Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: SOULMAN1012 on June 22, 2020, 08:32:50 PM
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So here is my first attempt at making a bat myself from a part made cleft without any help.
So the cleft started out at 3lb 09oz. And has finished at 2lb 7.6oz.
Fantastic feeling to have made a bat myself but certainly lots of learnings to take. In hindsight I tried finding to much perfection with the hand tools, draw knife and plane mainly and I finished this stage with the dimensions I wanted but massively underestimated how much I would lose through the sanding stage.
Shoulders are hard and will take some practise to get better but I am happy with the handle. Whilst shaping the handle I ended up with a bit of a square shaped handle and felt really nice so decided to leave the handle more square than rounded it into a full semi oval. Can’t think of the best shape to call it.
In addition the toe and shoulders have ended up a lot smaller than I would have liked due to the over work with the hand tools I think as well as again finishing the shaping to my desired specs.
Positives is that I have managed to ensure the edges line up on both sides with shoulders, toe and max edge matching either side as well. Measure every 8 cm and matched size on each edge and very pleased they all match up.
Finishing. Buying a good quality Makita orbital sander was a very good investment. Sanded from 80 through to 800 grit at intervals of 80, 120, 240, 400 and finally 800. Will have a mirror like finish once buffer arrives.
On to the 2nd cleft now.
Anyway here is the finished bat:
Shoulders 11mm
Toe 14mm
Edge 31mm at peak.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZnWrncsZ/CD323-BAD-C393-4244-B238-4-B3-F53-E7-BCFE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QKrBnprn) (https://i.postimg.cc/nzzmS2J7/17941-C9-C-9-D49-4322-B6-E7-B581-D7-E540-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyzhprhY) (https://i.postimg.cc/Z586W0H9/3-C794-B84-F958-4-FD4-BD3-F-C0-E23-C687276.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXdX7fWY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/25TvxJPr/8526978-F-4-E06-4-AA2-96-CF-3-D4-E5470472-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QB9H868y)
(https://i.postimg.cc/5jcF0MFq/C762-EAA8-723-B-458-F-94-E7-35-ADCC1-CC312.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Pv4q39yP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ryDnKCrK/D6-D96-C8-A-710-A-4-ACC-97-CC-2976672-C1614.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grPq7h4W)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kg3xMWQ3/BECBF86-C-91-B4-478-C-9-EBB-244-B544-A2-CAD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJC3BtqB) (https://i.postimg.cc/pVSf7wyd/7-CA87158-780-A-4-CB5-BDEE-FA7-B6-A9-AED09.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grvLLBV9)
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Looks great mate! Easy to overdo the shoulders and toe tbf, but as you say something to take away. What did you struggle with in terms of the shoulders?
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Looks great mate! Easy to overdo the shoulders and toe tbf, but as you say something to take away. What did you struggle with in terms of the shoulders?
Shaping and blending into the handle, mainly used a drawknife and it’s just to big or to complicated for me at this stage. I have a flat bottomed spoke shave arriving in the next few days which I hope will be a lot easier for the shoulders as well as the toe.
As you say I think newbie tricks took over and I became to excited with the draw knife and plane. A few Iv spoken to say to use the spoke shave to remove wood from the toe and shoulder areas as gives more control over the amount of wood being removed.
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Shaping and blending into the handle, mainly used a drawknife and it’s just to big or to complicated for me at this stage. I have a flat bottomed spoke shave arriving in the next few days which I hope will be a lot easier for the shoulders as well as the toe.
As you say I think newbie tricks took over and I became to excited with the draw knife and plane. A few Iv spoken to say to use the spoke shave to remove wood from the toe and shoulder areas as gives more control over the amount of wood being removed.
Personally I find I don't use the drawknife a huge amount. Just to get the initial wood off and into a rough shape, I then go to planes, spokeshaves and the travisher.
In terms of the handle I find the drawknife, then round bottom spokeshave works best for me, but not saying that's the best way for everyone.
I think that's the thing with shaping, you find what works for you to get the best result.
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Personally I find I don't use the drawknife a huge amount. Just to get the initial wood off and into a rough shape, I then go to planes, spokeshaves and the travisher.
In terms of the handle I find the drawknife, then round bottom spokeshave works best for me, but not saying that's the best way for everyone.
I think that's the thing with shaping, you find what works for you to get the best result.
Totally agree @jonny77. I have one more cleft to use and got four more to pick up next week and fingers crossed after 3 or 4 I’ll know what works best for me. Seems most do little things differently to what ever feels most comfortable for them.
First learning for the next one is to leave more wood in and start understanding what size bat can be made from what weight the cleft starts out.
Second is to get used to using a spoke shave and thirdly the best way to sharpen and keep tools sharp as amazing how quickly they lose that bite they have one first sharpened
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Great to see. And nice job for a first crack!
Give it a few years and Rory Burns will be walking out to bat with one. (Probably stickered up as a GM, mind... :D)
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Great to see. And nice job for a first crack!
Give it a few years and Rory Burns will be walking out to bat with one. (Probably stickered up as a GM, mind... :D)
Cheers mate
I’ll be very happy if and when I turn up at a game a see a club player using one.
Amazing how quickly you learn on the job. 2nd cleft is about 80% finished before sanding stage and it’s so much more like what I want to produce as a stock shape than the first one above.
Just got to see how I do at blending shoulders into the handle on this one.
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Second cleft completed today but just say I’m happy with it so it may go back into the bench as to let it die at flow at all. Where as the first attempt finished very small this is a lot better in terms of its size specs with 17mm shoulder, 37mm peak edge and 23mm toe with a finished weight of 2lb 8.6oz before binding etc. it doesn’t seem to have a nice shape to it and I can’t quite put my finger on why.
As per the format attempt I’m happy that the bat is of equal size each side. Measure points throughout at every 3inch along the bat to measure and continued to check as went along.
Handle is a lot better ok this with a lovely oval handle but shoulders are still a work in progress but better than my first attempt.
Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions either positive or negative as always trying to learn.
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZ26fdF3/18-A69-CBE-5-C0-D-42-B8-8044-41-AF2-AF5-F462.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXy1VKLY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7PN2cSBc/26-A20-AD1-2-E1-F-4455-88-B2-917-C496-A2-C1-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/z3VvHHYS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/c44nN62J/7-B170-AF1-BEB0-48-F3-A363-568-FBD4250-FF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/23M6Qjzp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/W3whBP7r/EC5678-F5-BEE1-4011-A09-F-E6-C8-EEF623-BA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njMFmggc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wMx7HbWr/F70054-BE-814-F-4-EB6-9-C4-C-D46-F4-C684454.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Q9PXJSZg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6CZ42F3/F740600-B-1490-44-B2-ADA0-C12302482792.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8GzBVZS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdbmF77y/276697-D8-2786-4-C7-E-AC98-8364501-F8-D44.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZ4Xr2np)
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So with not being happy with the 2nd cleft just taken it back out To the workshop and much happier now.
Had to sacrifice a bit of the side at the shoulders and toe to ensure the shape sweeps round more. This is now 2lb 8oz bank on before binding, final sanding and a grip so will be about 2.9 - 2.10 depending on grip.
Much happier now that Iv got the shoulders to blend more into a mid middle full profile shape. The shoulders are now 11mm at the top and the toe down to 17mm but that’s thicker than most I think towards the toe.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMWQB9KS/AC10-F1-EF-7-EB5-4680-A3-DE-34-E46-E8267-AF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dLmG4N4j)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vmszff3v/48074-EB3-A997-4-BA5-B6-F0-A9418-E1-F7577.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJxLMYdq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g2RsxNqJ/9-D9518-E7-48-CC-4510-89-A8-0485404549-A6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/75H0c1R8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QtS0XCgJ/EDD79063-BD2-C-4-AD2-83-C9-349-CF7832504.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LYYzDHbJ)
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So with not being happy with the 2nd cleft just taken it back out To the workshop and much happier now.
Had to sacrifice a bit of the side at the shoulders and toe to ensure the shape sweeps round more. This is now 2lb 8oz bank on before binding, final sanding and a grip so will be about 2.9 - 2.10 depending on grip.
Much happier now that Iv got the shoulders to blend more into a mid middle full profile shape. The shoulders are now 11mm at the top and the toe down to 17mm but that’s thicker than most I think towards the toe.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMWQB9KS/AC10-F1-EF-7-EB5-4680-A3-DE-34-E46-E8267-AF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dLmG4N4j)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vmszff3v/48074-EB3-A997-4-BA5-B6-F0-A9418-E1-F7577.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJxLMYdq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g2RsxNqJ/9-D9518-E7-48-CC-4510-89-A8-0485404549-A6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/75H0c1R8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QtS0XCgJ/EDD79063-BD2-C-4-AD2-83-C9-349-CF7832504.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LYYzDHbJ)
Good effort mate,
Lots of positives for a 2nd effort.
In terms of improvement,
I think the shape itself just looks like it doesn't really flow, and that's potentially why it doesn't look so easy on the eye. That combined with an offset edge which often makes for a clunky looking shape.
If it were my bat, I'd have taken the spine peak a little lower, as currently it looks a little like its it peaks a little below the splice (under/just past the right hand socket on the wall) and then steadily drops from there.
If you were looking to make a high middle bat, I personally would take the spine peak to the edge of the second socket, or even slightly lower, and go from there, that would make everything look a little more even I think.
Also, if you were looking to make an M & H amplus for example, then the duck bill style drop in the toe makes it look a little uneasy, if the spine evenly dropped then I think it would change the look totally.
Feel free to drop me a message if you'd like if this didn't make sense.
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Good effort mate,
Lots of positives for a 2nd effort.
In terms of improvement,
I think the shape itself just looks like it doesn't really flow, and that's potentially why it doesn't look so easy on the eye. That combined with an offset edge which often makes for a clunky looking shape.
If it were my bat, I'd have taken the spine peak a little lower, as currently it looks a little like its it peaks a little below the splice (under/just past the right hand socket on the wall) and then steadily drops from there.
If you were looking to make a high middle bat, I personally would take the spine peak to the edge of the second socket, or even slightly lower, and go from there, that would make everything look a little more even I think.
Also, if you were looking to make an M & H amplus for example, then the duck bill style drop in the toe makes it look a little uneasy, if the spine evenly dropped then I think it would change the look totally.
Feel free to drop me a message if you'd like if this didn't make sense.
Cheers @LEACHY48
I’ll take your advise and put her back on the bench. Your totally right in that this has a real off set edge which wasn’t what I set out to do at all.
I tried free handing things on this cleft. On the first I followed a drawn on profile from another bat I had lying around and at the moment that needs to be the way as once I started trying to get a defined shape it went a bit wrong.
I’ll drop the spine in the top half of the bat this week and some back with some updates.
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Cheers @LEACHY48
I’ll take your advise and put her back on the bench. Your totally right in that this has a real off set edge which wasn’t what I set out to do at all.
I tried free handing things on this cleft. On the first I followed a drawn on profile from another bat I had lying around and at the moment that needs to be the way as once I started trying to get a defined shape it went a bit wrong.
I’ll drop the spine in the top half of the bat this week and some back with some updates.
No worries mate, doesn't need much to change the look entirely, 1 or 2 mm here and there and it'll look completely different.
As you said in the first attempt it's amazing how quickly you learn and pick things up.
Look forward to seeing the next few.
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No worries mate, doesn't need much to change the look entirely, 1 or 2 mm here and there and it'll look completely different.
As you said in the first attempt it's amazing how quickly you learn and pick things up.
Look forward to seeing the next few.
Thanks for the kind words mate.
I’ll keep posting them up as and when I get them done. Picking up a new batch of handled and pressed clefts this week. Aiming to make 1 of them my first in the kit bag bat.
Going to use these two at nets and chuck them out to players at my club to get some feedback and also promote my work.
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Third cleft in the bench yesterday and so far it’s turning out to be a beauty. Third time lucky I guess. Had some great support form a couple of people but @jonny77 had been very helpful talking bits through.
Any way I’ll share more when she is finished but she is looking lovely.
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0wNTtK4/884-BEF7-A-F7-B4-4-CE0-9471-7-EDCAF7730-E7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MfKjkLL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Wpr6d6bD/9-BFE132-F-3-C82-43-BC-ACEF-D1-F76-EB266-A5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yW1S5RRB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RVB1K6Ng/31-BC536-C-D437-4-BB7-A2-B1-192864-E9-AE9-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jCMJrj6f)
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Looks a lovely shape that mate 👍 Only really passing PM what I've learnt from my mistakes or advice I've been given, but always happy to chat about things mate.
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Really enjoying this thread Chris - keep up the great work.
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Looking Good Soulman :)
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So settled on my first stock shape. Been a busy week this week but managed to get into the bat shed most evening’s and after almost a month now of making and shaping approx 10 clefts Iv managed to produce the almost exact same shape 3 time’s in a row to a level I personally feel I would hand over my own hard earned money for.
This is what I’m calling the SL06 profile. Simply based on my first born child’s initials and year or birth. This is a standard SH length bat with a mid profile, duckbill toe and full shape with as little concaving as possible. With the clefts I have available Iv been able to the get these to start at about 2.10 finished.
(https://i.postimg.cc/TPQkZKNM/97-B78-EAB-FB00-4-F6-D-A247-8291-AD5-CF110.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gwXqh2PN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXXyRmGq/82-DE5-DBF-626-F-41-E6-8-B96-1-FB52167-F21-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yJMhyC1B)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvqCCxT9/5-F730195-134-F-487-F-8-B86-9029603-F9-CC9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cv5B68Pv)
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This is another SL06 profile that’s been maker up for someone and heading our next week once the stickers arrive and Iv bound the handle.
Same standard SH length with 38mm edges, 14mm shoulder, 16mm edge of toe and 25mm centre of the toe full profile and bang on 2.10 at present.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mkQR33VW/21-D9-A443-5980-4-A1-E-A6-F1-BC40-B7119-C5-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kRXkqbkT)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8rnbpvP/8-CA433-C5-1929-4-FB2-9-A5-E-7-E45965-AC1-A5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YGxJ53y4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TPwd8D2n/FF3-E1-F55-3-B69-4118-8759-CDC0936-D8-AEC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yDM4cWZN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8rnbpvP/8-CA433-C5-1929-4-FB2-9-A5-E-7-E45965-AC1-A5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YGxJ53y4)
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Very nice Chris, a good looking shape that - you certainly seem to be getting into the groove :)
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So here is my first attempt at making a bat myself from a part made cleft without any help.
So the cleft started out at 3lb 09oz. And has finished at 2lb 7.6oz.
Fantastic feeling to have made a bat myself but certainly lots of learnings to take. In hindsight I tried finding to much perfection with the hand tools, draw knife and plane mainly and I finished this stage with the dimensions I wanted but massively underestimated how much I would lose through the sanding stage.
Shoulders are hard and will take some practise to get better but I am happy with the handle. Whilst shaping the handle I ended up with a bit of a square shaped handle and felt really nice so decided to leave the handle more square than rounded it into a full semi oval. Can’t think of the best shape to call it.
In addition the toe and shoulders have ended up a lot smaller than I would have liked due to the over work with the hand tools I think as well as again finishing the shaping to my desired specs.
Positives is that I have managed to ensure the edges line up on both sides with shoulders, toe and max edge matching either side as well. Measure every 8 cm and matched size on each edge and very pleased they all match up.
Finishing. Buying a good quality Makita orbital sander was a very good investment. Sanded from 80 through to 800 grit at intervals of 80, 120, 240, 400 and finally 800. Will have a mirror like finish once buffer arrives.
On to the 2nd cleft now.
Anyway here is the finished bat:
Shoulders 11mm
Toe 14mm
Edge 31mm at peak.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZnWrncsZ/CD323-BAD-C393-4244-B238-4-B3-F53-E7-BCFE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QKrBnprn) (https://i.postimg.cc/nzzmS2J7/17941-C9-C-9-D49-4322-B6-E7-B581-D7-E540-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyzhprhY) (https://i.postimg.cc/Z586W0H9/3-C794-B84-F958-4-FD4-BD3-F-C0-E23-C687276.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXdX7fWY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/25TvxJPr/8526978-F-4-E06-4-AA2-96-CF-3-D4-E5470472-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QB9H868y)
(https://i.postimg.cc/5jcF0MFq/C762-EAA8-723-B-458-F-94-E7-35-ADCC1-CC312.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Pv4q39yP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ryDnKCrK/D6-D96-C8-A-710-A-4-ACC-97-CC-2976672-C1614.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grPq7h4W)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kg3xMWQ3/BECBF86-C-91-B4-478-C-9-EBB-244-B544-A2-CAD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJC3BtqB) (https://i.postimg.cc/pVSf7wyd/7-CA87158-780-A-4-CB5-BDEE-FA7-B6-A9-AED09.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grvLLBV9)
Once work mate. Where did you get the handles from?
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Get the handles from the same place I source my clefts mate. A local Suffolk bat maker
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First initial batch of stickers with me now for my new brand Willow & Wand cricket. Give me a follow on Instagram. As always any constructive feedback appreciated.
These initial stickers are Gloss finish with the logo In chrome as a transfer with a laminate finish over both to provide some durability.
Used the SLO6 on the right ( green stickers three times now) and have held up really well. Working on some with a Matt finish as I think will look a little bit better with the Chrome overlay. These are not embossed or textured as set up costs are just to high but if anyone knows a U.K. based company that could maybe help me out I’m always looking to improve.
Personally for a first run I like them and they certainly look decent in the flesh.
(https://i.postimg.cc/CxR5hmq6/62912-B06-7823-4-F15-95-E0-F8-B9922-A0082.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dhKwnRn8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpgTvV0Z/F4607-B9-A-81-D6-4481-9285-63873941-FEAB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jDQK1WkB)
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They look great Chris. Very well done. I swear i thought they read XX at first glance :D
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Love the WW section of the stickers. Very classy. Not so keen on the font for "Willow and Wand". Might look nice in the same colour as the "English Willow" text?
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Been keeping myself busy with the bat making and last week had my first official sale which was very pleasing. Contacted and was asked if I could make the SL06 profile in a 2.11/2.12 keeping nice and full with good sized edge and picked a G2 cleft. This cleft was under 3lb at the start so was able to get a big bat in this shape.
Here is the result currently a shade over 2.10 before binding, grip and stickers to will be around the 2.12 mark maybe a little under depending on his grip set up.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Qd4NbByR/5-D052710-C5-B9-4383-A0-DA-1-CCBEBA6-A08-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fVdhWbZK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1zb9kkPB/9-BB6-F17-C-C5-D6-4-D21-ACEC-80-B6-E6100111.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WD6Lrfdq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0WSbSrq/A68-E5-D70-9-EBA-46-FF-B36-B-7003-C954-D21-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qtdHNdvd)
<a href='https://postimg.cc/cgbD8QB8' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/Gtc6VKBz/0-E48-E095-9-F71-492-C-9-F41-892-C8-E2-DB2-FE.jpg' border='0' alt='0-E48-E095-9-F71-492-C-9-F41-892-C8-E2-DB2-FE'/></a>
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3 more finished over the weekend. Two SL06 profiles and a new shape Iv been working on.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BbM86QcT/6535-B641-DB4-E-48-C5-9641-CE9252-EC15-C5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7JJPt4Rh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQnLzH4M/5-D817-F48-75-C4-4540-8978-604-FB71-E97-CF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MXgpMccQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SQrYVDFn/E7-B953-CA-4-B22-4633-82-D2-6-E2-AA0-D971-D7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xqXd1GdQ)
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New shape Iv been working on that Iv named the AM18 after my second daughter’s initials and year of birth.
This is a shorter blade by 1/2 inch but SH overall length. Square toe rounded at the edge into the the toe? Mid middle and very full. Aiming for almost a Convex shape on these after a bit more practise. This wasn’t the lightest cleft but was for some reason the easiest to work with. Edges are 36mm, shoulder 16 mm and toe 19mm at the edge 26mm at the centre of the toe.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L81ChSbJ/034527-EF-6399-4-F80-8168-B8-E1-BE5984-D8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RWvQbk9m)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvf6t573/23210-FC9-F8-CB-4404-B15-E-2-F1-C3-E15166-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sMK9FTDh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fLwBH9Td/757-C7210-F395-456-E-B717-5-D1-ED5-BAA720.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xk4v8qmj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TPjtq9GG/D7213703-36-CC-4341-A317-47781-C62661-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KKz7mtRs)
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That AM18 shape is a bit of me! like that a lot.
