Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Cricket Manufacturers / Brands => Rob Pack Blue Room => Topic started by: goodarmcindy on February 20, 2014, 04:36:42 PM
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Bluerooom Bat Making (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te1f__ov8mo#ws)
I'd give my right arm to go an spend a day learning from Mr Pack. A beautiful looking bat at the end of it too.
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Nice video but its a shame it doesnt actually show any batmaking. a few minor tweaks on a premade bat and lots of sanding and finishing. apart from 10 seconds on the press thats pretty much it.
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Wish it was as easy as he makes it look (and other professional bat makers!).
Also love the look of that jumper he's wearing. Can you buy these?
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The bats did look like they was Cnc shaped before handles fitted.
But a good video, enjoyed watching it,
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Nice video but its a shame it doesnt actually show any batmaking. a few minor tweaks on a premade bat and lots of sanding and finishing. apart from 10 seconds on the press thats pretty much it.
Is this a common production model for small bat making companies?
No need to divulge any sensitive information as the question isn't intended to look too far behind the curtain.
It's a thought. Small business, lower costs, lower volumes, maintain a decent margin.
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Robs Special Brew... Interesting! :-[
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Good little video, never seen any body rasp and shape the handle while in the vice like that before but must work for him. An RPC is the one bat that's still outstanding on my list and may have to pay him a visit very soon.
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Is this a common production model for small bat making companies?
No need to divulge any sensitive information as the question isn't intended to look too far behind the curtain.
It's a thought. Small business, lower costs, lower volumes, maintain a decent margin.
Are you asking if using pre shaped bats is common amongst small makers? Some do, some don't. Surprised to see rob using them.
I certainly don't use pre shaped and handled bats.
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Are you asking if using pre shaped bats is common amongst small makers? Some do, some don't. Surprised to see rob using them.
I certainly don't use pre shaped and handled bats.
I was and then realised that maybe it was too sensitive a question for an open forum.
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I was and then realised that maybe it was too sensitive a question for an open forum.
I've seen raw clefts, seen loads being handled and watched him press some but as I'm no bat maker I have no idea what a Cnc or just a basically shaped bat would look like.
Tbh, He's said he does the lot but whether you believe it from me or not is your choice and I'm sure some will and some won't. NO matter what some will have ingrained beliefs about their favourite brands anyway so even if sliced bread was rediscovered they still argue the sky is pink
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The use of pre-shaped bats isn't uncommon. We've even seen some of the oldest batmakers around doing it.
Takes a lot of the grunt work out of the making of a bat.
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I've seen raw clefts, seen loads being handled and watched him press some but as I'm no bat maker I have no idea what a Cnc or just a basically shaped bat would look like.
Tbh, He's said he does the lot but whether you believe it from me or not is your choice and I'm sure some will and some won't. NO matter what some will have ingrained beliefs about their favourite brands anyway so even if sliced bread was rediscovered they still argue the sky is pink
I guess when you get busy you need to work faster and smarter, if getting pre shaped bats to your shapes made helps that then fair enough. Unfortunately I'm not big enough to have to worry about that. Maybe one day.
For me I just find the video a little disappointing as it doesn't really show anything about bat making.
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To many either look to far into the slice of grip or are correct…
Consistancy of shape is guaranteed through machines.
I guess it his business and nobody else what he does to be honest...
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Hmmm
Bat making?
Bat finishing yes
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Distinctive branding :)
Makes putting stickers / scuff sheet on look too easy! :-[
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Gentleman what date is it ? ah 2014 how would you dig a drainage ditch today with a pick and shovel I think not JCB more like having clefts part machined and finished by hand is common sense in my mind the two most important things in a cricket bat is the pressing and the pick up both done by hand Mr Pack quite clearly achieves this as his end product is second to none. Good luck this season
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Just for reference, the best bat I have used was a Bombora.
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The title of the thread says 'bat making'?
Not bat finishing
It's like someone posting'jcb making' and there's a bloke putting air in the tyres and applying the jcb stickers
Bats look ok tho
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Fair comment
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Interesting comments regarding bat making versus bat finishing. The title of the video is 'bat making', which is where I took the title of the thread from. A
pologies for the hyperbole in the thread title, too.
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Nice video can please some people on here even if gold bars given away for free . hats of to all the bat makers finshers or what ever thats how they roll they still need skills to do it and to put bread on the table top work lots of love deano
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I'm sure most on here know but I feel the need to speak up for/defend Rob a bit. He has made bats for some of the best international players over a few decades now, from Grahame Thorpe when he worked for Kookaburra to the likes of Flintoff in more recent times and loads in between. I'm no expert but I guess pre shaped clefts are an effective way of keeping up volume whilst still producing handmade products. Many happy customers will have picked a raw cleft from Rob and seen it handmade into their exact specification.
Rant over!
I'm not sure people are questioning him in terms of what he does, I certainly am not but I just feel the video doesn't show what he can do. I'm sure time is precious for him but if your going to spend 13 mins highlighting what you can do I think it would be better served doing something other than sanding and stickering a bat. Maybe that is a little harsh but I definitely think he is under selling himself in the Video.
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I'm not sure people are questioning him in terms of what he does, I certainly am not but I just feel the video doesn't show what he can do. I'm sure time is precious for him but if your going to spend 13 mins highlighting what you can do I think it would be better served doing something other than sanding and stickering a bat. Maybe that is a little harsh but I definitely think he is under selling himself in the Video.
Most people do not care and for a youtube video it what most want to see not everybody are bat badgers and just because they see a slither of a grip around the handle assume so much
I thought the video was good and my mate who knows nothing about bats bar hittig balls to boundaries wanted one after watching the video.
Think sometimes we over think things I think it is a great video .
No claims made either in it jus a simple bat Making video to 95 per cent of people
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Nice video can please some people on here even if gold bars given away for free . hats of to all the bat makers finshers or what ever thats how they roll they still need skills to do it and to put bread on the table top work lots of love deano
Great post
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Great post
Very well said, and lets not forget that even a pre-shaped cleft has to have been shaped by someone and I see many instances on here, where comments are given as to how badly a bat has been finished, so even thats an art. I don't know too much about his brand and range, but lets learn to appreciate.
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The point I was trying to get across,(unsuccessfully it would seem?), is that the title says bat making.
It's not quite bat 'making' is it? It's finishing off a pre made . And from the excellent video, he does this to a very high standard
As for some people wanting 'free gold bars,or whatever', , no, I just want what it says on the tin
I also have posted on another thread, that I couldn't give a monkeys how the bat I choose to purchase is made.
I have an Affinity,Laver,Jedi, and would love an Aldred or three,and as an engineer,am hugely appreciative of B3,s stunning looking bats.
All the above bats are made using a variety of manufacturing techniques to arrive at what I want to purchase.
I was trying to post an opinion , not criticise anyone's bat making abilities.
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I remember seeing this one a few years ago. How to make a cricket bat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owhngq5W6p8#ws) - Nice to see inside the workshops of bat makers.
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I think the monkey of the north makes a fair point. No one is criticising Rob, so there is no need to jump to his defence.
The comments are 'it would have been nice to see more actual making in the video. It's a fair comment for a for a forum full of Willow-botherers!
Everyone seems to love Robs stuff, chill out men, we're not in Woodstock territory here :)
.......oooops!
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I also think that whoever is making these videos should consider paying for the background music – you can hear Audio Jungle's copy protection every few seconds. Seems a bit cheeky.
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Gentleman what date is it ? ah 2014 how would you dig a drainage ditch today with a pick and shovel I think not JCB more like having clefts part machined and finished by hand is common sense in my mind the two most important things in a cricket bat is the pressing and the pick up both done by hand Mr Pack quite clearly achieves this as his end product is second to none. Good luck this season
If I pay someone to dig a trench out and they charge me more because they say they are going to do it by hand as it is harder work, then go and do it with a JCB and charge me the same money.... i'd be less than impressed....
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If I pay someone to dig a trench out and they charge me more because they say they are going to do it by hand as it is harder work, then go and do it with a JCB and charge me the same money.... i'd be less than impressed....
Except that Rob Pack isn't charging you more for shaping it by hand... (£310 for their top grade compared to £310 for Salix's 3rd in the range) If they say they're going to charge you more because they're doing it by hand, then find someone else to do the job just as well, but cheaper! If you like what they do, then stick with it.
I actually quite liked this video, shows the attention and care that Rob puts into finishing his bats. Makes me want to get a BR with those lovely blue and white stickers!
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I know what you mean but then it goes to the age old argument of what does one brand class as a grade 1 and what does another….. add in to that the cost of machinery premises and space to make the bat from the cleft….
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^ but Rob will have to pay all them bills etc aswell not just Salix. Don't get me wrong I love Salix, the best bat I've used has been one and is still going however I was put off from getting one this year due to the increase in price. Also the fact they're listing £210 for a hits hard which is meant to be grade 2/3. Also I'm not jumping on the fasteddie bandwagon but I do think robs work is good and people swear by blue room on here so they must be good - never had one though!
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I know what you mean but then it goes to the age old argument of what does one brand class as a grade 1 and what does another….. add in to that the cost of machinery premises and space to make the bat from the cleft….
Salix aren't the good standard by which all are judged. I've got nothing against Salix as my bat is a copy but I suspect grade 1 Salix is the same as grade 1 RPC/Blueroom. Salix are not this mythical brand who have all the best clefts. It is getting tiring. No, I'm not on the fasteddie wagon either but it's ridiculous to write rob off as not doing the full Ish. All his customs are made from his own plantation, meaning he'll have to do the lot.
Someone who chooses to finish but can press and do the full Monty if they wish/need to doesn't mean they have to or that their brand is inferior in any way. I'd match my match bat up against anyone Salix as it's a gun but I'm sure yogi etc would respond with theirs being a gun too. Salix choose to market themselves in one way, just because another brand isn't charging as much could be for many reasons.. No rent to pay? Maybe they don't want to be like everyone else and make max profit? Maybe having his own plantation means his costs are lower than other brands and coupled with no rent costs and not wanting to pay themselves loads means they don't have to charge over the odds. Not aimed at Salix there, could be many brands who charge loads tbh.
People can choose what they want but can we please stop making out Salix know best and everyone wants to be them. Maybe they do.. Maybe they don't. If you want to pay x amount for branding them fair enough but if you don't then it doesn't mean you've missed out at all.
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I know what you mean but then it goes to the age old argument of what does one brand class as a grade 1 and what does another….. add in to that the cost of machinery premises and space to make the bat from the cleft….
Then you could argue that the JCB tractor cost a fair amount to hire/buy, hence the pricing! As to the grading, Rob knows his stuff, and if you're suggesting that his top grade isn't graded to the same standard as Salix, I'd suggest you look through some of the Blue Room bats here. ;) I like Salix and RP, so not having a dig (No pun intended) at all, just thought I would use it as an example. Look at the Kudos SPS too, crafted in the same way RP makes his stock shaped bats, except £80-100 more expensive. Now, we can sit here and argue about prices, or just face it, stickers and brand strength sells bats, and are the reason why these three bat makers, despite them being some of the best in the trade, demand different prices.
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I have 2 favorite bats right now that I own and they both don't allow me to use anyother, Salix Torque and BR LE. I have also had the best bat ever which was made by Rob, as for how these bats are made? I thought they were hand made by Rob and I am certain RPC are, for BR range I don't know. I agree a bat making video should be about making a bat so maybe its more terminology issue as this isn't a bat making video and that's my only criticism. I believe Rob makes a mean bat, I thought they were all hand made but if they are not then so be it.
Considering Salix hold themselves in such high regard, deservedly so, people associated with them should not be criticizing other brands... Just seems a little below them...
