The Fabled Lightsaber

[Donut.Hole]

Hey Everyone!

 

I'm building a custom lightsaber with my pal, antimatter. We're going to

 

use an 8" chrome bicycle seat post

neatly superglue strips of black vinyl to make a grip

slide a few gaskets on the pipe to advance the grip

throw on a switch

add a 28" tranluscent PVC tube with cap,

and cram 4 D-Cells and LED's into the hilt.

 

However, I was wondering what type of LED to use. We thought of using

K2 High-Intensity LED's, but will this create the sacred "red halo around white

blade" effect?

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer, or just to consider the question!

[antimatter]

I thought that we were using C-Cells

[Donut.Hole]

I mean C-cells. Jeez!

[antimatter]

Sorry for bringing it up

[iNow]

However, I was wondering what type of LED to use. We thought of using

K2 High-Intensity LED's, but will this create the sacred "red halo around white

blade" effect?

Wouldn't the "halo" be more a factor of what the tube is made out of, as opposed to what kind of lights you use? I'm not sure, but it's something to consider. Some irridescent materials may give it the "glow" you're after. Anyway, good luck, and have fun.

[Klaynos]

Yeah the tube material and making the light seem consistent along the whole length will be your greatest issues.

[abateNth]

Hey Everyone!

 

I'm building a custom lightsaber with my pal, antimatter. We're going to

 

use an 8" chrome bicycle seat post

neatly superglue strips of black vinyl to make a grip

slide a few gaskets on the pipe to advance the grip

throw on a switch

add a 28" tranluscent PVC tube with cap,

and cram 4 D-Cells and LED's into the hilt.

 

However, I was wondering what type of LED to use. We thought of using

K2 High-Intensity LED's, but will this create the sacred "red halo around white

blade" effect?

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer, or just to consider the question!

 

DO NOT forget your lucky 2 of Diamonds. Without it, your spokes are Boarringgg!.

[5614]

I don't know specifically about these K2 High-Intensity LED's, but the high-intensity LEDs I've played with are, well, the name gives the game away! They're just normal LEDs, but they're a lot more powerful. Take one like I have and shine it at a wall 1m away and you will see a ~10cm diameter patch of light, they're not lasers, so they spread out a lot. They'd light up a small room in the dark, and you wouldn't want to look straight at it, although it wouldn't harm your eyes if you did (at the least the ones I have).

 

I see no reason why this would create a red around a white core halo effect though. At best your translucent tube will be one colour, although this will be a challenge because it will be very bright around the LEDs, but get rapidly less bright as move up the tube away from a LED.

[Donut.Hole]

Maybe I could attach and LED at the tip of the blade, one in the center, and one in the hilt. Since I'm using tranluscent PVC, it should contain the light, making it seem white in the center while giving the mystical halo.

[iNow]

You guys could keep it simple and create the halo effect using filtered glasses. These holiday specs filter intense light from LEDs or holiday lights into shapes like snowmen or santa claus, and more appropriate to your application, stars:

 

http://www.3dglassesonline.com/holidayspecs.com.html

 

 

They're just like the 3D glasses they used to give out in theaters.

[Donut.Hole]

You guys could keep it simple and create the halo effect using filtered glasses. These holiday specs filter intense light from LEDs or holiday lights into shapes like snowmen or santa claus, and more appropriate to your application, stars:

 

http://www.3dglassesonline.com/holidayspecs.com.html

 

 

They're just like the 3D glasses they used to give out in theaters.

 

What do you call the glass?, 'cause I'd like to buy some. Great Idea!

[iNow]

What do you call the glass?, 'cause I'd like to buy some. Great Idea!

 

Didn't the link I shared cover this?

 

EDIT: Unless you meant, "What do they make the lenses out of?" If so, it's not glass, but a type of film. I'm not sure where it's available, but google is your friend.

[antimatter]

I think the real problem is going to be the switch, how would we get it to stay down?

[Jon13]

try using mirrors for a better halo, you can use a small tint to help the halo.