The idea that started this project is a simple one: build working lightsaber props and drive them with WLED on an ESP32. That is exactly the kind of project this hobby is made for, and what the maker has put together so far looks very promising.
The build itself is nicely low-cost and practical. The blade is a white 3/4 inch PEX tube with a BTF-LIGHTING FCOB COB WS2812B RGB strip inside, running on 5V. The strip is 3.2 feet long with 160 LEDs packed in, only 5mm wide, and rated IP30. For the hilt, a random plumbing fitting gets dressed up with EVA foam, and the grip openings light up. At an estimated 25.00 per saber, that seems like a very approachable way into prop making.
In the clip, two finished-looking sabers glow steadily, one red and one green, in a dim room. The translucent blade tubes read as clean and even, which is likely helped by that COB strip diffusing through the PEX. Right now the wiring runs out of the pommels, but the plan is to tuck everything inside: an ESP32 S3 mini, chosen because it will fit in the hilt, along with a 5V 8A rechargeable battery that will go in there too.
The one open piece is the ignition. The maker asked for effect combinations that would look good when the saber turns on, and a choice has not been made yet. Watching what gets picked for that power-on moment will be the fun part.