Rainsaber Funded!
almost 6 years ago
– Fri, Jun 08, 2018 at 08:29:08 PM
To all friends, family, kind strangers of the internet, and Kickstarter: Thank you! You are just as crazy as us. We could not have done this without your trust and support. We have been stewards of taxpayer dollars and non-profit donations before, but this feels special. We promise do everything we can to make sure you get the quality product you deserve on time.
We're still hyperventilating over here, but here's what to expect over the horizon: Your credit card will be charged immediately. Then, in a few weeks, after Kickstarter has processed the funds, they'll be transferred to us. After, that we start placing orders for parts and production begins. This is incredible!
We will provide regular updates here, but follow us on Instagram at @rainsaber for a daily glimpse of what we're up to, whether that's testing a new design, explaining our manufacturing process, or sharing our experience starting a small business. If you missed out on our campaign, or want to purchase more umbrellas, jump on over to our website at www.rainsabers.com to pre-order directly from us.
Again, thank you all. We are always open to suggestions to improving Rainsaber. If you have any ideas or would like to contribute in some way, send us a message. The uprising against the tyranny of foul weather has begun!
48-Hour Father's Day Special
almost 6 years ago
– Sat, Jun 02, 2018 at 01:07:38 PM
Forty-eight hours. Empires have fallen in less time. We can do this!
Important reminder: Father's Day lands in two weeks. Don't be like us and forget every year. We've created a special reward category to help you show your dad just how much you love him.
Purchase (or upgrade to) a Rainsaber two-pack combo for $305 (the new Father-Child Combo), and we'll send a special Father's Day card and keychain to you in time for you to gift them to the father figure in your life on the holiday. That's right, we will ship the key chain and card immediately after the campaign ends. We suggest using the card and key chain as a stand-in for the Rainsaber until we ship this fall.
Here's a look at the card and key chain:
The card, designed by us with our sense of humor, will be printed on quality card stock. The keychain is our Knight hilt printed at 1:5 scale with 100 micron resolution in Markforged's patented Onyx carbon fiber-reinforced filament, the strongest plastic we've found on the market. We love it.
Now, if your father is not the Rainsaber type, we recommend checking out our friends' project here. Davinci XXI, the first personalized modern luxury watch collection on Kickstarter, just launched their campaign and they've already reached their goal. We love their eye for design--their watches have minimalist look with an emphasis on quality. The black model in particular is just our style.
That's all we've got for today, folks. We're nearly there to our goal. If you know anyone in a pinch for a one-of-a-kind Father's Day gift, be sure to send them here.
Have a great weekend!
Stay On Target...
almost 6 years ago
– Fri, Jun 01, 2018 at 08:02:33 PM
We're so close. 85% and counting. At this point all we need is 27 more pledges at the $155 reward level, or 4,283 at the $1 level, or some combination of the two. Our campaign ends on Monday, June 4th at 12:00PM, so we're still hard at work spreading the word. We can still reach our goal!
Umbrella Sizes: We currently offer two sizes, a child-sized umbrella with a 24" canopy, and an adult size with a 40" canopy. The latter is the standard umbrella size sold most everywhere, with coverage intended for one person. In response to your request for a 62" golf canopy, we have been exploring how to offer this as a reward. Unfortunately, after several weeks of research, we have determined we are unable to include this size for the campaign. The larger canopy introduces too many new engineering and resource challenges in a tight timeline for delivery. We hope to get there in the future, and when we do, you'll be the first to know.
Patent News: We are excited to announce that we are in the process of patenting one of our designs. Publicly displaying an invention can complicate the approval process, so we've kept some of our custom components close to the chest. We won't be ready to unveil the full design before the campaign ends, but it's an exciting step for Rainsaber.
Weathered Finish: Some of you have asked about a weathered finish for the handles. The carbon fiber-reinforced material we use takes paint extremely well. Below you can see a prototype handle we've painted and stressed to give it that battle-worn saber look. It's a rite of passage for heroes to build their own sabers, so you're on your own. But, after a few DIY tutorials available on YouTube, you'll be able to paint yours with ease.
Stay tuned through the weekend to watch our campaign succeed!
Ben
The Final Countdown
almost 6 years ago
– Thu, May 31, 2018 at 07:24:34 AM
Good morning, backers. We have five days left in the campaign. We are so close to our goal, but anything can happen. Some folks cancel their pledges in the final hours, others double up, so we're in uncertain territory here. It's really coming down to the wire!
We are excited to announce another hilt for our line-up, just in time for Father's Day. This one will make a great gift for all those dads out there in any stage of their character arc. We weren't able to get the light box up in time for a professional treatment, but we think it still looks great.
Rainsaber is something that will brighten your world on those dark and stormy days, literally and metaphorically. If you know anyone who needs a reason to smile, now is the time to share our campaign.
Have a great day, everyone!
Blade Test--And the Results Are In.
almost 6 years ago
– Mon, May 28, 2018 at 06:33:02 AM
As promised in yesterday's update, you can watch me test the blade tubes in the video below. If you're short on time, here is the TLDW (Too Long Didn't Watch):
We chose a frosted 7/8" polycarbonate tube over other options because it provides enough durability for our purposes, while saving weight, bulk, and cost. It has some flex, but it is still pretty invincible. I swung about as hard as I would a hatchet without any damage to the tube. For two hilt designs, we moved to pure carbon fiber tubing in the neck for additional reinforcement, but we're still searching for the best epoxy to bond the pieces together.
Enjoy!
Let me know if you have any questions! And yes, I need a belt.
