Post by tanzanlinnear on Nov 10, 2005 10:11:58 GMT -5
Plo, Tenric and Olos have all pretty much summed up everything with regards to online tutorials, referencing and materials 
The only thing I forgot to mention earlier, is weigh the costs (and time) of paying Random Sabers, or simply buying the materials and tools and making it yourself. Admitedly, for the higher price, you will get a professionally made saber, which will no doubt be better than one you've made yourself, (I'd acknowledge that even against my own saber, which I am extremely proud of) but, as Olos pointed out before, there's less of a feeling of pride, or personal achievement with a purchased saber. Once you have a design (and component list) finalized (which again, I'm more than willing to help you with) it shouldn't take you more than a month (depending on your free time) to make the saber yourself, even if you were to only do one thing per day, then put it down again
Believe it or not, the saber I made to resemble Master Windu's was probably the easiest one I've made. (Not a perfect copy, but it's clear who's saber it is based on
)
I used a single length of pipe for the body, a brass hose coupling as the emitter (superglued in place) windscreen wiper blades as the lower grip fins (ends were shaped with nail clippers) I bought a BMX grip, Cut it open down one side, and then cut it to form the shape for the upper grip and superglued it in place. I then wrapped (and glued) brass wire (in any craft shop for hanging paintings) in between the two grips. The end pommel was a small gas cartridge (from a puncture repair kit) that I forced into the tube, and then I used my dremel to drill the hole for the covertec clip. The activator was simply a piece of excess material from cutting the upper grip, which I painted with brass colored model paint and superglued in place. The only sawing I had to do was across the pipe to get the length correct
Ooh, pros and cons of PVC and Metal...
PVC
Pros: Cheap. Easy to work with.
Cons: Will never look like real metal, regardless of spray paint. Also, it is not as durable as metal, and the slightest nick in it will ruin the finish.
metal
Pros: Looks 'real'. Hard wearing. Keeps it's appearance.
Cons: Can be expensive. Harder to work than PVC (but more rewarding outcome)
The only thing I forgot to mention earlier, is weigh the costs (and time) of paying Random Sabers, or simply buying the materials and tools and making it yourself. Admitedly, for the higher price, you will get a professionally made saber, which will no doubt be better than one you've made yourself, (I'd acknowledge that even against my own saber, which I am extremely proud of) but, as Olos pointed out before, there's less of a feeling of pride, or personal achievement with a purchased saber. Once you have a design (and component list) finalized (which again, I'm more than willing to help you with) it shouldn't take you more than a month (depending on your free time) to make the saber yourself, even if you were to only do one thing per day, then put it down again Believe it or not, the saber I made to resemble Master Windu's was probably the easiest one I've made. (Not a perfect copy, but it's clear who's saber it is based on
)I used a single length of pipe for the body, a brass hose coupling as the emitter (superglued in place) windscreen wiper blades as the lower grip fins (ends were shaped with nail clippers) I bought a BMX grip, Cut it open down one side, and then cut it to form the shape for the upper grip and superglued it in place. I then wrapped (and glued) brass wire (in any craft shop for hanging paintings) in between the two grips. The end pommel was a small gas cartridge (from a puncture repair kit) that I forced into the tube, and then I used my dremel to drill the hole for the covertec clip. The activator was simply a piece of excess material from cutting the upper grip, which I painted with brass colored model paint and superglued in place. The only sawing I had to do was across the pipe to get the length correct
Ooh, pros and cons of PVC and Metal...
PVC
Pros: Cheap. Easy to work with.
Cons: Will never look like real metal, regardless of spray paint. Also, it is not as durable as metal, and the slightest nick in it will ruin the finish.
metal
Pros: Looks 'real'. Hard wearing. Keeps it's appearance.
Cons: Can be expensive. Harder to work than PVC (but more rewarding outcome)