Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: SAF Bats on March 18, 2011, 08:33:17 PM
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Anyone fancy a ask the bat maker session?
Haven't been on here for a while so there might another brand running one? [James Laver excluded obviously]
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YES
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Yes please
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Go ahead chaps open for a couple of hours!
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Right
Has any research ever been done with grains going from side to side instead of up and down.
And cheers andy
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It's been asked before but does an artificially dried bat increase performance or just size and is it comparable to true low density?
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Right
Has any research ever been done with grains going from side to side instead of up and down.
And cheers andy
It would snap early mate because the grain is the driest part the blade
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What is your all time favourite bat shape and can you remember the best bat you ever made...
Why did you get into bat making and do you intend to update cricket stuff website
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what aspect of bat making did you struggle to get to grips with when first starting out (if any) and how did you get around it?
do you adapt your technique for different bats or are the basics the same no matter what bat you make?
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It's been asked before but does an artificially dried bat increase performance or just size and is it comparable to true low density?
I haven't answered this question before but as James has, I will as well as it has be answered incorrectly by others ... Ok caveat line DONT DO THIS AT HOME please
The biggest or highest % increase you gain from drying a piece willow is because you make the blade stiffer. The train of thought that the volume increase gains you performance is not the main reason and is slightly incorrect.
The reason why the increase happens is in James thread.
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What is your all time favourite bat shape and can you remember the best bat you ever made...
Why did you get into bat making and do you intend to update cricket stuff website
Millichamp and Hall Orginal as made by Julian a timeless bat
Best bat I ever made was the 1st one I saw score a 100 the guy is still using it....
www.cricket-stuff.co.uk will get updated but it is on the back burner as I have 101 things to sort out for SAF
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Hi Andy
Do you get your willow from a specific source ie one company, if so, is the choice of willow specifically for you or for other batmakers?
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Thank you Jesusssssssss :D
Andy, how would you fix a bat that's been overpressed?
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Do you offer extra drying of bats
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Hi Andy,
How can someone like myself walk into a shop look at 20 bats and choose the best performing one?
Apart from bouncing a ball against it or tapping it with a mallet what makes one bat different from the other
apart from the aesthetics?
Cheers, P
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Are you going to allow me to buy a bat yet? :D
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Gents 5-10 mins I need to do family stuff but I'll be back, keep them coming
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what gives a cricket bat a 'long' middle?
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what aspect of bat making did you struggle to get to grips with when first starting out (if any) and how did you get around it?
do you adapt your technique for different bats or are the basics the same no matter what bat you make?
handle shaping is hard to get used. Also getting used to working on the right hand and left side of the blade.
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Where do you think future trends will be in terms of bat profiles? - For example the general trend currently seems to be for big profiles with big edges and lots of concaving where as most currently regard bats with thin edges and little concaving as 'traditional' profile
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Andy,
What other wood has been used/tried to make cricket bats out of apart from willow?
What is the nearest substitute to willow? And also has Ash ever been used?
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Hi Andy
Do you get your willow from a specific source ie one company, if so, is the choice of willow specifically for you or for other batmakers?
I now buy from various sources, I hope there isn't a preference!
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What difference does a quality handle make to a bat as see recent quote about handles varying in weight by 3oz
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Thank you Jesusssssssss :D
Andy, how would you fix a bat that's been overpressed?
Difficult question as you'd have to loosen the pressed area if I had to sort it I would oil or wet the blade and then re-press it
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Do you offer extra drying of bats
Simple answer is nope, that said I would be happy to discuss taking them down to certain level but with caveats associated to them
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Hi Andy,
How can someone like myself walk into a shop look at 20 bats and choose the best performing one?
Apart from bouncing a ball against it or tapping it with a mallet what makes one bat different from the other
apart from the aesthetics?
Cheers, P
Ask me when you turn up, happy to fit anyone to one of my bats or someone elses. If you come in and have one made with me you can pick with a bit of guidance, if required, whichever bat/cleft you want. Riz and his brother did this [not sure of his forum name] and they picked up some nice bats.
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Are you going to allow me to buy a bat yet? :D
I'm not going to sell something I dont have someone else might do but I won't
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How would you remove clear polyarmour if you were going to refurbished a bat painted with it?
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what gives a cricket bat a 'long' middle?
A great bit of willow and good pressing, to do this on a standard cleft you'd have to, in my opinion, make a heavier bat.
