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Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: joeljonno on December 30, 2013, 12:10:21 PM

Title: How to dowel?
Post by: joeljonno on December 30, 2013, 12:10:21 PM
Hi

I have a bat with a chunk out of the toe, and is quite frayed.

I have another bat that I will cut up to get a piece the right size.

I will fill the cracks with glue, shape the break and match the other piece, then glue it in place.

How do you dowel?

Do I drill a couple of holes and glue the in once the piece has been glued to the bat?

Or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: LEACHY48 on December 30, 2013, 02:03:40 PM
basically right mate, wait untill the piece has set solid and is fixed to the broken bat, then drill a hole 3/4 the way through the entire blade through the donor piece, cover some dowl with glue, and hammer it in t the hole, then cut/sand ooff any exccess that doesnt fit flush
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: joeljonno on December 31, 2013, 04:16:48 PM
http://imageshack.com/i/5bnvsyj (http://imageshack.com/i/5bnvsyj)

Here's a pic, trying imageshack mobile so may not display directly.

Thanks for the above, will try it. Didn't realise dowels went so far through, TBH.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: wayward_hayward on December 27, 2014, 09:58:45 PM
Right guys, I have a bat that needs dowelling.

Any good advice for a novice?
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on December 27, 2014, 10:06:42 PM
Drill slowly
Measure your dowel at least twice
Mark the drill bit so you don't go too far

PM me for any help  ;)
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Seniorplayer on December 28, 2014, 01:25:16 PM
As above but make sure your drill diameter is slightly smaller than your dowelling also I use epoxy resin rather than glue as it forms a stronger bond.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on December 28, 2014, 06:56:43 PM
As above but make sure your drill diameter is slightly smaller than your dowelling also I use epoxy resin rather than glue as it forms a stronger bond.

I was always told epoxy is too hard and brittle and not suitable for bat repairs. It's ok for solid joints that don't take too much stress. I would use a good quality wood glue, it's strong and it's designed for this kind of thing. You also need to be careful when hammering in the dowel. It needs to be a tight fit but if the dowel is too big your just going to split or weaken the joint.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Seniorplayer on December 28, 2014, 08:55:48 PM
I was always told epoxy is too hard and brittle and not suitable for bat repairs. It's ok for solid joints that don't take too much stress. I would use a good quality wood glue, it's strong and it's designed for this kind of thing. You also need to be careful when hammering in the dowel. It needs to be a tight fit but if the dowel is too big your just going to split or weaken the joint.

Well John IMO  epoxy resin generally out performs glue also it isresistant to water degradation I think the key is together the mix ratio between resin and hardener correct for the job you are undertaking as it does have a toughness hope that helps.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on December 28, 2014, 09:09:00 PM
Well John IMO  epoxy resin generally out performs glue also it isresistant to water degradation I think the key is together the mix ratio between resin and hardener correct for the job you are undertaking as it does have a toughness hope that helps.

Fair enough. Each to their own. I use a high quality waterproof wood glue for everything from handle fitting to toe repairs. That's what I'd recommend but everyone has their own experiences of what works for them.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: edge on December 28, 2014, 09:28:20 PM
Well John IMO  epoxy resin generally out performs glue also it isresistant to water degradation I think the key is together the mix ratio between resin and hardener correct for the job you are undertaking as it does have a toughness hope that helps.
For most epoxies the mix only affects how quickly it cures rather than the final properties, the key would be making sure you have the right epoxy for the job - as John says some of them are very brittle and no good in impact situations, you can get flexible epoxy though so maybe those would work well. Also from experience working with epoxy can be a pain in the rear end, wood glue has the definite advantage that it's very easy to deal with!
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on December 28, 2014, 09:58:32 PM
For most epoxies the mix only affects how quickly it cures rather than the final properties, the key would be making sure you have the right epoxy for the job - as John says some of them are very brittle and no good in impact situations, you can get flexible epoxy though so maybe those would work well. Also from experience working with epoxy can be a pain in the rear end, wood glue has the definite advantage that it's very easy to deal with!

This!
Open the bottle, wack it in the hole/on the dowel, insert dowel into bat and wipe away excess.
No faffing about mixing it, hardner ratios and it's not an irritant. Gets my vote over epoxy resin any day  :)
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Seniorplayer on December 29, 2014, 04:08:53 PM
Have to agree epoxy resin is can be a pain to work with but it does form a strong bond.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Bambooman on December 29, 2014, 05:52:16 PM
All high quality PVA based wood adhesives will be stronger than willow. How much stronger than the wood do you need to be?
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Gurujames on December 29, 2014, 07:44:59 PM
I would advise you not to use epoxy. It is too brittle and will fracture when it is hit hard. This will lead to a larger split than you had to begin with. PVA has greater elasticity which is more similar to the elasticity of the willow. Also, I would dowel with bamboo instead of fluted dowels for the same reason. Additionally bamboo has a smaller diameter so less weakness is added to the edge.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Andythomo21 on January 01, 2015, 07:18:34 PM
Out of interest, is bamboo dowel readily available?  Where do you usually source it from?
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Gurujames on January 01, 2015, 07:43:29 PM
My missus is Chinese so I cut up her chopsticks. Most supermarkets sell them.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Andythomo21 on January 01, 2015, 08:22:09 PM
I see.  Are chopsticks the same thickness all the way up? Havn't used a set for a while but seem to remember them varying in thickness from tip to handle?
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: wayward_hayward on January 04, 2015, 02:04:43 PM
Dowelling complete and hopefully a success. One question, shall I oil the bat as normal or will effect the strength of the glue?
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Seniorplayer on January 04, 2015, 03:16:47 PM
Raw linseed can weaken glue you  could use bat wax as the wax  generally as less linseed oil
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on January 04, 2015, 03:28:07 PM


I always oil as normal. The dowels are so deep and the amount of oil so minute I can't see it making a difference.

Also I think the "don't oil the splice" was when animal glue was used. Now (virtually) everyone has moved onto PVA it's not as big an issue as it used to be.
Title: Re: How to dowel?
Post by: Gurujames on January 04, 2015, 03:32:07 PM
I see.  Are chopsticks the same thickness all the way up? Havn't used a set for a while but seem to remember them varying in thickness from tip to handle?
Yeah they do taper. I even them off to fit a 4mm diameter. I do this by putting them in a pillar drill and holding sandpaper against them as they spin.