Where To Get Wasters

[Shane Smith]

Hi Laurent,
I've made more than a half-dozen wasters of red oak.They suit me great as far as proportions go(I like slender grips and long slender crossguards),but the oak is not as durable as I'd like.I still have three that are servicable and they continue to see some use as loaners. My friend and ARMA VAB Study Group Leader Matt Anderson makes his own wasters of hickory and they seem to hold up better than mine as a rule although they tend to break as well in time. Total cost is about 10 bucks per unit. I hope the WW product will exceed the durability of my home-builts to a significant degree. If not,I will drag the router and Skil-saw out and go back to designing my own.Time will tell for sure. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Brian Hunt]

Hi all,

I have also done several wasters. I first tried oak, since that was the hardwood I could get, and they just don't hold up. IMHO It is not worth the time and effort to make wasters from oak. I have been able to find some nice hickory, and this seems to make a nice waster. I am still experimenting with shapes and proportions for longswords, but I have a pretty nice gross messer design that I like. However, I have a hollow earth longsword waster that just blows away any fit and finish I have yet come up with on a waster. So if you have the time, and like to experiment, making your own wasters can be it's own reward, otherwise just go ahead and buy one. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

this is my 2 cents worth.


Brian Hunt
GFS
Price, Ut

[Laurent Marshall]

Interesting, so oak doesn't really work to well for wasters? I guess as far as hardwoods go it isn't really the toughest, but its still pretty strong stuff. I used white ash, since I have a lot of it on hand, does anyone know how it performs? While working with it I've noticed that its very resilient and flexible, but splits easily. From what everyone's saying it sounds like I need to find some hickory, unless the ash works well enough. I might also try maple. I'm planning on putting a pell together as soon as the snow melts, so I'll need a durable waster.

[John_Clements]

Yeah, absolutely. I have seen some excellent ones (and some horrible ones, too). There's something special about training with one you made yourself. But alas, it's beyond the artistic and techicaal means of many students who lack the skills, tools, or time to do it.

JC

[Matthew_Anderson]

I've made quite a few wasters now, gradually learning from my mistakes. Generally, I make functional, "no frills" training tools with nowhere near the fine finish or asthectic quality of the professionals. To me it seems a little pointless to spend a lot of time making a waster look pretty when it's going get beat up anyway. I have used oak, ash and hickory so far and have found good straight-grained hickory to be the best by far for the required density and durability.

[GaryGrzybek]

Hi Shane,

Forget the red oak, it's too brittle for wasters. You'd be better off finding a supplier for good old hickory <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[GaryGrzybek]

John,

when you see Eric Meulemans down in New Orleans ask him to show you his home made waster. It's pretty much a bastard sword design. What's really cool about it is that it not only has profile taper but distal taper as well. It's robust but handles really well.

[leam hall]

Mine took a week and a half or so, they said that would be the delivery time up front.

As a neophyte and klutz I'd have to say I'm satisfied enough that I'm not going to risk the original 10 digits to power saw my own. When I know more and can better evaluate I may reconsider.

[Guest]

Matt and all fellow members, We have had some difficulties in the past 1 and a half moths with weapons not making it to our valued customers, as well as us being on a 3 week back log which of couse is my fault. We are currently back down to a week to week and a half production time. In order to assure that ARMA members are on the top of list for delivery, please order from the ARMA discount page http://woodenweapons.com/ARMA/arma.html . As an added courtesy, I would like to offer the few arma members who were affected by our back log. Please email me, and I will make sure you recieve a 48" tapered long sword on us.

Thank you
Robert Doherty
WoodenWeapons.com

[david welch]

I had just talked Saturday to Jake Norwood about me going to my bank Monday and filling out the papers to dispute the charge to my card, and cancelling my order to WW before the 30 days to do so runs out.

We have not heard anything since 01/08, and may have lost the 1st member we have found in Knoxville due to the wait for his waster.

If you are SURE you are going to have orders filled in 1 1/2 weeks I won't stop payment to you. Mind you, I am only doing this because JC still endorces you, and his advice has steered me straight before. And I am going to let everyone know whether or not giving WW a second chance, and losing my recourse, was a good thing to do.

[Tim Merritt]

Ooh... good question on delivery time and new folks. I'm having a get together tonight with 6-9 absolute beginners, none of whom I belive have wasters. I originally bought a PH a few months ago at the same time I applied for ARMA Assoc, but I'd like to present WWs as an option--WW could have 6-9 orders real quick. Part of my first almost-a-study-group "curriculum" will be covering my beginners experience in the past few months getting started and the gear. Delivery time could be an issue, and also, would soon-to-be members be able to get the discount, or do they have to wait further to send $ to ARMA, get the pass to the members pages, and then order? Not to fear though, I'm going to get some dowels for future contingency.

[Tim Merritt]

Thanks for sharing. I wish more manufactures would share their specs, if they go to the trouble with the web pages, like waster weight and balence. Some sword makers show this, but then often don't say anything about their hilt construction. Frustrating.

[leam hall]

Tim, lemme give you a neophyte opinion of the Wooden Weapons Waster I got a few days ago.

First, having done SCA type hand-and-a-half stuff this is a whole new feel! I had an oil soaked rattan called "tinkerbell" that was heavy enough to take the wind out of an armoured man. My upper body strength is low for my size but I can move the 48" waster around easily. I can start a swing and change angle of attack; tinkerbell just kept going in whatever direction I started her.

I got the disk pommel though next time it'll be the scent stopper or ball. The disk is large and crowds my rear hand. As far as fit goes I was pushing and pulling on the pommel and quillon today and the fit and solidity are good. There is a wooden peg through the quillon to hold it in place.

I'll let you know how it goes after some use. At the moment I'm satisfied and look forward to getting my ARMA dues back through the discount Bob offers. <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

One of those short swords were mine. I picked it up (and the other wasters that Stu ordered) and I was amazed. The balance on these wasters is SWEET! I think that the best comparison that I can make is that they feel like what I remember John Clement's Raven Armory replica to be like.

I have used Purple Heart, Hollow Earth and Wooden Weapons, and NONE of these compare to the balance on the swords that we recieved. I think that all of my waster purchases in the future will be made from New Sterling Arms... (I think it is very much worth the couple extra bucks)

Now the big question is whether they wistand the test of time or not. Judging by its construction methods, I predict it will. Stay tuned for future reports.