The beauty of buying a custom made bat is that is tuned to your specs so you dont have to spend the earth to get something you want and performs
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Where do you think future trends will be in terms of bat profiles? - For example the general trend currently seems to be for big profiles with big edges and lots of concaving where as most currently regard bats with thin edges and little concaving as 'traditional' profile
Don't get me started on concaving.... Lets put this one to rest, you have a cleft that starts 4lbs for example. You make one bat that is concaved that weighs 2lb 10oz and one bat that weighs 2lb 10oz with no concaving. You still have the same volume of willow in both bats. Is one better then the other nope not if they are both pressed the same and have middle in same position.
Ok to answer your question.... I'd like to think people will move from newer big edge style bats to Classic shape bats with a twist.. eg. the SAF Fabrica,Redback [Garys] Paradox, Newbery GT. [ye olde bar - Millichamp Original :D ]
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Andy
silly question but one i have encountered mate
do you fine making one side of say a spine harder than the other one side the whole side my weaker arm side harder to shape
How did you learn to become a podshaver..
Who do you look up to in the batmaking world
What is the easiest way to get sharper spine and edges
Last one
Beeswax on cricket bats do you have any other products which give a shiny smooth finish to a cricket bat with a person with limited equipment
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Andy,
What other wood has been used/tried to make cricket bats out of apart from willow?
What is the nearest substitute to willow? And also has Ash ever been used?
Poplar, Ash has been used and Willow was all red until a few decades ago when the hybrid willow we use now, Salix Alba caerula became fashionable. They all used to be one piece as well before we started splicing handles in.
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One last question if i asked you because like you i love willow would you take a part time un paid apprentice on to learn the basics of batmaking and pressing and Pete I know your turning your arm...
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What difference does a quality handle make to a bat as see recent quote about handles varying in weight by 3oz
talking to "100 not out" last night about this... You can potentially get a 30% performance increase from a handle realistically or legally you cant do it but you can still get % gains from using a well made handle
not sure about the 3oz handle thing I missed that one
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How would you remove clear polyarmour if you were going to refurbished a bat painted with it?
Tim I saw this and still not sure what you mean by polyarmour! Any further clues?
how's Bertha and I promise as soon as I stop hemorrhaging willow I'll get your custom bat sorted for you
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Tim I saw this and still not sure what you mean by polyarmour! Any further clues?
how's Bertha and I promise as soon as I stop hemorrhaging willow I'll get custom bat sorted for you
Cheers Andy,
In the eighties and early nineties, slaz and Stuart surridge used a clear varnish on their lower grade bats. Slaz called it polyarmour. Other than nitromors, the only other option looks like loads of sand paper.
Bertha is well. She comes out for nets from time to time and is remarkably close to the old dynadrive in the way she plays.
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Poplar, Ash has been used and Willow was all red until a few decades ago when the hybrid willow we use now Salix Alba caerula became fashionable. They all used to be one piece as well before we started splicing handles in.
id just like to ad that when on tour in kent a guy had a bat made from ucaliptus(sp) wood it sounded awfull but went ok it was white in colour
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Andy
silly question but one i have encountered mate
do you fine making one side of say a spine harder than the other one side the whole side my weaker arm side harder to shape
How did you learn to become a podshaver..
Who do you look up to in the batmaking world
What is the easiest way to get sharper spine and edges
Last one
Beeswax on cricket bats do you have any other products which give a shiny smooth finish to a cricket bat with a person with limited equipment
To use a Lekka term, Jasus Dave how many questions :D
do you fine making one side of say a spine harder than the other one side the whole side my weaker arm side harder to shape
Yes I'm left handed and when the bottom hand is my right hand on the drawknife it is something you need to get used to.
How did you learn to become a podshaver..
Trial and error to start with oh and keen interest in why and how bats perform... finally and if I knew that why not give it a try!
Who do you look up to in the batmaking world
Look up to, there is only one chap for me and I still maintain there is/was no one better then John Newbery
In general I'm really liking Garys work at Redback, loving Tim Keeleys work, Nick Nixon up north and Stuart Kranzbualer [mis-spelt]
What is the easiest way to get sharper spine and edges
shape block plane or flat edge spokeshave
Last one
phew ;-)
Beeswax on cricket bats do you have any other products which give a shiny smooth finish to a cricket bat with a person with limited equipment
Yes pm me
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One last question if i asked you because like you i love willow would you take a part time un paid apprentice on to learn the basics of batmaking and pressing and Pete I know your turning your arm...
