New Catagory for Sabers needed

[Solinbeb Newau]

That's why I was thinking about the two different custom assembled. Both would pretty much be hardware, but classified between material types. Seeing as you and I both did hardware sabers using vaccuum wands, they'd be in the custom assembled metal.


Though, that makes me wonder if ordered fabricated parts (Park Saber's kits) would be another classification...

[tanzanlinnear]

solinbeb said:

That's why I was thinking about the two different custom assembled. Both would pretty much be hardware, but classified between material types. Seeing as you and I both did hardware sabers using vaccuum wands, they'd be in the custom assembled metal.

Yes, that was pretty much my original idea for the new catagory, it would not refer so much to the parts used, but the manner in which they were used and the end result.

solinbeb said:

Though, that makes me wonder if ordered fabricated parts (Park Saber's kits) would be another classification...

I have to admit, I thought Parks Sabers were purchased as assembled pieces, so I'd always considered them machined sabers. If they are purchased in parts and assembled once they arrive, I'd still consider them machined sabers rather than replicas or custom assembled, as they can only be assembled in the one way, and the parts were manufactured by someone other than the Jedi who purchassed the saber (as with RandomSabers)

[Tobbok Nassias]

Okay TanzanLinnear, I guess I can see where you are coming from. How about this, rather than just a whole new catagory, we just fan out the realm of "Hardware," like: a. HW Basic (all parts retain thier recognizable shapes, but are fitted together to make a lightsaber). B. HW Advanced (some, but not all, parts have been modified giving a more personalized look) and C. HW 1st Class (all parts have been modified giving a completely custom look and feel). What do you think?

[tanzanlinnear]

heath said:

Okay TanzanLinnear, I guess I can see where you are coming from. How about this, rather than just a whole new catagory, we just fan out the realm of "Hardware," like: a. HW Basic (all parts retain thier recognizable shapes, but are fitted together to make a lightsaber). B. HW Advanced (some, but not all, parts have been modified giving a more personalized look) and C. HW 1st Class (all parts have been modified giving a completely custom look and feel). What do you think?

That's certainly one option, but I think that having a 'third' catagory might be clearer, as it would focus on the end result of the saber (not necessarily the parts used to make it) I have to admit, when I hear the term 'hardware saber', I tend to think of the lowest quality finish possible, not the best possible. Take Olos' saber for example: It was made 'hardware' style, but the end result is professional grade. The first metal saber I made was a combination of machined parts and hardware found parts, but as they were then assembled and finished by hand, that's how I would catagorize it...
I'm still curious to understand why you dislike machined sabers (Although I like some of the sabers made by RandomSabers, I think a Jedi should make their saber themself, not have it made, but that's a whole different debate )

[Primrodo]

Hardware refers being made from existing parts, not nessesarily made from parts FROM a plumming store...I don't think a third category is warrented...

have you seen Playskool2000's hardware Obi-Wan, Luke, Dooku and Maul?

Ie: mercury.walagata.com/w/rnags/lukesaber.jpg

[tanzanlinnear]

That's certainly a fantastic saber, I'd be interested to know what parts (purchased/machined or otherwise) were used in it's construction.

[Tobbok Nassias]

I don't like machined sabers for several reasons...first of all as you mentioned, I think a jedi should make his/her own with their own hands (not just draw a nice picture). Second, I think they are too sleek and flashy (most, not all) and that isn't what a jedi strives for (well there is Mace, but that is different). Third and most importantly, if feel it is a cop-out, one may say is is more"personalized" or "unique," but all they really do is (even if they do the machining themeselves) is put data into a computer for it reel out....instead if feel it is much more "personal" and "unique" to search for just the right parts and have the vison and skill to modify them to suit their needs in thier overall design. I do make an exception, and that is to the people who use their own manual lathe and hand tools to carve the metal...that is using true skill.

[tanzanlinnear]

That's fair enough, and I totally understand that feeling, part of the reason I'm not 100% in awe when someone says "I've got a new saber" posts a pic of a fantastic saber, and then says "RandomSabers made this for me..." as like you, I feel a Jedi should make their own saber themselves. The first metal saber I made was with a partially machined outer tube, but that was done with a milling machine which used manual handles to position the metal under the cutter. I think when someone actually makes a saber themself, there's not only more of a feeling of pride in the finished saber, but it truly is Your Saber.

