Wasters

[David Rowlands]

Hello, earlier today i bought a book called "Medieval Combat" which is a translation of Master Hans Talhoffer's Fechtbuch ("Fight Book"). I showed it to some of my friends and they said they'd be willing to learn too. Since im the crafty one in the group im gonna make the wasters. I usually make wooden swords but they've always been unbalanced. Does anyone know how to balance a wooden sword fairly cheaply? And also can anyone please point me in the direction of a site that i could use to help reproduce the dimensions of longswords and such. Any help is appreciated

[Keith Culbertson]

Greetings to ARMA David, I do not have links to post here, but there are many links on the ARMA website that will help you. As for sword dimensions, I suppose the best variety to design from is the Oakeshot system---you must decide which style you like. As for the balance, some people use weight only in the pommel (lead shot, washers, steel pipe fittings...) and others like to place steel flat plates along the grip and wrap it in hockey tape or such. Also, metal along the crossguard can work. Be careful not to taper a waster too much just to make it look like a sword type for safety reasons when thrusting. Should you or friends decide to buy a sample model, be careful not to purchase Purpleheart or Museum Replicas wasters unless you plan to modify them, but other ones suggested are good if expensive. Also, I know there are older threads on the forum that address this topic, so go hunt for more info there and have fun!

[Nathan Dexter]

ARMA DC had a nice article on wasters, I don't know if its still there though.

[Brian Hunt]

http://www.arma-ogden.org/content/view/7/30/

laters.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[John_Clements]

Balance it cheaply? I'm not sure I understand. If you make it's blade from solid hardwood and shape it correctly plus add a simple wooden cross and pommel it has a natural appropriate balance all by itself.

JC

[David Rowlands]

Thank you for the help.

[Ben Strickling]

ARMA DC had a nice article on wasters, I don't know if its still there though.

Actually, the link on the ARMA DC page just points to the article on the ARMA Ogden page that Brian mentoned -- which is a great article, by the way. I've made several wasters with that design and it works wonderfully. If you want to adjust the balance on the waster, you can drill out some of the pommel and fill it with melted lead fishing weights. Typcially I've been using a 1/2" to 3/4" inch drill bit to make the hole. Then I clamp a piece of wood to the bottom of one side to hold the lead until it cools. I melt the weights in a stainless-steel bowl over my gas stove, pour it, and wait for it to cool. The wood may smoulder a bit, but I've never had problems with it catching fire. I cut two circular pieces of wood and glue them to both sides of the pommel to cover the hole (after the lead has cooled, of course). Then I round off the edges on the whole pommel to make a nice smooth disc. That's worked great for me and after some experimentation I've been able to get the waster at about 3 lbs with a 4" center of balance.

Be sure to be VERY careful when melting lead. You obviously don't want to spill any on you and I would highly recommend wearing gloves and any other protection you might need.

Hope that helps.

[David Rowlands]

Cool, we have some lead fishing weights here too lol. Thanks for the tip.

[Ben Michels]

You must be getting that lead extremely hot. I'm having problems keeping it hot enough to pour once it is in a liquid form. At the moment, I'm melting it in a steel plumbing cap with a blow torch. It starts cooling very quickly as soon as the heat is taken off of it.. so much so that it doesn't move.

[JeffGentry]

Take a small tin can and do iton the kitchen stove, it only take's about 15-20 minute's

that is the beauty of lead a low melting point, it does cool somewaht quickly.

Jeff

[Brian Hunt]

Better yet,

do it outside on a hotplate and don't breathe the fumes. Lead is considered a toxic substance.

Brian Hunt

ARMA member
GFS

[JeffGentry]

Better yet,

do it outside on a hotplate and don't breathe the fumes. Lead is considered a toxic substance.

Brian Hunt

ARMA member
GFS

I like to live dangerously, LOL, actualy i don't melt lead that much or much at any one time, a hot plate or even a coleman stove would probably better though.


Jeff

[Dave_Dupuis]

Well is seemed to disapear, (my last post)what is inherently wrong with the Purple heart wasters, what would be needed to modify them... or am I missing something. Thanks

EDIT_ okay it looks like New sterling arms has what would be considered adequet trainers... Price range is for Perfect waster is good.

[Allen Johnson]

yeah- why bother modifying some thing when you can get one with out doing it. Many here have had bad experiences with Purpleheart. I have not. It's served me quite well over several years- however, after getting a new Stirling Arms one, I wont be going back to Purpleheart except for things I can't get at NSA. (like singlestick stuff)

[Joel_Neild]

Has anyone tried to make their own waster? I have read the article from ARMA- Ogden gentleman and I am looking forward to constructing my own waster. I have also looked at many other wasters to find out how they were made.