Jedi sword technology: how was a laser sword made? Is it possible to make a real lightsaber and how? How to make a star wars sword.
“We’ll have to wait another two whole years. In order not to disappoint the audience, the filmmakers must fulfill at least two conditions: not turn the plot into nonsense and surprise with the effects. After all, she once made a technological breakthrough in cinema. Many of the innovations from Star Wars have already become old school. But one thing that still keeps sci-fi fans up at night is the lightsaber. Let's talk about its creation.
Everyone who watched Star Wars as a child dreamed of a lightsaber. It was impossible to make it from improvised means, except perhaps by unscrewing the fluorescent lamps at school. However, the actors who played the Jedi also saw the glowing blade only on the screen. Light carbon fiber poles were used during filming.
Initially, the sticks were made triangular and covered with a reflective substance. A motor was installed in the handle, which turned this entire structure. The sword seemed to sparkle, but a little differently than he dreamed about it. Therefore, the footage was given to animators, and they painted the blades frame by frame. One of the craftsmen noticed in time that if the sword is made of light, then the beam should tremble. This added more work: now for each shot he had to superimpose another overexposed one, on which there was nothing but a blade.
When they created it at the turn of the 90s and 2000s, swords were still painted, only not by hand, but on a computer. Instead of the animators, the actors now suffered: they were given heavy sticks made of aluminum and steel. Rumor has it that when filming for “”, the words “Dirty bastard” were written on the handle. We seem to even know why.
The artists' prayers (or Jackson's curses) were answered, and carbon blades coated with glass and plastic were used for the third episode. However, this was not the case. The new sticks did not break or bend for a long time, but they could cripple their user. Apparently, the actors accepted this modification; at least Samuel L. Jackson no longer wrote anything on the props. Although, maybe they just appeased him by making the light beam an exclusive pink color.
George Lucas gets furious if his lightsabers are copied, even though the director was not the first to have the idea of giving his heroes such a weapon. He spotted the idea in old science fiction TV series (the handle is said to have been stolen from the series "
Everyone who watched Star Wars as a child dreamed of a lightsaber. It was impossible to make it from improvised means, except perhaps by unscrewing the fluorescent lamps at school. However, the actors who played the Jedi also saw the glowing blade only on the screen. Light carbon fiber poles were used during filming.
Initially, the sticks were made triangular and covered with a reflective substance. A motor was installed in the handle, which turned this entire structure. The sword seemed to sparkle, but a little differently than I dreamed about it George Lucas. Therefore, the footage was given to animators, and they painted the blades frame by frame. One of the craftsmen noticed in time that if the sword is made of light, then the beam should tremble. This added more work: now for each shot he had to superimpose another overexposed one, on which there was nothing but a blade.
When at the turn of the 90s and zeros they created new trilogy, the swords were still painted, only not by hand, but on the computer. Instead of the animators, the actors now suffered: they were given heavy sticks made of aluminum and steel. Rumor has it that Samuel L. Jackson, while filming for Attack of the Clones, signed his sword on the hilt with the words “Dirty Bastard.” We seem to even know why.
The artists' prayers (or Jackson's curses) were answered, and carbon blades coated with glass and plastic were used for the third episode. However, this was not the case. The new sticks did not break or bend for a long time, but they could cripple their user. Apparently, the actors accepted this modification; at least Samuel L. Jackson no longer wrote anything on the props. Although, maybe they just appeased him by making the light beam an exclusive pink color.
George Lucas gets furious if his lightsabers are copied, even though the director was not the first to have the idea of giving his heroes such a weapon. He got the idea from old sci-fi TV shows (the handle is said to have been stolen from Star Trek, a rival sci-fi franchise).
Three years ago, Lucas ruined all the geeks who dreamed of feeling like Luke or his father. The creator of Star Wars has filed a lawsuit against the Hong Kong company that produced the laser sword. Let's be honest, the beam in this Chinese fake was not very good - several times thinner than the diameter of the handle. Basically, like a big flashlight keychain. It is unlikely that anyone except children and infantile fans will need a real lightsaber. But we are not against using Jedi technology in everyday life, for example, for a kitchen knife. And that's why:
A large number of boys and grown men around the world are fans of George Lucas' famous Star Wars saga. Who among them has not dreamed of becoming the owner of a real Jedi sword, flying through the labyrinths of the Death Star, or becoming a student of the wise Yoda? If it is problematic to bring the latter desires to life, then the first can be dealt with in one evening. How to make a lightsaber with your own hands, read the article below.
Making Jedi weapons
To make your own lightsaber, you will need to purchase LEDs and an LED flashlight, plastic rods, resistors, aluminum foil, tape, glue, sandpaper and heat shrink tubing.
Disassemble the flashlight and remove the board from it, removing the LED. Attach your own LED and resistor to the board. Place heat-shrink tubing on the resistor to keep it in place more tightly. How to make a real lightsaber? Of course you need a blade.
It is made from a transparent plastic rod of the required length (if necessary, cut off the excess). Attach the rod to the screwdriver, sharpening one end to do this. Adjust the other end to the diameter of the flashlight body using a file.
