Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Gray Nicolls => Topic started by: prim0pyr0 on June 02, 2017, 12:53:25 PM
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Picked up my first new bat in ~15 years after not playing after college, 50% off at sports store bargain $200nzd. was quite different to my old optimum megastrike, the new oblivion e41 had larger edges and concaving etc. had some heart wood on the lh outside edge and weighed ~2lb 6 or 7
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150404_183133_zpsoswcgchu.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150404_183133_zpsoswcgchu.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150404_183429_zpsxupqhghv.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150404_183429_zpsxupqhghv.jpg.html)
Didn't even think about using a face gaurd, they used to be on lower grade bats only and I'd grown up using plain faced oiled bats.. it wasn't that long until there were some cracks and a small piece came off... Also the toe gaurd was a new invention, which hid some minor cracking..
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150615_230547_zpspjsypckw.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150615_230547_zpspjsypckw.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150615_230602_zpszqw8y9nl.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150615_230602_zpszqw8y9nl.jpg.html)
Nothing a bit of pva and clamps couldn't fix!
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150616_230832_zpssyxfmhab.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150616_230832_zpssyxfmhab.jpg.html)
bit of a sand and good as new!
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150617_082514_zpswiqbuqzw.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150617_082514_zpswiqbuqzw.jpg.html)
I got this bat during an easter sale, so in NZ the off season. I used it quite abit in the indoor nets, keen to make up for lost time most likley minimum 4 hours a week against bowling and bowling machine (around 70-80mph (90mph for three balls(the lights timed out and off just as the third fired down the pitch in the dark)))
It wasnt long until another crack started forming, and then a larger chunk this time flew off:
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150618_220553_zpsw3wixvxu.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150618_220553_zpsw3wixvxu.jpg.html)
This time more glue, and more clamps! 24hours, sanding, and good to go again!
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150618_224334_zpsst0w7rrd.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150618_224334_zpsst0w7rrd.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150617_224322_zpszkunrtrg.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150617_224322_zpszkunrtrg.jpg.html)
After more time in the nets I started to observe a trend in bat damage, which was gradually increasing. this was consistent with cbf threads on repairs and the limited life of a bat.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150626_173334_zpsrkcvwqh8.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150626_173334_zpsrkcvwqh8.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150626_173322_zpsjplaklpn.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150626_173322_zpsjplaklpn.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150626_173339_zps7zeiiwkv.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150626_173339_zps7zeiiwkv.jpg.html)
None the less, this was my favorite bat and I'd do anything to prolong it's life. It was also winter, and i had spare time.
This repair require a bit of a donation from my previous gn optimum bat. Used more power tools, and in some ways it was easier to clamp up than small pieces and using the clamps against the curved back of the bat.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150626_175457_zpsqw8fohy9.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150626_175457_zpsqw8fohy9.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150626_195001_zps0wpntco2.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150626_195001_zps0wpntco2.jpg.html)
bit of a sand, and good to go!
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150628_131422_zpsjb2ftbmv.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150628_131422_zpsjb2ftbmv.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150628_131435_zpsbssa1ryi.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150628_131435_zpsbssa1ryi.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150628_131440_zpszg0gfo2n.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150628_131440_zpszg0gfo2n.jpg.html)
lasted for roughly an hour against the ball machine. the last ball i hit produced a cloud of flying pieces of broken wood and splinters.
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150710_212605_zpsx68vexb4.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150710_212605_zpsx68vexb4.jpg.html)
I thought about keeping the handle in case i needed to replace on in the future, but it was a cold winter so it all went in the fire
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great thread, amazing the lengths we will go to to prolong the life of our favourite bat.
I retired mine before it ended up like your last photo and it now sits on the shelf next to my desk for me to wave around the office from time to time.
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The one thing that matters is the effort. :) Only if i had such a talent :D
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This is a fantastic thread! The dedication to the bat is unreal!
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For a while there that bat was like the liquid metal cop/terminator in terminator 2 .... just kept coming back to life !
But , as Arnie said in predator, 'if it bleeds , we can kill it'! :D
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Brilliant thread... possibly sums up the forum more than any other.... well maybe just piped to the post by... my bat has a slight hardly noticeable crack... I think I'll buy another just in case!!!
