Lightsaber for $33 in 33 Minutes

Use this easy step by step instruction on putting the parts together to build your own lightsaber unit. It requires no soldering, gluing or anything other than the following parts and everything is in the plumbing area of Home Depot: Pop-up Basin Drain (1), Drain extension tube with threads and slip nut (1), Slip nut and washer (1), 1 1/4" Disposal gasket (6), 1 1/4" Slip joint washer (6), Faucet hole cover (1).

Step 1: Lightsaber Head - Blade Length Adjustment Ring

Put aside the drain cap, rods and brackets on the Pop-up basin drain. You can use them for other projects, but you don???t need them here. Slide the washer from the slip nut and washer set onto the pop-up basin drain until it is against the ball valve.

Step 2: Butt and Handle

Unscrew the slip nut from the extension tube, remove and put aside the “wing nut” on the faucet hole cover and insert the faucet hole cover into the threaded end of the extension tube. Replace and tighten the slip nut. You may have to put the faucet hole cover into the slip nut first and then fit it onto the extension tube to make it easier.

Step 3: Preparing Head for Connection to Handle

Slide two slip joint washers over pop-up basin drain on the long end.and put them about 1-2 inches apart.

Step 4: Adding the Grip on the Handle

Alternating, slide a disposal gasket over the non-threaded end of the extension tube, then slide a slip joint washer. Repeat this 5 more times. You can very this depending on how much of a grip you want relative to the grooves in the grip. You may need more (more of a black fully covered grip) or less (more chrome showing through if you space them apart.)

Step 5: Connect Handle and Head

This is the hardest part. Slide the pop-up basin drain into the extension tube. You’ll need to feed the slip joint washers into the tube because the fit will be tight. After you get the first one in, press down until the next one is lined up and get that fed in. Be careful to work it so the two tubes aren't crooked to each other. Then get over the thing and push…agin be careful, before you push, to make sure all the rubber is inside the tube or the hilt will be crooked. I found that if I worked the last little bit of the second gasket on the opposite side of that which I worked the last part of the first gasket, it ensured a straight line up of the two tubes. Also, if you are using the plastic pop-up drain, be careful not to break it. I was able to put a fair amount of pressure on it though.

Step 6: Optional Items

Insert something red into the ball value on the pop-up basin drain and replace the nut as a button, just use the nut as the on/off button or remove it altogether.

Instead of the disposal gaskets, you could wrap the hilt with leather or cord to give it a multi-medium kind of feel. Or just leave it plain chrome.

Also, as pictured, if you have a spare hard drive or CD ROM drive lying around, you can take out the spindle hub and use it as the emitter on the business end of the sabre.

Step 7: The Battle

Unknown to me, my kids had some Adegan/Ilum crystals and inserted them into the blade matrix when I wasn't looking. I was able to snap this image before breaking it up. It's all fun and games until someone loses an arm. (please note: the blades in this image are photoshopped. technology hasn't come that far.)