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rohgan
05-01-2006, 01:56 PM
This is just an idea I had a long time ago, in a shower far, far away. I'd been thinking how cool it would be to put on a Star Wars production in school (purely hypothetically) and I was trying to figure out how to make lightsabers work (this was long before I knew about polycarbonate blades and modular hilt systems).

Anyway, the first thing I considered was using a paint that glowed under UV lighting, so that if a weak one was shone on the stage, the sabers might light up, even if not much, and even if you'd only really get Windu purple (you'll be realising about now why this stayed as a pipe dream). It would, however, allow the use of strong metal blades that could be used for duelling (again, I didn't know about the wonders of polycarb at this point).

Then I thought, how could you get the cool sparks that fly when the sabers clash or strike something (especially evident in the video game Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast). This was obvious: use some sort of ignition compound, in powder form, that would spark when struck. I was thinking of some kind of gunpowder derivative, maybe, I'm sure I've heard of/seen something like it, that acts like a sparkler when it's bashed.

Anyhow, to get to the point after half an hour's worth of reading, I was wondering if this would be possible with EL/LED blades; that is, to use a compound that would spark on impact? It'd have to be recoated after every duel, I'll grant, probably would be opaque, and would likely leave some horrible residue on the blade afterwards, and that's without even thinking about getting the damn stuff to stick to the blade, if the damn stuff even exists.

I guess I could have saved a lot of pixels by just asking: "Is this idea feasible at all? And is there any point to it?" I'll repeat myself and say that this is purely an idea I had, and not something I've researched or thought about more than that one time when I was in the shower.

xwingband
05-01-2006, 02:18 PM
Sparks?!?![:0] I see much [B)] coming out of that idea.

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Firebird21
05-01-2006, 02:39 PM
xwing, you should leave the smileys to the expert.

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DARTHMONKEY1706
05-01-2006, 02:54 PM
can you say bad idea. nothing good ever comes of black powder

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rohgan
05-01-2006, 02:55 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by xwingband

Sparks?!?![:0] I see much [B)] coming out of that idea.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Only little ones, that sure as hell won't catch on any long cotton/wool jedi robes... Oh dear. Might be worth forgetting it, then.

WeirdoTransvestite
05-01-2006, 08:07 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DARTHMONKEY1706

can you say bad idea. nothing good ever comes of black powder
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

My deceased eyebrows can attest to that. What I'd worry about more is the loud clacking sound of the two blades meeting. Kinda takes you out of the action when your lightsabers sound more like Kendo sticks.

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LAN-ED-TUL
05-02-2006, 05:28 AM
as smokey would say, only YOU, can prevent saber forest fires!




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Do-Clo
05-02-2006, 07:40 AM
Yon know the name, old sparky, comes to mind[:D]

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

WeirdoTransvestite
05-02-2006, 10:37 AM
bZZZt!

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Do-Clo
05-02-2006, 10:51 AM
Just like a bug zapper.[:D]

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

james3
05-02-2006, 10:53 AM
You know, watching the bugs fly into those things just never gets old[}:)]

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WeirdoTransvestite
05-02-2006, 11:26 AM
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Do-Clo
05-02-2006, 11:49 AM
The zapp sound that they make it really cool, and when you hear it you know that that another one has bit the dust.[:D]

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...

WeirdoTransvestite
05-02-2006, 12:29 PM
You mean that another one is dust.

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james3
05-02-2006, 12:35 PM
yea, but what about the big ones that just sit there and cook for 30-45 seconds.

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WeirdoTransvestite
05-02-2006, 12:51 PM
What about 'em? Better than prime time.

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james3
05-02-2006, 12:56 PM
That's right. umm hmm.



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LAN-ED-TUL
05-02-2006, 03:24 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Do-Clo

The zapp sound that they make it really cool, and when you hear it you know that that another one has bit the dust.[:D]

Do-Clo
Brotherhood of the Sith

Don't make me destroy you...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

specially when a BIG one gets in there, zap sounds for a long time. zzzzzzzzzzzsssssstttttttttzzzaaap




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wood7588
05-03-2006, 01:23 AM
I work in theatre. I worked a production once that had a bug zapper as a prop. This was in an outdoor ampitheatre during the peak of the summer. At the end of every night we had to have not one but two people sweep the stage to get rid of the fried bugs. The thing did not go zap...zap....zap. It was more like a constant zzzzzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppp for about 20 min.

