Custom Hilts

[vadeblade]

Altough a mini-lathe could be an expensive purchase to some (e.g. me) it really is not an unreasonable amount. For an investment of about $500 (brand new - less if you buy used) you will have everything you will need to turn aluminum into hilts.

If you really think about it how much do people usually spend on a new hobby; RC cars $$, RC planes $$$, windsurfing $$$$, skiing $$$$, hunting $$$$, scuba $$$$.

I took the plunge and purchased a mini-lathe. My whole shop took up the space of a standard office desk. I made a bunch of hilts and sold them on ebay. I made a (very) small profit. I then turned around and sold the lathe for almost the same price I purchased it for. And the time I spent on the tool was very rewarding for my creative, artistic side (especially when I thnk there's a bunch of my hilts sitting on some display stand in someones' den or living room all over USA). Now, how many hobbies can claim that?

Places to get info on mini-lathes:
http://littlemachineshop.com/Info/minilathe.php
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7x12minilathe/

Cheers,
-V

Lightsaber Warning Label: "CAUTION: Do NOT attempt to sharpen blade."

http://www.geocities.com/projectstm/lightsaber.html

[Strydur]

You will spend twice as much on tooling for the lathe as you will on the lathe itself. Dont be fooled into thinking it comes with everything you need.

Tim
The Custom Saber Shop

[vadeblade]

Yeah, I almost spent twice. The lathe cost me $399. After, buying some carbide tools, dial callipers, dial indicators, other measuring devices and a drill press, I put in just about $550. For someone doing it as a hobby, not everything has to be purchased all at once. I think the dial indicator and the carbide bits are the essential pieces. Everything else can be acquired over time.

-V

edit: a new mini-lathe can be purchased for as low as $299. Most mini-lathes are made by the same company in China and then branded differently by multiple distributors in the US.

Lightsaber Warning Label: "CAUTION: Do NOT attempt to sharpen blade."

http://www.geocities.com/projectstm/lightsaber.html

[supertrogdor]

when purchasing your aluminum, do you order rods and machine them down, or does it come in less manageable square-ish chunks?
just curious

[vadeblade]

I purchase from http://onlinemetals.com/
They sell in large and small quantities.

Lightsaber Warning Label: "CAUTION: Do NOT attempt to sharpen blade."

http://www.geocities.com/projectstm/lightsaber.html

[Strydur]

when you buy from onlinemetals use the link in my links section. You pay the same price but you also help support me[]

Tim
The Custom Saber Shop

[tetmatek]

I am setting up my Lathe/Mill now. I have $2000 in it so far and i just mounted the stand about an hour ago. Tim isn't joking about the tools. My lathe came with just that; the lathe. You'll need vises,turning tables, live center, whoa let me stop it keeps adding up. My lathe will handle a 36" piece up to 10" round. So just gettin goin is quite an undertaking. Fortunatly a couple of freinds have kicked a few goodies to me to help (ols dial calipers and cutters and run out gauge) since they have been doing machining for a while they got several duplicate tools. Man LAn i have not seen my vader yet he said maybe a week so i got my fingers crossed. I am going to round up some help to pick up this monster (655lb) so I'll be back later if i can move LOL

[Melek Taus]

How do you hollow out the hilt? With a drill press? How do you do the threading, inner and outer? I am an idiot when it comes to lathes and such.

I might want to buy one myself. I love making stuff. Something about putting a bit of you into it.

Thanks
Melek

There is no light or dark...there is only the Force....knowing this...who dares to challenge me?