Mirrors at the tip of the blade

[rohgan]

Hello fellas. I'm completely new to this whole hobby, and have only been browsing around the tutorials for a few days. However, I'm more or less set on getting myself an LED MHS saber, probably Royal Blue.

I have a couple of questions, though. First off, about the already-completed blades in the store: do they suffer from the same blemishes as if I were to buy the material for a blade and assemble it myself?

Also, regarding the mirror that goes in the end of the blade. I have seen that the light in the blade does seem to stop very suddenly, but I've also just been looking at Stydur/Tim's post about smaller reflective material inserted there, but I'm not too keen on that effect either. I was wondering if the mirror/reflective material is absolutely necessary? Would it not be possible to just frost the domed cap? Has anyone got any pictures of this by any chance?

Thanks in advance for any help. May the Force be with you.

[xwingband]

The blade will significantly dimmer without a mirror of some sorts. Tim is using a new type of material that you can request that lets some light through. Just frosting it wouldn't work very well, not to mention the possibility of blinding someone by pointing the tip at them.[B)] I don't believe the one Tim makes will have a problem of blemishes because if it did he'd make a new one.[:)]

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[Do-Clo]

I have found that most of the issuses for spots and such in the blade and diffuser is really a matter of dust and other particules inside the blade and diffuser. I always take a lint free cloth and stuff it inside the blade and push it through with a wooden dowel rod, then I do the same with the diffuser and it takes care of most of the problems. For a reflector in the end of the blade the best thing I have found is a piece of aluminum tape cut slightly smaller than the inside of the blade. This allows the tip to light up and still give you the mirror effect to even out the blade.

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...

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The Brotherhood of the Sith

[Pirate King]

Have you ever seen when people take the shiny stuff off of gum wrappers and stick to things like notebooks? I'm thinking of using that as my reflective material, and scraping a bit off so some light can still get through.

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[Do-Clo]

If you cut the aluminum tape in a circle smaller than the inside diameter of the tube then some of the light will get past it lighting up the tip.

Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...

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The Brotherhood of the Sith

[LAN-ED-TUL]

yeah, the film i got from corbin, he sent along a piece of stuff that i used on one blade that let some light thru. and still reflected it back down really well. worked really good.

so anyone found a good tip reflector yet other than the mirror? just wonderin, since i have some blades with mirrors and some with a mylar and 2 with corbins lil partial reflective stuff.

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The Brotherhood Of The Sith

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

[supertrogdor]

something else that works reasonably well is the anti static material in which some computer components are shipped. That happens to exist in abundance where i work, so maybe my preference there is due to the free ninety nine pricing
cheers

[GFORCE13]

I had some of the mirrored window tint paper I had used on our Bedroom windows left over that seems to work pretty good, I bought a Custom Film Blade from Corbin and when I knocked off the Tip[^] I noticed he uses a similar type of Film.

" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"
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[LAN-ED-TUL]

yeah, thats what i was talkin bout. i got the single and dbl wrap film from him and he sends along some kinda partial reflective stuff with it. it does work pretty good. it lets enough light pass thru to light up the tip.




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The Brotherhood Of The Sith

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

[Corbin_Das]

In response to some emails I get every so often, and questions I see come up every now and then on forums such as this, I thought I'd make a comment about the various options in regards to reflective surfaces in the Luxeon blade tips.

I've experimented with different shaped reflective surfaces for a while now. A convave tip works pretty well, but they are a pain to make. They actually make a chromed dished disk with a small hole in the center that works fairly well for this. It's made to be used as a finishing washer to hold bathroom mirrors on the wall. You can get them at most hardware stores. The hole in the center lets enough light through to illuminate the tip.
A regular flat tip is easiest and having the reflective film not quite go all the way to the edge keeps from sidespill and having the "bloom" of light at the tip. That's not a "secret" per se, but I haven't really shared that much. Cutting the reflective material to be a little smaller than the inside diameter of the blade helps.
The type of reflective material makes a difference too. 3M OLF gives major blooming if left too large, but it reflects the light well. Chrome tape works well for most applications, as does mirrored automotive window film. The LED's lens degree and the length of the blade, as well as the diffusion method, tip type (shouldered or non) and whether the LED is a Lambertian or Batwing type all have a bearing on what method of blade construction will give the best results. So does thick walled versus thin walled blades and even the color of the blade (gold reflective film works better for the reds). There's got to be a comprimise between uniformity, tip flare and overall brightness. Think of it as a 3 legged stool: If any one leg is longer or shorter than the others, the entire stool will be off balance.
Getting all these factors accounted for to make the brightest blade with the most even light distribution and without the blooming at the tip is where blade making is part art, part science. Lots of trial and error there. I've still not got everything quite figured out yet, but it's fun to make new discoveries (often by accident or pure chance)and sharing them with everyone here.


Corbin

Corbin@CorbinsComponents.com

[LAN-ED-TUL]

well said corbin.

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Lan-Ed-Tul
The Brotherhood Of The Sith

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