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Topic:
Stun baton WIP
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/3 12:55pm
Subject:
Stun baton WIP
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Well you all had asked for pics, so here we go. I snapped a few pics with my cellphone last night and sent them to myself. They aren't much but, like the subject header says, they a work in progress....
You will have to forgive some of the pics. SOrry the camera phone can only do so much. There is still quite a bit more work to be done. But here is the start. I know they don't look exactly like any of the references out there. But I do kind of like the look. Let me know what you all think.
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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SUGARBANTJINN
Registered:
Apr '07
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Date Posted:
1/3 1:13pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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looks pretty good to me! how did u make it (thusfar, anyways)?
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 Bant and Jonny. Forever one. Two hearts entwined God's Will will not take us to a place where His Grace will not carry us. Padawan Sunkisser 288days O my, my this here Anakin guy Maybe Vader someday later, Now he's just a small fry!
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/3 2:59pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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All pvc parts from The Home Depot. The main body is a 1.5"x24" black pvc pipe. I cut six inches off the end for the handle portion. I got a 1.5" end cap for the end of the baton handle. The handle is attached to the main body via a female/female coupler. The opposite end of the baton is one of those 1.5" threaded end caps that has the squared tip to it. I sanded down the threads of the cap so that it would fit flush inside the end of the pvc pipe. That end was pvc cemented in place, as was the pieces attached to the coupler. The only piece that will not be cemented is the end cap, so that the batteries for the light source can be easily accessible.
Like I said, I still need to cut some vent holes into the main body as well as paint and add the light source.
More to follow, I am sure.
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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Darth_Primus6
Registered:
Sep '07
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Date Posted:
1/3 5:42pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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Looking good Steel, now when you install the lights don't forget to add the inards from an old cattle prod, you know for that lovely touch of realism...lol
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If I cannot move Heaven, I SHALL bend Hell... Power corrupts, BUT Ultimate Power is kinda Cool... 
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/4 8:31am
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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The lights are something I will need a little bit of help with. I've never done wiring before, so I really don't know what I am doing. I'd like to do lights and sounds, but I am trying to keep it affordable, so I am thinking I will do lights only.
Now am I understanding this right: wires run from LED to switch to battery source? Will I need anything else in the mix? Any help would be appreciated... in fact a simple diagram would really do me wonders.
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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Darth_Primus6
Registered:
Sep '07
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Date Posted:
1/4 3:08pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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This is the same type of wiring i use for my lighted comm link and small holoprojector.
If you have any questions pm me.
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If I cannot move Heaven, I SHALL bend Hell... Power corrupts, BUT Ultimate Power is kinda Cool...
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/5 2:54pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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Thanks Primus... much appreciated, my friend!
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/9 5:31pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
- Date Edited:
1/9 6:49pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
AramysStrael
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So the thought had occured to me that I could use a LED Rope light to put on the inside of the baton. The only problem that I am facing is that either the rope lights out there are too short or too long. Of course there is bulk, but then I would have to buy a bunch of other accessories to cap the rope lights off and such. It almost seems like it is more trouble than it is worth. Especially when having to hook up the power source to it. Maybe I will just do as a co-worker suggests and put the single LED in a clear tube that will run along the interior of the baton shaft. Have the LED mounted on one end with a mirror mounted on the opposite end to illuminate the interior of the baton shaft better. Now I was thinking about putting a single LED light in there already, I just wasn't sure how I wanted to mount it just yet. I think this latest suggestion makes the most sense.
On the sound front, I did contact HD to get some info from them. Here is what he said:
"The things I offer that may interest you for the project would
be the v2 saber driver ($89), mini sound board ($89), 7.4v li-ion
rechargeable battery ($20), recharger ($35), and optional 1W sound
board amp ($30)."
And here I am such a newb I really have no idea what he is telling me. Is he saying that I need the driver and mini sound board AND 1w sound board amp? I mean as a bare bones model to work with (if I wanted to go with some other type of power source)? If that's the case, that means that I am spending $210, roughly ($265 if I include the battery and charger) for just the sound FX for one baton??? Crazy!
Sorry fellow Corellians, looks like Bill cheaps out on ya and only does lights! Its the only way I can keep it cost effective! But anyone wishing to weigh in on this last bit of info that I have scrounged up, I would greatly appreciate it!
- Bill
- Edit -
Looks like I may have found a different kind of lighting source that I may like better, right off of ebay, in fact. I left a message with the seller to see if it will work for this project. I can't see why it wouldn't though. So I think I may bag the rope light idea and just go with this LED light that I found on ebay, couple that with a clear acrylic tube to run on the interior of the baton, with a mag-lite reflector on the opposite end of the tube from the LED and I think I am in business!
So I can get some acrylic tube here in town for about $5 (per 6' tube). The mag-lite reflector is about $3. The 24" pvc pipe, female/female coupler, screw cap and end piece was around $12. The LED is at around $6 + $16. Total cost for this project (without sound) approximately: $37. Getting this project done and receiving high praise from my peers: priceless! 
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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Darth_Primus6
Registered:
Sep '07
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Date Posted:
1/28 1:55pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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for those prices for the sound boards, i think i would just make the damn swoosh noises myself...lol
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If I cannot move Heaven, I SHALL bend Hell... Power corrupts, BUT Ultimate Power is kinda Cool...
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/29 11:48am
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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I was at an armor party over the weekend. I made some progress on the prototype... then I botched it up. Good thing I had another prototype ready in the que. At least we got the light wiring done, thanks for the diagram, by the way. (I used RED for the prototype because the blue asn't available yet and I was bound and determined to get the unit done this weekend!) I had holes drilled out of the baton and then found that the jumbo LED wasn't seen good enough, so I drilled the holes bigger. Then that wasn't cutting it. So I attempted to cut big slats into the side and then it just looked terrible. So I am going to start over. I was going to sketch out a pattern to drill the holes by, but desided not to. Now that I have seen the error of my ways.... yeah, I will be drawing up a cut pattern for the next one.
As far as sound.... I don't know why I didn't think of this... well the local Wookiee showed me something that blew me away! He got one of those 20-second recording chips that are used for greeting cards. This is what he is using for his Wookiee roars. So, maybe I'll be able to wire up sound after all.
My buddies told me that this latest foul-up was just part of the "prototype building process". So, eventually I will get something in working order. Then, I will be in a better position to either produce more or just say to heck with it (after I make the obligatory units, of course)!
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
1/29 7:20pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
- Date Edited:
1/29 7:21pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Evil-Henchman
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Hi AramysStrael, your project is similiar to one I will be working on soon. I thought that my idea may help you. After going over all the ideas in my head, it seem like the easiest way to make my project work is to use a clear polycarbonate tube (please don't use acrylic, it's too fragile) and a 3 watt Luxeon LED (with collimator lens and lens holder of course) at one end and a reflective disk at the other, with blade diffuser film inside the tube to even out/diffuse the lighting. In other words, exactly how most Luxeon LED lightsaber blades are made. The items are not expensive and should work well for what you are trying to achieve. You will get a lot of light coming out of the holes you drilled using this method. You're looking at around $40 (before shipping & not including 4 AAA batteries) from the site where I buy my stuff from. Just a thought.
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"Warned you we tried. Listen you did not. Now screwed we all will be."
"Why are there no lumberjacks in the city?"
"Ninja kick the damn rabbit!"
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/31 4:44pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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Thanks for the suggestion. Can you PM me some details, like this site you speak of? Thanks!
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
1/31 5:12pm
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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PM sent.
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"Warned you we tried. Listen you did not. Now screwed we all will be."
"Why are there no lumberjacks in the city?"
"Ninja kick the damn rabbit!"
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
3/3 11:35am
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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Well I keep coming up with issues with the pvc piping - specifically how to cut holes in the tube (for the baton shaft) WITHOUT it looking like crap or lose structural integrity.
So, I think what I am going to do is get clear plastic tubes for the baton shaft and tape off those areas that I am wanting to leave open to show the light of the inner tube then primer and paint the rest of the shaft. It won't be a total loss with some of the pvc pipe. The pvc pipe which I still possess will still be used for the hilt.
I have pretty much determined that I will be getting lightsaber hilt electronics and blades for the inner tube. The local Wookiee pointed out that I could use a Radio Shaft greeting card sound card for the power up sounds. But I think I am not really wanting to mess with that. I have a hard enough time figuring out wiring. Why complicate things further, right?
So this is an update. I just finally got moved out of my old place. So I am now in my new apartment back in my hometown. I will be settling in over the next couple of weeks. After that, I will be pressing hard to get this project under wraps. I need to get some resolution out of this project - either to get it hammered out or to scrap it altogether. More to follow, I am sure....
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
3/5 4:28am
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
- Date Edited:
3/5 4:29am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Evil-Henchman
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Well, with PVC, you should probably go with Schedule 80. That will give you about a 1/8" (or more) wall thickness for the size of pipe it appears you are using . As long as you don't drill too many holes or use the baton as an actual weapon, you should be fine. I guess it all depends on your original design and how many holes or slots you want for the light to shine through. Another option is aluminum tubing. Using 1-1/2" OD aluminum tubing with a 1/8" thick wall would work really well.
-----signature-----
"Warned you we tried. Listen you did not. Now screwed we all will be."
"Why are there no lumberjacks in the city?"
"Ninja kick the damn rabbit!"
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AramysStrael
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
3/5 10:34am
Subject:
RE: Stun baton WIP
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Excellent suggestions. This is a prop, after all, and as such my aim is to keep it as lightweight as possible. The other concern is in making sure that this is a make believe prop and not an actual weapon, or something that can be used or thought of as an actual weapon... its all for fun, ya know?
- Bill
-----signature-----
"In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect."
Corran Horn
Corellian Security
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