After inventing the world’s first retractable “lightsaber,” a YouTuber has inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records. Alex Burkan, the creator of the YouTube channel Alex Lab, designed a device that resembles the Star Wars lightsabers. When activated, it can generate a 1-meter (3.28-foot) long plasma blade — considerably more than a fancy torch, the 2,800°C (5,072°F) blade can cut through steel.
He had always wanted his own lightsaber as a lifelong Star Wars fan. He began working on hydrogen generation equipment in 2013 and began to believe he could develop something similar to the fictional weapon. “An electrolyser is a fundamental component of my lightsaber,” Burkan told the Guinness Book of World Records. “An electrolyser is a device that can produce a large amount of hydrogen and oxygen and compress it to any pressure without the use of a mechanical compressor.”
Making the burner and gas distribution system small enough to fit inside the lightsaber handle was the most challenging component – or one of many difficult parts. The product is a lightsaber that can cut through steel despite lacking the device’s inspiration-defined edges. However, there are a few flaws in the prototype.
“On full power, it only lasts 30 seconds, the hydrogen torch isn’t as stable as it might be, and you can see it moving,” Alex explained, adding, “occasionally the lightsaber just blows up in your palm due to hydrogen flashback.” Unlike the lightsabers in the movies, however, real-world lightsabers offer advantages.
“Because plasma is a stream of highly ironized particles, this lightsaber can also draw lightning and other high-voltage charges,” says the author. Another YouTuber, Hacksmith’s James Hobson, had previously created a retractable lightsaber, but that version required you to plug it.
“The Hacksmith version is far more powerful,” Burkan said of his competitors. “It definitely works longer than 30 seconds.” “Because I only have 30 seconds to win, our duel would be exceedingly rapid and ferocious!” Alex has moved on from developing the lightsaber, for which he was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records, to building an Iron Man outfit.