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I wasn't criticizing any other brand or criticizing RP or BR in anyway, I'm not holding Salix in some mythical regard either, I know they make top bats as do many others. People will always pay what they are happy to pay, I have had great performing grade 2/3 equally I have had great players grade bats, I wasn't commenting on any particular brand as I said.
But as many others have said already this isn't bat making and I made the same comment
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WOW the JCB is making its mark: The JCB may cost a bit more to hire than a pick and shovel at the start but when you work out time taken and units ( as in clefts machined ) against meters dug by hand I think you will find the JCB out performs and reduces costs quite considerably. The demand for English Willow cricket bats WORLD WIDE is increasing on a daily basis the manufactures have to find ways of increasing productivity with out losing quality and part machined clefts will be the road 90% of bat makers will have to follow in order to stay alive does this mean they are not true bat makers I think not forward thinking bat makers YES.
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I suppose it's the nature of msgs,emails,txts whatever, that comments posted on here, sometimes get twisted onto other issues.
It would appear there is a lot of brand loyalty on here from some
My point was purely on the video title being slightly misleading
Still a cracking video, from a top batmaker
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It did cross my mind that maybe he HAD already got the bats to that stage himself and just wanted to show the bits that people might find more interesting?
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It did cross my mind that maybe he HAD already got the bats to that stage himself and just wanted to show the bits that people might find more interesting?
That is exactly what crossed my mind first too. 99% of normal people probably couldn't care less what a cleft is like etc.
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I have my favourite brand but come on take the blinkers off man
Quality maker no doubt as good as any no doubt
It is a poor do when we start knocking quality because we have a vested intrest elsewhere
Like the video more importantly my mate does who is thinking of getting one
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There's a lot of the initial process missing from that video....RP uses some pre shaped and some raw clefts. It depends entirely on the finished good that is required. Stock shapes from Blueroom are pre shaped as it saves time for RP - he is a lone gun remember. Bespoke stuff tends to be all from Raw cleft. Unless the customer sees a pre shaped or a part made and wants that instead of going from scratch with a piece of willow. He does fit the handles, this is done in the larger workshop. There are pics on from visits showing the handled bats drying in the racks I anyone cares to look. This video is 'finishing' though, no escaping that.
Love how some get on their high horses regarding CNC and any pre finishing/manufacturing carried out...... Does anybody jump on the big boys for it? I highly doubt it.
Supply and demand, If the demand is high RP will use a CNC as most other brands do anyway. Saves time and allows him to keep up with the demand for shelf items.
If you get chance pop down and just have a look around. Before it was very heavily hand made biased with bat stocks and Blueroom bats were in much smaller quantities. Now its more of an even balance between the 2 I'd say.
My LE was from what you guys call a 'part made' or 'pre shaped' cleft - no real details on the profile, it was simply a large cleft cut down into the general 'this looks like a cricket bat' shape and is a fantastic bat. My RPC and two other bats I have were handmade - all brilliant.
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Im sure I speak for most on here, when I say, really appreciate bat makers taking the time to post any videos on here
look forward to future vids
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Robert Pack cricket bat making talk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7LoEBEydm8#ws)
Robert Pack cricket bat making talk Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFgmgBBznao#ws)
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Great videos, and a good explanation as to why a bow can aid in performance. Also, Gray Nicolls screw everything up, so we should not support them at all and all buy Blue Room bats. ;)
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Great videos, and a good explanation as to why a bow can aid in performance. Also, Gray Nicolls screw everything up, so we should not support them at all and all buy Blue Room bats. ;)
If it's not made in the uk then yeah.. Sack them off. All this speak they out out about making in England etc... Pfft... Lies. :)
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If it's not made in the uk then yeah.. Sack them off. All this speak they out out about making in England etc... Pfft... Lies. :)
Was referring to the handle technology, but yeah, that too! ;)
In seriousness though, very impressed by what I've seen coming out of the RP workshop, and it's good that he agreed to help educate kids a little bit about the trade. :) Maybe some of them will find this forum in the future! :D
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Talking of handles.. And of GN...
Are carbon handles better than normal ones?