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Very nice Chris, big fan of that shape
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Couple more dressed to impress
(https://i.postimg.cc/prCKnNWw/311287-FE-908-F-4-FC3-9871-ED53-B410-C571.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dZ7hzxT6)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wTWhqdbJ/039-C2-F00-681-A-4081-B2-CC-5-ED3642-EBC9-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8XW6Rhy)
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Very nice. I see you have invested in some higher grade willow with growing confidence.
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Very nice. I see you have invested in some higher grade willow with growing confidence.
My supplier is very generous with the willow he has supplied me and I’m very thankful for it. Some lovely willow to be working with both in terms of grains and weights.
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They look great! Where did you get the tickers done? Dir you have to commit to a big run of them?
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Been quite a busy week with a few repairs and some orders coming through which is a really nice feeling and each bat seems to be getting better and easier to do as well as now having a really good feel for all the tools as well as finding my own way of doing things.
So this is the first of the orders shaped up this evening. SL06 profile and request was long extended middle and max weight of 2lb 8oz finished. This is currently 2lb 6.8oz before sanding has started
Specs for those interested are:
Edges 33mm Max
Toe 17mm edge and 28mm at centre of toe
Shoulder 12mm
Semi oval handle
This is a G2 cleft and I’m going to say it’s one of the best pinging bits of willow Iv ever come across, just a lively response and deep sound with the mallet and old ball.
Oh the side in profile shot was just before I finished the shaping and before I’d finished blending the spine into the toe
(https://i.postimg.cc/2S2jKVrF/26-EBD3-F6-8-A52-45-EA-A4-FE-70487501-DDA4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Hr8CJWJV)what does a sick betta look like (https://bettafishcaretaker.com/my-betta-fish-wont-eat-im-worried)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BvzSJk8j/06-EB419-A-3-A64-40-E3-8-EA6-9-DBD0401-D321.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZwS82kW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PqJfsTqG/732-B3549-C6-A4-4-CC9-90-E1-6-A575288368-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PLGn1GZK)sick betta (https://bettafishcaretaker.com/disease-sick-parasite-rot-ick)
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Looking great! Seem to have picked it up pretty quickly.
Have you noticed any "trademarks" that come out in your finished products yet? Along the lines of Keeley shoulders, B3 shoulder heights etc. Always find these little nuances between batmakers interesting :)
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Had a really busy week this late week with orders. Here are a couple that iv finished today.
SL06 is grade 3 and spot on 2.10 with single grip and thick oval handle. Extended middle so very long driving area as per customers request.
AM18 is Grade 2 and just under 2.14 with 1/2 inch shorter blade
(https://i.postimg.cc/GpYQ6Vjv/C611-DEE6-DFB2-4-D18-B265-18625780482-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JyrZkTvh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SRQf2sbG/1-CABEFA9-2-B80-4-FFE-8262-AE5-E55-B0-B91-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KkVMCmzK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/50Sm2zT0/15-F7-DC94-B846-4-A5-E-8966-731341-EC990-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5YjzPXxd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmkJTjh3/0-C70-F832-B9-D5-41-D6-A2-E3-E0224114-BF27.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/67MRLrxf)
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Looking great! Seem to have picked it up pretty quickly.
Have you noticed any "trademarks" that come out in your finished products yet? Along the lines of Keeley shoulders, B3 shoulder heights etc. Always find these little nuances between batmakers interesting :)
Sorry just seen this. I seem to find I make a dropped shoulder shape without thinking about it but apart from that no not really. Had some lovely feedback about the thickness I keep in the toes but also keep a bat balanced which is really good to hear but that’s it really. These two Iv just finished are only numbers 7 & 8 Iv made fully so a small pond to fish from
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Latest Willow & Wand stick out the door.
SL06 profile but spine into toe
Edge 34mm
Spine 66mm
Weight 2.10 and some change
(https://i.postimg.cc/sxxPH5cf/B367-D1-D7-F1-BF-4151-8-D02-65-AECEEE2300.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V0ybdrp2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/2j97bXk1/380-B4932-AF4-D-47-AF-921-C-37-F02-E210-B85.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/z3Wg47RN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rFdCSCsQ/49-B63-F78-8-A88-4-B87-BD75-9-BB519-CAB86-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mg9Gcz9)
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That looks fantastic Chris, what a lovely shape.
Looks like you're really starting to get the hang of it
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That looks fantastic Chris, what a lovely shape.
Looks like you're really starting to get the hang of it
Thank you @jamesisapayne its a stock shape so nice to hear some good feedback
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Wooo...this just looks a beauty!!!!
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Thank you @jamesisapayne its a stock shape so nice to hear some good feedback
The shape to me feels a bit like a cross between a Newbery Thruxton/M&H Amplus/Screaming Cat. Lovely long middle.
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I’m trying to ensure that the stock bats I make a mid profile and with the most amount of coverage in the core area of the bat.
The only downside so far Iv come across having made a dozen or so now is that it’s hard to make this shape in a light weight and most I make are around 2.10 - 2.12 so far the feedback Iv had on pick up is really good. I must say that most people are no where near as fussy as us forum people lol.
Also ensuring I give me bats a decent sized toe
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Here are a couple more of my Willow & Wand bats that have gone out over the last couple of weeks.
First up is a stunning G1 SL06 profile but 1/2 inch shorter blade and just huge and heavy at 2lb 14oz and off to a forum member
(https://i.postimg.cc/4xXqKGL0/E145923-C-115-A-4-AC7-AC63-6-AA7-FF59-FA03.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HVPBKqC0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/k54HccdF/FBC5-AA07-B8-AA-40-E9-84-B7-AD78-C22074-A0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RWkGCwhN)
Second is the most popular profile recently which is a SL06 extended profile in G3 willow. This is a low middle bat and being a big lighter at 2lb 9oz bang on finished with 33mm edges and 17mm toe at edge and 24mm at centre of the toe and 15mm shoulders.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8chX5XhD/024-C6677-4-D84-4-C6-E-86-F2-5-E37803-E7-E1-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8fzmXHKn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9Mwn3Q0D/9-B7-D0-DD3-D42-B-42-AC-9-C69-7445-ADFF847-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TLG9gGrx)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fbrrg9z4/B5935-EF9-B2-D6-4-A56-B382-379634-D3600-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LqjDJhgv)
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Looks like Chris was let down by a forum member as one of these has ended up on ebay.
Potential bargain for anyone who was keen to try one of these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254696012053 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254696012053)
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That looks fabulous Chris - what happened?
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That looks fabulous Chris - what happened?
Nothing major mate it was actually my fault in that I didn’t finish that bat overly well in a bit of a rush to get it done before holiday. The ordinal buyer was very polite and just asked to return it.
Since then Iv just fine tuned the finishing and put it up for sale on eBay as that kind of weight seems to be quite hard to sell. So at this stage in the season basically selling at cost price of the cleft so I don’t have it sitting around all winter.
Personally I think it’s a stunning bat both in terms of profile and ping.
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Working on a slightly modified version of a GM Players Edition.
Grade 3
40mm edge
However this is a LH version for someone that asked for a pro players shape so I sent a pic of the my James Vince PE and he asked for this but with a mid/high middle.
Full profile pretty much convex
Semi oval handle
Weight around 3lb finished with 2 grips.
Will share once finished
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYPRkTD6/DCD2395-A-18-E4-484-E-BD9-E-6-C8-A6-BC66740.png) (https://postimg.cc/6TDJqJcj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tgFy1TLh/C54-CD238-8-A66-489-D-BD32-949-E4-C6217-E5.png) (https://postimg.cc/CZM9XFM1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZk4VfbS/4-B165-CB9-8-A25-48-B7-A1-F6-D4-F7907-FB8-C5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKkWdycS)
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Just a little update on some bats I’m working on.
Copy of this Affinity - not sure if it’s an actual affinity or was just refurbished by them. Adding my own twist to make a little fuller as is the craze at the moment and also a thicker toe as the current one is less than 10mm at the edge of the toe.
Weight will be 3lb as per request of customer and edges are 40 at largest point.
(https://i.postimg.cc/dVBtG3bd/8-A3-AC3-C1-B197-436-C-B905-94-B12-D55397-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fVVNNzTT)
(https://i.postimg.cc/yNp1r5Y8/8-A892462-DAC7-4660-9423-C7-FB1-E21175-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3fxWgHk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/V6SfyRdB/FB1507-E6-EA9-B-4-FBC-BC72-5052732-EC906.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wyp8LD57)
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Also been working on these couple of clefts to practise concaving. I don’t always get the lightest willow in the very small quantities I buy in so working out a shape that offers in my opinion the best shape and size whilst trying to keep weight down.
These are both 2.8 in naked form so will be around 2.10 when finished which I know isn’t that light to some but I feel iv managed to ensure pick up is good through a thick handle and feel to me is about an oz lighter.
I keep the spine fairly low into the bat to not exaggerate the concaving as feel a high spine with concaving just looks likes a skate ramp and also making a mid/low middle allows more wood to be removed from the top third of the bat a bit like the GM Chrome from a few years back.
I would say the left bat is light to moderate concaving and the bat on the right is moderate to high amounts of concaving.
The bat on the left was a storm damaged cleft that I was gifted in my last order and the other is a G2 that had a knot in the shoulder area when a raw cleft but by a touch of luck it came out when shaping.
Been a bit of debate on her around concaving as this is no science at all but at the same weight currently bar 0.09 of an oz the heavier conclaves bat picks up better and feels much lighter to me but the light concaved bat has a much deeper and punchy could off the mallet and with a ball. Could all be down to willow being a natural product, so who knows.
