SATOR - MHS based, CF7.5 + CEx

Hi! :)

This is Sator (that's Latin an means 'father' or 'progenitor'), my first saber. I already posted a gallery thread over at the Fx-Sabers forum, so if you saw it there - sorry, nothing new to see here... :D
It's part of a father and son set. My son's saber is called 'Filius' and I posted it here in the thread 'interim saber for my son'. Filius was finished first, but Sator is my first project.

On to the specs:

SATOR

- MHS main body with modified slotted double male as crystal chamber and custom pommel insert
- dual layer shroud with 17 seperate pieces and custom blade retention mechanism
- CF 7.5 with CEex and additional PEx
- CREE XM-L RGBW (white for FoC)
- 7.4V 18650 Li-ion stick pack
- hidden R.I.C.E and recharge port
- custom control box (3 parts)
- PLI and custom activation switch in control box
- custom AUX switch
- custom main power switch in pommel
- custom RGB crystal chamber 'Slothfurnace-style' with natural quartz crystal
- custom chassis
- 36 inch dual diffused, thin walled blade
- 2W bass speaker (reverse sound through crystal chamber)

Here are some pics and a little video:

Attachment 15486
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Higher resolution:

http://imageshack.com/a/img924/6940/9eNFxv.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img923/8373/UESRbF.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img924/7885/TBkATz.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img923/8823/QoXiuK.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img922/9806/BBo7Wz.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img924/5926/J6h14a.jpg

Video:

IMG_0715 on Vimeo

By the Force! This is your FIRST build? I'm crazy impressed with your shroud work. I'm going to be starting my first custom build myself soon. I thought I was being over-ambitious with my shroud and stuff, since all I'll have available is a rotary tool. How in the galaxy did you get such an awesome shroud done? What tools did you use?

That shroudwork is awesome. I'm guessing it wasn't done by hand with a dremel?

Very nice! Unique and original, yet very faithful to the style of the movies (especially Prequels). Excellent work.

That's totally killer. The metalwork is fabulous.

Thanx for your comments! :)
I just used a drill press, a Dremel, an angle grinder and several hand tools. If anyone's interested- this is a link to a more detailed thread on the Fx-Sabers forum about both Sator and Filius: https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=49753.0 (hope it's OK to post it here) Not exactly a build thread, but some steps and pics of parts...

Holy crap, that was done with a dremel? Would love to hear more about how you did that and the dremel attachments you used.

Congratulations on an unbelievable first build. The attention to detail is amazing, as well as the overall functionality of the saber itself. Can't wait to see what your future builds will look like. Again, great work!

Love the old school elements encased with high-tech veneer. This is how everyone's first build should be imo. Who knows when you'll be able to make another, jump into the deep end and throw everything at it you can.

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Originally Posted by gerrylum

Holy crap, that was done with a dremel? Would love to hear more about how you did that and the dremel attachments you used.

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I used mostly cutting wheels (fibre enhanced), those cylindrical sandpaper attachments (not sure, how they're called), polishing wheels and Wolfram carbide bits. Those cut like hell, into aluminum at least as well as into my hand. And the tiny aluminum slivers they create are really vicious... :D But most of the work was done with hand files, sand paper and a lot of elbow grease...

holy crap dude, you do amazing work!

Beautiful lightsaber! Excellent fit and finish, very professional...

Amazing.

Well looks like someone might have a new hobby/career as a sabersmith.
Damn fine looking blade you made. Totally jealous. Lol

This is one fine looking hilt.

Excellent work on that

I saw this last night on FX-Sabers, and even with the parts break down pic, I'm still like.... Whhhhhhhhaaaaaaatttttttttttt?

STELLAR WORK Derro!!! I love your drawings too!

I ordered my first round of MHS parts this afternoon, you'd given me a great deal of inspiration with your amazing SATOR hilt, not enough to make me go all full custom like you did, ;) but more than enough to make me want a working lightsaber ASAP and order the parts to screw one together!

I'm looking forward to seeing you top yourself with your next lightsaber creation!

Wow! Thank you all so much for your praise! My day didn't start too well, but now I'm feeling better... :grin:

@Ridire Fíréan To inspire someone (or having ideas copied by someone else) is the best possible compliment. Thanks!

I'm a little jealous that's one heck of a first build. Very nice work.

Amazing first saber!

Thanks again for all your nice comments! I really appreciate it! :)

Holy crap! I'm not worthy. Really nice.

Already posted on FX but this little beauty deserves more praise. I've been hoping to see more of this one since you teased us a while back. The shroud plate work is just impeccable. The PLI looks perfect mounted in the switch box. The belt ring is a nice touch. Oh, and it shiny :D This saber is beautifully designed and realised, with just the slightest nod to Starkiller. Excellent craftsmanship sir.
I will try hard not to steal design elements. ;)

Greenie:mrgreen:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Greenie

Already posted on FX but this little beauty deserves more praise. I've been hoping to see more of this one since you teased us a while back. The shroud plate work is just impeccable. The PLI looks perfect mounted in the switch box. The belt ring is a nice touch. Oh, and it shiny :D This saber is beautifully designed and realised, with just the slightest nod to Starkiller. Excellent craftsmanship sir.
I will try hard not to steal design elements. ;)

Greenie:mrgreen:

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Well, Greenie, I really love your builds - especially the cores - so I would definitely not mind to see some similarities to Sator in one of your sabers. Feel free to 'steal' whatever you want... ;)

Where did you get the PLI? I have wanted one for a while now and they are never for sale and I guess it is like fight club, no one ever talks about it or responds to my questions.

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Originally Posted by Mike1114

Where did you get the PLI?(...) no one ever talks about it or responds to my questions.

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I have one sitting in a padded envelope in my desk drawer. I purchased it at least ten years ago, when it was "Corbin's Saber Shop." I was always puzzled who Corbin was.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike1114

Where did you get the PLI? I have wanted one for a while now and they are never for sale and I guess it is like fight club, no one ever talks about it or responds to my questions.

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Is this any good to you? http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/PL...ator-P267.aspx. But they are currently out of stock :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike1114

Where did you get the PLI? I have wanted one for a while now and they are never for sale and I guess it is like fight club, no one ever talks about it or responds to my questions.

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I managed to get one more than a year ago. But they've been frequently out of stock then, too.

Thanks. I'll keep watching. I wish I could figure out where TCSS gets them and just go direct.

Restocks are generally posted on the TCSS Facebook page.

Your saber design is quite inspirational. I hope I am not asking for any trade secrets but was hoping you could tell me what the dark silver/black flexible tube thing is in your crystal chamber. I have been looking for that for a while and can't seem to find anything that small and that is just what I have been looking for.
Attachment 15473

Thanks in advance.

Looks like a spring to me. You can either find/scavenge one from somewhere, or you can wind some relatively stiff wire around a thin metal rod and make your own.

Back in my Warhammer 40k days, I used to use guitar strings to achieve a similar effect.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMAG0116.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk5gVMRxtz...tar+string.JPG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rampant

Your saber design is quite inspirational. I hope I am not asking for any trade secrets but was hoping you could tell me what the dark silver/black flexible tube thing is in your crystal chamber. I have been looking for that for a while and can't seem to find anything that small and that is just what I have been looking for.
Attachment 15473

Thanks in advance.

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Thank you! :)
It's as Silver Serpent said - those are steel pull springs, aged by dipping them into acid. The ones used for the crystal chamber have an outer diameter of 3mm and an ID of 2mm. The AUX switch wires run through them.
Attachment 15478

Thanks everyone for pointing me in the right direction. I always thought of springs as being way too loose, so I never knew/thought of pull springs.

Back when Sator was a build log, i had asked him the same question.
I used similar springs in a saber i did called Merciless, which is here in the gallery somewhere.
Fantastic idea, then and now :)
Again, fine work on Sator. It's gorgeous.
Darkmatter73

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkmatter73

Back when Sator was a build log, i had asked him the same question.
I used similar springs in a saber i did called Merciless, which is here in the gallery somewhere.
Fantastic idea, then and now :)
Again, fine work on Sator. It's gorgeous.
Darkmatter73

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Thanks again! But don't just hint on it - here's the link... ;) http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com...ight=Merciless

Outstanding work. The level of detail and use of layering really makes this saber.

Best I've seen in awhile.

-Denzil

Really like this, super clean work with a unique yet still classic look. Bravo sir

Pretty amazing build.... very clean!