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Angelus Lupus
09-20-2007, 12:03 PM
This is my Do-Clo saber I'm in the process of upgrading. I planned to upgrade eventually anyway, but recently I had the saber out at the same time as a flashlight I have.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/AngelusLupus/Lupus-projects/do-clomod1.png


The flashlight screws apart in several places and while messing around I discovered by chance that the lens part fitted onto the pommel of the heiland
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/AngelusLupus/Lupus-projects/do-clomod2.png


A quick root around in my workshed and I found some junk metal that had a grill of lots of holes, so I carefully cut out a peice and fitted it in place of the plastic lens using the o-ring it came with.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/AngelusLupus/Lupus-projects/do-clomod3.png http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/AngelusLupus/Lupus-projects/do-clomod4.png


I think that it will serve well for when I put sound in this thing. I'm also going to replace the grips, probably with leather. The switch is also going to change to two, cos I want buttered toast. But that's where I have my problem. Cutting a circle of metal is one thing, but changing a basic switch for two that look better is beyond me. I wouldn't know how to place/attach or get them.

Marsupial
09-21-2007, 01:21 AM
That's actually pretty nice. Great find.

Angelus Lupus
09-23-2007, 07:12 AM
Thanks, it turned out better than I expected. It's also the first part that I've 'built for a saber and that's given me the bug to do more.
As to switches.. I've got a couple in mind but as I have zero knowledge of wiring these things I'd like to get opinions.
The first is a simple rocker:
http://www.rapidonline.com/netalogue/photos/75006101.jpg
DPDT rocker (http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?tier1=Electronic+Components&tier2=Switches&tier3=Rocker+Switches&tier4=DPDT+Rocker+switch&moduleno=71452)

The second looks more like it could be a raised activation box thingy
http://www.rapidonline.com/netalogue/photos/78018001.jpg
SPDT Rocker switch (http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?tier1=Electronic+Components&tier2=Switches&tier3=Push-Button+Switches&tier4=SPDT+Rocker+switches&moduleno=71441)

So low-profile or a raised box.. I'm not sure, anyone?

Jeb Ardunis
09-23-2007, 10:18 AM
DPDT versus SPDT aside, I'd venture to say it's more aesthetics on your part as you'd be the one holding it. In my mind, it comes down to comfort, and ease of wielding. If I had to choose, I'd go with the DPDT rocker simply because of the low profile, although I'm unsure of the trade-off between the two, especially when it comes to accidental deactivation of the saber.

Now, is that a Kel-Lite? I know that's not a Mag, simply because of the design. Regardless, that's a good design you've got going.

Also, I dig the sig Angelus... Totally makes perfect sense. :D

Hasid Lafre
09-23-2007, 11:02 AM
I would go as far as to say for switches.

Thoes wont work very well cause they will wobbel and attempting to put a square hole into a hilt is a pain in the butt if all you got is a dremel and some files.

Look for something round or get a graflex clamp off ebay and have someone here mod it for a tiny slider to fit behind the clamp lever.

Angelus Lupus
09-23-2007, 11:25 AM
Hmm, I hadn't thought about wobble. I take it you've had experience of this yourself Hasid? With any shaped button though you're still going to have a flat bottom going on a curved hilt. I had already considered the clamp idea like Erv did on his OddyTwo saber. You can just see one of his buttons in this picture here (http://www.plecterlabs.com/index2.php?option=gallery&id=293&task=show)
Thanks for the encouragement Jeb, I have no idea what make that flashlight is tho, sorry.

Hasid Lafre
09-23-2007, 11:42 AM
No but its a common sense thing. Look at the switch then look at the round hilt. :P

But yeah I would go a clamp route of sorts. hell maybe even one of this sweet lazer cut ones that king of parts on ebay sells.

Jeb Ardunis
09-23-2007, 11:47 AM
*thinks* What if you could somehow mold a brace of sorts to fit around the switch, which I would think would serve two purposes: 1.) Hide the edges of the switch. 2.) Secure the switch into place, reducing or maybe eliminating wobble. (This would be more ideal for the taller/raised switch.)

Just think of the molding/trim as a lateral support for the switch. While it might be a pain in the rear to fabricate, or maybe even be going over the top here on such a simple application, it would seem to be the best way to hold such a boxy shape in place on the hilt.

Angelus Lupus
09-23-2007, 11:51 AM
*answers the thinks* That's pretty much what the clamp would do if you could fit the boxy switch in there. Price-wise a custom piece would probably cost as much, if not more, than a clamp.

Jeb Ardunis
09-23-2007, 11:57 AM
Point taken. *l* I was thinking that there might be some sort of switch box assembly you could bastardize and just hack in the curve to affix it to the hilt, but as you mentioned, it'd be just as much, if not more than a clamp.

Hasid Lafre
09-23-2007, 12:06 PM
http://cgi.ebay.com/LIGHTSABER-CENTER-CLAMP-ACTIVATION-BOX-BLACK_W0QQitemZ250125272914QQihZ015QQcategoryZ9997 1QQcmdZViewItem

TimeRender
09-23-2007, 12:19 PM
I own one of these clamps. You see how it is shaped like a C when you look down on the flat section from the top? The gap here isn't big enough to mount your switches. However, if you cut it down from a C shape into a U shape, the gap would be JUST big enough. You could then mount the switch to a PCB and slide it into the groove.

Edit: It might stick out even further than the clamp usually does. You could get around this by skipping the PCB and mounting the switch directly to the flat section on the clamp. That, however, would be much more work than simply cutting a square hole directly into your saber.

Angelus Lupus
09-23-2007, 12:25 PM
If I went for a clamp then I'd probably do what erv did and hide two small buttons under the board/bubbles. Shipping costs on clamps to the UK might make it too expensive tho, plus I wouldn't be sure enough of my skills to 'cut it down' to a U

Angelus Lupus
10-07-2007, 01:29 PM
Still not sure where I'm going with switches. Square or flat holes on a curved hilt is gonna be tricky; clamps are expensive.
As far as clamps tho, I think this (http://www.saberkit.com/mpp_clamp_bubble.html) is the right sort, seems there would be enough space to mount switches (and perhaps, as erv did, a bargraph)

Angelus Lupus
10-27-2007, 11:19 AM
Okay, bumping and triple posting. Bad form I know, but:

Still busy upgrading (slowly). I got myself an MPP clamp and bubbles, and have a CF 2.61 on the way. Here's what it looks like so far:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/AngelusLupus/Lupus-projects/do-clomodA1.png

The belt clip thing is something I've had laying around for a while. So it was while I was getting things together I started thinking that I didn't want it to look like a bad attempt at a Vader, so I photoshopped this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/AngelusLupus/Lupus-projects/do-clomodA1edit.png

Has a sort of hybrid Anakin AOTC/Luke ESB/Vader look to it. I like the chrome tape idea (if I knew where to get it), and the alternative shroud is because I'm fickle and like the option of changing the look.
The big ? is about the grip area. Not sure if I should leave it as is or put something there. I like having that much hilt showing silver so I wouldn't want to completely cover it in grip.
Maybe I could do a short section of grip right before the pommel, like oddy two