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Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: ajmw89 on January 21, 2013, 09:14:47 AM

Title: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on January 21, 2013, 09:14:47 AM
So my weekend started a little early on a snowy friday morning when I went down to visit Matt @ H4L to grab a few clefts.  It was great going down there and seeing a proper batmaker's setup, as it gives me something to aspire to!  Anyhoo, after a chat and a cup of tea to warm ourselves up, I picked up these 5 beauties, all a mixture of G1, 2 and 3.  I didn't spend as long as I would like down there as the inclement weather put the kibosh on that!
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130118_144016_3.jpg)

So, come saturday morning I took these all to my workshop and started marking up the 3 that I would be making for people.

(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/1358596064657.jpg)

And this is the first one that got made.  Vital stats: 2lb 9oz, short handle, 30mm edges, an average amount of concaving and the middle sounds sweet.
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130119_155410.jpg)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130119_155445.jpg)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130119_155431.jpg)

The 2nd one that got made is the one on the left with the horrid grip.  Weighs in at 2lb 5oz and picks up like a feather.  17mm edges with no concaving.  The guy who this is going to wanted it light, with no pickup and a mid-low middle.
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130120_175103.jpg)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130120_175136.jpg)

More pics to come when I get my camera pics on my laptop and when I've made another one
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Bruce on January 21, 2013, 09:43:04 AM
Very square handle on the right hand bat?
Like the profile though!

Bat on the right reminds me of a Dukes I once had.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on January 21, 2013, 09:49:57 AM
Cheers.  It sits in the hand quite nicely.  It's more of a pentagon shape I've been playing with on my handles, they're a bit weird at first but feel very comfortable once you get used to them.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Karan62 on January 21, 2013, 09:50:13 AM
Its a pretty nice profile :) almost like a traditional version of a laver and wood special profile :D
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on January 21, 2013, 09:52:19 AM
The one on the left was my take on a kookaburra bubble, but it's come out a bit more sharper than it looked in my head.  It still has  a very light pickup and a powerful middle
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Number4 on January 21, 2013, 09:59:21 AM
Dangerously thin shoulders on the left one.. Are they finished?
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on January 21, 2013, 10:00:35 AM
Dangerously thin shoulders on the left one.. Are they finished?
They're finished.  They hold up to being hit hard with a mallet, I've already tested that!
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Number4 on January 21, 2013, 10:06:11 AM
Please take this as constructive criticism cause maybe it's just the pics but they look like they need more final sanding hence why I asked if they were finished.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on January 21, 2013, 10:09:19 AM
I see what you mean, although the light isn't great where the pictures were taken and these are phone pictures.  I've still got a bit of polishing and buffing to do though, so will look a bit better once I find my camera to take photos with
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: uknsaunders on January 21, 2013, 10:16:57 AM
both look similar to a old dynadrive profile or in the case of the 2nd bat a dukes pro-century/jumbo with some concaving but bigger edges.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 01:45:25 PM
Rather than start a new thread, I'll add these here.  The previous 2 have gone off to very satisfied owners, and this one will be going off once the oil has dried.
Started like this
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130203_103330_zpsf5b8c3f4.jpg)

And ended up like this

(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130203_172702_zps8f6170d3.jpg)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130203_172744_zps02db6ada.jpg)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130203_172728_zps9bdc9049.jpg)
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Simmy on February 07, 2013, 02:08:53 PM
little bit better :)
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 02:16:20 PM
Cheers mate
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: yvk3103 on February 07, 2013, 02:26:59 PM
You got the skills mate. You will get there soon.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 02:29:24 PM
Cheers. Still got the 2 grade 3's on the left of the picture at the top of the page available. Debating what to do with them!
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Ryan on February 07, 2013, 02:41:53 PM
Just out of interest what tools are you using to shape with? Also, what are you using for sanding/ buffing? It might be worth posting some pictures of your setup...I'm sure the forum members would be very interested to see.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 02:49:01 PM
I'll get some up next week.  Used mainly a coffin plane, smoothing plane and spokeshave for shaping.  Got a new drawknife as I didn't get on with my curved bladed drawknife, but yet to use it.  Using a Black and decker multi sander for sanding.  Bench is the main problem, as it's not fixed.  My next task is to fix that to the wall/floor!
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Ryan on February 07, 2013, 02:55:52 PM
What's the reason foe using both a coffin plane and smoothing plane? Don't they do the same job?? Unless one is concaved of course. 
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 02:57:48 PM
What's the reason foe using both a coffin plane and smoothing plane? Don't they do the same job?? Unless one is concaved of course.

