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View Full Version : A cheap and local new diffusing method



the_steve
03-24-2006, 04:53 PM
Hello all, you guys might know me from TFN boards.

Well i am a very impatient person and that trait lead me to find a great looking and cheap method of diffusing an led blade. I never wanted to wait for an internet order to arrive, and my local plastics shop had no nylon, so me and my dad went to home depot with my saber hilt and a small section of 3/4 inch ID 1 inch OD polyC tube to test diffusing properties and sizes. After finding nothing useable, we were just wandering around the shower section and we found an absolute lifesaver. What it is is a thin, plastic, white, shower curtain rod cover for only $2.95 US. I think it is nylon but i am not sure. They are split down the middle so you can adjust the size to fit inside either of the 2 wall thicknesses commonly used by LED saber makers, and they are in 5 foot sections. The split does make a seam, but if you follow this tutorial i wrote up and use 1/8" thick walled tubing, you will get a near perfect cut with either no seam or a very tiny one.

For 1/8 inch thick walls do this for the resizing. Use scissors to cut to appropriate length. Tightly wrap around a piece of 1/2 inch ID steel EMT tubing. This may take two people, depending on how many arms you have.[:o)] Get one person to hold the section of tube you are working on tightly arond the EMT. Make a pencil line against the edge of the diffuser and keep doing that ll the way down using the edge as a straightedge to keep a perfect line going on. Then carefully cut along the line with scissors. If you cut it perfectly you will get no seam. Just make sure when you put it in the polyC that you don't let the edges overlap.

Here are a couple of pictures of my green star/o lighting up the blade in a dark room. This is normal exposure time so the brightness isn't bumped up any by the camera.

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7659/dscf00431lp.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9496/dscf00446yy.jpg

Here is one with a long exposure time.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/7843/uvs0603200019hi.png

Thanks you for reading this long post. Try it out and tell me what you think.

xwingband
03-24-2006, 05:08 PM
Welcome here.[:D]

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?

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UltraSWG
03-24-2006, 05:30 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by xwingband

Welcome here.[:D]

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?

Want to roleplay in the SW universe? Visit:
http://www.dewbackwing.com/dewbacks/files/pinupbanner.jpg (www.dewbackwing.com)</center>
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

No matter where you go, Awingband will find you!

http://www.ultrasabers.com
Corbin|Strydur|Ultra
The Holy Luxeon Trinity

GeluKhanGharr
03-24-2006, 05:59 PM
Nope, can't hide from him

Born of Sith, seduced by the light.
http://www.saloncatalina.com/images/signature.jpg

xwingband
03-24-2006, 06:03 PM
Well... I don't post at RPF, but that's not a light-up saber place really.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?

Want to roleplay in the SW universe? Visit:
http://www.dewbackwing.com/dewbacks/files/pinupbanner.jpg (www.dewbackwing.com)</center>

the_steve
03-24-2006, 06:25 PM
Well thanks for the warm welcome, but nobody is discussing the diffuser or tutorial. I posted it here because everyone overlooked it in TFN because of a discussion on breaking polyC. I was hoping it would get more attention here.

xwingband
03-24-2006, 06:33 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by the_steve

Well thanks for the warm welcome, but nobody is discussing the diffuser or tutorial. I posted it here because everyone overlooked it in TFN because of a discussion on breaking polyC. I was hoping it would get more attention here.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

More attention... jeez, that's a little selfish. Sometime topics get ignore sometimes they don't.

I think it's a nice diffuser, but most of us here don't have a problem ordering stuff. Other than a seam it works quite well. If you want "Oh, I'll try it posts" sorry, but we can order a better one online here from Tim that does the same thing better.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?

Want to roleplay in the SW universe? Visit:
http://www.dewbackwing.com/dewbacks/files/pinupbanner.jpg (www.dewbackwing.com)</center>

the_steve
03-24-2006, 06:37 PM
I said that wrong. I don't just want to get fame and attention, but i want to bring this to the attenetion of saber builders. A good and very cheap diffuser that you can buy locally.

xwingband
03-24-2006, 06:43 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by the_steve

I said that wrong. I don't just want to get fame and attention, but i want to bring this to the attenetion of saber builders. A good and very cheap diffuser that you can buy locally.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

That's cool.[8D] I hope most support Tim's work though.[;)]

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?

Want to roleplay in the SW universe? Visit:
http://www.dewbackwing.com/dewbacks/files/pinupbanner.jpg (www.dewbackwing.com)</center>

the_steve
03-26-2006, 08:59 PM
Well i guess it's just an opinion. Either pay four dollars plus shipping and wait for it to arrive, or pay 2.95 and get it instantly but with a small seam. I am not trying to bring down tim's stuff.

Everyone feel free to ask questions. I'm all ears- err.. i guess all eyes because this is all text.

Dang, this thread died quickly. I was hoping it would get indexed.

LAN-ED-TUL
03-26-2006, 09:55 PM
you could do the faster ansd order the other and use that till the later comes in ya know.

You dont know the POWER, of the dark side...