Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Custom companies => SAF Bats => Topic started by: safbats on September 18, 2012, 09:05:19 AM
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Sitting around due to man flu!!!! Sawdust and colds are a bit of a no no...
So 20 questions on SAF, me, bat making.....
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why did u go early yesterday! me and ryan were looking forward to a chat? lol
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What/who inspired you to take up podshaving?
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why did u go early yesterday! me and ryan were looking forward to a chat? lol
I've got Man flu and 1.5hrs on the journey in didn't appeal to me nor would the passengers on the train and tube I'd imagine... I would have loved to go though
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how did you stumble on the idea of the offset edge?
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If you were going to have a custom bat made for yourself, who would you go to? ;)
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What/who inspired you to take up podshaving?
Got involved in cricket late on, similar sort of time started making an electric guitar. 1st team captain found out and asked for a bat, I became a bat geek and learnt the theory first. Then a shaped a few after a 4 or 5 tries I got a shaped he liked and then from there someone else ask for one and then etc etc etc
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What is your favourite bat shape and why
Can you make a bat without a spine a rounded affair around 2lb 6oz in the shape of a newbery tour/ kookaburra bubble
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how did you stumble on the idea of the offset edge?
Stumble :o hahaha
I think it was late 2008 I was looking at theoretical bit and pieces in cricket bats and realised that as you swing a bat the centre of percussion moves based on swing speed. We all know that willow mass helps as well. As a batsman you dont always swing a bat at the same speed for shots. So I needed to create a profile that would cover both these aspects and still balance out. The upshot from all that was the offset edge, Fattus had the 1st one I think in the guise of ugly betty a T20 style bat. This profile shape was transfered into normal bats and start to do them in anger in 2009
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If you were going to have a custom bat made for yourself, who would you go to? ;)
One of the new guys that have shown a bit of passion for it all eg. BeachCricket has made me one!
So Red Ink and or Kelsall cricket bats should expect a call....
I'd absolutely love Julian to make me a M&H Original his shape from way back when
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What is your favourite bat shape and why
Can you make a bat without a spine a rounded affair around 2lb 6oz in the shape of a newbery tour/ kookaburra bubble
It isn't a big secret that I'm a huge fan of the GT355 from Tim
Yes probably but I'm a bit confused as to what you mean by without a spine and rounded affair :o
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What attributes do you think make a good bat maker?
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What attributes do you think make a good bat maker?
Someone that can bored you to death talking about bat shapes, willow and pressing. Those who can balance a bat and put a middle in the correct areas on a profile shape that they provide.
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14 Questions left :D
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Do you think Oscar ever be as good as you one day?
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One of the new guys that have shown a bit of passion for it all eg. BeachCricket has made me one!
So Red Ink and or Kelsall cricket bats should expect a call....
I'd absolutely love Julian to make me a M&H Original his shape from way back when
Ill be waiting!
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Do you think Oscar ever be as good as you one day?
He is already a better bat maker then me but his prices are very high
www.oscarbats.com
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Can a bat be made of 2 or more different pieces of wood if no adhesive is used?
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Can a bat be made of 2 or more different pieces of wood if no adhesive is used?
do you mean handle and blade or more 2 pieces of wood for the blade?
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What is your favourite profile/bat shape from any other maker? And would you make it with your own unique twist as part of your range?
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My question is:
Will there ever be a boy born that can swim faster than a shark?
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What is your favourite profile/bat shape from any other maker? And would you make it with your own unique twist as part of your range?
See my reply to Procricket
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Can you give me job?
Happy to get paid in willow if this suits :D
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Are there any benefits to having flat face on a cricket bat ?. :)
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My question is:
Will there ever be a boy born that can swim faster than a shark?
For films yes in real life no!
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do you mean handle and blade or more 2 pieces of wood for the blade?
2 or more pieces in the blade. Like a laminate but has no adhesive used
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See my reply to Procricket
Oops sorry! Didn't see that there
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Can you give me job?
Happy to get paid in willow if this suits :D
SAF is too small sorry.... If I could get government funding or a business Angel then maybe!!!!! :D
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SAF is too small sorry.... If I could get government funding or a business Angel then maybe!!!!! :D
That sounds like I have first refusal ;) best of luck with the illness, coastal air and chicken noodle soup will have you better in no time
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Are there any benefits to having flat face on a cricket bat ?. :)
Aesthetically it is preference thing for the individual. It gives the impression as you all know of a slightly larger edge when you first look at a bat. Pressing and blade shape wise we knock in the edges anyway even though the edge wont curve down as much as curved faced bat. The front edge will be reduced which is something we forget on our initial impression of the bat.
