May The 4th Be With You | lightsaber assembly 

5:24 "making something that looks like it belongs there." Man, that simple quote was extremely edifying to me. Ty for sharing your process ⚡

Your wife is super awesome! We thank her for allowing/helping you to do what you do! May the Force Be With You!

Personally I love Star Wars, because it gave me father figures when mine wasn’t there. Gave me characters I could relate to, because theirs wasn’t with them either.

Emotional and beatyful video! Thanks for shearing! For me Star wars is Magic.... being a child again even when I am 45 years old!

With a replica of the graflex on my wall I nearly teared up watching lol

Why Star Wars? Escapism. Plain and simple. Just take me on an adventure in a galaxy far, far, away!

That was Awesome, Brian. Almost brought me to Tears. You're quite the Wordsmith. May The 4th Be With You.

Been a fan since '77, when I was five. Remember being enamored with the Rebel Fleet Trooper uniforms and of course the Stormtroopers.

I was 18 when I watched A new Hope in the theater way back in 1977. I was blown away and have been a fan ever since. It's hard to say why I'm a fan. I guess it's everything about it, as you said …. It's perfect. May the 4th be with you.

May the fourth is the best day

Because the original movies felt real, you could relate to it. Just as you said. Star Wars was the first non-cartoon movie I ever saw in the theater at 6 years old. Been hooked ever since. By the way, my favorite all time prop is Obi Wan's lightsaber hilt. Made with grenade, graflex, engine and sink parts. Genius!

Well, thanks for the intense emotional reaction to a prop making video. Your passion is a blessing, thank you for all your love and hard work.

Price has always been the most difficult thing to overcome when trying to make Star Wars props correctly; second only to availability. Thankfully the fan base is massive and extremely helpful with sources, replicas and making iterations to existing items that one may come close enough to usually ignore the percentage of inaccuracy on the build and just enjoy it as their own piece of SW kit. Keep making, y’all. Love the channel!

Well done Brian. I appreciate how you enjoyed assembling it and taking us with you on the journey. May the force be with you.....Always.

There is so much about this video, and really, this channel that I absolutely love. That being said, that lightsaber assembly had to be the most relaxing thing I've seen in ages.

Wow. Watching you make the saber was a callback to 9 years ago when I built my first lightsaber. I spent weeks looking for pieces and parts I wanted to use; so that I could stay up all night when Star Wars: The Old Republic launched; building my lightsaber. Even though it may be "Just a prop" to some people; it's a pretty sacred experience.

I am so with you on the philosophy of “in the Star Wars universe”. It frees up your artistic and designer self to be creative. I love every episode you two make…very inspiring! Please keep it up!

MAY THEFOURTH BE WITH YOU MYDUDE

Just two small tips if you want to make the saber even more accurate: Remove the tab under the red button (the one under the bunny ears), and attach a piece of .5in wide chrome tape over the Graflex logo on the clamp

Thank you for your honest and emotional response. I have to admit that I did get a bit teary eyed myself watching you craft your 'perfect prop'. And your answer I believe resonates with all of us Star Wars geeks! I was born August of 75 and swear I remember being in the theatre when ANH came out and have been hooked ever since thanks to my folks, as I do with my girls now. Stay healthy and #MayTheFourtBeWithYou!

Thank you for making this. You really said it in a way I've never been able to. From one life long Star Wars fanatic to another. May The Force be with you, always.

May the 4th be with you ... always

Brian and Carissa as always AMAZING CONTENT and very much the truth for all of us fans.

In 1998, I bought a Graflex flash handle off of eBay for like $60 and converted it to an ESB Darth Vader lightsaber. Powerful experience.

I was born July 1977. The only toy I can remember not having was the AT-AT. However, my neighbor had one and I had the snow speeder. All the toys that are worth so much money I played with until the fell apart, were tied to fire crackers, or target practice for the BB gun. Star Wars mixed with GI Joe, Transformers, He-Man, and more. In March, before Disney shut down, I got to watch my 8 year build a light saber at Savi's workshop. The DIY light saber is next.

You brought me way back when I saw Starwars for the first time. Very good memories. Thank you Brian and awesome job on the graflex saber.

This is a perfect video. Seeing you work on the lightsaber, was like watching a watchmaker perform a labour of love on a Swiss timepiece.