Any way hope people like the pics and brief write up, working on a couple of new colour ways for my stickers for next year but keeping the design the same.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zDbSzbMx/88833-EE7-DBF9-4563-8125-666-DCF393187.png) (https://postimg.cc/ThxWQwTb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DZmQb8zy/660858-BC-E009-4-A8-A-8-D8-D-9-CED20295-EED.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BL9PrZDd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rsrSQ3WB/1-EDA72-DB-DA70-4-A54-9275-960-C622-BE8-C2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q6ph7m1w)
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Nice Buddy, seems like the practice is paying off.
Those two concaved shapes really remind of a Hell 4 Leather shape but can’t put my finger on which one. Not being a bat maker myself it seems like it would be a tough to ensure the concaving is even on both sides of the spine?
The 3lb LH looks like a club bloke using it must be a caveman haha.
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Nice Buddy, seems like the practice is paying off.
Those two concaved shapes really remind of a Hell 4 Leather shape but can’t put my finger on which one. Not being a bat maker myself it seems like it would be a tough to ensure the concaving is even on both sides of the spine?
The 3lb LH looks like a club bloke using it must be a caveman haha.
I don’t have a magic way of knowing if each side of the spine is mm accurate to the other in terms of concaving i just use my natural eye and i put a little cut of bat grip over the back of the bat to see the angle left to see if it looks identical to my naked eye. I personally work on the same amount of strokes with the round bottom plane or pull shave on each side in turn to also ensure i take roughly the same level of wood away.
One thing i know is it takes much longer to get a decent finish on a concave bat vs a convex bat.
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Managed to get an couple hours in the workshop on Friday and finished these two off.
Both 2.10 with grips and stickers applied, G3 which has some storm damage also had a armour tech scuff sheet applied. Both feel good in the hands and for the first time of really making a spine into toe shape with a decent degree of concaving I’m quite happy with how they have turned out. More time consuming than the couple of shapes I have been making for my little brand but enjoyed a new challenge.
Now time to focus on a website and moving house. My new house has a workshop so looking forward to getting that set up and some new machinery in there when it all goes through .
(https://i.postimg.cc/DwDDfCyy/866-B3335-F748-4-F16-B232-6-C2419-C019-EA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZW8jVxd1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MPNpCPr/9-CAA4-B44-C6-B8-4-B1-A-812-C-AA0-CC5-D7-F903.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XGJ8NMzb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hx1hXVyq/96-C5-D57-F-9-BEC-4825-8-E36-E1-B834-B0-D5-C9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nsT2tVT2)
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Sorry, missed this post. Look great shapes mate and deserve a comment. How you finding everything now?
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Sorry, missed this post. Look great shapes mate and deserve a comment. How you finding everything now?
Cheers mate. Finding it ok now, can make my two stock shapes in repeat now with out the template and a new think Drawknife has really helped me with the shaping of the shoulders. Wish I could get hold of some light willow at times as very hard to make anything much below 2.10.
I’m in the process of moving house and one of the requirements was a better workshop or garage and I have that coming so next on the list is a new Polishing wheel and maybe a drum sander as always looking to improve the finish on my bats.
Must say @jonny77 some lovely bats coming out of the Scott stable, loved the 2lb 7 bat shape you had on socials last week.
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Thanks mate, appreciate the feedback.
Light willow will always be an issue, but then I suppose it's a matter of trying to get people to accept that big bats don't mean better bats, so smaller edges etc. at lighter weights. Also buying in slightly higher numbers should get you a few lighter ones. Speak to John at Red Ink. However it's difficult for any batmaker to give away thr really light clefts I'd think.
In terms of the drum sander, I started bulking one and have a metal frame coming. However don't think I'll actually use it, as the Mirka I have is great and can finish a bat in no time with less mess.
Look forward to seeing the workshop space.
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Thanks for updating this thread @SOULMAN1012 - it’s great to see your bats evolve and new content & photos like yours is the best bit about CBF
Even tho I’m normally more lurker than poster i thought I’d just add my respectful and slightly envious kudos
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Agreed mate but unfortunately most of these posts don't get any (or at best very little) interaction, so think it discourages people posting them. Which is a shame.
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Agreed mate but unfortunately most of these posts don't get any (or at best very little) interaction, so think it discourages people posting them. Which is a shame.
Hope neither of you get too discouraged as you both post some lovely looking sticks which keep me entertained while I'm "working" from home!
Notice both @SOULMAN1012 and @jonny77 have pretty good social media going on, have either of you looked at getting a website up to showcase stuff or facilitate orders?
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Thanks mate, appreciate the feedback.
Light willow will always be an issue, but then I suppose it's a matter of trying to get people to accept that big bats don't mean better bats, so smaller edges etc. at lighter weights. Also buying in slightly higher numbers should get you a few lighter ones. Speak to John at Red Ink. However it's difficult for any batmaker to give away thr really light clefts I'd think.
In terms of the drum sander, I started bulking one and have a metal frame coming. However don't think I'll actually use it, as the Mirka I have is great and can finish a bat in no time with less mess.
Look forward to seeing the workshop space.
@jonny77 when you say bulking is that putting multiple hook and loop bases on the orbital sander?? Ed from Garrad and Flck mentioned that to me also so maybe I’ll look into this. I also recently upgraded my orbital sander to a Mikita but Iv heard a few people that work in the carpentry trade have told be to look into a Mirka as opposed to a drum sander.
Funny enough Iv just placed my largest willow order and have got a better mix of weights and also having been making them for 6 months again now starting to get a better idea of what weight bat each cleft will make which is something Iv been guilty of not giving enough attention in the past and Iv ended up either totally ruining a cleft (only once) or making life very hard for myself by trying to make a weight that wasn’t ideal for that specific cleft.
Iv also made a new template from my daughters Harrow bat which has 33mm max edge as apart from when on the forum the majority of people who have supported my start up brand don’t seem bothered by edge size, toe & shoulder size just seem to want a specific weight. I think originally I felt I wouldn’t achieve much without 35+ edges but very hard to get the willow to achieve this in small quantities.
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Hope neither of you get too discouraged as you both post some lovely looking sticks which keep me entertained while I'm "working" from home!
Notice both @SOULMAN1012 and @jonny77 have pretty good social media going on, have either of you looked at getting a website up to showcase stuff or facilitate orders?
@Jimbo yes I would like to get one sorted out but my I.T skills are pretty poor and my free time is even worse lol. I do plan on looking into one of these easy websites I see advertised but they need to be able to be done on an iPad as I don’t the a laptop or PC. Do you know much about websites??
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@Jimbo yes I would like to get one sorted out but my I.T skills are pretty poor and my free time is even worse lol. I do plan on looking into one of these easy websites I see advertised but they need to be able to be done on an iPad as I don’t the a laptop or PC. Do you know much about websites??
Not for commercial use mate. Easy website setups are all pretty good if you use a reputable one as I'd assume you're not looking for any particularly fancy functionality on your site, my club used to have a very simple site that did most of what you'd want but the current version was done by a former member who does professional Web design and it's well over my head.
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@SOULMAN1012 sorry, typo. Was meant to say 'building' a drum sander, not bulking! 🤦♂️
I use a Mirka and it's great. After spending sometime with a batmaker recently I also realised I spent way too much time sanding. I've drastically reduced this now and still get a great finish.
@Jimbo appreciate the feedback buddy. There just seems to be more appetite for bargains or 'pro bats' on the forum than this type if thing, but I'll keep posting mate as any feedback is better than none!
I'm currently building a website myself using a well known provider, it's been fairly easy, but may end up getting someone to finish it for me. Keep your eyes peeled as I'll need it finished for when softs arrive 😁
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If you could get the Scott website up in time for my next unnecessary bat purchase that'd be great 😂
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So managed to salvage a cleft that I managed to make a bit of an error on when shaping the shoulders and created a shoulderless bat.
May as well share the good, the bad and the ugly on my bat making journey. This was a bat I crafted free hand and wish I hadn’t really but never mind.
Note to self if it looks to easy on YouTube it probably is lol.
Anyway was a very heavy cleft at 3lb 9.9oz and the result is 2.13 but im going to say it feels a lot lighter than this. Thick handle but a more modest edge size at 32mm max.
Certainly not the finest bit of craftsmanship Iv turned out so far but better than putting on the wood burner pile. It’s a lovely cleft with 9 grains a little heartwood and once again a lovely ping.
If someone wants a smash and go bat drop me a message as I’ll let go for a tank of fuel basically if not I’ll maybe use in a bit of T20 slap and tickle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BvW2v8WC/818-CE69-E-4059-4-A84-BBE7-96645-F5-B9-D37.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pmZmGLL9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmMWSvw0/4-CF72864-BF2-A-4-A31-9-B42-3805-E9-DC32-EE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HJvVmv5d)
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So I’ve been sitting on these two for a couple of weeks, gutted that I can’t net at the moment.
Having seen W&W evolve on here and always buying/trusting Chris’ old bats I thought I’d give one (two as it turns out) a go.
The house is upside down at the moment so I’m limited on space to take loads of photos.
Both 2.11. One net bat (fibre scuff) the other a G2.
Shape is lovely. Spine tapers into toe. Middle is long and generous.
But for me it’s the balance. You would never guess these are 2.11 on pick up - I had to check again before posting but they really are 2.11.
Big clefts. Big edges. Some concaving. Great under the mallet and bouncing a new ball on them.
Cool stickers got the thumbs up from the younger members of Taylor Towers
The net bat is good to go now. The G2 needs a little more knocking in.
I’ve given them a little hand sanding and light wax
No all that remains is to see if they suit my leg side dominant game.
To quote Graeme Smith “My best shot remains the cover drive through mid wicket” but damn I’m going to look good doing it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/PJrkzhnS/8-B1-D738-C-4-C0-B-4-E63-9-C07-7-B0-C8-FEBE953.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9RSSC6M9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zGkrP0qL/F60-D4850-E61-A-4108-87-BE-1-FC20-F10-C977.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cv62v7gZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vHFKsbNk/AB840318-2-DA9-4-FF5-974-B-DEBBBDB2-E8-FF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhDDkKR3)
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Thanks @t2ylo hope when we all mange to get into the nets these treat you well, I know they are up against a few big brands in your collection.
Thanks for the feedback and little write up, greatly appreciate it.
