking forward to seeing what it looks like when its done. Always fun looking at a table of raw parts ;)

snilam
09-24-2014, 06:19 PM
front shroud design on graph paper
10472
back
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01030_zps27f3093b.jpg
all cut out still need to sand and polish and prep for etch
10473
led mounted tricree RGrB
10474
I'm using the chassis parts to make a simple crystal chamber. I widened the 3 hole surrounding the main hole and recessed them to accommodate larger brass poles for all my wires to pass through. outer is the normal diameter brass tubing. the left disc is after right is before.
10475
10476

snilam
09-24-2014, 06:21 PM
using a quartz for the cc
10477
test with light, will be using an RGB in final assembly
10478

Gnar-Gnar Gin
09-24-2014, 06:36 PM
Really liking the way that shroud is looking

setelf3of5
09-24-2014, 07:17 PM
snilam

Looks great. What color(s) are your LED's?

snilam
09-24-2014, 07:46 PM
main led is a tri cree RGrB and the crystal will be a RGB so I can mimmick the main led for the crystal. and I have some white led to back light some chassis parts btw my hands are still vibrating from dremmeling for a few hours. going to start wiring tomorrow and hopefull etch. then later polish, some gold leafing, and do finishing work

jedimastergarcia87
09-24-2014, 08:27 PM
Nice. Also can't wait to see this one done. =]

setelf3of5
09-24-2014, 08:53 PM
sounds amazing! Keep sending the Pics.

snilam
09-29-2014, 08:26 PM
sorry haven't updated. Darth Wife had me doing other things.

fixed links:D

Etched the shrouds and installed switches. gold leafed the shrouds
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01121_zpsa56a3661.jpg
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01120_zps708dd7ec.jpg

the chassis not wired yet
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01124_zps032bdb4b.jpg

MJ grip prepped screwed cut down

*edit* I cut them down by taking a strip of aluminum plate I had laying around and taped 10 holes in it and then grinded them most of the way down on a bench grinder then finished the off with a DA with a 80 grit pad made it go really fast, kept thread integrity and kept the plate for future use.
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01125_zps3d833e67.jpg
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01126_zps2664e171.jpg

general look of the top section
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01109_zpsbcce7970.jpg

Noyl Wendor
09-29-2014, 08:38 PM
That's wicked sick looking ;) I dig, very much dig. Nice work

Gnar-Gnar Gin
09-29-2014, 09:49 PM
sorry haven't updated. Darth Wife had me doing other things.

Etched the shrouds and installed switches. gold leafed the shrouds
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01121_zpsa56a3661.jpg
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01120_zps708dd7ec.jpg

the chassis not wired yet
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01124_zps032bdb4b.jpg

MJ grip prepped screwed cut down
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01125_zps3d833e67.jpg
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01126_zps2664e171.jpg

general look of the top section
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01109_zpsbcce7970.jpg

Looking Good!
Wrong links from PB though (the bottom option will show a preview on here instead of just linking to PB)

snilam
09-29-2014, 10:29 PM
Looking Good!
Wrong links from PB though (the bottom option will show a preview on here instead of just linking to PB)

which option, I'm having a brain fart. tried to just put pics but says file is too large. my links are kinda a pain to look at.

setelf3of5
09-29-2014, 10:52 PM
sorry haven't updated. Darth Wife had me doing other things.

Etched the shrouds and installed switches. gold leafed the shrouds
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01121_zpsa56a3661.jpg
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01120_zps708dd7ec.jpg

the chassis not wired yet
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01124_zps032bdb4b.jpg

MJ grip prepped screwed cut down
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01125_zps3d833e67.jpg
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01126_zps2664e171.jpg

general look of the top section
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/DSC01109_zpsbcce7970.jpg

Looks great!

snilam
09-30-2014, 09:46 PM
well boohoo. wired up the saber today and pulled the kill key and nothing. but on the bright side it is just a faulty recharge port so I can live with that. bypassed the port and all works well. just need to get one last part of the mid section hilt done tomorrow find a new recharge port locally if I can or order another one and I should be cooking!

The Yin
10-01-2014, 09:32 AM
Nice looking build here.
I suggest triple checking your wiring on the recharge port. I had the same problem with mine, and it turned out the wiring was incorrect. I don't recall at the moment what the mistake was.

