Problem with ordering Wasters overseas

[Jeffrey Formosa]

Me and my friend who are just preparing to start out have ran into a problem, New Stirling Arms informed my friend that sending their wasters over to Australia is a problem as UPS and Federal Express cost to much and the much cheaper US Post office takes very long and can often lose packages.

Here is as I see it are our options.

A) Do as New Stirling Arms advised and order 10 which will grant us the 15% discount and justify the high Express cost. At most this would cost 1,324(1025 U.S) which between the two of us is far to much so waiting for 4 or 5 people is better money wise but until we get that many people we will be frozen out of the possibility of training.

B) Use Bokkens(wooden katanas).

C) Order short sword(42") wasters from Raven.

D) Pay a wood crafter(who most likely has never built a waster) to build us some wasters.

E) Other.

My own thought is to use Bokkens until we get more people then order the wasters from New Stirling Arms. Now at this time only I need to buy a bokken as my friend all ready has one.

Thanks in advanced to anyone who offers their advise.

[Jaron Bernstein]

I advise against using bokken for longsword work for a couple of reasons:

1. They are far shorter than longswords tend to be.
2. They have no cross, which WMA makes extensive use of
3. They are single edged "cutting wedge" in terms of edge geometry, so a lot of the short edge stuff for the longsword will be more difficult.

Maybe if you can figure out how to add a cross it might be usable as a grossemesser simulator.....

[Jeffrey Formosa]

Thanks for the reply Jaron, well I guess that takes out the bokken and if that's out then the short sword waster would be to. How about a custom made waster, say I find a really talented wood crafter how good would his/her waster be?

[Jaron Bernstein]

Thanks for the reply Jaron, well I guess that takes out the bokken and if that's out then the short sword waster would be to. How about a custom made waster, say I find a really talented wood crafter how good would his/her waster be?

As good as the woodworker? A longsword waster should be (according to Vadi) from your armpit to the ground in length (or thereabouts). Two edges, straight blade and a cross. There are any number of makers and homemade ones out there (heck, make your own if you are able to). The main thing is that it is of the right dimensions and design to serve the function and allow for reasonably accurate training.

[J. F. McBrayer]

As good as the woodworker? A longsword waster should be (according to Vadi) from your armpit to the ground in length (or thereabouts). Two edges, straight blade and a cross. There are any number of makers and homemade ones out there (heck, make your own if you are able to). The main thing is that it is of the right dimensions and design to serve the function and allow for reasonably accurate training.

The ARMA Ogden website has completely adequate instructions for making a waster. A waster constructed according to those instructions will not have the fit-and-finish of a New Stirling Arms or Purpleheart waster, but, assuming you choose the wood appropriately, will be perfectly functional. Depending on your tools, it will take between 2 and 8 hours to make a waster (not counting time for glue to set, etc.)

[Jeffrey Formosa]

Thanks for the help guys.

[Ken McKenzie]

I'm in the same boat here, ordering a waster from overseas just seems to expensive to be practical.

Making a waster is not a bad idea. In fact I looked into it. Problem is, getting timber that I know to be appropriate (e.g. ash, hickory) in Australia seems even harder than getting a pre-made waster. Besides, I have never even held a real longsword, so I don't trust my ability to make something with correct weight, balance etc.

So, I was thinking that since it seems that solving this problem will require a lot of money one way or another, why not go all out and buy a blunt steel weapon?

Historicaly, wasters were made from wood because it was easily available and comparatively cheap, but in my case it is neither one of these things.

So, since I planed on buying a blunt training sword eventualy anyway:

Do I NEED a wooden waster?

Will buying a quality blunt steel training sword (e.g. albion) save me the expense of shipping two postage un-friendly items to my corner of the globe?

If this is a bad idea, does anyone know of any local materals that could be used to make a waster?

[J. F. McBrayer]

For making wasters you should use the local wood that is most shock-resistant. For the US that's hickory or ash; for Europe it's ash, but there may be some entirely suitable wood in Australia that we here don't know about. You may have access to a tropical hardwood that's better in some ways than hickory or ash, for all we know. You should probably consult with a local woodworker and find out what tool handles and, er, cricket bats are made from locally.

As to whether you need a waster as opposed to a steel practise sword, it depends entirely on the group you study with. You need to be using the same tools as the people you practise with.

[Ken McKenzie]

Thanks for the answers

As far as I know cricket bats are made from willow (not an easily available timer here) no matter what part of the world you are in.
I asked my brother in law (who is a carpenter) what local timber would be usable... but he did not know:(

In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to expand my circle of wood working friends... although if anyone here knows of a type of eucalypt with good shock resistant qualities please let me know.

[Brian Hunt]

I looked up some of the basic hardwoods nativie to Australia and saw two that have possabilities for wasters.

Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis)
Silvertop ash (Eucalyptus sieberi)

The Blackbutt is used in construction and is supposed to be hard, dense and strong. The Silvertop Ash is also used in construction and for various tool handles as is hickory in the USA. Also, if pecans are grown in Australia, pecan is the female version of hickory and will make a good waster.

good luck with your quest.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Ken McKenzie]

This is genuinely encouraging. Thank you very much.