The Official Lightsaber Hilt Thread

Welcome to the Offical Lightsaber Hilt thread.

Hi all, I thought a thread on lightsaber hilts would be cool so here be a thread for you to post pictures of any lightsabers you may own or have designed. For the most part, this thread is here for you to show off any lightsaber hilts you own or have created/modded.

There are threads on this topic over in the Costume and Props board but I know not all of us venture over that way (myself included) so I thought a similiar thread here would be nice for all us fanfilmers.

Pictures of the Hasbro sabers, of custom made saber hilts from a saber hilt seller/maker and of saber hilts you yourself have made/drawn are more than welcome. However, pics of the Hasbro sabers and from custom saber hilt makers should be ones you have taken yourself and not ones from toy seller/maker websites or custom saber seller/maker's websites (because of copyright reasons).

Tutorials and blueprints on making lightsaber hilts and lightsaber blades are welcome here.

You can mention parts and blade materials as well as where you bought the hilt from but please refrain from posting links to the websites where the materials were bought as well as the prices unless specifically asked by someone. In other words, please don't just up and volunteer that info.

If you are in the business of selling lightsaber hilts, lightsaber blades or anything specifically related to making lightsaber props, please do not advertise what you have for sale in this thread. Advertising is against the TOS. However, posting pics of hilts you have for sale is fine as long as you don't mention that they are for sale nor post any links to where one could buy them. If you think a person is selling lightsaber related items and you want to buy them, you can send that person a PM (private message) to find out.

Also please refrain from saying that this-or-that hilt or this-or-that blade material is better than the other unless someone is asking for a comparison/opinion. If someone asks, feel free to state your opinion but please respect opinions that differ from yours and please don't post follow-ups to others opinions with anything to the effect of "Your wrong, This blade material/hilt is better.". Everyone has an opinion and they're all valid.

I'm looking forward to seeing your lightsaber props and designs.




Permission to create this thread was given by AdamBertocci, DorkmanScott and DVeditor.

 

Here's a pic showing a side-by-side comparison of the standard Hasbro Qui-Gon Saber and the one I used in my LCC3 entry that came with a cheap Halloween costume I bought back in '99.
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Qui-GonHilts.jpg]
I had to route out all the plastic from the inside of the toy hilt to accept some PVC pipe that I used to hold a polycarbonate blade.

Same deal here in every way only with Obi-Wan's hilt...
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Obi-WanHilts.jpg]
... and here's the Obi-Wan hilt opened up. EL wire is in the blade.
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Obi-Wandisassembled.jpg]
Here's a couple of pics of the EL blade lit up.
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/DSC00476.jpg]
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/DSC00477.jpg]
Eventually I'll post some pics of the Habro Darth Maul saber that I modded.

 

we have one of these.....well not in here....my memory is a bit fuzzy as its a while since i've seen it...lol.....i think it could be in the costuming and props forum and is called 'show us your lightsaber' or something like that....

but anyway since its probably died a horrible horrible death.....continue....lol

EDIT:.....lmao...that'll teach me to post half asleep and not read everything

EDIT 2: although we do already have a 'how to build a lightsaber' thread

 

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/neomp5/5bf3dff2.jpg]

these are ones i designed in the standard paint program on a mac i had. i had around 15 pages like this, as well as 10 where i'd drawn the ones from the films. all of that was lost, this was the only page i'd hosted.

that first one is built, the second is in progress. if i had a camera, i'd show you the ones i've built

 

Dang dude, those are nice.

 

all 2d



i miss my mac. that was the standard appleworks paint program. i mastered that thing. i can't even draw a straight line in photoshop




note how on the first one, the belt clip and button are one peice

 

Ok, here's pics of the Hasbro Darth Maul sabers that I used in my LCC3 entry. All three were used.
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Maul-02.jpg]
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Maul-01.jpg]
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Maul-03.jpg]
[image=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/Evil-Henchman/Lightsaber%20hilts%20and%20blades/Maul-Disassembled.jpg]
The one with the black-taped stick at the end of it was used for the scene where I "ignited" the second blade while swinging that end towards my opponent (who then ducked). The very next camera angle shows me reverse the same swing, still using the short black-taped stick to attack with. My opponent blocks the swing. I then use the other, fixed blade for an overhead chop while retracting the black-taped stick/"turning off" the second blade.

