Waster Opinions -- Purpleheart Armoury

[TimSheetz]

HI Shane,

I have a broken purple heart waster... Actually it is 6 year old one - an early PHA hand carved one. Purple heart seems to be a biot brittle and tends to splinter more than hickory.

It is now a messer waster as I adjusted the hilt and tip and handle length to serve me for that purpose.

Peace,

Tim

[Jeffrey Hull]

I think that Hollow Earth longsword wasters are tough as hell.

But they are utterly lacking in ergonomics -- big clumsy crosses and pommels, which do affect proper technique.

I honestly got so sick of mine, despite my own customising, that I just gave the thing away to a friend.

Sure, you could buy one and then modify it, but then HE should pay you for being the finishing carpenter <img src="/forum/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Randall Pleasant]

I broke two PH wasters. The newer model had a 6 x 1/2 x 1/2 inch slab pop off right at the hilt when I performed a zwerch on a pell. The older model, which I loved, finally broke after many very hard miles. This is the waster Gene used in his prize play. I cut the blade off below the break and now use it to practice in the house.

[Nathan Dexter]

Hey,
That's why I make my wasters; (like I said in some other post) Its cheap, easy, and fun, as well as avoiding all sorts of problems.

[Shane Smith]

I have likewise returned to making my own. I've broken 300 dollars worth of commercial wasters within the last year in training. <img src="/forum/images/icons/blush.gif" alt="" />

I just made two out of purple heart wood at a cost of 50 dollars for two including the few additional tools I bought. Wood alone with glue was about ten dollars per waster.

[John_Clements]

The quality and durability of wasters has generally improved in the last 2 years, I think.

I am quite impressed with New Stirling Arms pieces, they really do care about performance, and the Hollowearths, while mostly odd and terrible cutomer service, are extremely well made and tough. You can find some real unequaled gems among them. The Raven armory pieces are not bad either. The original PHA 5 years back were indeed hand-made and custom distinct, made to ARMA Houston's needs and my original specs. Then with a greedy and dihonest flush they went down the toilet as with similiar things that typically are disposed of in that manner. They deserve our boycot and censure.

I have had some very good luck with homemade pieces from other people and some of the best I have seen have been these custom one of a kind types ---whenever a practitioner not a commercial vendor makes it there is just something more involved, I think. You are making it for either the needs of someone you personally know or for your own training, so it's naturally going to feel better.

BTW, I was surprisingly impressed by Aaron Pynenberg's new synthetic wasters. They are not perfect yet but felt good and are surely the most durable.

JC

[GaryGrzybek]

I think we had one crack at the guard once. Funny thing is, I still have my first purpleheart waster and it's going strong. I've had to do some extensive sanding but it's in fine working order.

[GaryGrzybek]

Well, here's the thing. As John said, years ago they were great. Unfortunately, the last few bulk orders I'd seen produced warped or poorly glued pommels and guards right out of the box. One guy ordered a custom sword with a purlpeheart pommel which fell off during his first few drills. Another had a pommel that was fitted poorly and crooked. I was also promised a free sword if I sold the whole order which I did. When I called to report a badly warped waster I was told to keep it. That was my reward for making an $800 sale <img src="/forum/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />