Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: Mr Cricket on December 14, 2009, 09:54:41 PM

Title: making a bat
Post by: Mr Cricket on December 14, 2009, 09:54:41 PM
i would very much like to have a go at making a bat

what tools will i need?

where can i get a cheap cleft to have a first attempt on?

how can i put a handle on it?

how can i cut the splice properly?

where can i design stickers and get stickers made?

in short i am looking for an idiots guide to making a bat!

thanks in advance :)
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: slogger02 on December 14, 2009, 09:57:00 PM
draw knife, planes, sander etc
cheap cleft from H4L or CJI cricket
handle should be fitted
stickers professionally by adcal or rhiti (expensive), can do them youself on the computer though (cheap but poor quality).  cricketbatstickers.com i think it is will do them to.

then you proceed to ruin your cleft!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: Mr Cricket on December 14, 2009, 10:33:42 PM
awesome!

might have a go after xmas, think i could come up with an awesome design, cud be a revolution!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: slogger02 on December 14, 2009, 10:37:17 PM
master the standard bat before changing the universe!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: Mr Cricket on December 15, 2009, 02:25:50 AM
no chance :)
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: SillyShilly on December 15, 2009, 08:24:37 AM
Good luck - be interested to see how you get on.
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: leeroy_acko on December 15, 2009, 08:34:04 AM
Go to Matt @ H4L for the cleft- he sorted me out with 2 grade 1s with handle and rudimentary shape, leaving you to finish it. He has always been available for advise too.

Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: SillyShilly on December 15, 2009, 08:40:53 AM
Leeroy thats no fun - you want to make the whole of the shape yourself.......thats the best bit!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: leeroy_acko on December 15, 2009, 08:43:37 AM
Hmmm, maybe thats misleading, he has essentially made it "bat shaped", in the the cleft is stuck to a handle. The bat currently weights 5 pounds, ungripped. I can make whatever shape I like, although that should probably read, I can mess it up in as many different ways as I like!!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: SillyShilly on December 15, 2009, 08:47:05 AM
Ahhhhh, thats how all part mades come (well the one's ive seen anyway).

Have fun with it and dont expect it to be a masterpiece first time up, i was a little careless with the drawknife on the first bat and ended up whittling a twig come the end........from my very brief experience, it is worth your time investing in some decent tools!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: leeroy_acko on December 15, 2009, 08:51:20 AM
I was hoping to do it really, really slowly and carefully with just a hand plane. Is that possible or am i being silly?
My father in law is helping, and he used to teach woodwork, so I am hoping he will save me from any catastrophies!
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: Mr Cricket on December 15, 2009, 10:09:47 AM
how difficult is it?
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: SillyShilly on December 15, 2009, 11:17:50 AM
Not that difficult at all to take the wood away and get a rough shape- but it's hard to master.
I had no experience whatsoever and i have managed to produce 2 out 3 bats that i am relatively happy with - i'd imagine those with a woodworking background would find this easier than most.
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: hit4six on December 15, 2009, 02:09:43 PM
One thing I would recommend is buying some good quality sandpaper. This will save you time and effort. I would try and get some 3M branded sandpaper, because when you have finished shaping the bat, you will have some digs and uneven bits you will want to flatten out. I used this when I made a few bats and I found sanding with a good brand of sandpaper for around 10 mins made the bat even out and allows the finish of the bat to look more professional.
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: Biggyd63 on December 16, 2009, 08:02:32 PM
im looking to do the same kind of thing as Mr Cricket
i just need some advice on types of planes, spokeshaves as there are so many different types
i need to know which types will be best (concave, convex, flat) for making a simple cricket bat
Which tools are absolutely necessary/the bare minimum?
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: Howzat on December 16, 2009, 08:08:06 PM
http://www.cricketencyclopedia.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Podshaver (http://www.cricketencyclopedia.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Podshaver)
Might help a bit
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: generalcustard on December 23, 2009, 02:47:21 AM
interested, but where's the best place to get stuff in aus,
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: Perkins17 on December 23, 2009, 08:27:21 AM
not sure about the tools but you could try ebay or antique shops
for part made bats you can try : http://www.fisherbats.com.au/ (http://www.fisherbats.com.au/)  you get a grade 2 for $170 
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: SAF Bats on December 23, 2009, 10:22:13 AM
Ask Brianlara400* good chap and knowledgeable to boot

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?action=profile;u=106 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?action=profile;u=106)

Murphy Cricket Bats I think not sure if he has a website yet
Title: Re: making a bat
Post by: generalcustard on December 24, 2009, 01:18:07 AM
cheers for that fellas,

to double check equipment:

Drawknife, traditional 225mm plus.
Travisher, No4 or No5, wat do you guys prefer.
Spokeshave No550 as opposed to a drawknife??
Wooden plane No4 1/2
plus sandpaper.

cheers