UltraSWG
05-03-2006, 02:27 AM
The old Darth Maul Hasbro saber has a cool saber spark effect. It had a flash bulb that would flash inside each blade everytime you hit something. I imagine a similar setup could work for Luxeon sabers.

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informalmyx
05-03-2006, 04:49 AM
lol dont think about how to make sparks work on the idea of making a working LSaber [:D]

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Rod-Wan
05-23-2006, 11:10 PM
Yeah, uhh the closest you'll get to "real" sparks are basically going to put you in jepordy of getting it in the eye. So probably not a good venture IMO.

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GFORCE13
05-24-2006, 12:55 AM
Yeah I have to agree, it is an interesting Idea but the dangers out weight the fun.[:)]

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Do-Clo
05-24-2006, 09:05 AM
There you guys go getting all safe, where is the fun in that?????[:D]

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james3
05-24-2006, 09:09 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one who was thinkin' that[;)]

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Do-Clo
05-24-2006, 09:25 AM
As a kid we used to use an old car hood for a bob sled, I would love to see the safty experts report on that one[:p]

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Rod-Wan
05-24-2006, 10:39 AM
Leave it to the Sith not to consider theirs and other peoples safety [:p]
Jokes aside, no I think (and I can only speak for myself) that I'm dangerous enough as it is. You guys don't want to put sabre's with red hot projectiles in my hands, because I'm guessing it wouldn't be me getting hurt.

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james3
05-24-2006, 11:47 AM
Oh good lord!

Between you and Noob we are starting to sound like a bunch of wrestlers up in here.[:p]

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Do-Clo
05-24-2006, 12:12 PM
I grew up in a time when there was no great fear about safety because if you got cut, momma would tape it up and back out you would go, you didn't run to the doctor when you had a runny nose, it was all part of growing up it made you tough. I sort of feel bad for you young guys you missed out on a lot of great fun because now someone said you might get hurt and you can't do that, just like watching the three stooges would make you grow up twisted, please.[:(]

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<center><font color="red"><font size="4"><font face="Comic Sans MS">Darth Technous Sith Lord</font id="Comic Sans MS"></font id="size4"></font id="red"></center>
<center><font color="red"><font size="4"><font face="Comic Sans MS">Give yourself to the Dark Side</font id="Comic Sans MS"></font id="size4"></font id="red"></center>

james3
05-24-2006, 12:19 PM
Do-Clo as you know I'm on the tail end of that type of upbringin'.

I still hate it that they edited all of the Warner Brothers cartoons so they are PC and a little less violent.

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Do-Clo
05-24-2006, 12:35 PM
Well James it looks like our job is done here the topic is totaly derailed.[:p]

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james3
05-24-2006, 12:43 PM
Now that's what I'm talkin' bout!

Firebird sir! James3 standing by!


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Rod-Wan
05-24-2006, 07:37 PM
I never thought I would be defending my reckless youth but I'm from that same style of up bringing as well, the differance is that I have seen someone get stabbed in the eye due to improporly blocking a jab attack *I was witnessing this so don't blame me* the guy blocked the sabre into his face. So I know how serious this subject is, sparks sound awesome, but you'd have to beable to control where they are going. If I am swinging my blade for an upper body attack the sparks are going to shower into your face, so previded safety measures are taken then I suppose... I think it sounds cool as all get out, but it doesn't sound safe with out goggles. "Real" sabre's would only spark when in contact with an object so if you were true to that perameter I don't see a huge problem provided it's a small portion of sparks. {/rant}

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DACOTA
06-03-2006, 10:21 AM
rohgan just do cgi special effects it would be much safer unless of course its a live stage show then i dont know just forget about it.

this isnt for sparks but dont mix muriatic acid and tin foil its not good but it does go BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


[EDIT]the reason for mentioning the acid is my friend was not too smart for doing this and its a good thing he did not get hurt whether your young or old do not do this it can be very fatal.this is acid that can instantly burn your eyes,and then youll be blind,also it produces a vapor which is harmful if breathed,this is not a toy it is a dangerous chemical which should not be played with.just thought i should clarify.



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987654321a
06-03-2006, 10:33 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DARTHMONKEY1706

can you say bad idea. nothing good ever comes of black powder

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<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I can make Black powder...[}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][B)]

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WeirdoTransvestite
06-04-2006, 08:13 AM
That doesn't mean anything good will come of it. I wouldn't try, it can be very dangerous to make your own Black Powder.

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987654321a
06-04-2006, 10:17 AM
ive made like 1 ounce of the stuff, and when u light it, its already like fireworks

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