Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: tbarnfield99 on July 25, 2011, 11:24:30 AM

Title: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tbarnfield99 on July 25, 2011, 11:24:30 AM
Managed to get my hands on a very reasonable second hand Hunts County Custom Classic Insignia. In the day these cost an arm and a leg. A very traditional bat, and must weigh at most 2lb 7oz. Picks up even lighter!

The price probably related to the condition of the bat, but I thought I would take a punt on it. It was technically in great condition, it just needed a really good clean! Struggled to get the weathering (from the stickers) off the bat, but I suppose I could of kept on sanding, but was wary of taking too much weight away from the bat.

Anyway here goes:

BEFORE

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/TBarnfield/IMG_0911.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/TBarnfield/IMG_0912.jpg)

AFTER

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/TBarnfield/IMG_0914.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/TBarnfield/IMG_0915.jpg)
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tbarnfield99 on July 25, 2011, 11:27:02 AM
Photos aren't the best (iPhone).

This is the process I used to refurbish the bat:

1 - Heat gun to the stickers and anti-scuff sheet.
2 - Removed the majority of the above by hand, but then picked away for about an hour with a sharp knife getting rid of the remaining residue / stickers.
3 - Rough Sanding
4 - Slightly Finer Sanding
5 - Fine Sanding
6 - Wire Wool
7 - Applied Bri-Wax
8 - Buffed Bri-Wax off.
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tim2000s on July 25, 2011, 11:39:11 AM
Good first go. Have a word with Hunts to get some nice stickers on it.

Bit surprised at the willow looks for a Custom Classic. How does it feel off the mallet?
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tbarnfield99 on July 25, 2011, 11:43:14 AM
Good first go. Have a word with Hunts to get some nice stickers on it.

Bit surprised at the willow looks for a Custom Classic. How does it feel off the mallet?

Yeah awaiting an e-mail back from them. Pings very nicely to be fair. It's nothing like today's bats with huge edges and massive concaving. The edges are 15mm at their widest point.

I think if I spent more time on it I could get a better finish. Took me 1 hour 3/4's in total. The majority of the time was spent trying to remove the old stickers!

Willow seems OK. 6 Straight-ish grains that are evenly spaced out. I'm unsure what the previous owner asked for. Once I've got the stickers and sheet on it, I think I might take it for a hit, or most probably sell it on.
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tim2000s on July 25, 2011, 11:45:10 AM
Yeah awaiting an e-mail back from them. Pings very nicely to be fair. It's nothing like today's bats with huge edges and massive concaving. The edges are 15mm at their widest point.

I think if I spent more time on it I could get a better finish. Took me 1 hour 3/4's in total. The majority of the time was spent trying to remove the old stickers!

Willow seems OK. 6 Straight-ish grains that are evenly spaced out. I'm unsure what the previous owner asked for. Once I've got the stickers and sheet on it, I think I might take it for a hit, or most probably sell it on.
I've had a couple of Insignias in the past, so I can vouch that it should have a decent middle.
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: procricket on July 25, 2011, 09:08:46 PM
tom how long did you leave the bri wax on for mate
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tbarnfield99 on July 26, 2011, 05:04:13 PM
tom how long did you leave the bri wax on for mate

Not very long. Only about an hour at most. What should I have done?
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: EaglesCC on August 12, 2011, 01:29:20 PM
Good job. I still love the profile of the old insignia. they don't make this anymore, right?
Title: Re: First attempt at refurbishing a bat
Post by: tbarnfield99 on August 12, 2011, 01:35:18 PM
I think you might be able to get hold of them, but they are not the same as the old ones. This bat is currently for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260830665829&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_699wt_932