Design XIIDesign XI
Design X
Design IX
Design VIII
Design VII
Design VI
Design V
Design IV
Design III
Design II
Design I
Replica XReplica IX
Replica VIII
Replica VII
Replica VI
Replica V
Replica IV
Replica III
Replica II
Replica I
The Right Hand of DoomCrystal Chamber v1
Sword of Spectre II
Shield of Spectre
Crucifix Daggers
Padawan
Dani Saa
Lightsaber of Dani Saa
Admiral Maidu
Shadow Walker
About
I started making hilts because I wanted a lightsaber that was mine. Not one I could buy at a store, or one that was someone else's design, but something that I designed and built. After all, if you refer to the mythology of Star Wars, a Jedi or Sith, traditionally, build their own lightsaber. It takes them weeks or months to do it, and it's a very delicate process, as if you tweak one thing the wrong way, you'll get a very big boom. It's not exactly the same--no accidental explosions involved--and doesn't take months, but it can take weeks to build a hilt from scratch out of raw materials, especially if you've never built one before. From start to finish, it averages a week to two weeks for me to build a custom hilt I've never built before. That's without schematics or measurements, with only reference images or a rough description to start out. From start to finish, there's conceptual design, sketches, modification to design, printouts, fabrication, further modification and tweaking, paint, assembly, and any necessary touch up. That's if I have all the parts and supplies I'll need already on hand, and if none of my tools break in the middle of fabrication--it's happened before. If it's one I've built before, I can usually work it out in a week or less. That's if it's one of mine and I know exactly what I'm going to do. After several requests from individuals for custom hilts, and a few new friends later, I've decided to post this About page. As mentioned above, it averages two weeks to build a custom hilt, sometimes longer, depending on the design. I don't build my hilts using heavy machinery, such as lathes, Milling Machines, CNC Machines, etc. I wish I had those machines, it would make the process so much easier. However, like most average folks on a budget who don't have a dream shop, I'm limited to hand tools. My best friend is my Dremel, and the largest tool in my arsenal is a small bench-top drill press. There are various other hand tools involved, from files to buffing devices. Everything I make is all done by hand. Whether I'm cutting metal tubing or sculpting plastic for custom parts, there's no large precision machinery involved, in my case. Hence, why it takes so long. If you are sending in an image for a custom hilt commission or a Visitor's submittion, whether it is a scanned drawing, a 3D render, or a PhotoShop render, please, by all means, make sure said image is in JPG format only. I've recieved many odd image formats, for both hilt commissions and Visitor's submittions, and had so many problems trying to open them, I've determined that JPGs are the safest choice in image format and it will save both of us alot of frustration. I've gotten several emails from folks wanting prices. "How much?" Frankly, for such a long time I've felt it would be rude to post prices because then I'd feel like I'm peddling my wares, and that's not the case here, nor the purpose of this site. However, people want custom hilts and want to know how much it will cost to fabricate what they want. I can't give away my work, after all. A custom hilt that I build may range in price from $90 to $130 dollars, depending on the complexity of the design, how long it takes me to build it, what parts are involved, whether replica parts will be used (such as replica Graflex parts), electronics, etc. I don't like charging people so much for a single hilt, but I don't have much of a choice. Parts, materials, and time is expensive. There's no profit involved in making custom hilts. Try going over the following: It averages two weeks--that's ten business days, not including weekends--to build a single hilt. I work on that single hilt an average of eight hours a day, giving me a total eighty hours from start to finish. Now, take $120 dollars and divide it by 80, and you should have 1.5. That's how much I'd be making per hour; $1.50. Not very much, is it? All of my family and friends who know that I make custom hilts for folks think I'm crazy and should charge more. Truthfully, in my case, I don't care about the money involved. I'm not running a business or a production line. I'm not in it for profit or personal gain. I do it for the love of the art. But I can't do it for free. I had to put this in here. People also want to know this, as well. Most often, I ship hilts within the US and Canada. My preferred shipping method is USPS Priority Mail. I use it all the time, and to date I've never had a problem with it, nothing has ever gotten lost, and the package almost always arrives on time. Domestic US shipping via USPS Priority Mail is $10 for a single hilt, shipping time averaging 2-5 business days. Shipping to Canada via USPS Priority Mail International averages $20, if more than one hilt is involved, I use Priority Mail Flat Rate International at $23, shipping time averaging 6-10 business days for either service (layovers with Customs and postal services beyond the States not withstanding). If you are serious about commissioning a design or requesting a replica of one of my designs--only if you are serious and intend to follow through--you can contact me via email at shadowsoftheforceATyahooDOTcom. At that point, we can discuss hilt details, and conclude on a price and payment method. I accept payment via two means:
