How to Make a Lightsaber

Carrying a lightsaber means that you are attuned with the force, that you are confident and dexterous and that you are capable of using this dangerous Jedi weapon. Carrying a lightsaber also means that you are mechanically and electronically savvy enough to have built your own and that you may be a little too obsessed with "Star Wars."

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• SPST subminiature switch
• AAA battery holder
• 12 inches of stranded electronic wire
• Large 2.7 volt LED
• Electrician's tape
• Various small machine screws

The Lightsaber's Body

1. Wrap the weather stripping around the base of the chrome tube to make the handle of your lightsaber. Begin about 1/4 inch away from the bottom to leave room for the PVC coupler and wrap up about 5 inches.

2. Cut the PVC end cap in half to create a 1/2 inch ring and a 5/8 inch end cap. Place the cap on the end of the chrome tube below the weather stripping and drill four evenly spaced holes, drilling through both the end cap and the tube.

3. Slide the ring onto the chrome tube and position it just above the top of the weather stripping. Drill two evenly spaced holes through the ring and the tube.

4. Drill a series of overlapping holes lengthwise above the PVC ring. Drill enough holes to make a slot the length of the 10 LED power bar display. File the extra metal away so that the LED display fits easily into the slot.

5. Use a hack saw to cut the ends of both the chrome tube and the PVC coupler at a 45 degree angle. Slide the PVC coupler over the metal tube, with the angled edge facing the angled edge of the chrome tube, and position the coupler above the LED slot. If needed, secure with a bit of epoxy.

6. Paint all of the PVC pieces of your lightsaber and allow them to dry for at least 24 hours. You are now ready to epoxy the 10 LED display to the slot above the grip.

7. Remove the metal pins and plastic base from the electron tube. Place the tube inside the lightsaber, securing it with epoxy just above the 10 LED display.

The Lightsaber's Force

8. Drill a small hole in the lightsaber, where you will be mounting the switch. The size of the hole will depend on the size of switch you are using. The positioning of the lightsaber switch should be strategic, so you aren't slowed down when under attack from the "Dark Side."

9. Attach the positive end of the battery holder to one of the switch connectors. Using electronic wire join the other switch connector to the positive lead on the 2.7 volt LED. Using another wire, connect the negative lead of the LED to the negative end of the battery pack. Cover all uninsulated wires with electricians tape.

10. Remove the end cap below the grip of the lightsaber and slip the switch into the hole you have drilled and tighten the ring nut supplied. Place the battery pack and LED into the end of the lightsaber and replace the end cap. Secure the PVC pieces above and below the grip by inserting machine screws.

11. Practice your Jedi lightsaber technique and may the force be with you.