Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: JK Lewis on February 21, 2017, 09:54:52 PM
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So, today was the day. I had my tree cut down and sawn into rounds. It was bigger than I thought. I split it up and piled the clefts up and took it to the sawmill. I don't think I have ever worked harder or ended a day this knackered in my whole life. There will be more photos to follow, but here's just one before I fall asleep. I don't think I can post videos here, but tomorrow (hopefully) I will load them onto my Facebook page. You're very welcome to have a look - see the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/LewisCricketBats/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel (https://www.facebook.com/LewisCricketBats/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah205/justinlewis45/20170221_143652_zpsi9acxqos.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/justinlewis45/media/20170221_143652_zpsi9acxqos.jpg.html)
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Did you split them all by hand?
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Did you split them all by hand?
Yep, every single one. 40 clefts and a bunch of other waste wood. Mental.
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Hard graft hey. 😬
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Hard graft hey. 😬
Yes! But so much fun, and I learned a lot. Good day.
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We should have had a CBF field trip to help?
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Yep, every single one. 40 clefts and a bunch of other waste wood. Mental.
Well done @JK Lewis
What's the next steps in the process then? Seal the ends, air dry, cut into clefts, kiln dry etc etc??
Thanks,
Andy.
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We should have had a CBF field trip to help?
If there's a next time, I might well call for more support!
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Well done @JK Lewis
What's the next steps in the process then? Seal the ends, air dry, cut into clefts, kiln dry etc etc??
Thanks,
Andy.
Firstly I have to get the pieces sawn to clefts - at the moment they look like this:
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah205/justinlewis45/20170221_154005_zpsocdzsuqe.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/justinlewis45/media/20170221_154005_zpsocdzsuqe.jpg.html)
We split fairly conservatively, next time we could probably get more clefts. But, happy with a first effort.
Then I have to seal the ends and season the clefts. Might try to find a kiln somewhere, for a few of them at least.
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I'm doing this all in the wrong order, but here's the money shot:
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah205/justinlewis45/20170221_084814_zpsc155jvbi.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/justinlewis45/media/20170221_084814_zpsc155jvbi.jpg.html)
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Firstly I have to get the pieces sawn to clefts - at the moment they look like this:
([url]http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah205/justinlewis45/20170221_154005_zpsocdzsuqe.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/justinlewis45/media/20170221_154005_zpsocdzsuqe.jpg.html[/url])
We split fairly conservatively, next time we could probably get more clefts. But, happy with a first effort.
Then I have to seal the ends and season the clefts. Might try to find a kiln somewhere, for a few of them at least.
Nice to see And read your progress what I noticed though is the variation in rough cleft sizes 4 1/2 inches for each cleft would be ideal but it's easier to say it than it s. To split. Them.
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Nice to see And read your progress what I noticed though is the variation in rough cleft sizes 4 1/2 inches for each cleft would be ideal but it's easier to say it than it s. To split. Them.
You're right. It took us a bit of practise to get the splitting consistent, and we were fairly conservative in sizing as we have to learn the sawing as well. Also the tree itself wasn't perfect, so there were a fair amount of branches and twigs to work around. You can see them on the outside, but in places where the tree has grown around the branch, it sometimes splits in such a way that the 'wedge' looks big at the top but is too skinny part way down.
So, there was a fair amount of wastage. 2nd time around would return even more clefts, but I reckon 40 from one tree is a decent initial return.
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If it's any help and apologies if you have one but with regard to roundel splitting and accuracy ideally you need a razor sharp log splitting maul the Spear and Jackson ones I cost around £25.00
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If it's any help and apologies if you have one but with regard to roundel splitting and accuracy ideally you need a razor sharp log splitting maul the Spear and Jackson ones I cost around £25.00
We had a maul, but not a particularly sharp one to be honest. In truth though, the best way to split the rounds was with 3 big wedges and 2 sledgehammers. See the videos now on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LewisCricketBats/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel (https://www.facebook.com/LewisCricketBats/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel)
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Firstly I have to get the pieces sawn to clefts - at the moment they look like this:
([url]http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah205/justinlewis45/20170221_154005_zpsocdzsuqe.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/justinlewis45/media/20170221_154005_zpsocdzsuqe.jpg.html[/url])
We split fairly conservatively, next time we could probably get more clefts. But, happy with a first effort.
Then I have to seal the ends and season the clefts. Might try to find a kiln somewhere, for a few of them at least.
Needn't cut them into clefts, just pull the bark off and stick a handle in it and they'll suit me fine :D
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Great work, can't see your videos here in China though.
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Great work, can't see your videos here in China though.
Sorry to hear that, but they'll be waiting for you when you get back!
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Great stuff @JK Lewis , really interesting to see the full journey as you go. One good thing about generous cleft size - surely you've got to have a go at making some kind of monster?
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Great stuff @JK Lewis , really interesting to see the full journey as you go. One good thing about generous cleft size - surely you've got to have a go at making some kind of monster?
Ha ha, yes, I was thinking about using a couple of clefts to experiment a little, to see what might be possible. I'll put you down for a 5lb-er!
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Very nice videos. Looking forward to more updates. Hope all those turn out to be G1 +, player grade, low density oversized clefts :)
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Ha ha, yes, I was thinking about using a couple of clefts to experiment a little, to see what might be possible. I'll put you down for a 5lb-er!
Jk, please kiln dry one to within an inch of its life for me!! :D
Great thread by the way. Loving reading the journey of this tree!