Clicky Button vs. Slidey Switch (lightsabers)

TheFullMetalChicken

How do you turn on a lightsaber?

Is it the button at the top of it? The button that is red and prefect for clicking the one that I remember Luke pressing at in A new Hope

OR

Is it the slidey switch that I now, looking back, might possibly see him switching in A new Hope now that I look closer at that scene, and is on every toy lightsaber that I look up online.

Asking cause I want to build my own and that switch bothers me.

Hahnsoo1

Apparently, it depends on the individual lightsaber. Delving into the morass that is Star Wars canon (ugh), it seems that lightsabers have all sorts of buttons and dials and switches on them based on personal preference of the creator/wielder. Some of them have blade length/power modulation dials/slides. Some have activation buttons, in addition to slide/dial controls. If you are looking to recreate a specific lightsaber, you'll have to look it up on a reference image, as each one is unique.

TheLizbot

Building a lightsaber, as far as I know, is the final step on the way to completing Jedi training. It's the Star Wars equivalent of, "You're twelve now (read: an adult). We're going to shove you into the woods, naked, with a sort of pointy stick. Come back with a furry meat thing. Or not, if you're dead." Basically, it's up to the individual to figure it the hell out, so lightsabers are as unqiue as the person who made them.

Sangheili91

I thought lightsabers were activated with the Force. Might be wrong tho.

skeldare

Sangheili91 wrote:

I thought lightsabers were activated with the Force. Might be wrong tho.

No, Han was able to activate Luke's lightsaber to cut open the stomach of a Tan-Tan in Empire Strikes Back.

ben0207

It depends on the Jedi.

Iceman.USAF

From what I recall, the sabers are keyed to a pressure sensitive switch. You double press to activate and release to deactivate. Hence why sabers turn off (mostly) when they go flying. Man I'm a nerd.

MagicToaster

Some Jedis use the clapper system. You know the jingle; "Clap on-clap off"