TankReady's new Illuminated Saber (NBv4 board - MHS parts)

[TankReady]

Hello everyone.
After owning a stunt saber I got from an Italian sabersmith to use in Ludosport training classes, I decided to look for a new weapon to actually use in tournaments and events as well.
Loomed facebook groups for a while looking for the perfect saber and after some talking with helpful peeps I decided to go the custom way, and to make my own weapon myself.

So, here's the parts list:
-82ohm 1/4w resistor
- MPS Insert style 4
-MPS Clip
- 8-32 x 1/2" thumb screw
- Super Lube Synthetic Grease
-Hilt Style 1 (7" Double female threaded connector)
-12mm AV switch bezel for MHSV1
-1.2ohm 3w resistor
-.5ohm 3w resistor
- Power Xtender™ 2.0
-Nano Biscotte Sound Module V4
-12mm Anti Vandal Momentary Red Ring Switch
-18650 Single Cell Holder
-2W 28mm Bass Speaker
-18deg Tri-Rebel/Cree Star Lens
-Rebel Star LED & MHSV1 Heatsink Module Heat Sink V3 (Long Style) Luxeon Rebel Star (Blue)
- MPS Pommel style 6
-MHSV1 Blade Holder Style 17
-MHS Heat Sink V3
- Red/Green/Royal Blue Cree XP-E2 CopperNova
- Star thermal tape pad - Tri LED
- MHS choke style 3


Not in there is the MHS speaker mount, I wanted to buy it for easier building but wasn't available at the time, and got back in the site the day after my order shipped :roll:

I have read several tutorials and watched some on youtube as well.
Even though much of it is pretty clear, I need to have the pieces in front of me to actually understand everything.
So for the remaining stuff, I'm stealing my girlfriend father's soldering iron, I found at a thrift shop a nice pair of helping hands with magnifying lens and soldering iron holder, what I now am on the look for is heatshrink (amazon will help) and wires.
I do not know wires, nor I understand their terminology. Also, being in italy makes it even more difficult especially when trying to translate measures, so I'd like a bit of help here.
I have been suggested to use 26 or 28 gauge wires. This is fine. But then I go and find solid and stranded wires. Wow. I'm stuck already. Then I realize many of them are defined in mm and since I don't even know how wires works, it's hard for me to understand how much one is different from other (a 26 or 28 gauge for example) and/if which sizes wouldn't be good inside a saber. Tried to look for a guide but beside a chart for sizes, no luck. (I found some 0.25mm wires, from the chart this looks like a 30 gauge wire and I don't know how different this makes them from 28 gauge)
Thanks in advance for any help!
Can't wait to start working!

[Don Se Wion]

Hi TankReady

I normally use 0.14mm2 wires for all my builds.
You can find them easily online, once I bought some good ones from a scale train modeling web site.

And, by the way, what LS Academy are you from ?

Keep in mind that normally MHS builds with a single 18650 are a little underweight to pass the screening for LS tournaments.
You will probably need to add some weight to reach 500g.

[TankReady]

Ciao Don!

Thanks a lot, this is extremely helpful! I already know where to buy them from now that I know WHICH to get!
What kind of solder do you use? I didn't realize that too has a size -.-''


I'm training at "Porta dei laghi" the newest acadamy born in northern Italy (between Como and Varese).
I'm well aware of their strict requirements as I already competed in a couple tournaments, my first saber was in fact fine in terms of weight and length but lacking sound it couldn't be used.
I checked with the MHS builder the lenght of my new build and I'll check if some weight is needed in order for it to be usable!

Also beware, now that I know an Italian is in here I will probably harass you for help and tips!!!

[Don Se Wion]

Actually I can't remember the size of solder I'm using, I bought it many years ago.
If you really want to know I must check.

And, obviously, no problem at all in helping you if you need.

[TankReady]

Actually I can't remember the size of solder I'm using, I bought it many years ago.
If you really want to know I must check.

And, obviously, no problem at all in helping you if you need.
If you can check it would be great :D So I don't order one too big or too small!

Where are you training?

[Don Se Wion]

It's a 60/40 0.7mm cored solder.

I'm in Milan, bring my regards to Paolo and Krauss :)

[TankReady]

It is done!
Thanks to the help of several people, from facebook groups and in here as well, I received the pieces on tuesday and completed the build in a couple days. I probably fried the switch led while trying to figure out which of the prongs were which, and the wiring isn't very fancy (I had never used a soldering iron before) but everything else works fine, and I'm SO happy :D
Thanks everybody!