I accept payment in US Dollars only; I do not accept payment in foreign (non-US) currency. I do not accept personal checks or cash. I apologize if that will be an inconvenience. I use the above methods because they are the safest methods for payment for both the client and myself. Please keep in mind, payment via Postal Money Order will take an average of 3-5 days to arrive via postal mail. PayPal is instantaneous. Unless you are requesting a replica hilt I already have on hand, construction begins upon receipt of payment. Please keep in mind, payment via Postal Money Order will take an average of 3-5 days to arrive via postal mail, sometimes as long as a week depending upon the mailer's origin, whereas PayPal is instantaneous. The time it takes for payment to arrive is not included in the time it takes to build the hilt. As stated above, build time averages two (2) weeks per hilt, depending on the complexity of the design or if stated otherwise during negotiations. Every now and again I get an email with questions like, "I'm making X hilt (insert name of hilt) and was wondering, could you give me schematics for your design? How about groove depth? I can take fractions of an inch if millimeters is asking too much. What are the specific colors and brands of paint you use? How many coats do you put on? What tools do you use? Do you have a CNC machine? Do you have a lathe? What grade of aluminum should I buy? Who's your metal supplier?" Yes, I got an email once that went something like that last one. What possesses some people to ask such in depth questions is beyond me. I don't make schematics, hence I don't have schematics of any of my designs. So don't ask for them, because you won't get them. I sometimes render a concept design in Photoshop and use it for reference when building a new design. Sometimes I refer to these concept designs as blueprints. I don't include measurements, that's verging on schematic. I simply work out a concept design and print it for reference. The final hilt may, visually, appear nearly identical to the concept design, or it may look very little like the original concept design. It all depends on what happens during fabrication. I've been asked to work out concept designs before in negotiations for a custom hilt commission. Either I'm a very bad designer (which I doubt is the case if someone commissions a hilt in the first place), or the individuals took my final design and ran with it, because upon sending them the final design concept, the emails got far and few between, and eventually ended altogether. Sometimes I can work out a concept design in a couple hours, sometimes it takes days. The bottom line: I don't provide concept designs. If you have your own concept design you would like me to work with, that's perfectly fine. If anything must be modified, I will indicate what and why. I will not make one for you or provide one of my own. Sometimes I'll get an email with questions about how I did this on said hilt or how I did that on another, what I used to accomplish this effect, what I used for that section, etc. Sometimes I'll cave and say how I did whatever or what part I used from where. Other times I won't even reply because so many questions are asked, I'd practically be writing a tutorial on how to build the whole hilt. I don't mind sharing information every now and again with a fellow sabersmith, but when it comes down to fabrication techniques and having to provide in depth instructions and a list of tools, I'll pass GO and collect $200 dollars. I don't mean to be rude, by any means, but I draw the line, sometimes. Other times folks will come right out and request a tutorial for a specific hilt or tutorials for all of them. I've made quite a few hilts, hence it would take me a long time to properly document everything, and include pictures. I'm sorry, I don't have time to do that. Besides, there are plenty of lightsaber tutorials out there on the web. I've seen a fellow on ebay selling a PDF supposedly containing tutorials on building particular hilts. I have absolutely no desire nor any need to purchase such a thing, myself, and I figure--although I have no proof to back this up--that the tutorials being sold were plagiarized from Brian's tutorials at Big Yellow Box. I don't know for sure if that is the case, however I have my suspicions, and frankly, it irritates me that someone would do such a thing. Besides, why should you pay for something that should be and is free? Brian's tutorials are still out there, if you know how to access them. When I originally opened this site, I had intended to include tutorials on how I've built each design. But in the process of fabrication, I don't usually have the chance to take pictures. Hence, I'd have to remake every hilt I've built hence far and document the process. I'm lucky I have time to wash my socks lately, so I don't have much time to make tutorials for each of my designs. However, lately I've seriously been considering making a video tutorial for a new, simple design that can easily be modified into your own design. I would include how to's for everything, from patterns to where you can get your specific supplies. I would include info on necessary tools, tool accessories, etc. And what's more, this hilt could be used for dueling, or could be converted to Luxeon or EL with minimal modification (think drilling holes for switches if desired, etc). Sounds cool, doesn't it? Frankly, if I had the time, I'd start working on it right away. Also, this video tutorial would be absolutely and unconditionally FREE. However--oh darn, here it comes--like alot of people out there, I honestly don't have much time right now to indulge in my hobbies, that includes making hilt tutorials. I'd love to do it, but right now I don't have the time to. Just the same, keep an eye out. You never know when I might get the chance to make the first installment of the Video Hilt Tutorial. But, if you happen to see something similar offered on ebay for sale, don't purchase it thinking it would be one of mine or from me. When I place items on ebay, I clearly identify myself. There's no mistaking if it's me who is selling a prop-related item. Besides, as I previously stated, I have no intention of selling this tutorial. It'll be free for everyone. However, if and when I do post it--it will be posted here on SOTF--if I happen to find some fellow selling it on ebay, don't be surprised if you hear in the news that said person was struck down by a rogue bolt of lightning.
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