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Post by Jaren Valnor on Aug 28, 2004 14:22:42 GMT -5
I have finished designing my first lightsaber. It is totally hollow, which is good for inserting an acrylic blade. How can I secure it so it doesn't pivot or fly, and what kind of LED should I use to light it and how much would that cost me?
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Post by Tobbok Nassias on Aug 28, 2004 23:13:20 GMT -5
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Don Solo
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Post by Don Solo on Aug 29, 2004 3:19:15 GMT -5
if only there was a way to limit the legnth of that laser, that'd make the best faux blade ever! but as for the topic at hand... I have nothing useful to add  |
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Post by Syn-Kai-Jinn on Aug 29, 2004 20:10:14 GMT -5
If you use the laser to light the acrylic blade like fiber optic. Would that limit the length of the laser by disfusing it in the acrylic?
just an idea
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Post by Tobbok Nassias on Aug 29, 2004 23:58:46 GMT -5
Yes, the acrylic blade would definatly diffuse the light, and if a mirror finish were added to the end of the blade and around the base of the diode you could increase visability significantly.  |
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Post by Jaren Valnor on Jan 10, 2005 17:44:05 GMT -5
OK, now I have an idea for what kind of blade I want to use. How would I go about getting an extremely white dowel inside a green acrylic blade, and still make it so the acrylic wouldn't shatter in a duel? Also, would I be able to duel against an acrylic or EL blade with a $5.99 cheap, non-lit Hasbro saber?
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Jan 10, 2005 18:10:43 GMT -5
Well you'd have to drill a really long hole. How? With a really long drill. Other than that, I have no clue. But I can say that I'm sure it would mess with the strength of the acrylic. Any cut you make will weaken the blade... basic engineering. You're better off finding a hollow green tube... does polycarbonate tubing come in green, anyone? I'm not sure, I haven't seen it anywhere.
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Jan 10, 2005 22:49:23 GMT -5
I've been looking into this and someone postest instructions on how they make their EL lightsaber blades on the FanForce forum. The thread is on the Costuming forum. I don't see anything about reposting, but here are a few highlights.
They get their clear plastic polycabonate tubing at usplastic.com (just search for ploycarbonate tubing) -- 40" long, 3/4 in outer diameter (OD), 5/8" inner diameter (ID). They get their polyethelene tubing, 39" long, 1/2" OD, 3/8" ID (to be used as a diffuser on the inside of the clear tube) at mcmaster.com. And two short, 5/8" OD and 1/2" ID polypropylene tubes to use as end pieces from mcmaster.com. The prices are reasonable, though I don't know how much extra it is with postage and the usplastic looks like it has a minimum length purchase of 25 ft. Reasonably priced here means less than $1 a foot or a lot less than $1 per foot.
He gets his electroluminescent wire (EL) from either coolneon.com or coolight.com. If this stuff looks half as good as it does in the pictures on the web pages it's clear that it would make superior light saber blades. There are sundry wiring and soldering and battery parts and instructions that I have not digested, but I'm half tempted to try it, though it's unlikely that I'd have the time to do it before CIII.
About lightsabers in general......I've seen lots of references to dueling, but I wonder what venues there would be for dueling in the midst of a huge mass of Star Wars fans at CIII without causing problems? I don't have a blade for my lightsaber and I haven't put it very high on my priority list because of a lack of opportunities to use it. But it does sound like fun.
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Jan 11, 2005 8:43:59 GMT -5
About lightsabers in general......I've seen lots of references to dueling, but I wonder what venues there would be for dueling in the midst of a huge mass of Star Wars fans at CIII without causing problems? I don't have a blade for my lightsaber and I haven't put it very high on my priority list because of a lack of opportunities to use it. But it does sound like fun. LOL! Are you listening Vader? Now there's a good way to carry out the Jedi purge! I can see it... put all the Jedi in a room and let them whack each other silly! You know... like a few smashed hands, some knocked out teeth, a severed limb or two... and we can have the ones without blades stand on the sidelines and throw marshmallows! Yes that would really be fun... my adrenalin is kickin just thinking about it... |
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Laryn
Message Board Member
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Post by Laryn on Jan 11, 2005 17:11:20 GMT -5
LOL! Are you listening Vader? Now there's a good way to carry out the Jedi purge! I can see it... put all the Jedi in a room and let them whack each other silly! You know... like a few smashed hands, some knocked out teeth, a severed limb or two... and we can have the ones without blades stand on the sidelines and throw marshmallows! Yes that would really be fun... my adrenalin is kickin just thinking about it... LOL ;D |
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Jan 12, 2005 19:33:32 GMT -5
That's what must have happened! The Jedi wiped each other out with a lot of pointless dueling. And an inability to handle food fights.
CAN you toast marshmellows with a lightsaber? I suppose it would be possible, but only a Jedi Master could handle s'mores.
And while I'm all but sure (but I don't really know) that there won't be any good places for lightsaber antics at CIII, I'm still sorely tempted by the Lightech EL blades and an adaptor for my Heiland. Of course, the fact that it won't fit in my suitcase and the duanting prospect of getting a lightsaber blade through airport security dumps a cold bucket of reality on that idea.
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Post by Jaren Valnor on Jan 12, 2005 20:08:42 GMT -5
Hey, there will be the PERFECT place for lightsaber dueling: THE SWKIDS ROOM! Not only will the kids be knocked cold with awe, half of the ballroom is set off for just that: DUELING! They got the cheap plastic sabers in one corner, so the kids could take on the "real" Jedi!
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Jan 12, 2005 21:34:30 GMT -5
Hey, there will be the PERFECT place for lightsaber dueling: THE SWKIDS ROOM! Not only will the kids be knocked cold with awe, half of the ballroom is set off for just that: DUELING! They got the cheap plastic sabers in one corner, so the kids could take on the "real" Jedi! Is that "knocked cold" or "knocked out cold"?  |
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Jan 12, 2005 21:41:31 GMT -5
That's what must have happened! The Jedi wiped each other out with a lot of pointless dueling. And an inability to handle food fights. CAN you toast marshmellows with a lightsaber? I suppose it would be possible, but only a Jedi Master could handle s'mores. And while I'm all but sure (but I don't really know) that there won't be any good places for lightsaber antics at CIII, I'm still sorely tempted by the Lightech EL blades and an adaptor for my Heiland. Of course, the fact that it won't fit in my suitcase and the duanting prospect of getting a lightsaber blade through airport security dumps a cold bucket of reality on that idea. Well since I've decided to drive... all the duelin sabers are coming with me. that's 3 el's and I'm going to dig up the old plastic blade for the saber I wear. So Ani I'm sure we can unofficially meet up and have an unofficial duel! Wouldn't be a Star Wars Con without it! And smores? Well we'll have to use white chocolate since we're lightside Jedi... none of the dark stuff... and I'll remember to bring the handy dandy slice and dice ginsu lightsaber! melts marshmallows, chops chocolate and cuts crackers all in one nice neat stroke! ;D |
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