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Sohryu76
03-24-2008, 09:20 PM
First, thank you to Tim, and everyone else who has put up with all my questions!
I'm starting simple...
Here are the parts I'm using:
MPS Pommel 3
5" Double Female Threaded Connection
Grooved Extension Piece
LED Bladeholder Style 3
All parts Powdercoated Flat Black

Tim is going to cut grooves into the Ribbed Extension where my Crystal Chamber is going to go!
I'm planning on using a Lux V Cyan for the blade LED, and then a Lux III for the crystal Emitter. Right now though, no one seems to be able to get any low bin Cyans, so I dont know how long i am going to have to wait for those...

I have the guarded switch with the red button, and a black machined Covertec button as well.

I'm looking into getting some sink pipe cut to make shroud as a colored accent. Anyone good at cutting sink pipe to a pattern give me a shout!

I'll post updates here as the project progresses. Pictures will be included.

eastern57
03-28-2008, 12:15 PM
don't drop that sucker in the dark... ;)

Sohryu76
03-28-2008, 12:29 PM
don't drop that sucker in the dark... ;)

yeah that would be bad...
but im hoping with the accents I'm going to put on it, using the sink tube, that I would be able to see those parts... they are going to be painted to match my custom Mando Armor...

Sohryu76
04-01-2008, 06:25 AM
Alright...
It is an exciting day for me...
my package was shipped yesterday from Tim...
and it just cant get here fast enough. Monday! Woohoo! I'll post pictures of it as soon as I get it!

and many thanks to the member who sent me a pair of LEDs... I see now exactly what everyone was talking about... Bin 1 LEDs look much different than Bin 2... so I can only imagine how anything higher than Bin 2 would be more green than anything else...

Sohryu76
04-01-2008, 06:45 PM
Pictures...
no hilt sections yet... but thought I would share!

my sound board... from a Mace Saber
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0058.jpg
my shroud: (I cut this myself...) top-
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0061.jpg
bottom-
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0062.jpg

Crystal: unlit
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0060.jpg
lit-
more to come!
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0065.jpg

eastern57
04-01-2008, 07:11 PM
Looks promising! What a nice fellow that guy must be ;)

Just a thought - disregard if you know already - will you be able to fit the crystal chamber and wires in the ribbed section? or are you leaving the wires out?
The ribbed section is 1 1/8" ID

Sohryu76
04-01-2008, 07:21 PM
yeah it will fit... the chamber is just about 1 inch across... the LED will be under that, most likely on its own heatsink sitting where the ribbed section meets the hilt...

then the blade LED will be at the top of the ribbed section... (this is saying the idea will work...
otherwise i might just have to get a regular 5mm cyan LED for the crystal chamber...
then i wont need the 5 watt Bin 1 Cyan... lol

ya know what i am trying to say?

eastern57
04-01-2008, 07:36 PM
lol! No worries. Like I said: it's the process... materials come and go...

I'm just anxious to see this sucker in all it's glory!

:)

Sohryu76
04-01-2008, 07:52 PM
not as anxious as I am!
Monday will not come fast enough...
i shoudl have picked faster shipping...
i might even need a new hilt and switch... might not have enough room with the guarded switch...
we will find out

eastern57
04-02-2008, 11:55 AM
Ok, I give up. I'm the guy who gave up the LEDs :oops: so you're very welcome. It looks like they're going to good use anyway.

What kind of battery are you planning on using? Really, it sounds like it's gonna be cramped, and you'll be surprised at how much room wires take up.

Sohryu76
04-02-2008, 12:10 PM
that is my current issue... picking a battery...
ive put all my current plans on hold until i get the hilt, and i plug in that switch... if there isnt as much room as I would like/need the Lux V is going to be replaced with a K2... so lower the voltage needed...
so im thinking so its either going to be a 7.2 Li Ion or an 11.1 Li Ion if i can make the Lux V and the Lux III work...
or I need to buy a K2, and you will get your Lux V back for your stunt saber... lol

eastern57
04-02-2008, 12:19 PM
lol! ;) Good for you.

