Lonewind's PVC Saber with MR Sound

[Lonewind]

Here is my latest PVC saber - this time with Master Replica Sound.

(EDIT: Changed this saber from GREEN to BLUE since wasn't thrilled with how the green looked on this saber.;))

Specs:

Blue Luxeon 3 Watt LED
UltraEdge Blade with 5' of Cellophane wrap
MR Anakin Soundboard
MR speaker
1 Blue "power on" accent LED (salvaged from an Anakin toy saber)
1 Green "crystal pommel" accent 5mm LED
4 x 1.2v AAA rechargeable batteries
Leather cord grip
Emitter accent made from a sink tube cut-out
Black and Silver Hammered finish paint job


I made an LED holder from a bit of blade tubing and assembled the LED with a custom made copper heatsink.

This project was a lot of fun. Thanks again to all who post here for the shared knowledge, enthusiasm, and inspiration!


Video:
This is the update video with the blue blade...
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/th_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--Vid.jpg (http://s662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/?action=view&current=PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--Vid.flv)

Photos:

http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--001800x600.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--002800x600.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--003800x600.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--004800x600.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--001.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--002.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--003.jpghttp://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--004.jpg
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--005.jpghttp://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound-now-blue--006.jpg

[JediMasterDak]

That looks awesome Lone!!!! Your best pvc saber so far!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D

[Jedi-Loreen]

That is a very nice PVC saber. :)

[Lonewind]

Thanks for the kind comments! :p



Build Pics:

For those interested in a peek of how I started building this saber, I snapped a few pictures of the early stages. I dont have a full build log but this should help you get the basic idea.


Here I have the basic PVC parts laid out. Note that I use the electrical conduit PVC (the gray pipe) for the blade end since a typical blade fits fairly well in this smaller inner diamter pipe.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--001.jpg

Laying out the dimensions...
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--002.jpg

The rough layout of the saber body...
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--003.jpg

For the pommel sound holes, I used a sink drain strainer as a stencil with a bit a spray paint to layout the holes to drill...
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--004.jpg

Drilling the holes with my drill press...
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--005.jpg


Preparing the body parts for paint. I used a pipe cutter to make the lines around the body parts.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--006.jpg

A view of the LED assembly I made using the home made copper heatsink, a bit of clear blade section, and the lense. I used thermal tape to adhere the LED to the heat sink,

then some high temparture hot glue to keep the pieces together in the clear blade section.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu348/Lonewind2009/PVC_Saber4_with_Sound/Building_PVC_Saber4_with_Sound--007.jpg

What I did not capture was the cutting of the sink tube to make the cut-out for the emitter. That took some time to get it just right. :)

After that, I painted and wired the electronics.

Cheers,
Lonewind

[LastODJedi]

Nice work!!!

[strengthofrage]

That has to be the coolest pvc saber I have seen yet, nice! :)

[Lord Dottore Matto]

I have to comment here (I love when one of my techniques is used :mrgreen:). I usually only like PVC sabers for little kids, but I have to say this is a QUALITY build. Excellent work!;)

Oh, yeah...Love the Crystal Pommel!:-D

[ARKM]

That saber does not suck... and that's saying a lot for a PVC saber. Nice work.

[Rhyen Skytracker]

That is an awesome PVC saber. Great job.

[Thaxos]

I'm loving the shroud!

[Kal El Rah]

That came out really nice, and I like your use of the Hammered paints.:):mrgreen:

[Lonewind]

Thanks, everyone! :-D Your comments are appreciated.

As I am my own worst critic, I still may work a bit on this saber. I'm not satisfied with the blade color so I may go with a blue blade. I will post any changes if I make them.

This is a great community, thanks again.

[strengthofrage]

I know what you mean about the blue... for some reason anytime a saber color scheme is silver/metal and black, I want to put a blue LED in it. Anytime there is brass on a saber, I automatically think it should have a green LED. That saber looks great with green, but I think it would look hot with a nice blue blade ;)

[cardcollector]

That is one well designed saber!!!

Where did you get that corded leather grip and how did you attach it???

Don't stop the PVC!!!!

[Lonewind]

That is one well designed saber!!!

Where did you get that corded leather grip and how did you attach it???

Don't stop the PVC!!!!

Thanks!

The corded leather grip is from a local craft store - its the soft leather cord for making necklaces with. I attached it by drilling 2 small holes - one at the base hidden a bit by the pommel and another hole on the back side of the saber (on picture 3 you can see where the cord goes into the body). :p

[Revan]

i'm not particularly a fan of PVC sabers, but this one is just so exceptionally well made i'm a little jealous! nice work man

[Lonewind]

Ok, I made it blue now and it looks better to me. :D
Check out the updated pics and video in the first post.

[Sairon]

Looks sick, me thinks it's your best pvc saber yet.