Dave you are more then welcome to turn up mate... We can always go and cause trouble in the locals if we get bored as well
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Cheers Andy,
In the eighties and early nineties, slaz and Stuart surridge used a clear varnish on their lower grade bats. Slaz called it polyarmour. Other than nitromors, the only other option looks like loads of sand paper.
Bertha is well. She comes out for nets from time to time and is remarkably close to the old dynadrive in the way she plays.
Willow will soak up loads of varnish I fear nitromors nor sandpaper will help without ending up with matchstick
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Another bad boy
How do you see the future of bats are we looking and heading for revolutionary shapes and even heavier bats or are we looking at turning full circle ##
sorry about the questions mate i'am just interested indeed not every day you get to talk to proper batmakers
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Hi
Do you think the sub continent players have a different type / style of bats? The reason I ask this is that whenever you see sky sports, Nasser and Bumble are always going on about these "massive bats" the likes of Sehwag, Yuvraj etc use...
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Whats the most difficult bat shape or bat you have been asked to reproduce for a customer?
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Another bad boy
How do you see the future of bats are we looking and heading for revolutionary shapes and even heavier bats or are we looking at turning full circle ##
sorry about the questions mate i'am just interested indeed not every day you get to talk to proper batmakers
the only thing I think that might kick off is offseting the edge and getting the most out the coefficient of percussion in relation to the hitting area ;-)
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Hi
Do you think the sub continent players have a different type / style of bats? The reason I ask this is that whenever you see sky sports, Nasser and Bumble are always going on about these "massive bats" the likes of Sehwag, Yuvraj etc use...
Our pressing techniques and drying techniques have definatley changed since bumbles playing days. Nasser must have used a more classic shaped bat... the old concave and non-concave thing again. they look bigger but aren't!
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Whats the most difficult bat shape or bat you have been asked to reproduce for a customer?
hands down Dynadrive with handmade tools
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If you happen to step on a mine Andy, what do you do?
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If you happen to step on a mine Andy, what do you do?
Stand very still and call the Army
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I have started making bat for myself and a few friends but my question is how did you go from making a few bats to the best bat of the year ??
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Stand very still and call the Army
Isn't normal procedure to jump 200 feet in the air and scatter one's self over a wide area?
Shall I stop with the dodgy blackadder references?
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I have started making bat for myself and a few friends but my question is how did you go from making a few bats to the best bat of the year ??
I made the right bat for the right people at the right time and more importantly it was tested properly and I thank AOC whole heartedly for a that test.
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Ok Ladies Gents I'm going to have leave you soon... 10 more mins!
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Ok Ladies Gents I'm going to have leave you soon... 10 more mins!
Your doing a good job answering all these haha
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Isn't normal procedure to jump 200 feet in the air and scatter one's self over a wide area?
If you saw what uo can do you would not joke about them mate...
maybe i'am being sensitive...
My last question for the night
Do you know were i could acquire a cheap press from...
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If you saw what uo can do you would not joke about them mate...
maybe i'am being sensitive...
My last question for the night
Do you know were i could acquire a cheap press from...
Yes i know very good friend of mine is in bomb disposal
Most cost effective way is to have designs and friends that can make it but if you are buying off the shelf, not cheap for a good one
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If you saw what uo can do you would not joke about them mate...
maybe i'am being sensitive...
Sorry mate, doing a bad job of quoting blackadder :(
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ok chaps done ----
- I'd love to see some other brands doing this
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cheers Andy
interesting as always
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An ask the talisman may take too long going by the pm's ;)
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cheers Bud
top stuff
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Andy - hope ur well fella. If i could squeeze in a question pleeeeeease.
How can u tell if a cleft has been pressed to its optimum level? We are told that each cleft is different and requires differing amounts of pressing to get the best out of it.
Hows my Fab looking.
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Ah my favourite customer :D It's fine buddy and your handle was fine in the end thanks for the pics....
I think I might leave that one to someone else, whose flavour of the month at the moment that hasn't done this ask the bat maker stuff
Plus you will call me anyways ;-)
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Thanks again Chaps ----
If there are any admins on lock the thread please....
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Great to see u back Andy, I thought you'd done a runner....
Can't believe I missed this! Of all nights you choose to do this on a Friday?
I guess il just have to pm you as usual :)