He says his mailbox is flooded with orders from fans around the world. For him, becoming a master lightsaber maker is a dream come true. They brought all the old characters — Luke, Princess Lea and Han Solo," he said. I get so emotional. He even offers to replace or fix those that break in mock combat."Tsai went on to work as an engineer for a high-power laser design company."I was just a student.And while it won’t cut metal, his lightsaber certainly sounds like the real thing when it’s turned on, with a motion-sensor soundboard that generates the humming and buzzing heard in the movies.Tsai posted video clips of his handicraft on YouTube and other Internet sites, which were then reposted on Star Wars fan websites. He enrolled in an optical engineering school at a Taiwanese university and asked professors for advice. I didn’t have lots of money," he said.The 32-year-old says his model, a metal hilt attached to a glowing polycarbonate tube, is the brightest and strongest on the market, strong enough to use in gentle duels. "I watched the trailer so many times and every time I cry.In the days leading up to the premier of the newest instalment, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Tsai hung out with his friends dressed in Star Wars character costumes — and was busily making more lightsabers. He also provides upgrades to any current or older models.Does he ever worry what he would do for a living if lightsabers faded in popularity "That’s just not going to happen," he said.Producing a realistic replica of the fictional weapon was a decade-long quest for the Tsai, who is better known by his alias Makoto Tsai. "Never. The light was dim and the blade seemed wimpy."As for now, Tsai has no plan to expand his business.He was China LED Bulb Light Series Factory smitten when he first saw Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in 2002.". Prices range from $200 to $400 for the top models. This is not the weapon of a Jedi Knight, but the handcrafted replica of a Taiwanese man who disliked the official Star Wars products, started making his own blades and now sells them for up to $400 each. Soon he had people contacting him and offering to pay for what he calls "Makoto’s lightsaber". He hasn’t kept track of how many he has made, but produces about 10-15 a month since he went full-time in 2012. — APThis is not your father’s lightsaber, Luke.Tsai Jung-chou (centre), also known as "Makoto Tsai", poses with friends as they wield his handcrafted replicas of the Star Wars lightsabre at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. "So I thought I should just make one myself because I like to make things myself anyway."I am actually happy that Disney has bought this movie franchise.Each model takes two to three days to finish, Tsai says.After years of experimentation, he came up with a design using an LED light strip that lights up in sequence, giving a scrolling effect as it powers up.So he decided to build his own. But he was sorely disappointed with the lightsaber he bought from the franchise. It’s a booming business for Tsai Jung-chou, enough for him to quit his optical engineering job three years ago and make models of the iconic sci-fi weapon full-time

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