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Collecting => Customs => Customizing Tips and Tricks => Topic started by: IncomT65 on July 11, 2006, 02:24 PM

Title: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: IncomT65 on July 11, 2006, 02:24 PM

Here's how to make a D-ring for your figure's lightsaber hilt. Initially from FFURG, but instead of superglueing the D-ring on the hilt, I prefer making one through the hilt. This allows for free movement of the D-ring, which makes it easier to let the saber hang more naturally of your figure's belt.

These are the main supplies for making a D-ring: a lightsaber hilt, a push pin, the paper clip from making the removable blade and a tie strip (the ones for tying up plastic garbage bags, sandwich bags, etc.):
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_01.jpg)

Push the push pin firmly in the saber hilt. Not all the way through, just enough that it stays in:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_02.jpg)

Remove the pin and heat up the paperclip over a flame. Let it become quite hot. Better hold the paperclip with plyers. Push the hot paperclip firmly in and through the hilt at the spot where you pushed the pin in. Then remove the paperclip:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_03.jpg)

Strip the tie strip of it's plastic and loop the metal thread twice through the hole in the hilt:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_04.jpg)

Place a round object (like this pick, a toothpick, the blade of the lightsaber, depends on how small/large you want the D-ring to be), in the D-ring and pull both 'loose' ends tightly:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_05.jpg)

Using a wire cutter, cut off the loose ends as close to the hilt as possible. What I did was tightening the D-ring a bit more, cut off the ends and remodel the D-ring with the pick:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_06.jpg)

Push a pin in your figure's belt and superglue another piece of paperclip in that hole. After the glue has dried thoroughly, bend the paperclip in a 90+ degree angle and cut it off to the right size. You might want to make the point less sharp:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/incomT65/Customs/Tutorials/D-ring/D-ring_07.jpg)

There you have it. This is quite easy to do, but it adds much to your custom.

- Incom

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: CHEWIE on July 11, 2006, 03:40 PM

Wow, now that is a great tutorial!  Thanks for sharing this technique!

 :)

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: aeseven7 on July 11, 2006, 04:46 PM

Great tutorial~!

I had been mulling over adding some d-rings to some of my Jedi customs and this seems like the perfect way to do so!

And the pics REALLY help!  I'm horrible with pure text descriptions, lol.

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: Glassman6 on July 11, 2006, 04:54 PM

Great work incom,  both of your tutorials are great.

You should add these to one big "Lighsaber" thread.

Gret pics.

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: CloneCommander1 on July 11, 2006, 05:08 PM

Great tutorial, thanks!

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: IncomT65 on July 12, 2006, 07:06 AM

Thanks everyone for the comments! Hopefully you'll be able to put this to good use.

CloneCommander1, a D-ring would be ideal for your already excellent Snowspeeder Luke  ;D

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: CloneCommander1 on July 12, 2006, 01:03 PM

Thanks, per your suggestion, I'm giving luke a removable blade and a D-ring.  I'll post pics when I'm done.
EDIT: here it is.
(http://threads.rebelscum.com/photogallery/data//500/medium/D-Ring_002.jpg)

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: blaster_e11 on July 13, 2006, 06:34 AM

cool tutorial,

i need to find some thin wire for military customs, where did you find yours ?

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: IncomT65 on July 13, 2006, 01:56 PM

I think you can find it at any household store or supermarket. Like I said, I used one of those strips which you use for tying up a garbage bag. They're metal, but have a plastic covering for safety.

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: Phrubruh on July 13, 2006, 03:24 PM

Very nice and well thought out tutorial. Please post more of these.

Title: Re: Tutorial: D-ring on lightsaber hilt
Post by: Roton7 on July 13, 2006, 06:15 PM

I did this today, and I'm so satisfied! The D-ring doesn't look absolutely perfect, but it works, and it looks so real.

I'm gonna post pics later. :)