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Started shaping this one up today. AM18 profile which is the shorter blade longer handle option.
Must say personally this is one of the best ones Iv made so far in my opinion. Shape flows nicely and shaping the shoulders is now so much easier with a curved spoke shave.
Edges are 40mm with a 27mm toe in the centre and 18mm at the edge and also 19mm at the shoulders. Full shape keeping all the wood in the hitting area.
Large oval handle helps the pick up and 2.11 before sanding and then binding and stickers so will be about 2.13 but already feels nice in the hands.
So much competition out there but if anyone wants to support an up and coming bat maker happy to let go for £100 plus postage due to heavier weight.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YSC6QjKG/4-D49-C28-C-BB48-4944-95-D1-5470-C29-C7617.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hXNQBDGc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RFCD6vGX/9341-A93-E-92-CD-4-B0-E-B4-C8-8674-CEF3-FDEB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJwrNWkd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zBdPT4c5/E0-E09-BD5-8-E5-F-4-DC8-964-C-D273-FDE370-DF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mzHwsp46)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wM742FCN/2-E6-F12-DC-B895-46-CE-B02-D-FCC8-E56-AC717.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kRPyXNXM)
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Little bit more work done on Sunday on the AM18 and thought I’d get a nice winter sunshine picture of the profile.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mDtzGNfF/DACF3432-9-ED2-4-B02-8-B63-6400-C30-E0-C51.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0M12YSN8)
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Look nice mate, lovely profile
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There’s just something about a profile picture, particularly in the sun.
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Look nice mate, lovely profile
Thanks mate, its my favourite of the two i make on a more regular basis, been a fan of the slightly shorter blade option since using a GM Neon a few seasons ago.
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Refurb and a copy completed this week. Copy is a G2.
Both are beats weighing over 3lbs.
The refurb is 3.1.6 and the new bat 3.1.5 so really happy to have got the weights pretty much spot on.
The refurb was stickered as an Affinity but sure it’s an M&H amplus. New one is a little fuller in shape, larger all round in terms of edge size and also toe isn’t quite as rounded as per request.
As always any views and comments welcome.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXH0P9M6/43-D987-CA-20-A7-4522-B3-CD-C5-D943-CE9547.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hh28rtjL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/2870yzz8/943544-DD-4-ECA-419-B-8231-CB4-EBD8-AB4-EA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2V3QXNbP)
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Last one of the year finished. Based this on the popular GM shape doing the rounds and it’s arguably the best overall bat Iv made due to the improvements in the finish. Through chatting to a few people Iv found a new polish and also bought a couple of attachments for my orbital sander to allow me to polish in addition to some new sanding discs it’s resulted in a great overall finish that my old iPhone can’t do justice to.
Standard SH length bat, mid middle with a high spine at 63mm, light concaving that’s only into the spine keeping max wood in the bat.
Specs are 35 edges
18mm shoulders
21mm toe edge and 28mm centre of the toe
Grade 2 willow with 7 grains and a small amount of marbling towards the middle and dead straight grains through the toe.
Semi oval handle, thicker at the bottom and moving to round towards the top.
Finished weight 2lb 10oz
Also first chance to see the new colour option for 2021 in Black and gold with the brand logo in gold which for me really looks smart finished with a single U.K. made black chevron.
As always feedback or views welcome
(https://i.postimg.cc/0y8D97r9/7-EA46-B9-A-C0-CB-4-E02-9-C24-3-FC9-DB9-A708-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/svNvcQpL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VsnCMKCY/C005-FFF9-2-B17-4403-94-A0-9-B5-BEF50136-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3WrNQC16)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wM8RZmS8/3-C7-A2-FCA-2627-4-B65-8-B12-A1-D2-C77-D9377.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Q9mMWH80)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mkY1srsc/D19-B2911-5655-4-D74-8-A6-E-EB14-E4-C0-EA79.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0KNyGPrx)
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Sticker colour combination looks very classy.
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Looks nice mate 👍 You getting there with the sanding then?
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Looks nice mate 👍 You getting there with the sanding then?
This one was perfect yea, did more hand sanding on this that Iv done on any other bat those new sanding discs you mentioned really reduce the swirl marks. That and a new polishing tool has given this a finish as good as most brands bats that Iv ever used.
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Sticker colour combination looks very classy.
@Jimbo thanks mate, it’s a personal favourite of mine this combo and looks really good
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A few more pics of the most recent one Iv shapes up before I applied the stickers and grip.
This is available should anyone be interested.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLfCH7Xv/99-FFA4-FE-0-BC6-4928-B35-E-D9-EDA755-A8-DB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TKYfNb8x)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9fpfPm3V/808-C60-F9-7-DC4-4-FFB-835-F-C09-E7-A512333.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBMysRD0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3w7RDycn/82-DFAF42-8340-4-C70-8-FA3-82-B0-CD910-BA7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K1qF6YFM)
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Nice looking shape that!
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Nice looking shape that!
Thanks mate allows to make a slightly lighter bat with a little wider removed but still maintains a fairly full shape
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Finally finished this one off last night. AM18 shape 1/2 inch shorter blade.
Specs
Grade 2 English Willow all sapwood
38.2mm edge
20mm toe edge with 28mm centre of toe
14mm shoulder edge
Totally full profile
Oval handle medium thickness with GM Dynamic grips I use on this model as colour goes with sticker design.
Not the best at pictures but overall very pleased with this one and the performance is superb. If anyone is interested in this particular bat drop me a PM.
As always any comments or feedback welcome.
(https://i.postimg.cc/vTg2vrKx/3-CBE5-A41-855-C-4-F17-8322-FE1-D85586-DD4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9w2Bm7Cc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vTJq21Rq/1-B0346-BF-4521-4-A66-9897-CA317-E80-BD88.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2Lx7VSSh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydbsdT9D/AD41-D5-A7-CC89-4-FBD-9240-7741074-B2685.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2bhP9h0Y)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NF2Yrr7p/094663-C6-F4-C1-465-F-9-E1-C-D212-F9-F0-FA4-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9w2s60k7)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bdXP0Nm8/52-CAD402-C1-D1-45-AD-8302-4-E3-F054-F8-A0-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SYGHkq0t)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rphK1xxk/E2-DEB045-635-E-48-B5-AEBA-425-C2-A176517.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GByLrBX7)
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So finally finished this little lot off for a forum member.
Refurb of what I think is an M&H amplus but was dressed as an Affinity when it came to me. Weight is 3lb
Copy of the above mentioned bat, specs have made is a little larger than the original but I’m happy with how it’s finished, and generally feel the shape is pretty much bang on. Toe is not as rounded on the new one granted but my jig is set to the toe shapes I normally make in my stock bats and customer was happy with this slight amendment. Weight is 2.15 fully dressed with double binding to get the handle as thick as the huge handle on the original bat.
Also my first junior bat this being a Harrow in the SL06 profile but a slight modification in that the spine runs into the toe as is the preferred shape of the owner of this little lot.
Loved this job as it allowed me to showcase my refurbished skills, work a new bat in a shape I don’t commonly make and also a new challenge of a junior bat. Weight is 2lb 4oz fully dressed.
As always feedback welcomed.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Rhyp9dyW/E0-F90-A29-7-FB1-439-B-AF99-78-D7768945-F8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Lgk33tHS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Dy4Y5V4L/D6472-A9-F-DDF4-4-A4-E-9-EA6-95-ABF54-BD8-B7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5613NR32)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mrBXbtXy/A29-F0-DB3-21-FA-4-B1-A-862-B-CBF0417084-B1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dhNm6tKh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/JzwY2Tjg/71-BB39-A1-45-C3-4748-BDF3-DE9-E56301560.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4m51KQLb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/P5mVsm4q/2-EB6-E259-56-A2-40-E7-80-F4-35-A4462-D30-B4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zy07Khg)
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So finally finished this little lot off for a forum member.
Refurb of what I think is an M&H amplus but was dressed as an Affinity when it came to me. Weight is 3lb
Copy of the above mentioned bat, specs have made is a little larger than the original but I’m happy with how it’s finished, and generally feel the shape is pretty much bang on. Toe is not as rounded on the new one granted but my jig is set to the toe shapes I normally make in my stock bats and customer was happy with this slight amendment. Weight is 2.15 fully dressed with double binding to get the handle as thick as the huge handle on the original bat.
Also my first junior bat this being a Harrow in the SL06 profile but a slight modification in that the spine runs into the toe as is the preferred shape of the owner of this little lot.
Loved this job as it allowed me to showcase my refurbished skills, work a new bat in a shape I don’t commonly make and also a new challenge of a junior bat. Weight is 2lb 4oz fully dressed.
As always feedback welcomed.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Rhyp9dyW/E0-F90-A29-7-FB1-439-B-AF99-78-D7768945-F8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Lgk33tHS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Dy4Y5V4L/D6472-A9-F-DDF4-4-A4-E-9-EA6-95-ABF54-BD8-B7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5613NR32)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mrBXbtXy/A29-F0-DB3-21-FA-4-B1-A-862-B-CBF0417084-B1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dhNm6tKh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/JzwY2Tjg/71-BB39-A1-45-C3-4748-BDF3-DE9-E56301560.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4m51KQLb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/P5mVsm4q/2-EB6-E259-56-A2-40-E7-80-F4-35-A4462-D30-B4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zy07Khg)
Thanks Chris for these bats. The parcel arrived today, and everything seems perfect. Will test the bats over the next couple of weeks.
Cheers
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I tested the new @SOULMAN1012 made SH bat in nets, after knocking it in over 3 hrs.
Though the shape is bit off than requested but the pressing has been absolute and it pings off nicely. Ping is all that matters.
Great job Chris :)
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Have had a little break from the forum of late whilst I was moving house and a few others bits and pieces going on but thought I’d share my first bat of 2021. Been playing around a little with the shapes to get some more distinction within the 3 stock shapes I make.
This is the SL06 which Iv amended slightly to remove some weight from the top third of the blade a bit like the LW ultra to help keep the size of bats that people are always asking for and also to stand out a little from the MH85 which is the other full length blade option.
Currently also building the new workshop in the garage with a partition wall and benches the length of back wall and down the side of the section Iv allowed myself for the workshop.
