Lightsaber Thread? Lightsaber Thread!

[Shinchu]

I am sure there was somebody else here in a thread i cant find who was talking about going full nerd and buying a custom lightsaber.

this is a huge hobby/culture, not very different from RC crawling as far as depth and niche following. average cost of a saber can be anywhere from a $200 "grab bag saber" from ultrasabers.com, or a full on custom scratch build from any number of "saber smiths" around the globe costing upwards of $2,000.
they have lights, sounds, motion sensitivity, and even recently have started using NeoPixel LEDs to really come alive.

i have had quite a few, and just like RC and tattoos, you can never just get "one".

i started building home depot sabers (non functional) back in 2003. soon after that i started adding electronics and sounds from gutted toy sabers and putting them in aluminum hilts from thecustomsabershop.com and around the same time bought a couple of FX Sabers from Master Replicas (now gone but carried over to Hasbro "signature series" and now called "black series").

****Pics will be added later when i unpack my sabers, as i have very recently moved****


*not my saber but its the same thing

right now i have a vintage Graflex flash tube (same thing luke's original saber was made from in 1977) and is converted to '77 ANH specs with repro parts from the graflex shop, blastech, and the custom saber shop. it is ready for electronics but i don't trust myself to do the the installation on a vintage piece (i got mine back in 2013 for $250, but since that saber has boomed in popularity due to its return in TFA, they go for a cool grand. yes, a $1,000 flash tube.)

i have a cheaper, less accurate version made by a guy who calls himself Korbanth. he's been around for years and his sabers are also sold on the parksabers.com website. his version of the graflex (dubbed the "graflex 2.0") is $200 and ready for electronics, and comes with parts to build one saber configured in either ANH, ESB, or TFA style.
mine is configured in TFA style and waiting for electronics (and some parts to enhance screen accuracy).
*not mine but same thing

my only fully functional saber as of right now, is my Luke ROTJ saber. yup, the green one!
this is a custom build done by a sabersmith named LDM. he started with a very old Korbanth LS6 (not very accurate, looking more like a v2 stunt than a Hero) and he machined the heck out of it, adding parts and re-powder coating, added my soundboard and electronics, and its now the worlds most accurate, awesome korbanth LS6 Hero saber in the world. i don't think its ever been done, honestly. it rivals LDM's own $1,300 custom made Hero sabers, and mine cost only $800 after all the work.
its my "go to" saber even though its out-dated tech now. but its always the one hanging from my belt at events and it went with me to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015. (where i scratched it sitting on concrete bench, but wear the scar proudly)
it will go with me to The Last Jedi tomorrow night, if theater rules allow.
*again, not mine... place holder

i have a few more that i started but doubt i will finish.
TFU (the xbox game) "Starkiller" its not great quality but it lights up. no sound.
Mara Jade hand built by yours truly with parts from the custom saber shop
full custom built as if i were a jedi, "my saber" from the custom saber shop

so that's it as of now. i plan to get a few more. one I'm trying to get is luke's v2 from ROTJ (used in stunt scenes, actually repainted version of alec guinness' saber from ANH) and i need a vader saber of some sort.
i still haven't decided if i want a kylo ren saber or not. i like it, just not sure i would like a replica that doesn't spit and crackle like the screen version.

so does anyone else collect/build/customize lightsabers?
even if you don't, what are your favorites?

and i will leave you with a list of sources to start on your own saber journey, if you decide to do so:
The Custom Saber Shop
Parks Sabers
www.saberforge.com
fxsabers.com (forums, I'm there as Katarn)
thegraflexshop.com Parked, Courtesy of omnis.com
Blastech
WannaWanga
and i think most of us have been to
www.therpf.com great forum for props!

May the force be with you!!! "thumbsup"

 

[EeePee]

I can't even...

 

[Shinchu]

yeah its a bit wordy. sorry. i will pretty it up with pics VERY soon. i can use place holder images if that would make it more... friendly?

*better?

 

[Correll]

Can you make the pictures larger? I can't see ALL the machining marks? I gotta know if its SOLID.

 

[justinart24]

Pretty cool."thumbsup"

 

[badhoopty]

yeah thats pretty cool.

i also like the droids people make. craaazy cool.

 

[Alexander_0_1]

I like them. I don’t have any but they look sweet.

I have a few boken, and a couple kendo sticks...

I suppose I could tape lights to them...lol.:lmao:

 

[Shinchu]

Can you make the pictures larger? I can't see ALL the machining marks? I gotta know if its SOLID.

yeah sorry, they are place holders i used of the same sabers i own. i was in a bit of a hurry, had a medical appointment to get to.

i found the box of sabers, just need to snap some pics later and upload them sometime this weekend. i would do it tonight but there is this movie that came out, i will be watching that tonight. "thumbsup"

and yes the droids are incredible. the time, money, and space those things take up is... i could never do that. r2-d2builder.com and astromech.net are both great. i would love to build a BB8 someday. the sphero version is ok, but too small and fragile. i also have 2 French bulldogs that would find it delicious. :ror:

so yeah i will take some pics, maybe even vid for you guys to see how the lights and sound work. "thumbsup"

 

[BUBBA069]

Currently in the process of making the Skywalker saber (was Anikin's, then Luke's, now Rey's) not hardcore metal build, but will work for me. My boy made Luke's ROTJ hilt from PVC pipes. We used it as a way for him to learn lathe work.

Also working on couple different Trooper helms.

 

[Shinchu]

sink tube extensions work great for a replica of the skywalker saber. there are templates and tutorials online for making them.
or just save up and get a graflex shop replica. 99% accurate to the vintage prop, and only $200. its a bare flash tube but you can build in phases, just like our trucks!
https://www.graflexshop.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=50

 

[QuesoDelDiablo]

Dammit.

I didn't need any more hobbies.

 

[NoobCrawler]

yeah sorry, they are place holders i used of the same sabers i own. i was in a bit of a hurry, had a medical appointment to get to.

i found the box of sabers, just need to snap some pics later and upload them sometime this weekend. i would do it tonight but there is this movie that came out, i will be watching that tonight. "thumbsup"

and yes the droids are incredible. the time, money, and space those things take up is... i could never do that. r2-d2builder.com and astromech.net are both great. i would love to build a BB8 someday. the sphero version is ok, but too small and fragile. i also have 2 French bulldogs that would find it delicious. :ror:

so yeah i will take some pics, maybe even vid for you guys to see how the lights and sound work. "thumbsup"

I only want to see a video if it’s a recreation of Star Wars Guy.

Those are pretty sweet. I’ve eyeballed them for quite some time. Almost pulled the trigger on the Black Series Kylo Ren.

 

[Peaker]

My lightsaber ( on the right )

Its a mighty long saber, the blade as far as i can tell so far are at least 1200 M long, thoug by then the tip are a little blunt.

 

[BUBBA069]

sink tube extensions work great for a replica of the skywalker saber. there are templates and tutorials online for making them.
or just save up and get a graflex shop replica. 99% accurate to the vintage prop, and only $200. its a bare flash tube but you can build in phases, just like our trucks!
https://www.graflexshop.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=50

I have spent enough time on the RPF to know all the cheap and very expensive ways to make a saber lol.

Anyone that thinks they may want to jump in to prop making look at https://www.therpf.com/ covers pretty much everything, they don't have it, they can point in the right direction.

Want go hardcore Star Wars https://www.501st.com/

 

[QuesoDelDiablo]

So, do these things have an illuminated blade of some sort so it looks like a lightsaber? Or are they the handles? How do they look when they're turned on?

 

[Alexander_0_1]

So, do these things have an illuminated blade of some sort so it looks like a lightsaber? Or are they the handles? How do they look when they're turned on?

I’m sure I seen a small commercial on space-tv about a lightsaber dueling class/school/thingy, and from what could see you can get lightsabers with lexan tubes that do actually light up. I can’t recall the name it’s been a few years since I seent it.

 

[DarthBacon101]

To quote the great Han Solo.. "Chewie, We're home" lol

let me go digging and I'll post some pics of my previous Vaders Vault saber and all the mhs parts I'm currently hoarding to build a custom saber of my own. I also have a replica graflex on the way to do a full tilt Luke/Rey replica build

 

[Shinchu]

Nice! Yeah i always buy my stuff from tcss and i have built a few mhs sabers.

Turns out korbanth just released a graflex 2.5 ant its fully ready for installation with a chassis and everything. Same price as the 2.0 and i asked if i could send him my mint 2.0 for credit for a 2.5 but i doubt it.

What parts you going to use on your graflex? Quick breakdown parts list?

I need to order a bunch of stuff from graflex shop and wannawanga to help make my graflex 2.0 more screen accurate.
Beer tab, activation card, red button, glass eye... maybe shorter correct bunny ears. 2.0 are too long. I should ask if the 2.5 ears have been corrected. Might be cheaper to just sell it and get an accurate graflex shop replica lol

 

[Shinchu]

So, do these things have an illuminated blade of some sort so it looks like a lightsaber? Or are they the handles? How do they look when they're turned on?

Oh yes, sorry i didnt mention that? They have a polycarbonite tube that fits on the end and a powerful cluster of leds in the base light up the tube. Color is determined by the leds.

The controller cards can independantly adjust each die on the leds to make custom colors, using software that interfaces with the card directly on your pc in real time, then you save the perameters and unplug the cable from your comp and fire up the saber with your new configs."thumbsup"

Still need to make a vid for you guys, but you can search for custom lightsabers on youtube to get an idea.
Still need to update pics too. Ehh... holidays...

 

[Frank211]

If I would use these to reenact a scene ,from a certain movie, will it chop my hand off ? Lol , very clean lookin ! Some would buy them if you would sell them .