I know this video is 3 years old at the time. But for me, Star Wars is warm. I’m not very old but with the age that I am, Star Wars brings a nostalgic feeling. Im not really a nerd for anything else. There’s just something about it that makes me feel like a kid again. And that makes me feel safe. I grew up watching it with my brother and my dad. And while my dad has since passed and my brother doesn’t share the same affinity for star wars that I do I feel like when I watch it I don’t feel alone. I think I understand the mentality for sports lovers. Brian helped me understand that in this video. Because before this video I couldn’t really understand what the big deal was with sports. Well… perhaps sports gives them the same feeling Star Wars gives me and I can honestly say I respect it.

Speaking of futuristic binocs, we need some of those.

Lol love that 3d printed part for perfect placement of the rubber grips. Apparently there are a lot of antique collectors that’s hate people who remake Star Wars props with original parts. There are supposedly several items that are now next to impossible to get that haven’t been destroyed to become a prop. Though I don’t think the Graflex Lightsaber is one of them, as that part isn’t valued by antique people.

We need to get you over to The Custom Saber Shop and get a soundcard in that Graflex. I get wanting to have such an iconic item from the Star Wars universe, but letting your imagination run wild is so much more fun. I've built 7 fully customized lightsabers with full motion activated sound and glowing blade and I think all of them are awesome in their own right, but my favorite is still my very first that I call Obsession. Why do I love Star Wars? Because on my way home from seeing it the very first time back in 1977 I was convinced I was a Jedi.

I lucked into a vintage Graflex flash handle and reflector dish on eBay in the early 2000s. I got it for under $100.00. I can't remember for sure if it was a Buy It Now or if simply nobody else bid on it. I still have it.

I needed this level of positivity today, I'm really glad I found this channel. Star Wars has always meant so much to me, and it's always so nice to see such genuine passion and love for the franchise.

Dude! I'm the same! Born August '77, and my mom was pregnant with me when my parents saw Star Wars!

It being a graflex Camera flash turned lightsaber prop is the reason its my favorite.

You guys are such an inspiration in every single video. What a wonderful experience this has been. Thank you, and may The Force new with you.

Lol love the death star weed grinder

I have had a graflex tube for over 18 years. I ebayed an old 4x5 speed graphics graflex camera for an art class. In this old metal tin case with the camera was the original flash tube. Instantly I knew what I had...been offered more for the tube alone than I paid for the whole kit. I bought the conversion kit but never did make the saber. I was always worried I'd screw up the screws drilling it. Then kind of forgot about it for 15 years. LOL

Wow, what an amazing build, also you really explained how star wars fans like us love star wars for many reasons it just really was well explained and I thank you for that. May the force be with you!

Brian and gang, I really enjoyed this episode. Your take on Star Wars fan comparison with sports fan reminded me of the last time I was in Galaxy's Edge. I had a moment of clarity where I finally understood what sports fans must feel when they enter the stadium or field: It's a place where all the unique interests and artwork I identify with are not just accepted, but celebrated. I'm glad you identified as someone who makes props from that universe, rather than a prop replicator. It's a big universe to build and play in. In my Indy fan days, I always wanted to be someone Indy would punch in the face, rather than Indy himself :D Looking forward to new adventures

Hey Brian, nice saber!! If you want to make it just that much more accurate, you need to remove the little screw and "beer tab" under the top red button. ESB didn't have one. And get yourself a strip of 1/2" reflective Mylar tape from Amazon to go around the clamp and cover the logo. In my opinion, it's what really sets the ESB apart from the others. And a neat little trick you can do is rub Sharpie on the clamp card, then use some alcohol to wash *most* of it away. This will darken the card, giving it a more satisfying vintage color to the PCB. Keep up the awesome builds!

Vaders MPP is my "gateway drug" to answer the same question. Have never been able to find one and prob never will. Like you, that is 1 prop I will not be happy with unless its the real deal and legit. Fantastic video bro.

Beautiful work there! The Esb saber is also my fave! I love your dedication and passion for the SW universe and it's props. I saw Star Wars when I was eight but Empire really opened the door for my fandom. Love your videos and your creations.

May the force be with you Brian!!!