As always any fen back appreciated
Grade 1
Requested weight of 2.10 and this is after the first initial shaping.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPNGcVZ7/224-F8-CC0-2-E0-C-4927-ADFD-246334-D7947-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MvbwYfSW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cH1xXhCP/3-C4-C8-E58-AB4-A-4-AF8-A129-5-B64-A9105-A19.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bGMfvQQR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSzRTmJG/5-F45-F1-C6-E867-4-FA8-96-BE-EA4-C07-E8284-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WdbB698n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Zvqpwb3/FC78-B2-A4-42-D9-488-C-BCB5-0-A6-E03-AA068-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hfrFmFLv)
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Very nice Chris, looks a good shape that, plenty of meat in the toe as well by the looks of it :-)
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Good work mate. Shoulders definitely there now! 👍
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Very nice Chris, looks a good shape that, plenty of meat in the toe as well by the looks of it :-)
Thank you for the feedback and yes i do try and leave as much wood as possible in the toe of the bat as possible to allow as much protection as possible. Still the area that i see the most damage to a bat on my own and also refurbs etc.
Glad you like the new amended shape as well
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Good work mate. Shoulders definitely there now! 👍
Thanks Jonny, that’s one thing if found personally is that there are a handful of small bat makers that are happy to help with tips or advice as iv started my bat making journey, you being one that until you know are hard to figure out but make some of the tricker jobs that little bit easier
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(https://i.postimg.cc/jSzRTmJG/5-F45-F1-C6-E867-4-FA8-96-BE-EA4-C07-E8284-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WdbB698n)
Great shape! Looks a bit Laver-ish. Would it interested in how it pings/plays.
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Great shape! Looks a bit Laver-ish. Would it interested in how it pings/plays.
Thanks for feedback it’s based a little on a LW profile.
Ping is very good as are all the clefts I’m lucky enough to get hold, shape certainly feels well balanced to me
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A couple more that I’m in the process of making up for People.
One is a SL06 and he other the shorter blade AM18 with a slight twist of a slightly higher middle.
New work benches are almost finished as they have taken a bit longer to make than planned with the recent snow and general normal workload. Just waiting on a couple of new toys to arrive as well to finish the workshop set up.
Will share when they are finished as well as workshop being finished.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DwgqwHhv/8-C5-C0732-F46-E-4482-B0-AF-894-E7-EDBDAE9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Bjj8hhtk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DwgqwHhv/8-C5-C0732-F46-E-4482-B0-AF-894-E7-EDBDAE9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Bjj8hhtk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSKHKKG3/5-B6-B02-F9-FF79-4-AA3-AEB2-2-FE024-EAEF1-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzPBsyMb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XvY9GLNw/16266-DA3-B14-A-4867-8-F2-F-0-B3-AAA56699-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WdxdxMk3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Df9Qj15T/0-FA4-CF72-24-A0-4-CF0-9764-B449-B253-B096.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mhSFhz0X)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Dy1rtmYb/0-B377786-505-A-4-C59-AD30-0-F5777281-E19.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzLn8M0F)
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Wonderful work on those shoulders in the earlier post Chris, that is quite impressive blending. Really loving all these pics being shared, batmaking is a real skill - great to see you handling your clefts!
As a side note, that shaping at the toe on the last picture reminds me a lot of the GM Apex
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Wonderful work on those shoulders in the earlier post Chris, that is quite impressive blending. Really loving all these pics being shared, batmaking is a real skill - great to see you handling your clefts!
As a side note, that shaping at the toe on the last picture reminds me a lot of the GM Apex
Cheers @Chad for the feedback and the acknowledgement of the work that Iv out into blending the shoulders. Still the most time consuming part for me.
As for the toe it’s something that seems to have just become part of what I do when shaping a bat. I call it’s a peacock effect as the showing seems to blend downwards like a peacock in bloom. May not make any sense to anyone else but something that it’s a characteristic of how my shaping is evolved over the last 12 months really.
Try and do as much as my ability allows and fitting handles is so important to how a bat plays and feels so nice to be able to control that element.
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Good work @SOULMAN1012. Interesting shape and good to see how your skills are developing. Be interesting to see how the workshop develops too. Keep at it mate!
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So Iv been concentrating on my workshop over the last week and have finally finished my new work bench which makes such a difference to have a place to work away from the main work bench where I shape the bats.
Also have taken delivery of a new lathe to assist with binding and also a new polishing machine.
It’s a very busy month ahead with a number of orders from previous club players, Instagram and one on its way to a forum member in the coming weeks, and also a bunch of refurbs including 4 from some Durham CCC players one of which is a great demonstration of middling the hell out of a bat. Vaguely similar to a post I remember seeing with one of I think it was Steve smiths bats.
Finally received a new batch of willow and been busy handling these in between some refurbs.
(https://i.postimg.cc/02wk4gM2/9-D0-C134-A-6-DCF-488-F-B6-BC-07-F6-BC32-E1-AB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D873WMPt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L8F9KyLk/A577-B6-A3-B8-A7-4-FE9-A9-A8-6-B2097-BB2-B86.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zVpZTFd3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g0YGrnMn/536-B96-B5-90-DE-41-E5-9-EE0-64512-F6-DB202.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MnrCFKJS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvckk8xP/384-C84-A8-2621-4-EB1-83-AB-4-C41-DC8-FB1-E3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rDm6jRbj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g0XrGwr8/4-CD4-C6-A2-420-B-4196-A4-F1-C7-D5-B836-CDD0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VSwzRkqk)
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Refurb and a copy just a few oz lighter than the Keeley. Rough shaping finished. Refining and then sanding.
(https://i.postimg.cc/tT03vc3r/D5-E1713-D-66-A7-4-D66-A82-F-107-EBE726-D79.jpg)[/url
[url=https://postimg.cc/XGYGFdTP](https://i.postimg.cc/LXzzcVvm/4-E0-E2859-F240-45-F8-B9-AB-77-B1192-DE5-EE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kVcRBfh8)
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Grade 1 AM18 finished this evening
2.10/2.11
36mm edges
Light concaving
Duckbill toe
Rounded toe profile
Mid middle
Semi oval handle
(https://i.postimg.cc/VvswsPQ1/B8-D0-A05-A-0268-4-DED-8-CCF-C425-DACC9417.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KkWwQV8s)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4y8gm2sc/4-D7-ECD21-CCE7-4418-BD40-FEEF5-FE11-B0-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q6CYFLtB)
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Grade 3 finished off and out the door earlier this week.
SL06 profile shape
Weight is 2.10
Thick semi oval handle
36mm edges
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8x8mLjC/5-A37-C22-F-B602-41-FA-B648-6-CD91-B7-D689-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XB5nSGCS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1RJfb10Q/03-C38-E13-6-E35-4-FD4-8875-0925-D3-C21-EC6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/14VmNTYC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/28t38dX9/C6-DFC497-679-B-4-CC9-9944-563-ED4013119.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PPmdSDH1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/c4CrSkT8/DC483059-6-F66-4-FD8-A053-7-EBE2-A64-C47-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zVmJwjsJ)
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Lovely stuff mate. Hope the new workshop is getting there.
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Lovely stuff mate. Hope the new workshop is getting there.
Cheers mate it’s getting there slowly but surely. Just need to finish the partition wall and build another bench on that side as well as a storage area for the clefts. Hope all is well your end mate.
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Love that shape.
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Love that shape.
@Byo thank you for the comment. It’s the refined stock shape I offer in the traditional L555 length blade and SH set up. Proving quite popular
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Link to a little video I make recently about grading and also has “ping” video @AJ2014
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Link to a little video I make recently about grading and also has “ping” video @AJ2014
Didn't receive the link
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Didn't receive the link
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMPtPGmhzL9/?igshid=1dkc69s9rfk6d (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMPtPGmhzL9/?igshid=1dkc69s9rfk6d)
@AJ2014
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Every now and then you get a cleft that for what Evers reason you wish you could just keep & this is one of them for me.
Butterly Cleft with all the stain in the rear of the bat, kit superb ping from the off lovely gun crack sound with ball and mallet, big specs with 38mm edges light concaving, L555 length blade and SH set up and 2.9.2 before sanding so will finish around 2.10 once it’s tidied up etc.
Shape has come out a beauty as have been working on this as my new stock shape with the peacock duckbill as I call it and dropped spine towards the shoulders and huge driving area.
Oh and it’s a G3 so sub £150.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3NMj0PDr/59-B9-D453-267-E-4-A20-908-E-4-E2-FD14-A14-C2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBcv1scX)
(https://i.postimg.cc/FFcVXs2Y/12-E1-FD76-0-DD2-4-DD5-B9-B5-3-A78-AC7-E2-D35.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BtSKxsZ3) (https://i.postimg.cc/Znr88Vr8/570550-A5-9-DA9-48-DD-AF34-32146-B60992-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zHGH5w2v)
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Don't you like butterfly on the face, any more? 😀
Most likely I'm going to use one.
Yes I've seen your video, I know you're working hard on bat making.
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Don't you like butterfly on the face, any more? 😀
Most likely I'm going to use one.
Yes I've seen your video, I know you're working hard on bat making.
I don’t mind Butterly at all had a couple of lovely ones in the past. This is off to someone already otherwise I would certainly have had this one.
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Latest one on the workbench is a copy of a 1990’s Holt & Haskell bat.
27mm edges, very thick toe and handle and full shape with a high spine. Weight is 2.9 with mid/low middle.
Just waiting to get this sanded now.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BnswnrXX/8-E2-EF3-CC-5-AFE-4-E97-86-DC-FF115-AF2517-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzP4v6Cg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zHXJZ6w/16-F75-FFA-FC51-42-C6-B0-DE-D696-BA6-FD564.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pmmJ3Ykn)
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Butterly from the weekend all finished. New polishing compound and better sanding technique with more done via hand sanding has improved the quality of finish no end from when I started a year ago. Shame my photo skills and poor quality camera don’t help but you can see the shine somewhat.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rwmxjjHf/008-EF811-29-A1-4-B2-F-ABD3-2235-F647-E4-A3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dLbht2wC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hkh5h5Dd/AE4-AC8-C8-9519-4909-B777-B5-A6030-D8528.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mn1vcnpF)
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Well done, this is the point of keep improving. Some stains don't look good but if you're able make them less prominent with your skills, then they are easier to sell, like bigger brands do.