I could chat for a while about the pressing difference between the 2 roller types but it is fair to say it will flat will suit certain pieces of willow and curved will suit other types of willow.
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regarding your comment "I could chat for a while about the pressing difference between the 2 roller types but it is fair to say it will flat will suit certain pieces of willow and curved will suit other types of willow." - how much do you think about how to press apiece of willow, or do you just have one technique for all clefts?
And, if I'm allowed a second supplementary question, how different are pressing techniques really between bat makers?
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2 or more pieces in the blade. Like a laminate but has no adhesive used
Yes you could potentially but you'd need a fancy joinery joint and probably a better question for BeachCricket
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If you could sponsor any current player, who would it be and why?
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After I answer Manormanic and d7bow, 7 questions left I think!
brb need to put a picture up!!!!
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I notice on your website that your bats tend to start at 2 lb 8 oz - is it possible to make them lighter or would this have an adverse effect on performance?
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Yes you could potentially but you'd need a fancy joinery joint and probably a better question for BeachCricket
Less a question, more an observation. If you were to use fancy joinery joints, you would then lose the benefit of the glue in the lamination and potentially the performance using a jointed structure would actually deteriorate.
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regarding your comment "I could chat for a while about the pressing difference between the 2 roller types but it is fair to say it will flat will suit certain pieces of willow and curved will suit other types of willow." - how much do you think about how to press apiece of willow, or do you just have one technique for all clefts?
And, if I'm allowed a second supplementary question, how different are pressing techniques really between bat makers?
I honestly dont know, I've only ever seen one bat maker pressing and seen a few on video. It is difficult to tell what there method is on videos as a bat maker you just look at the press.
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One more question if you don't mind Andy . Even though Willow is uniformly dried, Are there areas that might be relatively drier (exclude sapwood ) ?. If so will it affect the longevity of a bat ?
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How do you make a bat pick up well this is for a gsce dt
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If you could sponsor any current player, who would it be and why?
I've been on twitter recently looking for players :D I was thinking 2 things really, it would be great it we could get some of the county players using Kooks, Puma, Adidas etc looking toward the UK batmakers for bats with our branding on. But you have to be realistic and say we cant offer a huge amount of money it would be more incentive based...
As to whom some really good up and coming batsman in the mould of or themselves Jos Butler, Joe Root, Ben Stokes...
If Compo, Carbs, Tregs etc etc came knocking I wont say no either :D
Hopefully I'll get somewhere it would nice for me, I'd be a nervous wreck but so proud, after all this time to get something out there and see it on TV :D
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I notice on your website that your bats tend to start at 2 lb 8 oz - is it possible to make them lighter or would this have an adverse effect on performance?
I can make them lighter but it is easier for me to sell at that starting weight as it reduces the odd request for 2lb 6oz bat with 45mm edges etc... 2lb 6oz dressed is generally the lightest I will go for SH Mens and if I get a request for that I call to explain or email them as there is a potential that sizes will be reduced unless they go for a low density cleft.
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Less a question, more an observation. If you were to use fancy joinery joints, you would then lose the benefit of the glue in the lamination and potentially the performance using a jointed structure would actually deteriorate.
Yes and some elasticity as well... If I were to make a laminate I'd do it a bit differently that then the current norms in the UK and S.Asia
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One more question if you don't mind Andy . Even though Willow is uniformly dried, Are there areas that might be relatively drier (exclude sapwood ) ?. If so will it affect the longevity of a bat ?
Yes there is always a potential for willow to not be uniformly dried but that is why they are wax ended. That is they would lose more moisture from the end then across the length of the blade so it provides some insurances against this...
Yes sap [moisture] is effectively the glue the holds the vessels together without that the bat is liable to crack split etc.
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How do you make a bat pick up well this is for a gsce dt
Find a bat you like the pick up of measure it and make the bat you make balance in the same place
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4 questions left
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Yes and some elasticity as well... If I were to make a laminate I'd do it a bit differently that then the current norms in the UK and S.Asia
How then ;)
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How then ;)
Cant say, also as it is illegal there is no real point
You can still have 4 questions
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Obviously you must get some wastage due to unforeseen faults in clefts that only appear when you start to work on them. What is the most common fault that occurs?
Thanks for the answer to my earlier question btw.
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Obviously you must get some wastage due to unforeseen faults in clefts that only appear when you start to work on them. What is the most common fault that occurs?
Thanks for the answer to my earlier question btw.
Yes for me it is generally the willow has a hairline crack due to moisture or spliting problems which you cant see it until you start shaping, it is one of the most heart dropping moments as you've invested in the pressing and handling and also a bit of shaping of the blade :(
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When is a good time to come visit and get a bat made :)
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Yes for me it is generally the willow has a hairline crack due to moisture or spliting problems which you cant see it until you start shaping, it is one of the most heart dropping moments as you've invested in the pressing and handling and also a bit of shaping of the blade :(
What happens to these bats?
