Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: smokem on July 08, 2014, 07:03:37 AM
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This has been a long project in the making as I had bought this bat from Matt when he was still running Vantage. This was a sample bat that had been made to test profiles for the 2013(?) season. I bought the bat as I really like the high middle profile and the Laver-esque hump. But at 2lb 10oz, it was probably a tad heavy. But I gave it a ago anyway as I really wanted to try a Vantage (this is when they were still being made in the UK). Sure enough it proved too heavy for my liking. I knocked it in, used it for a few nets and left it in a cupboard for a few months (ok maybe a year)...
My fascination with bat making had be trawling the net for bat shaping tools. Then I finally stop procrastinating and whipped up a workbench. Another few months went by until I finally bought a vice and a spokeshave. And then off I went!
The bat started out at 2lb 9.8oz naked with no concaving. I decided I needed to take 2oz off for it to be manageable weight for me. As I said I liked the high middle and the ~30mm edges. So I knew most of the weight would have to come off the spine. By the time 2oz had come off, it looked a totally different bat - a bit Black GT-ish in profile (as opposed to the more recent Cadbury GT).
I hadn't done much wood working since high school so I was a bit apprehensive at first. The key is a sharp blade and not getting too greedy on the cutting depth. Overall I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. And it's safe to say this won't be the last bat that will find its way into my vice!
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Ungripped bat is BEFORE weight reduction. Blue gripped bat is AFTER weight reduction.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/14602652375_4873aa4a08_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ofopNx) (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5561/14602053372_dd9a0d5127_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ofkkJU)
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(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14416244407_689ae0ac92.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nXV2d4) (https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/14599385101_c86b19a4e2.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/of6Eye)
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(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/14602053342_96814fc30d.jpg) (https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14602053322_6ac08a3f82.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ofkkJo)
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Nice, lovely shape, I assume you took more weight out higher up the bat?
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Thanks mate. I really enjoyed working on it.
Most of the weight was taken out of the "hump" area on the original bat, which is mainly the playing area. Then I blended that as I got close to the toe and splice regions. So basically the toe and splice areas had very little weight taken off.
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Ah, I'm surprised actually, looks a good chunk of wood for the weight you've brought it down to!
Just read the Before/After bit.... I thought they were just taken from a funny angle! Early Mornings!
Good work, hope it goes well!
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Looks a good job. I think personally I would of tried to take an oz off the spine and an oz off the edges - reasoning that 30mm to 29/28mm wouldn't make much difference to the edge profile and kept the profile of the bat fairly similar. However, some quality woodwork skills!
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Agree looks a good job just my opinion but looking at the shape maybe of the weight could have been removed from the shoulders and possibly the toe to assist the pickup.
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Thanks guys, really appreciate the feedback. There's still scope to tweak it so you never know... Watch this space!
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Great job. Looking forward to getting some tools for myself along with some handled clefts as a winter hobby.
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Looks great. Looks a lot like a M and H Harlequin.
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Very good job! I'm itching to have a go at batmaking or something similar but with me having very little tools it's looking very slim!
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nicely done.
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Top work Vinny, can't wait to see what you do with the SS! At least you're not going to be moaning about how you don't have a black GT in your collection! ;)
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Very good job! I'm itching to have a go at batmaking or something similar but with me having very little tools it's looking very slim!
Thanks mate and you really should give it a go! It's actually pretty relaxing. If you have a workbench of some sort then a vice and spokeshave is all you really need to do a weight reduction.
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Top work Vinny, can't wait to see what you do with the SS! At least you're not going to be moaning about how you don't have a black GT in your collection! ;)
Yeah mate its pretty close to a black GT. Can cross that off the list now. The SS is work in progress. I've taken an oz off it and it picks up a wee bit better. Probably needs another oz off it but see how it goes after a net.
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Great job mate