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Great to see a bat used to its full!!
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I mean, absolutely fair play in persevering with it beyond the call of duty.
But I'm wondering if you knocked it in beforehand, and for how long?
And how big were the cannonballs you were firing at it? :D
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1. I feel that all bats have an expiration date and fighting to prolong/extend that expiration date is an exercise in fuility.
2. Some bats, regardless of knocking and oiling, show funny signs of cracking early on and break. Bad pressing? Over dried willow? Could be.
3. Laver team member once told me that Bola red balls can damage a new bat - not because of the hardness per se but the consistency of the area hit with those balls especially at high speeds.
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3. Laver team member once told me that Bola red balls can damage a new bat - not because of the hardness per se but the consistency of the area hit with those balls especially at high speeds.
If that's the case how long (or short) would the life of a pro's bat be?
What with their continuous netting against bowlers and the machine (and the fact they likely use the middle most of the time) I'm guessing their bats must die pretty quickly
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1. I feel that all bats have an expiration date and fighting to prolong/extend that expiration date is an exercise in fuility.
2. Some bats, regardless of knocking and oiling, show funny signs of cracking early on and break. Bad pressing? Over dried willow? Could be.
3. Laver team member once told me that Bola red balls can damage a new bat - not because of the hardness per se but the consistency of the area hit with those balls especially at high speeds.
I always found this to be an odd thing since bola balls aren't as hard as normal cricket balls - they have a point, (based off the relaxation time of the willow) it's just I don't regularly see people breaking their bats on bowling machines. Would be nice if they had evidence to back this up. I've always wondered whether the contact time between the ball and the bat played any part in their view of bowling machine balls.
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Also, thanks for this thread, makes me want to repair my trusty SS which I have hit both of my highest scores with. :)
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Brilliant thread! The final picture came as such a shock that I actually had a little chuckle out loud. It's amazing what we all do to keep our favourite bat going another season!
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I always found this to be an odd thing since bola balls aren't as hard as normal cricket balls - they have a point, (based off the relaxation time of the willow) it's just I don't regularly see people breaking their bats on bowling machines. Would be nice if they had evidence to back this up. I've always wondered whether the contact time between the ball and the bat played any part in their view of bowling machine balls.
Most companies here won't warrant a bat if it has clear signs of over use on bowling machine, delamination is the main issue rather than shattering of bats. Most times with a bowling machine you will hit very close to the same area because you have a good idea of where the ball will be landing, compare a 200 ball innings to facing same amount on the machine and there will be a massive difference in balls hit and where they hit. It's not an issue for people that may face a few buckets once a week, it for people that do it a few times a week every week.
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Most companies here won't warrant a bat if it has clear signs of over use on bowling machine, delamination is the main issue rather than shattering of bats. Most times with a bowling machine you will hit very close to the same area because you have a good idea of where the ball will be landing, compare a 200 ball innings to facing same amount on the machine and there will be a massive difference in balls hit and where they hit. It's not an issue for people that may face a few buckets once a week, it for people that do it a few times a week every week.
Thanks @skip1973 for the insight, there must have been an unusual number returns with that problem for companies to adopt that policy. I guess I haven't noticed that problem as I don't see people batting against bowling machines too often here, just don't have the weather to during the Summer or the time to during indoor training!
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I mean, absolutely fair play in persevering with it beyond the call of duty.
But I'm wondering if you knocked it in beforehand, and for how long?
And how big were the cannonballs you were firing at it? :D
Got a mallet especially to follow the ginger process, hit it until could see grains "open" or crack slightly, once sig. other and neighbors were driven mad was complete. Can't remember exactly how long it took prolly 3 or four sessions of 15-20min. Hardest part is always remembering what grade of sandpaper to use before oiling. Wouldn't mind getting a lignum vitae mallet after knocking in three bats at once recently, is quite tough on the arm.