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Yes for me it is generally the willow has a hairline crack due to moisture or spliting problems which you cant see it until you start shaping, it is one of the most heart dropping moments as you've invested in the pressing and handling and also a bit of shaping of the blade :(
If these "faulty" clefts were machine shaped instead of handshaped could these faults be missed?
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What happens to these bats?
If it is towards the toe they get cut down for kids bats.... My sons have a couple of really nice EW bats in Size 2's.
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If these "faulty" clefts were machine shaped instead of handshaped could these faults be missed?
Nope you'd see the crack at the sanding stage
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When is a good time to come visit and get a bat made :)
not this weekend the weekend after I think / hope
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1 question left or 2 if you dont count the shark question
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Cant say, also as it is illegal there is no real point
You can still have 4 questions
PM me if you'd like to put money where you mouth is and make one for me! I'm genuinely intruiged more than anything!
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PM me if you'd like to put money where you mouth is and make one for me! I'm genuinely intruiged more than anything!
Surely it is your money why my mouth is :D :D
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If it is towards the toe they get cut down for kids bats.... My sons have a couple of really nice EW bats in Size 2's.
fair enough, I've an absolute beauty of a bat that I got cheap due to a few pressing cracks, just wondered what would happen to such a bat at most batmakers.
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not this weekend the weekend after I think / hope
Keep me updated :)
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fair enough, I've an absolute beauty of a bat that I got cheap due to a few pressing cracks, just wondered what would happen to such a bat at most batmakers.
Pressing cracks and hairline cracks in the willow are different things here... The willow is split through a section of it not just on the face
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Ah, get you now, that must really be annoying.
Presumably the sort of bat I have would get sold off at a discount in most places then.
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PM me if you'd like to put money where you mouth is and make one for me! I'm genuinely intruiged more than anything!
Actually do you mind if I ask a question Dan, why go for a laminate? Is it the performance talk thing that you'd be interested in?
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Ah, get you now, that must really be annoying.
Presumably the sort of bat I have would get sold off at a discount in most places then.
Yes you'd hope so
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Ok last question
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Actually do you mind if I ask a question Dan, why go for a laminate? Is it the performance talk thing that you'd be interested in?
Of sorts...I'm not declaring that I think they're a magic 'wonder bat' that will split balls in half, though I do find they have a if not performance then a resilience and perhaps consistency that outweighs some of the top of the range bats.
I really dig your scientific approach to batmaking, so would happy to finance you experiment to see what a saf laminate would look like!
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Of sorts...I'm not declaring that I think they're a magic 'wonder bat' that will split balls in half, though I do find they have a if not performance then a resilience and perhaps consistency that outweighs some of the top of the range bats.
I really dig your scientific approach to batmaking, so would happy to finance you experiment to see what a saf laminate would look like!
Dan call me or email me and we can chat I reckon... I will be doing one for me to look into but at the moment it isn't on the radar due to the MCC laws, so on the back back burner
Ok.... need to go be back in a bit to see if I get that last question
Thanks all...
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How much are bat-making trends driven by the players and how much by the manufacturers?
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What's been worst, yet widely adopted and considered positive, gimmick or trend in batmaking?
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I might have missed the boat on questions but if not here is 1/1.5
What are you passionate about other than cricket/bat making (you mentioned guitars is there anything else)? If you could have been something other than a bat maker what would you have picked (I know you are an engineer first)?
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How much are bat-making trends driven by the players and how much by the manufacturers?
They are driven by shops and therefore the every day consumer more then anything else. This isnt a new phenomenon. Consumer driven sales drove the willow suppliers to start supplying the hybrid salix alba caerulea and nowadays it is driving the big edges on bats
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What's been worst, yet widely adopted and considered positive, gimmick or trend in batmaking?
Big edges, therefore concaving and therefore the quest to make a big looking bat for a lighter weight.... It has driven loose pressing techniques, dried out willow from some and bats which are all edge with no spine...
I dont think it shows the true nature of how a piece of willow should be handled to get the best from it
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I might have missed the boat on questions but if not here is 1/1.5
What are you passionate about other than cricket/bat making (you mentioned guitars is there anything else)? If you could have been something other than a bat maker what would you have picked (I know you are an engineer first)?
I love rugby and played a bit when I was younger my boys now go and I've got the bug again...
... I've done the race engineering bit which is what I wanted to do as kid so I'll stick with wanting to be a bat maker still loads to achieve