We continue to work on light weapons
Now you need to carefully sand the entire area of the blade. This is done so that the light falling on the sword is scattered evenly.
Then coat the end of the plastic tube with glue and insert it into the flashlight body. True fans don't stop there. How to make a lightsaber look realistic? Add decorations to the body. To do this, take aluminum and copper foil or tape. Cover the handle body. Now the weapon looks more like a formidable intergalactic sword.
Both children and adult Star Wars fans will be delighted with this gift.
How to make Obi-Wan's lightsaber
The episode of the famous saga called "A New Hope", where Obi-Wan fights Darth Vader with lightsabers, inspires awe in many fans. Such a sword can be made at home, although it will require more skill than for the weapon described above. But this doesn't stop men.
How to make Obi-Wan's lightsaber? Take a piece of aluminum pipe and place it on a thin oblong lamp. Don't forget to connect the emitter. This way the sword will truly burn. It is better to integrate the controller into the handle; the batteries are placed inside a hollow tube. Attach a metal cylinder to the emitter; the sleeve will strengthen the action of the emitter. The work is painstaking, all the wires must fit exactly into place.
Some craftsmen manage to create a sword from a nickel furniture leg and a polycarbonate tube. How to make a lightsaber from these items? Insert the colored diode into the holder for three batteries, place it in a metal handle (not forgetting the resistor). Secure the handle and sword together with electrical tape.
All that remains is to decorate the craft as desired.
How to make a lightsaber at home?
The imagination of fans of the space saga never stops; they come up with many options for making light weapons. The sword can be created from cold neon. It is an electroluminescent cord that gives a mesmerizingly bright glow. Connect neon and thin steel cord. Then connect the cord to an inverter that runs on batteries. All that remains is to attach the resulting weapon to the handle. Use the body from an old flashlight instead - this is the most popular option. As you strengthen your skills, you can create a double-edged Jedi sword.
Making a sword with a child
If a little fan of the saga lives in the house, sooner or later he will ask for a lightsaber, because playing with it is so exciting. Don’t rush to upset your child; together with him you can come up with an easy option from scrap materials. For this you need a flashlight.
How to make a lightsaber out of paper? Find a lantern with a white lamp. It must shine brightly, otherwise the game will be less interesting. If your flashlight becomes dim, change the batteries or purchase a new light.
What color sword would you like to create? Find polyethylene in the shade you need. Cut a piece that will completely cover the front of the lantern and attach it. Then take several sheets of white A4 paper. Wrap the first sheet around the top of the lantern, securing it inside with double-sided tape. If you see that the edges of the paper overlap one another, trim them. This way the light will be distributed evenly.
Roll the second sheet. Secure it onto the first sheet of paper, trying to go as little as possible onto it. Make the sword further by attaching paper rolls one on top of the other. You should not create a very long blade, otherwise it will bend under its own weight. Turn on the flashlight and enjoy
If you don't have time to create a sword
If you don’t have extra time, perseverance or materials, but still want to please yourself or your loved one with an interesting gift, you can order a real laser sword. The Americans have come up with a wonderful sword, the heart of which is a real laser. A weak red sword costs about 1800 rubles, and a powerful green one costs 4800. It has a comfortable handle, stunning design and a built-in pressure sensor. The weight of such a weapon is about one kilogram.
You can make your own Jedi sword in a variety of ways. Some require nothing more than a flashlight and simple paper, others will require many skills from you (knowledge in the field of electricity, soldering, and so on). Every fan of a star film can independently choose the option that is suitable for him.
Hello everyone!) A lightsaber is an integral attribute of the Star Wars films, a cult craft that every person who calls himself a Star Wars fan and a follower of Obi-Wan Kenobi should have...
For years I wanted to get my hands on the "original" lightsaber. However, the industrial designs that were presented on the market did not meet the requirements I had stated (I didn’t even want to take on a plastic likeness of the majestic artifact). So I had an idea do their hands a sword that would suit my desires and look unsurpassed.
In the article we will consider in detail how and from what parts it will be possible to make this homemade.
Some of the parts used can be replaced with plastic pipes, but then the parts will lose some of their strength and the effect of realism will be reduced.
This sword glows and changes colors (no light or sound effects). With the right skill set, you can easily add additional features to this product.
Step 1: Required Materials and Tools
I want to immediately dot all the “E”s, I am not a plumber or a seller of plumbing products, so the names below may be incorrect.
- 32 inch (81.28 cm) long clear plastic pipe;
- Inch metal pipe;
- Inch connector detachable coupling;
- LED RGB strip;
- Two inch straight couplings;
- Selector switch (we only need a nut)
- A washer that needs to be secured to the selector switch nut.
- Inch squeegee
- Wax paper
- Long wooden dowel approximately 3/4" in diameter and 32" long.
- Super glue, epoxy resin, silicone glue.
- Engraver, soldering iron, drill, hammer and set of precision screwdrivers.
- Small switch
- A small 3-position switch that will be used to change the color of the blade's glow.
- 9-volt battery with connector and soldered leads.
- The main resource is patience!