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SL06 with the spine blended into the toe as opposed to the normal duckbill toe on this model.
Will finish at 2.10 with 37mm edges and full shape of I’ll share once sanded and handle bound
(https://i.postimg.cc/RVBh6fqF/D2-AAC847-2-EDC-4-AD8-AE40-391-CD41-D81-FF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Wt5TxdGL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQB6x61C/70-F19-C3-B-48-F9-4897-9-A02-5-E306-D90-C736.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dLDwFJ67)
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Hi mate, as with Jonny and Jake really appreciate you sharing your setup and shaping and how you're progressing. Interesting to see the "peackcock" toe - with the bats you've recently shaped and the transition from toe to spine how does the different "bills" effect the balance of the blades etc.
Keep up the good work 👍🏻
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Loving the shape evolution - this most recent one flows so very well.
Make no mistake I enjoy reading & watching all the bat-makers pages even if I feel I can’t offer much in the way of advice...
I’m not really allowed near power tools and that’s even more important when they are sharp as well.
Please don’t be put off by some light hearted/popcorn threads gaining more comments - if popularity was the only gauge of worth then Taylor Swift & Celine Dion would be considered some of the greatest artists of our time.
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What are the areas that you feel you’re improving in with your bat making?
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https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMPtPGmhzL9/?igshid=1dkc69s9rfk6d (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMPtPGmhzL9/?igshid=1dkc69s9rfk6d)
@AJ2014
Great vid thanks for sharing. Its always nice to hear the opinions of those who have a large variety of clefts passing through their hands and can judge response (at least at the pre-knocked in stage) without the emotional complication of having paid to buy the finished bat.
I wonder what lockdown has done for the number of batmakers out there - seems that quite a few have taken the plunge who might otherwise have been too busy. This can only be a good thing for the craft.
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cracking video with lots of info and very useful for people like me who have no understanding of judging a new bat/grading/performance etc (that is why i only buy used ones - to be on the safe side) - cheers for sharing @SOULMAN1012 - good luck with everything in the future!!!
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What are the areas that you feel you’re improving in with your bat making?
@Alvaro - I’m really pleased with how the shoulders and the shaping of those have progressed over the past few months, found this the hardest element to get right as it’s really obvious when one is out of line to the other eleven by a few mm as well as the structural integrity of the bat if you take to much out and don’t blend well into the handle not to mention the feel of the handle shape which also aids the pick up of the bat.
Will always be improving as I think that personally it’s a good few years apprenticeship to become a bat maker or shaper which ever people prefer when you make from a part made cleft.
Areas for improvement now are actually away a little from the bat making side of things and it’s about improving my design work for the stickers, website and promotion and exposure of my brand as this is all totally new to me and I’m not particularly technologically clued up, never downloaded music even I’m that bad lol.
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Great vid thanks for sharing. Its always nice to hear the opinions of those who have a large variety of clefts passing through their hands and can judge response (at least at the pre-knocked in stage) without the emotional complication of having paid to buy the finished bat.
I wonder what lockdown has done for the number of batmakers out there - seems that quite a few have taken the plunge who might otherwise have been too busy. This can only be a good thing for the craft.
@blindowl yea there has been a few on here that have either taken it up or really progressed with there brands over the past 18months to two years.
I like to think I’m a good judge of how a bat will perform having owned and chased so many before starting out with my own brand but as I say to everyone who asks it’s so subjective as to what makes a “good bat” what I will never tell anyone is that performance and price go hand in hand or grains and performance or be involved in any what I call marketing nonsense. My sole aim is to cater for the club player who wants a great product at a fair and reasonable price.
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So today is a day that I have been waiting for, for a very long time. It’s always been an ambition to have my own brand designing and making my bats with a range of softs. Well here they are.
Bat covers are a full length and offer a full length zip that opens up the case completely, padded on the front and back inside and out to offer the best protection for your investment. These will be free with every Grade 1 bat.
Gloves are a split finger design with carbon detailing, triple thumb protection, Pittards leather palms and soft towel lining for superior comfort.
Pads are a traditional cane fronted pad, leather instep, padded straps with diamond top hat and wrap around wing protection.
Overall I’m really pleased with how they have come out after quite a few months of design work.
Prices are £52 for gloves £67.50 for pads & £15 for bat cover.
(https://i.postimg.cc/d1H6BNJ9/8-E6-D3098-CA1-D-4-E53-A7-A8-AA9-FD5-D4-A700.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DJG1fgJW) (https://i.postimg.cc/43GWNh8p/11-D5-C3-EA-7-B73-4-EA0-A130-46-E6-D74-E05-F4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5XPBsjWt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/G2hzvnn2/8-FF5-E9-CE-12-F7-4-FBC-81-F1-41-BDBB85-F4-AB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Ff8jQqR5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KY5JKvVw/DE14-D687-2-E76-4-EB1-859-E-B1-B6-B5649585.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8XxksJB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxBZNs9X/AFAA94-CD-1-C16-4-AFC-9794-0-AC25-E416-AF5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7GJnG4cZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/65DHgPnj/58-FE6-B5-E-FAE3-4491-A808-680507021530.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8PdbBCL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WbDW9VFq/1-D583-FC4-9-FA4-4353-905-D-51-EFA74-D59-EB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1fQrtLKy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8Zs0x7d/B2691-F73-9-FE6-4-D6-E-9803-31-F1-B75-CB66-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0KpGnf9g)
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Look good mate. Personally would choose a sausage glove, but the designs look good none the less!
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Looking at the stuff here is like looking through fitness model profiles on instagram. Fantastic stuff but I know I won't be able to get my hands on it. In case of your bats and softs that's sadly plain down to all that being in the UK and me not being able to get there in time to test some of that stuff. Looks brilliant.
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Look good mate. Personally would choose a sausage glove, but the designs look good none the less!
@LEACHY48 this is my first venture into softs and in the future I will more than likely offer a little more choice of range for the gloves to be able to cater for both preferences.
Thanks for the comments and feedback mate appreciate it .
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Looking at the stuff here is like looking through fitness model profiles on instagram. Fantastic stuff but I know I won't be able to get my hands on it. In case of your bats and softs that's sadly plain down to all that being in the UK and me not being able to get there in time to test some of that stuff. Looks brilliant.
Happy to ship internationally mate and if your ever in the U.K. happy to help anyway I can. Thanks for your feedback
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Top effort mate! Clearly someone who likes their kit is putting theirs thoughts into the designs of the gear 😊
And you can see the improvement in the bat making. Keep grafting away!
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Great work Chris; those pads especially, look really top quality!
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Top effort mate! Clearly someone who likes their kit is putting theirs thoughts into the designs of the gear 😊
And you can see the improvement in the bat making. Keep grafting away!
@ch1p thank you for the comment and it’s great to hear that people can see I put a lot of time into getting the design and relevant materials etc into my soft goods. As you say the bat shapes and quality has come on loads over the past 12 months and it’s really helped to have had some great support so far in 2021.
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softs look great, love the quilted design on the tophat
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Well done Chris, these look great. Always good to see when someone's hard work pays off with quality end product.
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softs look great, love the quilted design on the tophat
@Warneymonster thanks mate, they are one of my favourite elements of the pads and really happy with the top hat on these, perfect size in my opinion
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Well done Chris, these look great. Always good to see when someone's hard work pays off with quality end product.
@six and out thank you for the feedback and comments much appreciated
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Well done Chris, these look great. Always good to see when someone's hard work pays off with quality end product.
I agree with this👍
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Refurb completed on this GM Icon 808, no major damage was just looking a bit tired couple of little face cracks but simple job finished I’ve the weekend
(https://i.postimg.cc/65q9sxSR/29-C00484-C669-430-A-8-D8-F-BDE1-D8882-D57.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BXWWDkJQ)how to screenshot on windows (https://postimages.org/app)
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Another refurb completed, this one had a rag there large crack on the edge that I honestly think was caused by the bat being so dry. Decent size bat and shape but was 2.4 when stripped back and although I didn’t measure would say had 36+ edges.
(https://i.postimg.cc/vHGdMFNX/FDFB0635-3703-464-B-AA20-547-D3378-F9-BB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F1C6gqmJ)
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Top work as always mate.
I even “don’t hate” that fibre scuff
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Also finished the copy of the 1990’s Holt & Haskel bat that I was asked to do. Was nice making something more traditional and not something I have done a huge amount of.
Finished weight is 2.9.2 with a high spine and very thick toe and handle loved how well balanced this came out for a low middle bat. Edge Max is 29mm and it’s pretty thick all the way through. Set the handle back ever so slightly on this one as the oroginal bat had almost no bow at all and with the part made clefts being slightly bowed at production stage it just doesn’t make it more pronounced so keeping inline with original shape as best as possible
(https://i.postimg.cc/qRd1nKWr/F1-E03-F89-47-D7-48-B7-B108-83-DA89-DE57-DE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/f3B7QVwq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zMWvYGF/F1-E961-CD-2130-4-BF0-94-E6-6-FC96467-A765.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tsRYQ2Yy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/28qnk6X7/3-FB14-BA4-0-E8-E-4-E79-84-AE-73-C46-F5-A4210.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vcs4XQy4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6rLnpcK/08-CD15-CC-479-F-4-EA1-B402-FAB6-A7-FB7-D0-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykykbw6v)
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Too work as always mate.
I even “don’t hate” that fibre scuff
I’m a big fan of the fibre scuff personally, I know it hides the grain structure to a degree but just for me I think they look superb and offer great protection for the bat. And for Those that are worried about the tiniest of weight margins they save a bit there as well all be it not much.
Thanks for the comments buddy
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I’m scarred by removing them for refurbs.
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This is definitely exciting shape and very well made, Soulman,
please more pics of this copy, if possible,
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Also finished the copy of the 1990’s Holt & Haskel bat that I was asked to do. Was nice making something more traditional and not something I have done a huge amount of.
