Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Care => Topic started by: WalkingWicket37 on September 08, 2016, 09:12:23 PM
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Hi all
I recently got my hands on a lovely shaped Hunts County Aura. It's what I would call a Julian inspired shape!
As lovely as it is, the handle just feels a touch too girthy for me, so I'm going to attempt to reduce this myself while keeping the oval shape.
I'm sure I'd already started a thread asking about doing this, but I can't find it for the life of me!
Anyways, I think it was @Seniorplayer who said this wasn't too taxing a job, so I thought I'd give it a go. This thread will be updated as I go, but my intention is to get it finished this weekend (if the weather is decent).
My plan of attack is to remove the twine, reduce the handle by hand sanding, then reapply the twine.
I made a start tonight; by removing the twine, then putting it on a makeshift roll, so I can reuse it later.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160908_211104_zpskawcq3k9.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160908_211104_zpskawcq3k9.jpg.html)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160908_211144_zpshfys1no5.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160908_211144_zpshfys1no5.jpg.html)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160908_212829_zpsdx6xyxpq.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160908_212829_zpsdx6xyxpq.jpg.html)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160908_212836_zps3vqmd2ww.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160908_212836_zps3vqmd2ww.jpg.html)
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You may be some time sanding it. Try a rasp, surform or spokeshave perhaps. Good luck
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Of the items listed I think I only have a rasp in the tool box.
I'll start off by sanding it (maybe just to remove the glue and twine reresidue) to see how long I think it will take to get the desired result.
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You'll only need a rasp file to do the job. Sanding it will be a right ball ache!
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Carried out this task for a teammate this week for the same reason but only removed the binding from where he grips the bat. ( he held the bat with batting gloves on and i mark the ungripped handle with a permanent marker ) before removing wood i wrapped 1 inch wide bat repair tape around remaining binding at the top and bottom of the bat so it doesn't become frayed.
Didn't want to rough up the handle so didn't use a rasp used a smooth file to first get the shape he required followed by 60 grit sanding turning the bat handle to maintain the shape using a preset outside caliper continually checking handle shape and thickness allowing for thickness of grip. Smoothed handle wood frays with 240 grit.
Didn't rebind the handle used the 1 inch wide bat repair tape wrapped tightly in a spiral shape working upwards to retain handle inserts.
Never happy removing binding or wood at the handle stress point at the bottom of the handle for about 3 inches upwards
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Update - live from my back garden!
Made a start on the handle reduction using a file
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_194901_zpsxnve7f3q.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_194901_zpsxnve7f3q.jpg.html)
I rather quickly moved onto done aggressive 80 grit aggressive paper and a block of scrap wood. I can work quicker and more precisely with this, and it seems to be getting the job done quicker!
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_201220_zpsbtshpcak.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_201220_zpsbtshpcak.jpg.html)
The handle now feels good in my hands as it is. That means I need to take off a fraction more (to accommodate the extra girth re-binding will give) and I'll be ready for the next step
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Looking good mate
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Hi all
I recently got my hands on a lovely shaped Hunts County Aura. It's what I would call a Julian inspired shape!
As lovely as it is, the handle just feels a touch too girthy for me, so I'm going to attempt to reduce this myself while keeping the oval shape.
I'm sure I'd already started a thread asking about doing this, but I can't find it for the life of me!
Anyways, I think it was @Seniorplayer who said this wasn't too taxing a job, so I thought I'd give it a go. This thread will be updated as I go, but my intention is to get it finished this weekend (if the weather is decent).
My plan of attack is to remove the twine, reduce the handle by hand sanding, then reapply the twine.
I made a start tonight; by removing the twine, then putting it on a makeshift roll, so I can reuse it later.
Doing this could change the balance. Careful!
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Doing this could change the balance. Careful!
Bit late for warnings now mate, I'm halfway through the reduction process! :-[
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Doing this could change the balance. Careful!
Your right thinning the handle depending on how much wood is remove can give an heavier pickup when this happens make a counter balance useing cut grips around the top of the handle
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Removing weight from the pivot point won't make a difference to the pick up.
Plus the bat will feel better in the hands which will subliminally make the bat feel like it picks up better.
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Update number two.
