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Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: tim2000s on March 10, 2012, 09:08:55 PM

Title: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: tim2000s on March 10, 2012, 09:08:55 PM

Following mike's earlier topic, i've a question for everyone. Willow is a natural product that has to be dried and pressed to be used. What structural changes do these processes cause and how do these vary between tight and wide grains and low and normal density clefts?

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Talisman on March 10, 2012, 10:22:32 PM

A cross section of a willow bat/cleft/tree will reveal a series of paralel straws, this is unique in the willow among tree's. The moisture content can escape very quickly due to these open ends when cut hence the need to wax/varnish the ends as the cleft is sawn. In pressing you aim to harden a thin layer of the face by compression and this in essence flattens the straws and allows them to flex into the soft middle which upon return to shape gives the rebound.

The current Salix Alba varieties are selected for the low density in the Willow family. There is a range of denisty naturally occuring amongst any species. Each year of growth is laid down as a grain as with any tree and in simplistic terms the grain line is a level of stiffness. The more grains in the face the stiffer the blade. When it comes to pressing I'd say compare trying to press a layer of plastic straws, quite simple, but the stiffer material in the straw the harder it becomes to press without increasing the pressure, too much and the bat cracks.

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on March 10, 2012, 10:35:47 PM

Very well explained furry face :)

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on March 10, 2012, 10:42:28 PM

So it that the reason if not protected the toe acts like a sponge? The straw effect that is.

I'm presuming the high and low density clefts are dependant on the gaps these straw structures have between them? Original filled with water but as dried become air pockets?

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Talisman on March 10, 2012, 10:58:18 PM

Yes, if left on a wet surface moisture can rise up into the toe and beyond rapidly.

I'd say that low density gives you bigger straws, rather than gaps between them.

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on March 10, 2012, 11:12:50 PM

So are there reasons low density clefts are produced? Growing conditions etc

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Talisman on March 10, 2012, 11:18:09 PM

If you have an Apple tree in the garden and it produces 100 apples, one will be the biggest and one the smallest, low density is no more than the end of one spectrum, for every cleft that is lower density than standard you will find one that is higher density than standard.

Title: Re: Willow structure and the art of understanding it
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on March 10, 2012, 11:23:32 PM

Cool thanks mike.