If you happen to notice the stress cracks in the polycarbonate blade... let's just say sparring with glowsticks inside the tube as well as letting the saber prop sit in the trunk of your car for 2 to 3 months during the hot summer is bad for your polycarbonate tubing's health.

 

Man... you guys are going to despise the light saber I assembled for using in AotF 2. You'd almost think that was the point...

 

[image=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/dtsman/LS.jpg]

My ugly one the top one made out of a chrome sink tube cost me about $14 to make and it functions real well in a duel, using a 3/4 wooden dowl

 

Here's two of my five sabers I'm making in Metals II. I made these two last fall, rather quickly, for LCC4 but we never shot our entry. I'm making my third one right now, should be done and ready to show you guys by Wednesday or Thursday. Machined out of 1 1/2" OD solid aluminum, 1/2" OD aluminum tubing for the blades.

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/dmpjedi/2_sabers.jpg]

Wow, you can even make out the inconsistancies in the left saber's grips

 

Very nice looking Nate! Don't worry Covax, you are still my hero. lol

 

[image=http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2153/dscf1919small8jm.jpg]

Made them about 3 years ago, all solid aliminium exept for about 3 inches down from the top of the hilt on each one which is used to hold the dowel. I havnt actualy used the double bladed one because I havnt drilled the top so that the dowel would stay in place.

 

Twenty bucks worth of hardware store thingies and some scrap leather and presto, the Limited Edition Return of Pink Five saber.

[image=http://www.trudang.com/pinkfive/images/sabers.jpg]

(hero version and stunt version with grip removed)

 

Anyone know what common household items can be transfomed into some nice saber hilts? Of course I have a very looow budget and I live in Italy, where I don't have really convenient hardware stores or anything...I have no tools to carve wood either, and my sabers for our first fanfilm (the one in the n00b fanfilm competition) were practically wooden sticks. 0_0

The ones we used in filming in our newest fanfilm were basically those umbrella poles, painted at the bottom to slightly resemble hilts, and we bought an obi-wan toy saber, but its not fit for the combat we put the other saber props through.

for our next fanfilm I want a decent looking hilt, and someone PLEASE translate 'dowel' for me because it seems only americans have these convenient lengths of wood lying around, since I have never heard of them

thanks in advance

 

and someone PLEASE translate 'dowel' for me because it seems only americans have these convenient lengths of wood lying around, since I have never heard of them shock

A dowel is just..a dowel. It's a cylindrical length of wood. Some people use them as cheap ways to hang curtains.

You get them at hardware stores...which apparently you don't have in Italy?

As for 'sabers, I find that plumbing parts work well, personally. Some people like PVC, others aluminum. It just takes imagination.

 

lol We do have hardware stores, but they are tiny places, not like giant hardware supermarkets or anything like that...I do wish we had them though...

never mind I found some suitable replacements

now my question is: how long is a lightsaber blade usually? not counting the hilt?

 

i live in a tiny redneck town, and i know at least 3 places where i can buy dowells.

 

now my question is: how long is a lightsaber blade usually? not counting the hilt?

Usually about a meter, though it varies depending on how tall the user is.

 

Let's say I'm about 1.66m, and right now my blade (that I got from a broom) is 1 metre long, is that around the right proportions? Because honestly I think it's a bit too long...

 

If you think its to long for you, make it shorter, theres no set length on how long it should be.

 

The proper way of measuring a sword is rather like measuring a tennis racket; you hold as high up on the hilt (as close to the blade) as you can. and the tip should be just about touching the ground, maybe a little longer.


Seperately, however, does anyone have any suggestions for the blade component of a stunt saber? I think they used carbon rods in the movies, but would it be wiser to simply build a metal handle around a dowel?

 

stand with your arms at your sides. the distance from your wrist to the floor is your default blade length. anything beyond that is personal preference

 

I made these with painted PVC, wood dowels, and other assorted wood and metal pieces.
[image=http://goldleader23.homestead.com/daggers.jpg]
[image=http://goldleader23.homestead.com/double.jpg]
[image=http://goldleader23.homestead.com/staff.jpg]
[image=http://goldleader23.homestead.com/single.jpg]

And this one I bought from Ryan:
[image=http://goldleader23.homestead.com/single_2.jpg]

 

those are sure long

 

Maybe a little. First ones are ten inches, second and third are 24 inches, and fourth is 12 inches minus the spike. I'm just used to it.