Bat lasted just over three months, with 10-15 hours of bowling machine or bowling a week. something like 50,000+ balls i guess. Was pretty keen to go to the nets every night, gf was/is pretty awesome to feed the bola and fire balls at me. When I First started I used my old canvas dacron filled pads.. got hit in the leg at 80mph and it broken the canes and felt like my leg broke too. I put additional plumbing pipe insulation foam inside the pads. After got hit on the inside thigh, i got some aero stripper theigh gaurds, proper pads and picked up a helmet(never wore one previously).
the bat was pretty light ~2lb 6or7oz, and I can swing quite hard (usually open, and get more 4's and 6's than ones and two's), mate bowls around mid 120s last time we had a radar and bowling machine usually started 70mph and went to 80mph one my eye is in. some weekends we'll do 4 hours of bowling/batting.
Been through 4 or so bats in two seasons using a lot less bowling machine, they've mostly cracked at the shoulders, busted from the bottom of the splice on the back of the bat, or had very big toe/blade splits. Batting left handed tends to give the inside toe more wear with the ball coming across the swing more from rh bowlers.
This powerbow had storm damage and didn't last very long
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150625_222432_zpsa8brphmv.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150625_222432_zpsa8brphmv.jpg.html)
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150625_222611_zpsttulb3xb.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150625_222611_zpsttulb3xb.jpg.html)
Always a bit sad when one dies, but it's exciting to choose a new stick. I got a few bats recently while they were half price in anticipation of next season..really hope they don't break tho as the new ones are very nice.
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I always found this to be an odd thing since bola balls aren't as hard as normal cricket balls - they have a point, (based off the relaxation time of the willow) it's just I don't regularly see people breaking their bats on bowling machines. Would be nice if they had evidence to back this up. I've always wondered whether the contact time between the ball and the bat played any part in their view of bowling machine balls.
Yes Bola red is not hard like a new leather ball but harder than an old leather ball. Also, not sure what is your experience but I have found that Bola reds hurt a lot more than any other ball I have been hit with. Speed maybe?
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Bat lasted just over three months, with 10-15 hours of bowling machine or bowling a week. something like 50,000+ balls i guess.
That is a lot!!!
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Got a mallet especially to follow the ginger process, hit it until could see grains "open" or crack slightly, once sig. other and neighbors were driven mad was complete. Can't remember exactly how long it took prolly 3 or four sessions of 15-20min. Hardest part is always remembering what grade of sandpaper to use before oiling. Wouldn't mind getting a lignum vitae mallet after knocking in three bats at once recently, is quite tough on the arm.
Bat lasted just over three months, with 10-15 hours of bowling machine or bowling a week. something like 50,000+ balls i guess. Was pretty keen to go to the nets every night, gf was/is pretty awesome to feed the bola and fire balls at me. When I First started I used my old canvas dacron filled pads.. got hit in the leg at 80mph and it broken the canes and felt like my leg broke too. I put additional plumbing pipe insulation foam inside the pads. After got hit on the inside thigh, i got some aero stripper theigh gaurds, proper pads and picked up a helmet(never wore one previously).
the bat was pretty light ~2lb 6or7oz, and I can swing quite hard (usually open, and get more 4's and 6's than ones and two's), mate bowls around mid 120s last time we had a radar and bowling machine usually started 70mph and went to 80mph one my eye is in. some weekends we'll do 4 hours of bowling/batting.
Been through 4 or so bats in two seasons using a lot less bowling machine, they've mostly cracked at the shoulders, busted from the bottom of the splice on the back of the bat, or had very big toe/blade splits. Batting left handed tends to give the inside toe more wear with the ball coming across the swing more from rh bowlers.
This powerbow had storm damage and didn't last very long
([url]http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150625_222432_zpsa8brphmv.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150625_222432_zpsa8brphmv.jpg.html[/url])
([url]http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/IMG_20150625_222611_zpsttulb3xb.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/IMG_20150625_222611_zpsttulb3xb.jpg.html[/url])
Always a bit sad when one dies, but it's exciting to choose a new stick. I got a few bats recently while they were half price in anticipation of next season..really hope they don't break tho as the new ones are very nice.
Sounds like you may have gone a bit too hard too early with the mallet. You only did about 1hr20min of knocking ....really dhould be starting your knocking soft , slowly working up, and doing 3-5 times the amount of knocking in that you did. Then use old balls to play the bat for as long as it takes.
A bat with that little preparation and being used that much is always likely to explode.