Step 2: Assembling the battery holder (top)
Using glue, we attach the straight coupling, the nut from the selector switch and the washer together.
Since the power source is a 9-volt battery, it is necessary to find a way to secure and hide it in the hilt of the sword.
Unfortunately, the inch pipe is too narrow to fit, but the inch coupling fits just right. To prevent the battery from falling out and not to “damage” the battery itself, we secure the nut and washer (after gluing them with glue) to one end of the coupling.
Once the glue has dried, check the quality of the seam and, if necessary, glue everything again.
Step 3: Assembling the guard
We disassemble the split coupling and select the part that we like best.
We twist together: part of the split coupling, the bend and the straight coupling.
Step 4: Handle
Let's take an inch pipe and cut a piece of any length (the main thing is that you feel comfortable) taking into account the fact that you will need to attach the guard and pommel to it.
Step 5: Blade
Let's take a polycarbonate tube and install it in the guard. Leave space in the guard for switches.
The copper wire will not only help securely secure the blade, but will also make the sword stand out thanks to its own unique design.
After installing the blade tube, we drill through holes of the same diameter as the copper wire. Let's cut it into small pieces and then mount it as shown in the photo. Then use super glue to securely fix it.
Step 6:
Step 7: Prepare the guard for installing the switch
First, decide where you want to place the switch or switches. Since I wanted the sword to glow in different colors, I had to install two different switches. One is power, the second is color switching.
Let's install switches at the top of the guard so that the copper wires protect them in the heat of battle.
I drilled, cut and sharpened the guard, getting two large enough holes to fit the switches.
We don’t secure them yet, otherwise we won’t be able to connect the wires to the LEDs.
Step 8: LEDs and Dowel
Take a strip of LEDs and cut a section about twice as long as the intended length of the lightsaber blade (make sure you cut the strip in the correct place - along the cut line).
The strips should have a 4 color pinout pinout attached to one end (most likely red, green, blue and white).
Let's strip the ends of the wires. We hold the white wire on the positive terminal of the battery, and the remaining wires (individually or all at once) on the negative terminal.
Let's fold the strip of LEDs in half and pass it along the blade. Then we place the wooden dowel in the plastic pipe. The tape will be sandwiched between the pipe and the dowel.
Let's pass the wires through the guard and solder them where necessary. Let's secure the switches.
Step 9: Final Touches
Finally, we’ll add a diffuser to diffuse the light from the LED strip.
It would be possible to paint the blade with white paint.... but I decided to keep it looking great and just used wax paper.
Roll up a tube of paper of sufficient width and length so that it fills the tube and slides along the inside of the blade around the double-sided LED strip.
It will take a little effort, but in the end you will get great results.
I filled the top of the blade with silicone to seal the plastic tube.
May the force be with you.
In this post I will tell you how to make a lightsaber completely with your own hands:
First, we need this diagram with drawings of the original handle.
I used a plastic PVC pipe as a basis. gray with thin walls with a diameter of 40 mm. I don’t remember the exact name, but in a hardware store you can easily find it in the plumbing department.
We mark the length of the future handle on it.
Print it out and put it on the pipe:
Let's cut it off. It turns out like this:
Drilling holes in the ears:
We attach it to the handle according to the diagram, mark the position and make a cut for the power buttons.
And glue it
Now that the glue has hardened, we smooth everything thoroughly with fine sandpaper and go over the entire surface of the handle. After this, using a solvent, degrease the entire surface of the handle, prime and paint.
After the first layer has dried (about a day), add plastic decorative elements according to the diagram and paint again.
This is the paint I used
She's the best fit. Before this I used cheaper paint from FOX, it turned out to be terrible, it turns dark when touched, and after varnishing it turns completely dark gray.
According to the diagram, we make a ring and paint it in the same way, maybe in one layer.
After the paint has completely dried (after 24 hours), coat the handle with glossy varnish.
We cut out the last design elements from plastic according to the diagram, glue them with the letter T, paint them matte black and glue them to the handle.
This turns out to be such a great handle.
Now about the filling.
All the filling is assembled according to this scheme:
A 12-volt battery can be purchased at an RU toy store or an airsoft equipment store. The 12 - 5 volt converter is a regular car USB charger for the cigarette lighter.
Sound cards may be different. I usually take from HASBRO swords, but now they sell cheap swords at Fix Price, they have an identical copy of the HASBRO sound card installed, apparently someone was not too lazy to copy it. The sound quality is excellent.
You also need a speaker, it is best to take it from a portable acoustic system. 4 watt 4 amp speakers are best, they are bassy and vibrate well.
For all this electronics you will need a chassis so that you can easily disassemble the sword at any time for repairs or upgrades. We cut it out of the same pipe, I got something like this:
We insert it into the handle, mark the hole for the button and fill it:
The next in line is the battery, the positive wire is immediately connected to the button.
And then according to the diagram, all the rest of the electronics. It is very important that the 5 - 12 volt converter be connected after the button and not before it.
Now all this stuff can be attached to the handle
We add a button cut from a SEGI cartridge, and put plastic on the bottom so that the buttons can be pressed and that’s it.
This is the beauty we got