RGB Star

[Roy's Blues]

I don't use mirror tips. Mylar is better.

[killphil]

What kind of run time do you get with that?

[Roy's Blues]

What kind of run time do you get with that?

I have not had to recharge it yet, and it gets activated everyday

[killphil]

I don't use mirror tips. Mylar is better.

What's the benefit of using mylar as oppossed to mirror tips?

I have only tried the tips sold here at TCSS and Ultra's tips.

I found that the tips here produce to much light at the top for a bulbing effect (no offense, Tim), while the Ultra tips produce a much more even transition from blade to tip.

[Kal El Rah]

He already answered that question..............................

[Jedi-Loreen]

Not in a specific way as to why he thinks it's better.

[killphil]

He already answered that question..............................

No he didn't. I wanted to know what specifically was the benefit to either. Read my post more closely.

[Kal El Rah]

Translucent Silver Mylar is a translucent material which will allow some light to pass through, like polyp does, reflective but transparent avoiding the lightbulb effect as a solid mirror can't do.

Hope that explains it better.

[killphil]

I guess what I was getting at: Are the tips sold here mirrored and the Ultra tips mylar? Because the differences are like you described.

The blades I make are about as even as possible. Just trying to make sure I'm using the best tip possible.

[Novastar]

In general... when saber folks are saying "mirrored tips"... they ARE indeed referring to the technique of using a semi-transparent reflective material for the tip.

It's true that SOME builders and designers use "extremely reflective" tip materials--in other words "full mirrors" that do not allow ANY light to pass through into the tip... but... most saber builders do not.

As a matter of note--it makes little difference which kind you use... as long as you DO use a mirror tip. I've tried "uber-reflective" ones and the more common "semi-reflective ones" (I use aluminum tape sometimes)... and I've never noted a significant difference unless you simply do NOT use one.

All the mirrors really do is cast back a portion of the light into the top 2-4 inches of the polycarb tube closest to (duh) the tip. It helps things be a bit more evenly lit. Without a mirror... the saber's last 4-5 inches usually looks "more dimly lit".

But again... it really only matters IF you use one.

In the case of VERY huge blades (i.e. 36" or > )... I would go as far as to say you should use the most reflective tip you can find, and forsake the "tip glow" of a semi-transparent mirror...

...but I don't know many people who consistently use 38" blades and expect evenly lit sabers. Well... without using a Lux V or something like that.