Saber Forum

 I’m working on a samurai inspired hilt. Has anybody tried to curve a blade.

Could you be more specific with diagram/pics if possible.  You are wanting to curve an US midgrade blade ?  I'm thinking if that's possible... that there will be dead spots where minimal illumination gets through but need more details.  The only ones I've seen that are samurai inspired are those flat acrylic mostly for display blades.  

The concept including the saber itself seems quite interesting.  :)

You would have to heat it at the area you want curved, this would entail removing the diffusion film, heating the tube with the cap on, bending and holding the tube as it cooled.
The problem is three fold:
1. Not getting a weak spot in the blade at the bend. A hair dryer might work but it might not be hot enough.
2. Not getting burn marks on the blade if you use flame.
3. Making sure the light goes through and diffusion film not crinkling.
Other than that it might work. Cool concept I hope it works out.

I don't have the experience or knowledge of how to bend the blade, but I have noticed that if you leave your saber leaning against the wall at an angle, the blade gets a bit of a curve on it's own. You might be able to get a pretty decent bend out of it that way. Don't know for sure though.

The only way I can think is using heat.. but you'll likely compromise the blade strength that way. As a display piece, fine, I would not dual with it.

How much of a curve are you trying to get? It SHOULD be possible using proper heat application

I've started with a standard hilt and have been modding it. So far I am happy with the way its going, although I still have a bit of time before it is needed. A friend of mine is doing a Samurai Stormtrooper and asked me to make something up. It does not need a major curve, just enough to give it that authentic look. I know that a US blade is made to take a beating and I do not think he will be doing any hard dueling with it. I noticed that If you try to bend a blade the film inside does not move evenly with the blade housing. This gives it a spot that will be highly reflective, I need to find a way around that.

I’m not sure the film inside will bend well. Even if you took it out, bent the tube, then placed the film back in. It’d most likely still create kinks

I've conceived of this before. It would be possible, if you have the time, to apply a weight in the tip of the blade, and simply let the plastic......plastically deform. It's the biggest reason why I don't store my blades in my hilts. If you wanted to speed things along, you could use something like a hair dryer to apply some heat. But I am with those saying that the deformed blade would probably only be best suited for cosmetic use and not for dueling.

I think if you put just the right amount of curve in, the film will react the same way it does when you flex a blade normally.

While there will no doubt be some loss of light getting to the tip the more you curve it, I can't see it being a super substantial loss in illumination. Case in point, the "lightwhip" attachments made by "the other guys" all appear to be relatively bright and that is about as curved and flexible as it gets. Of course that is on video/pictures, in reality might be drastically different.

But, without getting into too many details, those are fiber optic. They are effectively solid blades and therefore work differently.

So it is, my bad.

 I think I’ll go ahead and buy a grab bag blade and see what I can do with that one. That way if it fails dramatically I’m not out a lot of money.

Good call

I would buy a piece of pvc or abs tubing that the blade fits in snug. cut it in half long ways. use four to six blocks and attach them to the cut tubing making the bend you want. you won't need much being a samurai blade. I would clamp down one side, heat very lightly with a heat gun and clamping as you go. you shouldn't need very much heat if any really. keep it clamped in the jig for awhile and hopefully it will stay bent. that is what the heat would help with.

Keep us posted on this project, I am very interested. I’ve been researching and formulating ideas for customizing a samurai hilt. A subtlety curved blade would be the perfect way to finish off the look that I hadn’t even considered.

I have a blade that has a slight curve to it all due to having sat at a particular angle with some weight on it.  It was purely unintentional, but now this blade has this curve to it that I haven't been able to get rid of - all from me leaving the saber standing against a wall, blade down, for about a month.

So - it's just a hypothesis, but...  maybe try taking your saber, WITH the blade you want curved installed, and place the blade into something secure like a vice, and just let the weight of the hilt pull it down, or place other things of weight on it, like a chain, etc., and leave it a while.  Worth a shot.

HA! My theory works. +1 the unintentional test.

Point for the mistake that may help me

(http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/veeds98/IMG_0701_zps3kjjawbc.jpg)

(http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/veeds98/IMG_0699_zps8nvytabp.jpg)


Its still in progress but coming along nicely

You chopped off the emitter?

Yes. It had to be done. Many sacrifices have to be made.

Looking good so far.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Hilt looks the part for sure.
Very nice work on that

I took one of my blades with my mantis on it and have it viced at the tip. I plan on letting it hang for a couple weeks to see if the bend sticks.

Be careful not to over stress it. Otherwise you'll put a kink in it. Is it MG or HG? One of my MGs took a hit from a HG, over bB's movie premier, and instantly dented. >:(

I have it in a cool room and it’s a mg blade.  That way it won’t get too warm and over bend.

Nice. Again the Japanese side of my is interested to see how this'll turn out when its done :P I need to get me a blank saber and do something similar. Might a V4 work for this type of look?

Have you considered checking out ripper blades? (sorry if that's not allowed). They have several different types of the flat dark saber type blades.

RHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Can't remember the reason, but RB is on the "other guys" list of unmentionables for the forum.

Here is what it looks like so far. I am still deciding if i want more of a curve..

(http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/veeds98/IMG_0764_zpsufsgtwzs.jpg)

(http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/veeds98/IMG_0765_zpsucciwtwo.jpg)

(http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/veeds98/IMG_0766_zpsbzlbbo9j.jpg)

It's coming along nicely. Personally I think a bit more curve would look good.

Yeah I would say a little more curve.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

That's coming along very nicely!

Nice. Almost a perfect katana looking blade :P I agree tough just a tad bit more of a curve is needed. Didn't think it'd light up as nicely though to be honest. Really liking this idea so far

For the next part I want to install sound. How difficult is it to take the sound assembly from one saber and install it into another. Can I remove everything from the switch back ? Does anyone have an schematic  or pictures of a light sound equipped saber taken apart. I have one to get the parts from I just want to know what I’m doing before I start cutting up a good saber.

I have put a little bit more of a curve in it, I noticed the recovery of the blade is impressive. I can heat it and get a 4-5 Cm droop and as it cools it recovers almost all of it. These blades are extremely durable and resistant to deformation. I will post updated pictures soon.