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Was knocked in well. 3x oil 24h between. rolled edges on porcelain sink, started soft making dents on face spreading out, grains opened, no seam marks etc. Don't think any bat really needs 6 hours of mallet.. maybe if your using a ball in a sock. But yes, edges and toe most important, and bit on face so it doesn't get deep seam marks or compression cracking.
It didn't go bad straight away, it was good for a large number of net sessions. Facing bowling machine etc would have knocked it in more than extra malleting. Was literally going to the next for 2 or 3 hours most days and more on the weekends. I'd get bruised hands from the impact of hitting through the handle.
Have started using facegaurds xtratec or lighter fibertec now, and with slightly heavier bats having a bit more substance to them they hold up pretty well.
Hadn't found a bat as good as the oblivion until the xp80, was like nothing could live up to how the e41 sent balls flying to the back of the nets. Bit funny I never got to use it in a game. Omega bat is good but doesn't have much of a bow.
Pros don't knock their bats in anyway, do they?
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Ive got grey nicolls ball machine balls. full weight but dimples are not as shallow
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Was knocked in well. 3x oil 24h between. rolled edges on porcelain sink, started soft making dents on face spreading out, grains opened, no seam marks etc. Don't think any bat really needs 6 hours of mallet.. maybe if your using a ball in a sock. But yes, edges and toe most important, and bit on face so it doesn't get deep seam marks or compression cracking.
It didn't go bad straight away, it was good for a large number of net sessions. Facing bowling machine etc would have knocked it in more than extra malleting. Was literally going to the next for 2 or 3 hours most days and more on the weekends. I'd get bruised hands from the impact of hitting through the handle.
Have started using facegaurds xtratec or lighter fibertec now, and with slightly heavier bats having a bit more substance to them they hold up pretty well.
Hadn't found a bat as good as the oblivion until the xp80, was like nothing could live up to how the e41 sent balls flying to the back of the nets. Bit funny I never got to use it in a game. Omega bat is good but doesn't have much of a bow.
Pros don't knock their bats in anyway, do they?
4 hours minimum for knocking in . You did 1hr20min, that's just not enough . Plus , you never mentioned playing the bat in with old balls . I think that's poor/not enough prep .
Pros do , pros don't, depends on the player . A lot of pros won't use a new bat in a match for months , so some definitely go to the enth to prepare their bats . Also , unless you're a pro with bats coming out of your proverbial , can you really take the chance /afford replacements ?
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Knocking in: bit of science, bit of an art.
Get edges and toe done well, hit catches, then play in with slower balls and controlled strokes. once you're hitting balls it has the same knocking in effect of compressing the willow face as donging around with a mallet.
It's impossible to quantify a required time for knocking in. Bats vary in wood characteristics and pressing, and the rate and force of the mallet will vary significantly.
The important thing is you've achieved the goal of rounding the edges and compressing the willow to the point it is hard enough to start running it in without damage. Every bat will destruct itself eventually. Having bats to share the workload is a good reason/excuse to buy more bats :)
I do carry several backups in the bag incase something snaps(usually this happens more often to Puma or Kook bats i believe):
(http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/FB_IMG_1435194801844_zpstswcixud.jpg) (http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/FB_IMG_1435194801844_zpstswcixud.jpg.html)
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I do carry several backups in the bag incase something snaps(usually this happens more often to Puma or Kook bats i believe):
([url]http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh489/prim0pyr0/FB_IMG_1435194801844_zpstswcixud.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1248.photobucket.com/user/prim0pyr0/media/FB_IMG_1435194801844_zpstswcixud.jpg.html[/url])
Must be a big bag/container unit!
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Must be a big bag/container unit!
hide them in here
(http://cdn.playbuzz.com/cdn/a5eecbc4-1f98-4d4a-a2fb-746aa8f53afc/c3b25f9f-546f-4028-84e0-224fb5a9cfbe.jpg)
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Wow! lots of dedication to your bat!
I have a 80's powerspot that i know is on the way out but i just cant bring myself to use it. Was my dads and was given to me when i finished playing. probably the best pickup on any bat that i've ever used......
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Wow! lots of dedication to your bat!
I have a 80's powerspot that i know is on the way out but i just cant bring myself to use it. Was my dads and was given to me when i finished playing. probably the best pickup on any bat that i've ever used......
