"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" hype is still fresh in our midst, so it's only natural for fans to make attempts at creating their own "Star Wars"-inspired props.
Most recent are Allen Pan and Drake Anthony's DIY lightsabers. Both YouTubers posted videos of their creations on the video streaming website, and both creations are extremely powerful.
A Warning: Don't Try This At Home Unless You Have Professional Help
Allen Pan, who goes by the handle "Sufficiently Advanced" on YouTube, designed his own real-life, gas-powered IRL lightsaber via ready-made components. His green lightsaber not only lights cigarettes, it can also destroy balloons, which in the video are dressed as Stormtroopers.
According to Tech Times, the components that Pan used to create his real-life lightsaber include a Skywalker lightsaber shell replica, a turkey marinade injector, and combined 3D-printed parts. Meanwhile, for the gas-powered "blade", Pan used mixed methanol and acetone injected into a canister, after which he added butane as propellant.
For added effect, Pan included that iconic "Star Wars swoosh" sound to the device, according to Mashable.
Pan is then able to use his real-life lightsaber/plasma blade by pushing the ignition button.
Another fan who created his own real-life lightsaber is YouTuber Drake Anthony, who goes by the handle styropyro on the website. The 23-year-old "Star Wars" fan was in fact so inspired by Allen Pan's flamethrower lightsaber that he decided to create his own, but instead of fire, Anthony used a 7-watt blue laser.
His creation is just as powerful that it's able to destroy things, such as a tape, cup, wood, etc., by cutting and setting them on fire, according to BGR.
Anthony shared details of how he made his DIY lightsaber on the video description:
"In terms of building a working lightsaber, the two main limiting factors are beam confinement and high-energy density storage. With the amazing Li-Ion batteries that the scientists/engineers have developed, stupidly powerful handheld lasers can be built, just like this one here. The issue then becomes confinement, which doesn't look possible any time soon with a device like this. Oh well, my attempt is still bright and lights things on fire!!
My device uses a Nichia GaN laser diode, which was overdriven to 7W of output by running it at 4.6A with a couple high-efficiency buck drivers in parallel. An anti-reflective coated glass lens focuses the beam, and the whole device is powered by two unprotected 18650 batteries in series."
Even before "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" debuted in theaters, there have been fans who attempted making their own lightsabers. However, they're not exactly as powerful as the ones mentioned above. Check them out in the videos below.
Created in 2014
Created in 2013
Created in 2012
Created in 2010