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How to Make a Lightsaber Replica

Lightsabers are the iconic Jedi laser sword seen in the Star Wars movies, and consist of a metal hilt and a three foot plasma blade. The original props were constructed from vintage camera flash battery packs, along with other pieces of basic hardware including windshield wiper blades and the display from an LED calculator. Although the exact models of camera flash handles used in the films are difficult to come by, most any vintage flash battery pack can be used to fashion a convincing lightsaber replica.

Things You'll Need

  • Vintage camera flash battery pack
  • Windshield wiper blades
  • Small piece of circuit board
  • Heat glue
  • Aluminum foil adhesive tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Acquire a vintage camera flash handle that's around 8-inches in length. Strip off the reflector dish, bulb holder and any other parts you don't want included on your lightsaber prop. If it's not integral to the flash battery pack, be sure to retain the central clamp used to fix the handle to the camera.

    • 2

      Clean and polish the flash handle before adding any additional parts, being sure to remove any batteries still inside.

    • 3

      Cut the windshield wiper blades into short pieces of around 3-inches each. Heat glue six of them vertically, at even intervals, around the bottom of the handle to create the grip.

    • 4

      Cut a rectangular piece of circuit board to the right dimensions to fit inside the closed clamp. Although it doesn't move, the clamp is used to represent the switch that turns the lightsaber on and off.

    • 5

      Cut strips of aluminum tape to cover any manufacturer's etchings or embossing on the flash handle, and stick it over the markings.

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