If its a david gower powerspot ( the spot is gold and red ) , or the michael slater powerspot ( full blue spot ) then i understand the affection..... they were my first two bats and were sublime wands . For my first ever 'proper' bat I had asked my mum to get me a gn 100 scoop. She got me the david gower powerspot instead . I cried ( well , i was 8 , so perhaps we can look past that !? ) Anyway a week later after having used the powerspot i had grown fond of it and mum was promptly forgiven . :D
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If its a david gower powerspot ( the spot is gold and red ) , or the michael slater powerspot ( full blue spot ) then i understand the affection..... they were my first two bats and were sublime wands . For my first ever 'proper' bat I had asked my mum to get me a gn 100 scoop. She got me the david gower powerspot instead . I cried ( well , i was 8 , so perhaps we can look past that !? ) Anyway a week later after having used the powerspot i had grown fond of it and mum was promptly forgiven . :D
It was a gower one - however it got used that much it got sent back to GN every season for a tidy up and one year came back with the blue spot which it still has to this day. I'm going to try and glue it together - i have on the back of finding this forum, bought an orbital sander, workbench and clamps so either way it will be a good test of my skills! Got another knackered bat to test the sander with first.
Also got a newer dynadrive to sand down, oil and then hopefully sell - need to get my posts up first though!
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It was a gower one - however it got used that much it got sent back to GN every season for a tidy up and one year came back with the blue spot which it still has to this day. I'm going to try and glue it together - i have on the back of finding this forum, bought an orbital sander, workbench and clamps so either way it will be a good test of my skills! Got another knackered bat to test the sander with first.
Also got a newer dynadrive to sand down, oil and then hopefully sell - need to get my posts up first though!
Nice! Willow is pretty easy to sand, can be slightly harder if there are dents or raised parts on the face from cracks/use. P120 is rather aggressive but i start there and go for P240 and maybe a finer grade. Watch out if you take the sander off the bat - it spins up to be very fast from no load, and then if contacts bat esp on an angle it will leave a gouge.
I tried a paint remover tool( like a cross between an angle grinder and a electric plane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMcKUBEHtJU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMcKUBEHtJU)) last weekend on an old bat, got through all the surface cracks and flattened the face. Wouldn't recommend for a popper bat this one is for back yard tennis balls now, been practicing using spoke/heel shaves on it for a bit of fun.
One good product I've used is shockproof superglue. Better than normal super glue for cracks and faster than pva http://www.selleys.co.nz/trade/specialist-products/contact-adhesive/quick-fix-supa-glue-shockproof/ (http://www.selleys.co.nz/trade/specialist-products/contact-adhesive/quick-fix-supa-glue-shockproof/)
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I always caveat my knocking in guide by saying that it is a process to try and elongate the life of your bat. Sadly, it is not full proof.
Your bats do look incredibly dry mate. That's not down to oiling. That's down to improper kit storage or over-drying from the manufacturer. Where do you keep them when you are not playing/in the off season? Do you oil them again at the start of each season?
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I always caveat my knocking in guide by saying that it is a process to try and elongate the life of your bat. Sadly, it is not full proof.
Your bats do look incredibly dry mate. That's not down to oiling. That's down to improper kit storage or over-drying from the manufacturer. Where do you keep them when you are not playing/in the off season? Do you oil them again at the start of each season?
They don't really get an off season so much..I've got new ones now in the middle of the off season that I use at the indoor facility's, previous bats haven't lasted a season(shoulder cracks, and breaks down from bottom of splice on the back). My last season bat is in a GN pro/full handle length zip up covers in a wardrobe of an internal wall so ~13 degrees C over the day and a bit warmer when I'm home.
The oblivion was from India and never had a face guard, new ones all do.They come from Australia for GN and unsure about NB. tended to oil the oblivion after each repair and sanding, other bats not really oil again after knocking in.
The paleness could be from being used inside and not outside, I know my last seasons match bat and other bats go more tan coloured after UV exposure or polymerization of the oil.
I'll have to get some rh and temp loggers monitor conditions. Will see if i can measure the moisture content of a bat - recon weigh it, then 48h at 120C, reweigh should give accurate % or possibly pin type moisture probe.