[jedi12]

I agre with the fact that a jedi should make their own saber the way they want with they're own personal style but I don't think that we need a third catagory for it i the idea that tobbok had it sounds more fezable.

[Primrodo]

tanzanlinnear said:

That's certainly a fantastic saber, I'd be interested to know what parts (purchased/machined or otherwise) were used in it's construction.

Completely found parts. I think he said the upper grips were washers hes never posted tutorials though, but you should see his others!

[Solinbeb Newau]

tanzanlinnear said:

I have to admit, I thought Parks Sabers were purchased as assembled pieces, so I'd always considered them machined sabers. If they are purchased in parts and assembled once they arrive, I'd still consider them machined sabers rather than replicas or custom assembled, as they can only be assembled in the one way, and the parts were manufactured by someone other than the Jedi who purchassed the saber (as with RandomSabers)

Most of Park Sabers are machined, but I'd noticed on a few sites recently (Parks included - www.parksabers.com/kit.html ) that you can order saber parts so that you can assemble them yourself.

[jedidad]

If you step back and think for a moment. George Lucas created the first hardware sabers. They were all built with found parts (to many diffferent ones to mention here). So if I am reading all the posts correctly, you would consider the original Star Wars sabers as hardware also? I believe that if you want a seperate catagory for lets say the basic off the shelf hardware store sabers o.k. and one for lets say custom machined hilts and pommels. Less found or hardware parts but custom created pieces that are not available at the hardware store, then I believe that this might be taken under consideration by the moderator and site administrator. Just my 2 cents

8-)Jedidad

[Don Solo]

Jedidad, I think you hit a very good point here. The originals were hardware sabers (at least in my book).

I see it like this: you get two categories - Harware and Machined
• OT sabers were Hardware sabers
• PT sabers (for the most part) were Machined sabers

If there's a debate over which one is more accurate or "jedi-like" - then they both are. Jedi were supposed to make their own, and if they had the equipment available they'd probably have a machined style saber. If parts were harder to come by, you'd get more of the hardware feel. I love seeing well built hardware sabers, as well as well designed machined ones. Both are hard to get the look right.

[tanzanlinnear]

primrodo said:

tanzanlinnear said:

That's certainly a fantastic saber, I'd be interested to know what parts (purchased/machined or otherwise) were used in it's construction.

Completely found parts. I think he said the upper grips were washers hes never posted tutorials though, but you should see his others!

That's a shame, I'd be very interested to read how he achieved that effect for the grip (and what parts were in the neck of the saber) as I've seen the BYB tutorial for using washers to create that kind of grip profile, but it always leaves a 'joining mark' at the top of the ridge, the only think I can think is if he used a sliver of aluminum tape around the tips to mask a 'joining mark'. When I made the Obi-Wan/Luke-esque saber, I was lucky enough to find a piece of flexible hosing that was all one piece, and had the right profile

[tanzanlinnear]

jedidad said:

If you step back and think for a moment. George Lucas created the first hardware sabers. They were all built with found parts (to many diffferent ones to mention here). So if I am reading all the posts correctly, you would consider the original Star Wars sabers as hardware also? I believe that if you want a seperate catagory for lets say the basic off the shelf hardware store sabers o.k. and one for lets say custom machined hilts and pommels. Less found or hardware parts but custom created pieces that are not available at the hardware store, then I believe that this might be taken under consideration by the moderator and site administrator. Just my 2 cents

8-)Jedidad

I quite agree with your view of the original sabers and how they were constructed. The idea is was proposing was not necessarily to do with the parts used (other than them being purchassed) but the manner in which they were used, and the level of 'professionalism' in the finished saber, ie does it look like a professionally made saber, (regardless of what parts were used) or does it simply look like an assortment of plumbing parts lined up? There have been sabers posted (the one Justin has linked, for example) that have been made of 'hardware parts', but look like professionally made sabers, and I think they deserve a catagory of their own, rather than being lumped in with the other kind of hardware sabers, which have not been finished to such a professional standard, where the parts still look like off the shelf parts