Remember the 6-Ps: Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance

Sohryu76
04-02-2008, 12:44 PM
yeppers...
infact I'm actually thinking about just doing the K2 and be done with it for "this" saber just for the room in it... then maybe doing a different hilt with more room, or less crystal chambers and doing the K2..
but when i get home Monday night, and can look at the saber... I'll decide...
the K2 white with a nice filter might be better for me than waiting a year for a Bin 1 cyan...
lol

eastern57
04-04-2008, 10:40 AM
BTW, I don't need that lux V, so don't send it back to me. Hold on to it and maybe pass it onto someone else who needs one.

Sohryu76
04-04-2008, 11:09 AM
it will definately get passed on...
one good turn deserves another!

xl97
04-04-2008, 01:57 PM
reading and stumbled....

I have basically just ben focusing on making hilts.. and havent really wired any of them up yet.

I have several Hasbro boards I plan on using with some (Corbin's?) sort of driver board..

I was planning on going with a white LED for the color chioces/options.. I see you guys are also talking going white..

any tips/suggestions for someone looking to go white as well? I know very little about the electronics side of tis hoddy of ours. ;) (so be gentle)

thanks

vortextwist
04-04-2008, 02:37 PM
with white you will want to go with the souel (sp). check out this thread for comparisons.
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=11812.0

Sohryu76
04-04-2008, 08:02 PM
So i recieved my package today from eBay... bought a Lux I and a Lux III Cyan...
the Lux III is a bin Six.. anyone need a green? lol

so the Lux I has a 500mA max...
the Lux III has a 1000 Max... I can overdrive a Lux III with 2 700mA buckpucks...
is there a way i can wire two to the Lux III but only one of them to the Lux I?
i figure a 200mA overdrive to that isnt bad if 400 isnt too bad for the Lux III...
any advice?

xl97
04-05-2008, 08:15 AM
with white you will want to go with the souel (sp). check out this thread for comparisons.
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=11812.0

Thanks VT-

I'll check it out now.. (never been to that site.. so another 'score' in my book...more reading) ;)

on the flip side.. if I go with ANY withe or especially the white p4 seoul version..

are there special wiring or electronic guidelines that I need to follow? That are different than using a regular k2 or II LED?

The reason I ask.. is I am also going to be getting a colored LED as well.. and if Im NOT happy with the white or colored.. Id like to be able to swap.. color for white..or vise versa).. outside of putting a filter on the white Im saying..

Thanks for the link again.. it REALLY shows a huge difference..

would these be the types/versions/size I need to purchase? already mounted on a star back..and ready to be installed in a MHS part?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1445

DarthFender
04-05-2008, 04:32 PM
So i recieved my package today from eBay... bought a Lux I and a Lux III Cyan...
the Lux III is a bin Six.. anyone need a green? lol

so the Lux I has a 500mA max...
the Lux III has a 1000 Max... I can overdrive a Lux III with 2 700mA buckpucks...
is there a way i can wire two to the Lux III but only one of them to the Lux I?
i figure a 200mA overdrive to that isnt bad if 400 isnt too bad for the Lux III...
any advice?

I have not trird this, but I think it will work like this...

1w led will get about 350mA. The 3w led will get about 1050mA.
This is not really overdriving the 3w and right about par for the 1w.

Anyone correct able to show a diagram for this?

eastern57
04-05-2008, 09:13 PM
any tips/suggestions for someone looking to go white as well?

If you want the white specifically for the easy color change, you might have to lok around for "good" color filters (e.g. photography filters). The filters sold here are fine for, say, making a saber for a kid so they can have any color they want. But for me the colors look rather diluted or flushed (except yellow and orange, they're okay).

I actually like white or "silver". Like all the other colors, it has it's own character to it. And I like the yellow, it still looks full, and not like a filter.

And one good thing about the whites, since they're being developed so fast, the whites are brightest LEDs out there (highest lumen rating, at least).

xl97
04-05-2008, 09:52 PM
thanks eastern.. appreciate the feedback.. all good stuff to know.

as far as wiring and batterypacks & power needed to be supplied...

is there a difference in going white or a colored led? (not filtered)

also I have a couple Lee Filter sets I plan on using for any white I go with, but (as you stated about diluted color) if I am un-satisfied with a white can I just swap to a colored LED of say green or blue without having to wory about the wiring or electronics being updated/altered in some way?

I too like the plain old white sabers.. white looks by itself.. no filter color added.. ;)

eastern57
04-06-2008, 10:02 AM
as far as wiring and batterypacks & power needed to be supplied is there a difference in going white or a colored led? (not filtered)

can I just swap to a colored LED of say green or blue without having to wory about the wiring or electronics being updated/altered in some way?


generally, yes, staying with the same LED category (i.e. Lux3, K2, Lux5 etc.) you're pretty safe.

I like to refer back to tim's resistor chart periodically. Check it out, pay particular attention to the Forward Voltage and Target mA columns. It's very helpful for the planning phase.

Also, I liked playing with the filters - combining colors. I could get neato-bandito colors, but with a white k2 and those thick filter disks, it wasn't very bright. But with a Seoul p4 and the thinner disks... eh, might have enought umph to power through.

Sohryu76
04-07-2008, 04:59 PM
Look at what showed up at my house today!
time lapse photography:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0077.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0078.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0079.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0080.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0081.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0082.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0083.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0088.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0085.jpg

another step closer...

Hasid Lafre
04-07-2008, 05:04 PM
Ya know what would be really cool? fill the crystal chamber holes with that magic tape that erv uses.

That would be really neat and I havent seen anything like that before.

Angelus Lupus
04-07-2008, 06:16 PM
I agree, I think it's the half-mirror tape that erv uses for that purpose.

eastern57
04-07-2008, 07:05 PM
Look at what showed up at my house today!another step closer...

dude, I can hear you giggling from here...

Sohryu76
04-07-2008, 08:39 PM
what is this magic tape?
ERV!!!!!????
someone!?
anyone!?

Nagi
04-07-2008, 09:15 PM
u wire the mace board i have one and it's giving me some trouble with wiring it i can't get it to turn on and off with a switch

Sohryu76
04-07-2008, 09:29 PM
not yet
as soon as i do i will let you know

eastern57
04-13-2008, 09:02 AM
didn't want the green thread to get too far off...

So 5w bin 1s, eh? About time. How's the rest of it coming along? Have you mounted the chamber? How does it look with the shroud? Progress update, man... sustain us!

Sohryu76
04-13-2008, 09:37 PM
well... since someone so politely asked...
I have some progress made...
one step backwards, two steps forward?

I can't or won't, you pick,mount the Crystal Chamber until I have the saber painted/powdercoated first...

I decided i wanted to go a different way with the shroud...
here is the new shroud. It is not going to stay black... and the Saber is not going to stay silver. Just an FYI there...

here is the pattern for the new shroud as it sits on the pipe ready to be cut...

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0092.jpg

and here is the shroud sitting on the saber, not attached yet, not til all the painting is done.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0095.jpg

and I've decided to go with two 3 Watt bin 1 Cyans... The Voltage requirements of the Lux V is too much for my saber. it is going to be powered by a 4.8 2600mah batter pack. wont even need to wire in a voltage regulator for my MR board...
also I am now currently decided if I am going to stick with the Mace board, or use the SW 616 board (with the switchable sounds)

so how is that for an update?

eastern57
04-14-2008, 11:39 AM
"Stellar, Evit Ted!" :)


That shroud is holycrap-cool looking. There's so many "nice, flowing, smooth" looks out there... no one really goes for the angular aesthetic - good job

Sohryu76
04-14-2008, 01:40 PM
thanks...
i like the angular looks...
guess its why I like the Mandalorain, Ep II Clones and Clone Commando helmets... their faces are much more angular than Ep III clones and stormtroopers...

eastern57
04-14-2008, 07:38 PM
and yet the dooku saber, with it's arbitrary curves, is so darn ***y...

