Geek Family Kitchen: Lightsaber Hilt

     When Ray made a lightsaber for himself years ago, you can bet I was jealous. I was busy with school and my art projects at the time and didn't have much time for crafts. I tried to get Ray to make me one, but he insisted that it was a craft that should be individualized. When I asked him what he wanted to do for the video, he suggested we make lightsabers together, since I never made my own. I was thrilled!



     Now you can make your own. This doesn't have any sort of light or blade, but it can be worn as a cool prop for your favorite Jedi costume.



What You'll Need:

3/4" wooden dowel

Sand paper

Faucet handle

Faucet head

1/2" hose clamp

Epoxy

Metallic spray paint

Mod Podge or other sealer

Craft foam

Crystal

Button-sized jewel or semi-precious stone



Directions:

1. Cut your dowel to the length you want your hilt to be. Sand the dowel with sand paper.



2. Drill pilot hole at one end of dowel. Pop end off faucet handle and replace the screw that it came with with a wood screw. Attach the handle to the dowel with the wood screw and replace the faucet end.



3. Fill in the gap between the faucet handle and dowel with epoxy or similar substance. Smooth it to desired taper. Allow it to dry or harden.



4. Fit hose clamp onto dowel. Set it to where you'd like your switch to be. Tighten clamp.



5. Taper the end of the dowel opposite the end with the handle. If you want your faucet head to retain its original colors, leave it off. If you want it a homogeneous color, glue it on. (We started with E600, but found out the hot glue actually works better.)



6. Sand the plastic pieces of your lightsaber to give them a rougher texture to better hold the paint.



7. Spray paint the lightsaber thoroughly. Allow to dry for 24 hours.



8. Seal the lightsaber with Mod Podge or other sealer. Allow to dry for 24 hours.



9. If you left the faucet head off for painting, it is now time to attach it with hot glue. If you left it on, skip to step 10.



10. Decorate your lightsaber with strips of craft foam.



11.  Finish the saber off by gluing the crystal into the end of the faucet head and the jewel or stone onto the switch.