How To Make Authentic Lightsabers

IQpierce writes "My good friend Bradley W. Lewis has set up a site for his hobby: building replica lightsabers at home. These aren't your average cheap pieces of plastic, in fact they're more authentic than the Master Replica sabers: Brad tracks down the pieces of equipment actually used to build the original props — or, when they're unavailable, very close replicas, that he further customizes with a metal lathe in his garage — and puts them together with loving attention. My favorite part is the embellishments he does add, on the inside of the saber — his replica of Luke's saber from ANH can be opened to see authentic-looking internals such as a glowing crystal (as well as another surprise — an autograph from Luke himself, Mark Hamill). Each project is documented step-by-step with hundreds of photos — whether you're a hobbyist, or just a big Star Wars geek like me, you'll find it interesting."

Comments

Please don't do this

[Phoenix Dreamscape]

The price of Graflex synchronizers has gone through the roof because of Star Wars nerds who want their own authentic-looking light sabers. This is a real nightmare for those of us who love flash bulb photography, since new Graflexes aren't being made anymore (except replicas without the electronics, specifically for building light sabers). Please, if you want to make a light saber, buy a Graflex replica instead of an original. They're cheaper, in better condition, and don't deprive anyone of a now-rare useful tool.

Re:Does it Amputate Jedi's

[Anonymous Coward]

How did you manage to fit so much stupid into such a short post?

Re:Have you seen the directions?

[vlm]

I think the equipment list would put this safely outside the hobbyist category.

All the tools listed are multi-use and frankly not very impressive. Buying a two to three figure drill press hardly makes you a "professional". Even my metal lathe and associated gear is probably barely over three figures.

Also, the computer hobbyist industry is oriented around zero resale value and extremely fast obsolesce, whereas all the tools you listed are pretty much "buy once per lifetime" (assuming you don't buy chicom garbage). A 30 year old PC-XT clone motherboard is probably not as cutting edge and useful as my fathers 30 year old dremel tool... My decade old metal cutting bandsaw is much less obsolete than a decade old graphics card.

My computer hobby mostly results in full landfills, whereas a hobby like metalworking is a bit more like a real capital investment.

Re:Authentic...

[Anonymous Coward]

Authentic... I do not think it means what you think it means.

I am altering the meaning of the word. Pray I don't alter it again.