-Durability
The wood splinters, marks and finally breaks. On the other hand, the nylon is very resistant when crossed with other nylon waster, and it is possible to affirm that with a minimal maintenance (oiling steel parts from time to time) and avoiding to hit the edge of any metallic surface, the waster can last a lot of time.
-Safety
Steel sword is the most realistic tool for the practice, but it is too the most dangerous. With nylon, the impact surface is increased, therefore we get the danger diminish and we can to do a more potent fighting with safety if we use the advised protections (gambeson, fencing mask, padded gloves).
Also, contrary to the wood, the nylon is flexible in the thrust. It is another of the reasons for which the danger is smaller.
-Behavior and handling characteristics
At the moment, most of the wasters in the market, be already wooden or of nylon, they are too light, have a bad balance, and their shapes or components hinder their handling.
-STEEL GUARD (THROUGH THE RICASSO)
The steel guard through the ricasso let us to seize the waster with thumb or index finger beyond the guard without nuisances. Also, the shape of the guard do the use of the waster is more realistic, and it adds more weight to it.
-STEEL PEAR POMMEL
With an historical shape, it balances the waster and is very comfortable.
-HISTORICAL WEIGHT AND BALANCE
Special care has been had with the mass distribution, searching the a realistic weight and balance, an aspect that most of the makers discard, and that it subtracts a lot of quality to their products.
-SLIPPING CAPACITY
The nylon has a low coefficient of friction, coming closer to the behavior of the steel when both blades are crossed.
-MINIMUM BOUNCES AMONG BLADES
As they are made of a flexible material, when both blades bind, these don't bounce like do the wood. However, these adapt to the situation and minimize the bounces.
--LAST NOTE --
¡This is not steel! And I don't seek for that. Steel is the way to follow to practice this martial art. Nylon waster is, in my opinion, the only tool that, not being steel, it can help us to progress in this art. It allows a more potent and surer as well as amusing handling.
In Sala de Armas El Batallador it is considered an official tool, together with the steel, for the training and the tournaments. |
