How To Make Authentic Lightsabers 128
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."
Truly (Score:5, Insightful)
It's just a neon light tube.. (Score:1, Insightful)
But... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Have you seen the directions? (Score:5, Insightful)
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:Hobbies (Score:5, Insightful)
It's a shame metalworking and electronics don't have any applications other than building lightsabers.
Re:Authentic (Score:4, Insightful)
But, if you made it out of mostly original found Porshe parts by salvaging though junk yards, reconditioning them, and then machining the few parts that you weren't able to find it would be mostly authentic. It may not be an authorized reproduction though.
Re:Its now virtually impossible.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Have you seen the directions? (Score:3, Insightful)
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"
Or in some cases buy once per several lifetimes. I fully expect to inherit several of my father's tools, just as he still uses some of his father's tools. Granted they do wear down, but a lot of these items can even be rebuilt/repaired as a hobby in itself. In a pinch, I can still call him up and have him work with me on some of the items where I require a tool he has in his workshop.
And somewhere in the background, Harry Chapin plays on the radio.
Re:Does it Amputate Jedi's (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe he practices on Twitter a lot.
Re:Please don't do this (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Big deal. It doesn't really work. (Score:4, Insightful)