Ral Miran Saber Hilt

[Ral Miran]

Right now I only have a very simple design for a hilt, and it still needs a little more. Here's the design:

It still needs an activation button of some sort, and maybe a better pommel end. If you have any suggestions on a good activation button, pommel, or anything else that would look good on the design, please share your ideas.

I'll post some pictures of the creation progress, and the finished product. I might not be able to start on it for a little while though.

[tanzanlinnear]

Before I make any suggestions, I've got to say, that is a seriously nice design Really elegant and understated, definitely the saber a member of the Jedi Council would wield (I'd suggest a purple blade, as well) But, as you asked for suggestions as well, I'd recommend extending the length by about 2 inches to allow a fourth series of grip rings, and moving the covertec clip to the other side of the saber (in the silver segment in the middle of the grips so it sits in the well of your palm when held) For an activator, I'd use a 7 digit LED display with the square edges filed down to so only the raised segments remain (oval) This should be inset 2-5 mm into the body of the saber (directly in line with the covertec clip (and at a height that it can be reached with the upraised thumb of your lower grip I think the brass emmiter shroud should be the back edge of the saber rather than the front (and definitely use brass, as bronze is way too soft) For an end pommel, maybe a small faucet tap like Obi-Wan's ROTS/ANH saber. (sometimes sold as part of a Self-Cutting Tap) I can't wait to see the finished design

[Xorren Hedrasii]

I love it. I like the simple design, elegant yet simple. I think you should use a red knureled knob as the activator. In my personal opinion you should use a D-ring system...if you can keep it from rattling around. But it is your saber, and im my opinion a saber should be an extention of your personality. Oh, green blade!

[Ral Miran]

Thanks for the compliment! I wanted a sleek, rather elegant design, and I'm glad I got that message through with the hilt. Also, I was planning on having a purple blade, as blue or green just didn't look right with the hilt. Adding the faucet tap pommel, extra set of o-rings, and moving the clip will be easy to incorporate into the design, but since this is only my second saber (and the one I plan to use as my own), how would I go about insetting the LED display into the body? And did you mean use brass for the small prong below the large one that's already brass and make the large one silver? I think your ideas for it sound great, and look great (in my mind, that is). I just wanted to clear that up, so I can make another concept design with your ideas.

[Ral Miran]

Jedi Wannabe, thanks for your compliment as well. I was thinking about using a d-ring, but I'm not sure it goes with my sleeker PT design. Might still happen though, as I'm going to work hard on the concepts before I go into making it. Thanks for the activator switch idea, but I'm not a big fan of knurled nuts, as I used it on my first saber, and I just don't like th look of it. Thanks again though!

[tanzanlinnear]

You're more than welcome, it's a fantastic design, certainly one to be proud of, and one that will do doubt look amazing when constructed For insetting the LED, I'd suggest using a dremel (or other non-brandname equivelent ) to very carefully outline the area and cut a few mm into the body with either the edge of a cutting disk or an etching tool. I think the brass section should remain as it is, (with the smaller section still silver) but I think that should become the back edge of the saber rather than the front

[Ral Miran]

Well, what I was planning to use was just a hollow drain pipe, so if I cut even just a little into it, it will become a hole in the saber and I'll need to put some thinner pipe into the metal one so the LED can be inset. And sorry if I'm aggrevating you or anything, but I still am not quite sure what you are suggesting for the brass emitter. Sorry. Maybe because I'm more of a visual learner or something.

[Xorren Hedrasii]

No problem, and since the knurled button doesn't fit your fancy, I suggest you look into another button type, I really like the button activator (if you can't tell). Since I'm kinda new to saber building I just used a Hex Bolt that i polished with a dremmel w/ sanding wheel. Check it out. photobucket.com/albums/b239/jeditross/

[tanzanlinnear]

chrisstar said:

Well, what I was planning to use was just a hollow drain pipe, so if I cut even just a little into it, it will become a hole in the saber and I'll need to put some thinner pipe into the metal one so the LED can be inset. And sorry if I'm aggrevating you or anything, but I still am not quite sure what you are suggesting for the brass emitter. Sorry. Maybe because I'm more of a visual learner or something.

Ahh, if the material is quite thin, then probably best to just cut clean through it and use something inside if for the LED to inset against... When I make my sabers, I tend to use mountain bike saddle posts, which are about 3-4 mm thick, so they would be able to tolerate a section being removed Not aggrevating at all I think I should have said the brass emitter shroud... The silver piece is clearly the emitter, and the brass section then wraps around the body of the saber and extends over the tip of the emitter... I only make mention of it because with the covertec clip where it is, it would make the brass section the front of the saber, but I think that it should definitely be the back section, or, imagine your diagram with the top being the back of the saber, the bottom of the diagram being the front I hope that's a bit more helpfull

[Ral Miran]

Jedi Wannabe, I really like your saber. The emitter is very cool, and the grip is also very nice, TPM Obi-Wan-esque. I might use an activator button for another saber (one that, oddly enough, I already have planned in my mind. I'm just bursting with saber designs right now. Too bad there's only one of me.)

I feel quite dumb now, but now I know what you were talking about Tanzan. I'll make another concept design tonight and post it.

[Xorren Hedrasii]

thanks, and good luck

[tanzanlinnear]

Don't feel stupid, I probably could have been a little clearer in my explanation/description of the part I can't wait to see the new concept drawing, I'm sure it'll be fantastic

[Ral Miran]

Thanks for the encouragment! Here's two revised concept designs:
With Covertech Clip:


With D-Ring:


I'm leaning more towards the D-Ring right now. And I still might have a purple blade, because I like the look of the purple with the brassy color. But it still depends on what the finished products looks like.

[tanzanlinnear]

Those are both looking great But... The LED really wants to be on the same side as the covertec (or D-Ring;)) and the brass emitter shroud. As it is now, you wouldn't be able to activate it immediately upon drawing it, you'd have to rotate it in your hand... When you draw a saber with a covertec clip, it automatically rests in your hand so the clip is in the well of your palm. That minor detail asside, they both look fantastic, I definitely think the additional grip rings were needed, it now looks to be the prefect length

[Ral Miran]

Done! Here they are:
Covertech:


D-Ring: