Wasters

[Shane Smith]

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.

I make my own exclusively as I'm tired of buying these things for 80 dollars and then having them break on me. I make them for about 10 dollars worth of material and a few hours of effort.

[Will Adamson]

What is the appropriate grit of sandpaper to use for waster maintenance?

Also, how many applications of linseed oil should one use? About how often for the life of the good stick?

[Jonathan Scott]

I'd like to know if there are any other ARMA articles on making simple wasters other than the ARMA Ogden one.
That article, while sufficient to get the basics for making it, doesn't specifically say what woodworking tools one would need for cutting everything out. Since I need to try to get about 6-10 wasters for possibly starting a club at school (though my goal this semester is to have 2 or 3 made only, can't really afford any more at this point in time), I have a friend who would be willing to make some for me at a much cheaper price than say, the NSA ones.
Another related question: would Lowes or Home Depot have hickory or ash (or any other appropriete hardwood) boards with the proper grain and measurements for making wasters? I guess I'll just have to check the ones closest to me, as I did not see any hickory lumber products on their sites. I remember someone making a waster out of a hickory floorboard, which probably would work well enough.
Anyway I'll keep scouting around and check a couple stores personally to see if they have something that will work, but if anyone has any suggestions (note that I am not at liberty yet to order stuff online so I'm a bit restricted in that way) I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Shane Smith]

Lowes and Home Depot will not have hickory. They do have red oak 1x4 which works, but only for short term use. Oak will break pretty quick in hard service. My oak wasters last about 3-4 months.

The tools I use are a skillsaw to cut the blanks out of a 4' board. A jigsaw to cut a mortise in the crossguard(I use one-piece guards pinned to the blade blank with 2 5/16" dowels and woodglue) and to cut the tough inside corners of parts.A drill to make the holes for the dowls. A blockplane will work for shaping in distal taper and radiusing edges. A tape measure and a small speed square are used for layout. I use a 4' level as a straight-edge but another boards edge will work for that. I use a rasp to shape pommel fillets and gorilla glue to attach them. I use 150 grit sandpaper and follow it all with one coat of boiled linseed oil and then I flush the blo soaked paper towel down the toilet.

[Brian Hunt]

If you want Hickory, go to your local lumber yard and have them order in a board for you. Don't go to the mega lumber yards like home depot, find a local guy that actually cares about taking care of his local customers. If he says he can't find hickory ask him to find pecan, it is the same thing. Also, there is a good basic waster how to done by James Knowles on the ARMA ogden website, just do a google for their website.

Hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

Part time maker of wasters and other equipment.