Options for lightsaber hilt grip

[dasweallycool]

Hey all!

So I was (badly) spinning my Standard issue v2 last night and it nearly flew out of my hand!

I previously stuck some sticky backed neoprene to it but it didn't stick and it was half handing off when I got to it next.. I thought it could have been too thick, but before ordering a thinner version I thought I'd ask here if anyone had any ideas about what else I could use.

The grip I've designed has a few sharp edges so where a racket wrap would grip perfectly, the wrap won't give the edges I need..I feel I need something more like a grippy contact paper, which is all one peice that can be cut.. Does that exist? And does it last?

Any other options would be great!

Thanks all!
Adz

[Cascadejackal]

I don't know about grippy contact paper (I'd imagine there's something) or tennis grip tape. I've used leather cord, suede strip and paracord for my grips and found them all satisfactory, depending on how they're put on.
Something I've been meaning to try out is a rectangle piece of faux leather I picked up for a large grip wrap on my Dark Standard Issue, but that would mean undoing the suede wrap, which took bloody ages to do in the first place.

Here's the grip wraps I've used and remembered to photograph, and what I thought of them.

Leather cord (Half wrap)

The cord I used was way too thick to work well (3mm). It did add a lot of grip, but it was too thick to really be comfortable. Using a thinner cord (I've got some 1.5mm that's about right) would make it much more comfortable.

Paracord (Half wrap) and leather cord (hand stopper wraps)

Paracord is great. Not too thick, very comfortable to hold and it gives a lot of extra grip. The 3mm leather cord works really well like I did it here; it doesn't add much grip, but that extra thickness makes it a lot harder for your saber to just slide out of your hand.

Suede strip (full wrap)

Probably my favorite grip wrap material. 3mm/1.5mm, I think. The texture is a bit rough at first, but once you're used to it it's fine. It gives plenty of extra grip, isn't too thick, and if you do even a half decent job (I suck at grip wraps) it'll be plenty secure.


Hope that helps.

[Dauntless Seven]

Hi das.  What are these sharp edges that you are mentioning ?  Please post a photo so we can see what you are presently using.  Thanks.   

[dasweallycool]

 
here's my saber before everything peeled off, it's two sheets of neoprene cut into a kind of kite shape and wrapped.. I even tried using the rubber rings to keep it on without success..

You can see where the sharp edges to the design would be..

Many thanks!

[Dauntless Seven]

Thanks for the photo.  That looks really uncomfortable and inefficient.  On a tubed shaped saber such as the SI or the Libby, aside from the 0 rings, a tennis wrap grip or a leather grip is the best.  I'll post some examples on a few of my sabers.  Got to get using something simple that will actually help with your hand grips, feel good to hold and compliment your saber. 

[Dauntless Seven]

Hi.  Here's another photo with suggestions for a grip and 0 rings.  The  Dominix has rings underneath a reversed black tennis grip.  The Shock has rings under a piece of leather.  A little thick for my taste so leather will be changed out but still works well.  An easy measure and cut out for the covertec wheel.  The tennis grip seals itself nicely and I used Scotch brand doubled sided tape on the hilt to secure the leather.  It has not shifted and there are more permanent methods if you are sure of not wanting to remove at a later time.   

[Cascadejackal]

 
here's my saber before everything peeled off, it's two sheets of neoprene cut into a kind of kite shape and wrapped.. I even tried using the rubber rings to keep it on without success..

You can see where the sharp edges to the design would be..

Many thanks!

Did you sand your hilt before gluing the neoprene on? What kind of glue did you use?

[dasweallycool]

Many thanks for all the comments! nope, didn't sand down the hilt, literally used the sticky backed stuff which came on the neoprene.. I'm starting to think it was a little thick and therefore less plyable than it could have been..

[Cascadejackal]

Many thanks for all the comments! nope, didn't sand down the hilt, literally used the sticky backed stuff which came on the neoprene.. I'm starting to think it was a little thick and therefore less plyable than it could have been..

If you're set on using the neoprene sheets, sand the hilt before sticking them on. That should get them sticking better. You can, and probably should, use something to keep the neoprene pressed as tightly to the hilt as possible while the glue sets. Clamps, really tight rubber bands, or some kind of strap if you can fine some small enough. Those round metal hose clamps you tighten with a screwdriver might actually be almost perfect for holding the sheets on until it's set properly.
If you use the hose clamps, and are worried about damaging the neoprene, wrap a single layer of fabric (like from an old t-shirt) around the hilt before putting them on.
Leave the whole thing clamped and/or wrapped for a while, from a few hours to a day, just to make absolutely sure it's set.

Really hope that helps.

[dasweallycool]

Many Thanks indeed Jackel! POINT!

[RDWilson]

Here's a couple ideas for grips that I have used. I haven't tried these on lightsabers, but I use them on my LARP swords and they seem to work quite well. For one, I have just taken electrical tape and wrapped the grip. It's a very simple and also a very easy to make grip that I've put on most of my swords. The second grip has a wire wrapping. I first wrapped the hilt in electrical tape, then attached a wire to it and wrapped it around. It takes a bit of time to wrap the wire on properly, but once done it provides a wonderful grip that feels great and looks even better! Again, I haven't tried these on a lightsaber, but for the dueling purposes that I use them for, they work wonderfully.

[Darth Cephalus]

I put all my advice on grips in this thread
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24139.0