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Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: shill on May 03, 2013, 03:35:04 PM

Title: Oiling question
Post by: shill on May 03, 2013, 03:35:04 PM
Recently bought a new bat and so began the prep for the season.
After applying a coat of oil the next day I noticed the darker wood(may be heartwood) still had oil on the surface whereas there was none in the lighter side.

Is this common and does it mean I should apply a different approach when oiling?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: Vitas Cricket on May 03, 2013, 03:36:17 PM
It sometimes takes longer to soak into heartwood. Leave it another day or so.
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: Chad on May 03, 2013, 03:45:22 PM
Quote from: Vitas Cricket on May 03, 2013, 03:36:17 PM
It sometimes takes longer to soak into heartwood. Leave it another day or so.

What he said. Although I don't know why that is, seeing as heartwood is meant to have less sap and is more brittle, so surely the moisture content is lower, so the oil should seep in a little more readily... Strange that...
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: SkipperJ on May 03, 2013, 03:45:41 PM
Very common, heartwood (dark) can take much longer to absorb oil. I usually oil the heartwood lightly compared to the sapwood.
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: ajmw89 on May 03, 2013, 03:48:35 PM
I may be wrong, but I believe heartwood has a higher concentration of Lignin, which is a natural water/weatherproof substance  (Of course, it was a while ago I did A-level biology, so I could be totally wrong)  Because of this, the oil won't soak in as well into heartwood.
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: Chad on May 03, 2013, 03:54:03 PM
Quote from: ajmw89 on May 03, 2013, 03:48:35 PM
I may be wrong, but I believe heartwood has a higher concentration of Lignin, which is a natural water/weatherproof substance  (Of course, it was a while ago I did A-level biology, so I could be totally wrong)  Because of this, the oil won't soak in as well into heartwood.

Ah right, that does make sense in that case. What I don't understand though - surely the tree would want the outside to be more weatherproof? I guess the centre of the tree needs to have the most protection though!
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: ajmw89 on May 03, 2013, 03:56:35 PM
Quote from: Chad on May 03, 2013, 03:54:03 PM
Ah right, that does make sense in that case. What I don't understand though - surely the tree would want the outside to be more weatherproof? I guess the centre of the tree needs to have the most protection though!

I think as the tree gets older, the band of lignin moves further to the edge.  Again, don't quote me on this, as I left school about 7 years ago!
Title: Re: Oiling question
Post by: shill on May 03, 2013, 09:28:01 PM
Ah I see thanks for the help