Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: JK Lewis on November 27, 2017, 09:24:54 PM
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Evening all, sorry for the usual delay. Here's some photos of the first 5 clefts from the tree I felled, way back in February - At Long Last! I'm working a couple of them into bats now, so hopefully it won't be long before I can post up the finished results. In the light of our discussion elsewhere on the forum this evening, it would be awesome if @Kippax would let me have his opinion, along with the rest of you all of course!
They are all a little heavy still, but a couple are now in the airing cupboard and ounces are coming off.
(https://s18.postimg.org/jckv1wec9/image.jpg)
(https://s18.postimg.org/uc62dizmh/image.jpg)
(https://s18.postimg.org/xvs03bf6x/image.jpg)
(https://s18.postimg.org/m6o0fcvy1/image.jpg)
(https://s18.postimg.org/iztgvqj7t/image.jpg)
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Bottom one looks marvellous
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You're doing a brilliant job Justin, they look awesome!
I quite like heartwood and the grains in these look super
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If you're asking what grade ? I guess a couple might be grade 3 , a couple grade 4 ? Irrespective, i like the last two grain wise , but not a fan of heartwood ....but pretty nice sticks if you were after two tone bats . Do you think these will be representative of most of the clefts , or did you manage to get some all sapwood or all heartwood clefts ? ( would be interesting what you think the differences, if any , in performance are between these ( especially since they are possibly from the same tree).
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Something tells me that #4 from the top is going to perform like a rocket!!!
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First one looks the pick for mine. Looking forward to seeing some profiles!
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If you're asking what grade ? I guess a couple might be grade 3 , a couple grade 4 ? Irrespective, i like the last two grain wise , but not a fan of heartwood ....but pretty nice sticks if you were after two tone bats . Do you think these will be representative of most of the clefts , or did you manage to get some all sapwood or all heartwood clefts ? ( would be interesting what you think the differences, if any , in performance are between these ( especially since they are possibly from the same tree).
Hi Biggie,
Thanks for your thoughts, yeah, in the real world I think your Gradings are probably spot on. There are various knots, marks and imperfections, along with the whole 2-tone thing. I'm going to see the other clefts tomorrow and think there are some less 2-tone examples to follow. However, the trees have a significant heartwood core, which in most cases means that the clefts pictured are representative. In truth, this is in large part due again to my making pretty much every possible mistake during the processing! I was paranoid about the clefts warping, so I deliberately cut them massive. Doing so meant that I cut off more wood than necessary from the outside, forcing the cleft closer to the centre of the willow wedge. This increased the percentage of heartwood and inevitably drove up the weight as well, by using more of the dense core of the tree.
You live and learn! 2nd time around has been far more professional - literally. I called for support from people who know what they are doing and the resulting yield is greatly increased, simply by splitting and cutting more carefully, understanding how best to use the wood.
I'll keep you up to date with developments.
Cheers, Justin
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I'd take a nice two tone ceft over an all white one every day of the week personally! They look superb, bet you can't wait to have a hit with them.
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Very exciting times for you Justin. What a feeling, using a bat you've made yourself, from a tree you've felled. Brilliant. 👍
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Well done mate and great to see a thread about what the forum is supppssed to really represent someone taking the lead and learning and sharing from there experience, I must say I’m actually quite jealous as would love to be in a position to have my own clefts and be shaping my own Bats, but that day will come later in life.
As per two tone Bats the best 2 bats Iv ever had were part heartwood, personal preference is a third of the blade with a dead even heartwood strip.
Really look forward to seeing some more clefts and how the shaping goes for you. All the best
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Third one down is the dream.
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All, thanks for your comments and thoughts on this, much appreciated.
Away from these particular clefts. Thinking forward a little. I've really enjoyed this project, the whole doing and learning sort of thing, and am happy to share. If I could set up an opportunity to fell and process another tree, would there be interest from any of you in joining the day? There would be a cost, but it would be reasonable and could probably include a cleft at the end of the seasoning time if you like. No need to commit immediately of course, but if there are enough expressions of interest I'd be happy to see what could be organised for 2018.
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If i start swimming now........
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If i start swimming now........
I was thinking the same thing !
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Thats cool ! love hearing the trial and error and the adventure of starting such a pursuit from the ground up . Great thread , i always look forward to JKLewis cleft / willow adventures ! :)