What a beautiful replica prop! How did it feel to finally make one of your favorite props from Star Wars? When I built mine several months ago, it was such a fun and good feeling to create a beloved prop in the spirit of how the original props were made. Thanks for sharing your love of Star Wars with us. May the 4th be with you Brian and Clarissa!

I normally watch youtube videos on my roku tv so I never really comment on videos, but this one I had to open it on my phone to give this one a thumbs up and say I love this video and hearing your story about your personal connection to Star Wars.

What a fantastic story my friend!!! Congratulations!,👏🙌👏🙌👏🙌👏🙌👏🙌👍❤️😉👍‼️

I totally blew at the screen after you drilled out the holes for the Kobold clip at 10:24 😂. I think this quarantine has sent me mad! Beautiful build though smugglers. This would also be the one prop I would choose if I could have a true replica. But I'm right there with you about getting more of a kick out of making something which looks like it could belong to that galaxy. Partly because it feels more akin to the way the original prop dept would have worked, and there's no limit to how creative you can be.... but also because I'm too impatient, cheap and terrified about screwing up with screen used parts. May the 4th be with you all.

May the 4th be with you Always

I was 7 years old it was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. And to make it even cooler it was a drive in theater . My aunt and uncle took my 3 cousins and I to see it. I still remember my little cousin passed out on the rear speaker shelf in the back window of my uncle's nova while the other 2 fought over popcorn . And my eyes and ears were glued to every sound and image on that giant screen. It's been imprinted on my brain and in my sole ever since. Still have every toy I was given as a child. And since have enjoyed all the movies with my kids and now grandkids. Keep up the awsome videos they're terrific. Only make me wish I had a basement lol. I would love to build one of your droids with my grandson . MTFBWY

I need one of these sabers in my life.

100% in same mindset as this fan! I'm in the universe not so much to build replicas but the texture and greeblies that establish the look and feel of a great sci-fi universe. The greatness of this video is that we never get to see Luke or any other Force User make their Lightsaber, but get the soul of it here! Thank you for your fanship and this video! I may not be as happy with the current custodians of the franchise, but will likely always be a fan of the originals and prequels (Vader scene in Rogue One included). This video rekindled my fire for the franchise. The building of your Lightsaber almost made me feel like I was a voyeur during a moment of true-love making; it was intimately beautiful! XD Well done mate; well done. The Force is strong with this one! - Subbed!

Keep going back to this. It's a beautiful video mate.

Another awesome build! May the 4th be with you....always! Keep up the great work guys!

I have to say I love Anikan style hilts just because there so interesting

Of all the things I've made on my 3D printer, the idea never even crossed my mind to make a grip jig. I remember my first Graflex (back when they hit the "insane" price of $150) and trying to line up grips based on a paper print of a clock layout.. Love the story of how you became a fan, and how your collecting changed. Sounds all too familiar

May the Forth be with you Brian and Carissa! Beautiful video and great lightsaber, now time to make a greeblie covered stand for it like I did!

Thank you for all the inspiration. In a few hours my first prop build video will be up!

Blame the parents 😂 absolutely. Very interesting video.

It was an honor to watch you make what you consider to be the perfect replica. MT4thBWY

When it comes to prop and costume replicas, I'll either buy licensed ones or those made by artists who have taken the time to research the parts used, replicate them and sell them. There have been a handful of "off the shelf" items I've been able to find that required little to no effort to make them screen accurate. I collect not only STAR WARS prop replicas and costume pieces but pieces from other films and TV shows including the original "MacGYVER", "Chuck", "NCIS" and "Indiana Jones". It's much easier to make a prop that resembles those used on screen than it is to make an exact replica. My reasoning for this is, I'm not the character in the film that used this part or that part, I'm a citizen in the STAR WARS universe who had to adapt my equipment for my needs, just like Anakin was constantly doing.

Awesome!!

Thank you Brian, for expanding upon the universe that we all love.

Why am I a Star Wars fan? Well, I am a sci-fi fan But I like Star Wars a little more For two Reasons. The First and most important one is that May 4 is my birthday. The second is that some of my family were extras in the Star Wars movies. Love your videos and thank you for what you are doing and all your hard work.

That episode was perfect!

What a beautiful and poetic video 👏👏 I love it, and you're totally right that lightsaber is so iconic, beautiful and perfect ❤ May the Force be with you Brian 😉👍

Brilliant. Well built and well said. 🤘

I have one but for me it was a new hope i had to make. It was the one that started it all!

