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EL Wire Lightsaber Version 2

This re-make of the sub-thirty lightsaber simply upgrades the original design.

I used  a smaller inverter and 10-feet of EL wire from www.ELWireCheap.com

As requested here is a parts list (As best I can remember)

Description QTY Size Link Supply
Threaded rod 1 3 " x 3/8" Image Home Depot
Steel pipe  1 3 " x 1" Image Home Depot
Washer 3 1 " OD x 3/8" ID Image Home Depot
Nut 6 3/8" threading Image Home Depot
Dome-nut 1 3/8" threading Image Home Depot
Plastic tubing 3 Feet 7/8" OD x 5/8" ID Image Home Depot
Brass fitting 1 5/8" Nipple x 1" thread Home Depot
Pipe-joiners 2 For 1" Pipes Image Home Depot
Neon wire 10 Feet 2.3mm ex-connect wire Link elwirecheap.com
Inverter 1 Mini 9 volt Link elwirecheap.com
Battery 1 9 Volt Home Depot
Switch 1 Small On/Off type of your own liking Home Depot / RadioShack
Pipe end cap 1 1" Plastic Home Depot
 

Other needed supplies

Vinyl Dye, Krylon Fusion or other plastic specific paint 1 can Black Image Home Depot / Walmart / Pep-boys
Pin-stripping 1 pack Brass colored Pep-boys
Hot glue and gun 1 Link Home Depot
Rotary Tool 1 Dremel Link Home Depot
Super-glue 1 Thin or gel type Home Depot

 

 

 

 

Following my guide for lightsaber version 1, I assembled the basic parts.

The tip has a brass pipe fitting, and the EL wire has a quick disconnect plug.

I ran wires inside the handle, by cutting holes into the metal parts.

The EL Wire is then super-glued in a spiral around the rod.

I also used a rounded nut for the tip, and used a thicker tube around the EL wire.

The thicker tube means that these could be used to fight without worry of breaking the EL wire.

The inverter was installed into the handle.

I also added brass colored automotive pinstripes to keep the black and brass theme.

The handle has two parts, the upper part carries the weight of the rod, and the bottom houses the electronics.

I also used a larger handle that could fit a 9 volt battery inside.

The inverter, switch and battery are inside the lower part of the handle.

The upper part provides support between the handle and rod.

The end caps for the two pipe fittings were super-glued together, but the bottom part of the handle is not strong enough to support the entire rod.

I may try to fix this in version 3

All the lightsabers light up nicely. I built four of then for my Nephews and one extra for my-self.

These glow very bright and can light up the person holding them.

Blue

Purple

Aqua

Red

Green

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