They do, but I find the coffin plane is better at removing the wood quicker, and the smoothing plane is better for fine tuning as it is adjustable and more comfortable to use.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Ryan on February 07, 2013, 03:01:35 PM
I find a smoothing plane so much better, like you say it's easier to adjust. Although I do love vintage wood planes, they give a lovely polished finish compared to steel planes.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 03:04:09 PM
I find a smoothing plane so much better, like you say it's easier to adjust. Although I do love vintage wood planes, they give a lovely polished finish compared to steel planes.

I do like my wooden one, although I find it can clog up quickly if set up incorrectly.  It's not something I can use for long periods, as I find I keep getting hand cramps after a while, whereas the smoothing plane is more ergonomic
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Vulcan Cricket on February 07, 2013, 05:51:02 PM
So my weekend started a little early on a snowy friday morning when I went down to visit Matt @ H4L to grab a few clefts.  It was great going down there and seeing a proper batmaker's setup, as it gives me something to aspire to!  Anyhoo, after a chat and a cup of tea to warm ourselves up, I picked up these 5 beauties, all a mixture of G1, 2 and 3.  I didn't spend as long as I would like down there as the inclement weather put the kibosh on that!
([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130118_144016_3.jpg[/url])

So, come saturday morning I took these all to my workshop and started marking up the 3 that I would be making for people.

([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/1358596064657.jpg[/url])

And this is the first one that got made.  Vital stats: 2lb 9oz, short handle, 30mm edges, an average amount of concaving and the middle sounds sweet.
([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130119_155410.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130119_155445.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130119_155431.jpg[/url])

The 2nd one that got made is the one on the left with the horrid grip.  Weighs in at 2lb 5oz and picks up like a feather.  17mm edges with no concaving.  The guy who this is going to wanted it light, with no pickup and a mid-low middle.
([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130120_175103.jpg[/url])
([url]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s463/thunderball89/20130120_175136.jpg[/url])

More pics to come when I get my camera pics on my laptop and when I've made another one


well done keeping going it takes years to get them 100 percent right and then you can start to sell them might be worth spending some time with matt to help you speed up your skills 
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 07:58:19 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: FattusCattus on February 07, 2013, 08:39:55 PM
There's a touch of the Jumbo's going on here (and I like that!)

Take a look at the Choice profile - that's a nice smooth look.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 07, 2013, 08:52:43 PM
I will do. Thanks.
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: Vulcan Cricket on February 07, 2013, 10:35:22 PM
are you selling these bats??? or are you just doing for fun as a hobby ???
Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: crictech on February 08, 2013, 04:19:50 AM
good to see another budding bat maker getting started.

I don't know about the other guys but I like to keep the shoulders (and toe) edge width to no less than 15mm on our bats. I've found anything less than 13mm is susceptible. It's a good idea to mark up the edges as a guide.

Title: Re: A weekend of bat making
Post by: ajmw89 on February 08, 2013, 08:49:46 AM
are you selling these bats??? or are you just doing for fun as a hobby ???

Mainly as a hobby, but these have been sold to people that have had a net with another bat I've made.

good to see another budding bat maker getting started.

I don't know about the other guys but I like to keep the shoulders (and toe) edge width to no less than 15mm on our bats. I've found anything less than 13mm is susceptible. It's a good idea to mark up the edges as a guide.



thanks.  I try to keep the shoulders no less than 10mm, but they're usually around 12-15mm.  The toe is usually around 15mm.