Sohryu76
04-17-2008, 06:57 PM
I'm at a loss now...
I did some more measuring and adjusting...and I NEED a CF for this design to work... i cant fit buckpucks and a MR board in here, its too short...
so....
do i spend the 180 bucks... or not do sound... because i dont think i wanna do no current regulation off the battery pack... its the 4.8 2500mah...
OR... i can get the buckpuck and the MR board in there if i use the 4.8 1000mah battery...

man... and now i dont know if i like the shroud or not...
so im sooooo not able to make any decisions right now...

eastern57
04-17-2008, 07:21 PM
Spend the money spend the money spendthemoney get a CF

leap of faith - it's worth it

keep the shroud, its cool

Ghostbat
04-18-2008, 01:56 PM
Since it's not just a matter of money to get a CF (demand is far outstripping supply right now) another option might be the Yoda MR? I believe it has a much smaller board (someone please correct me if this is a misconception).

There is also nothing wrong with leaving out sound until you can get the parts you need.

Sohryu76
05-12-2008, 08:00 PM
Figure I'd update the thread with the slow process...
I'm STILL waiting for my CF to come in the mail...

here is my update:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0137.jpg
Its hard to tell from the picture and flash, but the painted part shifts color from a reddish purple to a deep blue purple...

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0167.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0168.jpg
my crystal chamber is complete... I have 2 Luxeon IIIs in there, one for the blade, and one for the crystal.

there is my update until i get the rest of the hilt painted... but the weather sucks for that right now

eastern57
05-12-2008, 08:13 PM
hey man, long time. Yeah it's like pulling teeth waiting for such a cosmically small item... good to see you've made progress!

Er Dan Gill
05-12-2008, 09:35 PM
http://www.ls1.com/forums/images/smilies/approved.gif
That chameleon paint is a nice touch, especially with the white, but I'm kinda partial too white sabershttp://www.ls1.com/forums/images/smilies/whistle.gif

Sohryu76
05-13-2008, 01:09 PM
http://www.ls1.com/forums/images/smilies/approved.gif
That chameleon paint is a nice touch, especially with the white, but I'm kinda partial too white sabershttp://www.ls1.com/forums/images/smilies/whistle.gif

.... that is just primer...
black and graphite were my colors i picked out...
sorry bro.
they will be clear-coated in Matte, possibly Satin... but will look good, and the chameleon will stand out

TD-2272
05-13-2008, 02:37 PM
pretty sweet bro!

Sohryu76
05-13-2008, 08:16 PM
pretty sweet bro!

Thanks!

Are you in OLG?

B5813
05-13-2008, 11:30 PM
Definitely keep us posted with your progress. I'm building a crystal chamber in my own saber and I'm very interested in how others are doing theirs. Looks badass so far.

Sohryu76
05-24-2008, 05:40 PM
Finally... another update...
only the crystal chamber has been clear coated, the others will be clear coated, probably next week.
I'm thinking Satin clearcoat for the emitter, hilt, and pommel.
I'm going to do an insert in the pommel, and its going to be chemeleon painted as well.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0189.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/Josnewguy/DSCN0188.jpg

eastern57
05-24-2008, 06:44 PM
Oh yah, looks pretty sweet there ya know.. You still going with 3w Cyans?

Sohryu76
05-24-2008, 10:04 PM
Yep..
got two Cyan LEDs ready to go... infact I can put them in again now!
I'm still Buttered Toast-less... and I think my bit is completely chomped away...
I'm not sure what to think anymore, its been just about 5 weeks... and Im beyond fidgity...

oh no i cant put the LEDs in yet... I am painting my crystal holder black so you cant see it as easily when looking into my crystal chamber.

eastern57
05-25-2008, 08:47 AM
That's sounds so cool. The black on the emitter actually looks textured I'd still be afraid of dropping that in the dark. How does it look with the shroud?