Hey man really loved this video I’m a big Star Wars fan. I always loved the light saber and the feeling of using the force to move things always excited me and that’s what made me a fan

you guys out do your self's every week your production and delivery is one of the best around great work team Thompson

seeing all the toys made me think back to all the hours spent in my back yard playing with my Star Wars micro machines.....damn I was cool! 😎

The camera footage in this is amazing guys.. keep up the good work

a perfect presentation! I love what you do normally. but, this was an awesome diversion from what you normally do.

Happy Anniversary. This was great. You know, funnily enough, I am working on a custom (of my own desgin) saber while watching this.

It absolutely, most certainly was.

Wow, great video! Gave me the feels. You guys are great keep the videos coming!

I am definitely with you on the screen accuracy issue. Though it's awesome to have a perfectly screen accurate prop, I like making something that would be MY equipment in the Star Wars universe. So it allows me to have a part of the universe all my own! 😁

Nice👍 Looking good🥇

Perfect episode, my man!!

Hey guys, Great video. It was nice to see this thank you. I shared it on my FB page. I have to say your videos have gotten SO much better! Stay healthy!

Beautiful that's my favorite lightSaber too. Fantastic job

Awesome video, awesome project! Thanks!

Thank you for sharing this with us! I'm glad that there are so many passionate people out there and make our own universe a better place. Stay safe an may the force be with you, always!

I feel the same way about people shaming me because I am obsessed with starwars, like you can tell me what school your favorite player came from and I can tell you anything about order 66!!!!!

Awesome show today. My memories of Star Wars was watching it for the first time with my dad on an 8mm film reel. It was the first film that I watched with him. The magic of robots, spaceships , the strange characters and the far away planets. You can get lost for a moment in life. You can be a character fighting the never ending battle of good and evil. You can rescue the princess or save a planet. My love of Star Wars was strong. Fast forward in time, after my dad passed away, some of the memories I have of him is sitting there watching Star Wars with him. I wanted to have those feelings again, I joined the 501st and my love grew even more. The experiences I had, the people I met, made me feel like I was in a Star Wars movie, different characters, different nationalities. The armor I have, and props I have that I can wear and hold makes the Star Wars universe believable, an escape from reality for a moment in time. The other good thing about the star wars universe and the fans that we share our passion with are not judgemental of others. We are embraced by those who we share our love of Star Wars with, no matter if our armor and weapons are store bought, high priced replicas or hand built with what ever you have around the house, if it looks good to you, it looks great to me.

yayyy! i was wondering what you'd do for the 4th ! love the saber and your channel Brian!

This was awesome! You made me a better fan by watching this! I’m buying Vader Immortal today! VR is one of the best ways to be fully immersed in the star-wars experience!!!

Thank you for this video

A stunningly beautiful video mate, an awesome build and wonderful heartfelt reflection.... Thank you for this.

Thx for all the Joy and inspiration I hope you keep making Al the content and stuff

Just saw this tonight, absolutely amazing video! The graflex has never really been my personal favourite saber, I still love it as it’s the original but personally Luke’s Return of the Jedi saber has always been my all time favourite it means so much to me and really had a big impact on me when I was 6 and first saw the original trilogy. Again such an amazing video Quick question tho, the music that plays when you put together the lightsaber, where’s it from? As I’m doing a rotj Luke cosplay and would love to use that music when I show a demo of the full costume on me

Love the new music

Thanks for sharing - great photography, lighting, sound and editing by the way...I just noticed that I hadn't noticed it before because it is so good. Keep up the good work and I just found this next video on my RU-vid feed about the history of some of the Star Wars weapons from the National WW2 Museum titled "The Weapons of Star Wars: A Look at WWII-Era Objects and Weapons That Became Sci-Fi Classics". Coincidence? mmm I wonder? :) Enjoy and thanks again for the great content and your enthusiasm.

You guys out did yourselves with this video great job!

Cool Build

Why star wars because of everything in it is so well thought out the story's, characters,ships it's a wonderful escape to a galaxy far far away

I'm right there with you brother.

Happy fourth

Cool

Damn you did it again. Oddly enough I planned a livestream this week of a lightsaber build from junk for May the 4th. But it will pale in comparison lol. But you inspire me to do better. Stay safe man.