Never mind, looking back at my post, it was the R.I.C.E. port, not the recharge (hey, it's been over a year :))

snilam
10-01-2014, 10:35 AM
Its the recharge port. The spring inside is not pushing the barrel inside to make contact.

setelf3of5
10-01-2014, 01:23 PM
Can't wait to see the finished build!

snilam
10-02-2014, 07:35 PM
alright recharge port replaced and in working order. also acid etched last parts and getting ready to paint the center of the trim rings. etch came out really good. I used a vinyl sticker I had made from the people I use for my actual day job. going to use this method from now on. may cost a little more but well work it I think. just the the time saver aspect alone make it worth it.
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/20141002_095453_zps1f85c070.jpg

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/20141002_110104_zps26f62809.jpg

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/Shawn_Malins/20141002_110121_zpsa97006cf.jpg

setelf3of5
10-02-2014, 07:55 PM
Looks great, I like the lettering. Is that tack to hold posters on a wall your using for painting your rings or yellow tape?

snilam
10-02-2014, 08:05 PM
just yellow masking tape. though I think I'm just going to get a really thin modeling brush and paint the center. the tape slides off easy when being handled since there isn't much to stick to. I was originally going to gold leaf the center line to, but proved to be problematic so I'm going to just do gold leaf paint instead

setelf3of5
10-02-2014, 08:50 PM
I see, I think it will look just fine. You have done some really cool looking additions. I look forward to it all being together.

Gnar-Gnar Gin
10-03-2014, 12:32 AM
It just keeps getting better and better!

Dethlore
10-03-2014, 01:08 PM
WOW... just WOW That looks amazing so far!

Makes me want to so badly do a real saber... but I really should just finish my PVC saber first. :p

setelf3of5
10-03-2014, 11:04 PM
I haven't even built my first one yet, and because yours is turning out so great, I want to build more too...-like Dethlore. Almost glad I don't have my lathe and mill, I would get nothing else done. I would be working until I dropped.

snilam
10-04-2014, 06:36 AM
Ya its a disease for sure.

snilam
10-05-2014, 06:20 AM
Finished
http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/showthread.php?17123-Finished!-(kinda)-Introducing-quot-Covenance-quot

Viper138
10-08-2014, 08:44 PM
Could you please tell me how you did that awesome acid etch or point me in the right direction for reference material?!

setelf3of5
10-08-2014, 09:58 PM
That is a great acid etch...I would like to know as well, and where did you get the font for the language you have around the hilt.

snilam
10-09-2014, 09:37 AM
I downloaded a font i dont remember where, i did a google search for "aurebesh font" and picked the first result. I then printed it ou and brought the font file to a store that makes vinyl stickers and had them make me a sheet with my txt. Applied it to my hilt pieces then packing taped the rest really well. Mixed up 2:1 ferric chloride to water. Dunked it for roughly 10 min. Rinsed with water. There are multiple tutorials in here for the actually etching parts. The acid is also called pcb etchant from radio shack

setelf3of5
10-09-2014, 02:50 PM
Thanks, I may have to incorporate one or both of those on my saber. You know for a saber build for fun, this turned out to be an incredible saber!

snilam
10-09-2014, 04:42 PM
Thank ya. I believe if you come at a creative project for fun your final product will be much better. When you get impatient and frustrated thats when a creative project becomes a burden. I actually find the build process more rewarding than the completed saber itself. Sometimes its the journey and not the destination.

setelf3of5
10-09-2014, 05:03 PM
So True, the journey sometimes is where the fun is at. I think that is going to be very true for me as well. I am glad your saber turned out so very nice too. You got the journey and the destination!

Viper138
10-09-2014, 07:09 PM
Thank you for the info! I'll definitely be using it!

Your saber is an amazing piece,hopefully my build looks as good as yours!
-Viper

snilam
10-09-2014, 07:15 PM
Cant wait to see it!

snilam
10-09-2014, 07:29 PM
now that I think about it. on the acid to water ratio it was 2:1 but I had done a bunch of test pieces before hand and in the beginning the etch was a little to fast and actually uneven, but then it settled out a bit. I'm guessing the acid weakened after a few test pieces. So I might suggest 2.5:1 acid to water. Do some tests first your results may vary. Also air bubbles are the enemy on your stencil especially when close to your unprotected areas you are etching. Keep your acid mixture you can use it again and again. And remember add your acid to your water not water to acid. Have a dunk tank of water handy next to your acid in case your etch starts going to fast and you can dunk it to stop the reaction. And wear gloves and eyewear you don't want to burn yourself and not be able to hold or see your saber! Lay down a mat it will stain concrete, if you care about your garage anyway. I now have a small rust looking stain on my garage floor. Its ok it goes nicely with the oil from my leaking subie.