Lightsaber Creation - Building A Lightsaber
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The lightsaber is a focused beam energy weapon in the shape of a blade with a metal hilt Each lightsaber is approximately 30cm in length while the blade itself is normally about a meter long and always cylindrical. Both the Jedi and Sith have chosen the lightsaber as their preferred weapon. Wielding a lightsaber takes a great amount of skill and in the hands of a trained Jedi or Sith the lightsaber is a most formidable weapon. Jedi and Sith alike treat the lightsaber with the reverence Samurai treat their swords - the lightsaber is more than merely a weapon it is an extension of the warrior who wields it.
Each Jedi ,on completion of their training, must build their own lightsaber to suit their particular combat style. During training a Padawan uses a training lightsaber which is less powerful and shorter than their final weapon.
The Adegan crystals used to generate a Jedi lightsabers beam can only be found on the planet Illum. Before the crystal is used in a lightsaber it must be absolutely perfect and the act of perfecting the crystal takes the skill only possessed by a true Jedi. This process can take up to 6 weeks. These crystals give the lightsaber their traditional colors of blue and green. Mace Windu is the only Jedi to wield a purple bladed lightsaber.
Sith lightsabers use synthetic crystals, forged in a furnace, which accounts for their distinctive red color. Red crystals are not ideal for lightsaber construction but are more in harmony with the dark side of the force. A Sith lightsaber is capable, in extreme circumstances, of "breaking" a Jedi lightsaber.
In the early Star Wars movies you see aged Jedi battling somewhat slowly. The nearest thing to frenetic lightsaber combat were Luke Skywalkers early lightsaber skills. Not until Episode I arrived did you get to experience advanced lightsaber combat from Qui-Gonn, Obi Wan and Darth Maul.
How to build your own lightsaber