"Essential" Wasters

[Norm Vujevic]

Hello everyone,
Since I recently moved away from Tim Merritt and my friends from Vandenberg ARMA I'll be attempting to form a study group of my own here in Montana (Malmstrom AFB).

I was wondering what you believe are essential wasters to have, how many to get, and from whom to purchase them.

I'd like to have enough on hand, both padded and wooden, and in whatever styles (long, short, great, even daggers) so that we get the most out of our study time.

What do your groups practice with and where do you get them?

Norm

[Allen Johnson]

Post deleted by Gene Tausk

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Hello Norm, I did this very thing for the ARMA-Appleton group when I started it here. I went to a custom cabinet maker with a pattern for a waster and had 20 made. These worked pretty well for the first few members to at least get their hands on a waster and expirence the art until they decieded on thier own.

Since that time we now have a member who is a woodworker who makes awesome wasters for our group, otherwise they order thier own. If I had to do it over again I would have shopped around a little more as the first cabniet maker to agree to make the wasters I went with, the first ones were of dubious quality but I thought at the time my options were limited. Since then I have found a much better artist in our member who turns out unbelieveable work- Aaron

[Tim Merritt]

Norm!!! (said in "Cheers" voice).

For what it's worth, I was thinking of getting another, and there was recent discussion here that indicated New Striling Arms and Little Raven were good options. But having others to supply a study group = expensive. Commisioning some from a woodworker is an interesting idea. Better than the Home Depot dowels I've given others.

[Norm Vujevic]

I just ordered a set from Little Raven. I ordered 1 short, 2 long, and a dagger for fun. I also have my Claymore from wooden weapons so hopefully prospective members will find this little bit of diversification more exciting than meeting with broom handles (like we did at first, Tim). I'm still pretty leathal with a broom handle though, so if anyone jumps me while I'm sweeping the garage they better watch out <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'll be sure to let everyone know how my raven studios wasters perform -- and stay tuned for updates and questions on forming this new study group.

[James_Knowles]

If you can afford third-party wasters, go for them. I've put my money into blunts and books, so I've had to go down to the custom wood shop and buy hickory boards and put some sweat into it.

I have "quick and dirty" instructions at the ARMA Ogden, UT web site: http://www.arma-ogden.org/content/view/7/30/

I just made a short sword waster using this basic method, but also used a jack plane to taper and shape the blade. I'm still learning how to use the plane, but I was excited to figure out how to create a diamond cross section and slight distal taper with the plane. I left the pommel pretty raw, drilled a 3/8" hole down the centre of the hilt, and inserted a 3/8" steel rod to help with balance.

I still use and love my first handmade waster. A primitive blog about it is at http://www.ifm-services.com/people/jamesk/woodworking/

[Norm Vujevic]

Thanks for these ideas.
I'll make some patterns and head on over to the base woodshop and see what we can do. In the long run this might be the best thing for the group.