Handle reduction hopefully done. I made it feel comfortable in my hands, then took a bit more off to account for reapplying the binding and grip.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_211552_zpschlbsveq.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_211552_zpschlbsveq.jpg.html)
Now onto the fun part, hand binding...
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This is going to take me a while...
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_213507_zpskpqm3v1d.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_213507_zpskpqm3v1d.jpg.html)
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Update number two.
Handle reduction hopefully done. I made it feel comfortable in my hands, then took a bit more off to account for reapplying the binding and grip.
([url]http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_211552_zpschlbsveq.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_211552_zpschlbsveq.jpg.html[/url])
The sniff test?
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This is going to take me a while...
([url]http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_213507_zpskpqm3v1d.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_213507_zpskpqm3v1d.jpg.html[/url])
A smear of wood glue on the handle I found helps when rebinding
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Removing weight from the pivot point won't make a difference to the pick up.
Plus the bat will feel better in the hands which will subliminally make the bat feel like it picks up better.
If you remove wood from the handle the toe of the bat feels heavier you alter the fulcrum as the pivot point is around 6 inches from the top of the handle think of a pendulum
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A smear of wood glue on the handle I found helps when rebinding
I've got this far without (and am going so slowly that any glue would have dried before I got to bind over it!)
I plan to do the whole handle then put a generous amount of glue over the binding
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This is going to take me a while...
([url]http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_213507_zpskpqm3v1d.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_213507_zpskpqm3v1d.jpg.html[/url])
I have done this before. This is long process and bleeding fingers :D
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Binding re-applied, now just to glue it and get a grip on there
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_221331_zpsp8tu5r7a.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_221331_zpsp8tu5r7a.jpg.html)
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If you remove wood from the handle the toe of the bat feels heavier you alter the fulcrum
Exactly....
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And done! Glued the twine and put a small strip of zinc oxide tape down the bottom so there's "binding" of sorts the whole way down
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160909_224502_zpsfvqxld3y.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160909_224502_zpsfvqxld3y.jpg.html)
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Cam, if you can get hold of some would some white self amalgamating tape do the trick at the bottom, also hold your grip in place a bit more too? just a thought.
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You have nothing better to do on a friday night?
what happened to all of the stuff you were apparently doing but arent allowed to talk about in case hanif is reading?
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You have nothing better to do on a friday night?
what happened to all of the stuff you were apparently doing but arent allowed to talk about in case hanif is reading?
Sorry to disappoint Benji. To make up for it I'll show you the new scar on nipple from a cigarette burn next time we net!
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good job mate, this is exactly what i need to do on an aldred bat of mines, handles a little too thick at the bottom, will be giving this a go in the next week or 2.. seems pretty straight forward, what could pissible go wrong 😬
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Cam that's one of the best hand binding I've seen .
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You have nothing better to do on a friday night?
what happened to all of the stuff you were apparently doing but arent allowed to talk about in case hanif is reading?
Whatever he did, it involved a bat-grip cone.
Just sayin'
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Friday or Saturday night whichever!! To be fair that's a top job !!
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And finally, the glue has set and I've applied 1.5 grips.
The handle still feels a thick, but I can now get my hands properly round it. I tried it with just one grip and it still didn't feel quite right. I applied the extra half grip to the bottom of the handle and something amazing happened. The bottom now feels noticeably thicker than the bottom, which is what I find comfortable, and the pickup seemed to improve.
Interestingly the dead weight before I took everything off was 2lb10 & 1/8. With the same grip set up it's now 2lb10 & 3/8, so reducing the girth of the handle has increased the dead weight!
Now all that's left is to knock it in and apply a scuff sheet.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/20160910_122243_zpsjzgngl4n.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/20160910_122243_zpsjzgngl4n.jpg.html)
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Cam that's one of the best hand binding I've seen .
Thank you very much mate, high praise indeed!
I've found the trick is to keep it pulled tight and take your time. That avoids any little gaps in the twine that SSome manufacturers have.
I may not be the quickest in the world at binding a handle but I like to think it's done neatly when I'm finished.
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Interestingly the dead weight before I took everything off was 2lb10 & 1/8. With the same grip set up it's now 2lb10 & 3/8, so reducing the girth of the handle has increased the dead weight!
F you, Science!
:D