Finished weight is 2.9.2 with a high spine and very thick toe and handle loved how well balanced this came out for a low middle bat. Edge Max is 29mm and it’s pretty thick all the way through. Set the handle back ever so slightly on this one as the oroginal bat had almost no bow at all and with the part made clefts being slightly bowed at production stage it just doesn’t make it more pronounced so keeping inline with original shape as best as possible
Marvellous. Quite Chasey - I wonder how much influence H&H had on the Chase shapes. Probably zero, ha!
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I’m scarred by removing them for refurbs.
I use a heat gun and a wall paper scraper and they just peel off mate as they are a lot thinner than the clear helicopter scuff sheets, once it’s hot it’s a doddle to repair. The Newbery hammer edge ones are the ones I find are the worst to remove as they are made of almost a sheet of plastic
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Evening all. Another AM18 being shaped up at the moment. Just thought I would share and also I was asked away from the forum why I have various weights written on the blade of the cleft. Basically when I get an order I write the specs if anything specific being requested on the blade. One of the things that I’m learning about is judging the best clefts available to make the beat bat for each customer. The various weights are at each stage I check the weight to work towards the desired end weight. It’s hard to take a cleft that’s 3lb+ and make a 2.7-2.8 bat if the requirements are large edges and full shape for example so what I try and always ensure is that the customer gets the best bat that suits them. That’s the reason for the various weights. The order is starting weight, weight after toe shaping, weights after removal of the handle splice and shaping of shoulders, weight after removal of bulk of the wood in the blade. So this is 2.10.6 and I’ll now go about removing wood in smaller stages from toe again, top third and bulk to get to the desired weight range. The “weight range is what I need to get to makes weight to allow for the approx 2oz gain from binding and grip.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YS87mHLk/84-C1-D787-CDD4-48-ED-BFB8-4-AEBE838-AA2-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5HHTZDmk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QCKZPK4x/9-B91487-F-3-C3-A-458-C-AA9-A-0-B59-D2916-F17.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K3bW3jhd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8s8gVk9d/E40454-E9-9-A15-41-D7-A963-8-B27-B73122-F4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTj5FRc9)
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Nice Chris, particularly like how the spine stays up into the handle, or doesn’t flatten out for a better term.
Good work.
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Nice Chris, particularly like how the spine stays up into the handle, or doesn’t flatten out for a better term.
Good work.
Thanks mate the spine flattens out on the SL06 but stays into the spine on the AM18. Thanks for the comments mate
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Nice work mate 💪
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Finally getting round to making myself a bat for this season, Grade 3 and an absolute cannon of a piece of willow.
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXkP2fqS/C5-E9-C719-358-E-4-AE6-BF1-E-D35731-B799-C8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Kkzj51rp)
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So with my 3rd child due in July Iv been thinking of a new shape for a while. For those that don’t know the two current stick shapes I make are named after my children and year or birth. So this will be the ??21
Based on a traditional edge shape and also offering a spine into toe option.
Any thoughts or comments on this shape?
(https://i.postimg.cc/bJsfL8kt/635-B81-C3-0-A6-F-491-F-8821-9-F40-F6-B1-BDE1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgFKHJPY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SQYpMSy0/56-AB9-CBF-3-E26-477-B-9-C1-C-E347-F7-B7-D139.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Sj450p2V)
(https://i.postimg.cc/W3CLHKwf/2-B2-F5-C4-E-9-FB8-4-BD9-BAF4-266-F80-F3-A7-E2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/r01PdfbS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/prjbbZ0V/2269-F4-A5-84-C8-4958-9663-B635786-B17-E5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ctd5fQyP)
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Seems like quite a high middle, if you're looking for UK sales is there much of a market for that?
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Looks a bit high, but I guess you've left enough wood lower down for powerful driving
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Seems like quite a high middle, if you're looking for UK sales is there much of a market for that?
The swell is higher on this than the other two for sure but makes it totally different to the other two shapes.
Personally used mid/high or higher middles bats for the last few years and find no problem at all from a personal perspective
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Looks a cracker! I like a higher middle as I cut and pull a lot, but I also find most higher middle bats respond well lower down too.
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Love this shape mate.
The other thing is I am a firm believer that bat makers/companies should offer a range of shapes including 1 high middled bat, otherwise you are losing a customer profile.
Not enough brands do this in my opinion.
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Love this shape mate.
The other thing is I am a firm believer that bat makers/companies should offer a range of shapes including 1 high middled bat, otherwise you are losing a customer profile.
Not enough brands do this in my opinion.
Morning @six and out thanks for your comments. I personally do agree with you that there should be a range of shapes that offer a choice without having to many if that makes sense. I feel this shape sits nicely with the other two that it’s A) spine into toe and B) higher middle.
My own personally view is that the notion that bats have high middle, low middle, mid/low etc is a little bit of nonsense to a degree. You can move the swell or the bat to different points on the bat that in my opinion alters the shape and the balance but the overall performance area of a bat by and large stays the same. I can’t see iv noticed any real difference when playing from using a GM noir which is a (low middle) to an M&H Harliquin which shape wise would be classed as high middle.
Again just my view
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Morning @six and out thanks for your comments. I personally do agree with you that there should be a range of shapes that offer a choice without having to many if that makes sense. I feel this shape sits nicely with the other two that it’s A) spine into toe and B) higher middle.
My own personally view is that the notion that bats have high middle, low middle, mid/low etc is a little bit of nonsense to a degree. You can move the swell or the bat to different points on the bat that in my opinion alters the shape and the balance but the overall performance area of a bat by and large stays the same. I can’t see iv noticed any real difference when playing from using a GM noir which is a (low middle) to an M&H Harliquin which shape wise would be classed as high middle.
Again just my view
Couldn’t agree more mate - said it multiple times.
New shape looks good mate - scored my first ever hundred with a bat the same shape.
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I'm sorry if I disagree on this,
Middle do make difference, as high middle bats might feel meaty and pick up better than anything else, depending on their weight but mid low bats do feel more powerful according to their weight
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I'm sorry if I disagree on this,
Middle do make difference, as high middle bats might feel meaty and pick up better than anything else, depending on their weight but mid low bats do feel more powerful according to their weight
So a mid-low bat in a lower weight (2-9?) won't "feel more powerful"?
You could have a high middle bat that picks up like absolute garbage if it's balanced wrong, personally think the balance (which is down to the skill of the maker) has more to do with how the bat will feel.
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The more the weight more power, 2lb 9oz is classed as light weight.
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love the high middle, duckbill profiles. always feel great in nets. just a shame that the majority of wickets we play on round here are lucky if it gets above ankle height.
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Reminds me of an old SAF a teammate had or even the old Newbery gt335.
Nice work mate - personally wouldn't attract me BUT that's not to say it isn't well thought out though!
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I'm sorry if I disagree on this,
Middle do make difference, as high middle bats might feel meaty and pick up better than anything else, depending on their weight but mid low bats do feel more powerful according to their weight
Mid low do “feel more powerful” is plain wrong.
Take a high middle bat 2.9 and a low middled bat 2.9 they will both hit the ball just as far if pressed correctly.
What you might be referencing is that you “feel” the weight more in a mid low middled bat and therefore you feel like you have more weight behind the ball, but middle position has no effect on how “powerful” a bat is
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My own personally view is that the notion that bats have high middle, low middle, mid/low etc is a little bit of nonsense to a degree. You can move the swell or the bat to different points on the bat that in my opinion alters the shape and the balance but the overall performance area of a bat by and large stays the same. I can’t see iv noticed any real difference when playing from using a GM noir which is a (low middle) to an M&H Harliquin which shape wise would be classed as high middle.
Agree with you to an extent but the swell you mentioned should be in a spot where you hit the most. The overall performance area will stay the same in most bats but the most pingy zone, aka the sweet spot should be the biggest in the part where you hit the most. That is a front foot player should have it a bit lower down and a back foot player the opposite etc. But then again for most club cricketers, we don't hit the middle often enough to really notice a massive difference in the sweet spot position etc.
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Looks a nice shape that Soulman, nice and flowy even if it's a big high middle for my tastes!
Shouldn't derail the thread really, but the shape of a bat definitely has an affect on how it responds in different areas - that really shouldn't be up for debate.
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So with my 3rd child due in July Iv been thinking of a new shape for a while. For those that don’t know the two current stick shapes I make are named after my children and year or birth. So this will be the ??21
Based on a traditional edge shape and also offering a spine into toe option.
Any thoughts or comments on this shape?
Looks lovely to me. Nicely bowed, almost classical profile. What are your thoughts about the offset between the spine and edges - does it make a noticeable difference to the sweet spot?
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Looks a nice shape that Soulman, nice and flowy even if it's a big high middle for my tastes!
Shouldn't derail the thread really, but the shape of a bat definitely has an affect on how it responds in different areas - that really shouldn't be up for debate.
That isn’t what he’s saying I don’t think, I think he is suggesting that the shape doesn’t change the overall playing area, there will obviously be one spot (where the most mass is) that feels the best, but in general, the playing area that performs nicely, remains the same.
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The more the weight more power, 2lb 9oz is classed as light weight.
Absolute nonsense. There is no correlation between the weight of a bat and it’s power at all.
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My point was in simple terms that the bat is split into three parts.
Toe Area - totally dead and has no performance impact
Splice Area - again dead and has no performance impact.
Playing area - the section between the two pint mentioned above and overall is the total playing area should offer performance and value for your shots. Now the swell can be moved around within this area and to a point it will have a “sweet spot” that just feels the best area of t he playing area. However by and large there is no real thing as low middle vs a high middle in my opinion. If you play ok a real low bouncing track there is an argument for the swell to be lower but that’s not the middle or playing area being lower it’s just the swell is lower.
Hope that makes sense
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What's the difference between middle and swell? According to you then?🤔
Swell is the middle as well, because bulk of the willow is there, higher or lower area, would be pingy as well but not more the where that swell is.
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Absolute nonsense. There is no correlation between the weight of a bat and it’s power at all.
You'll have to find it out then!
What's the heaviest weight bat have you used?
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What's the difference between middle and swell? According to you then?🤔
Swell is the middle as well, because bulk of the willow is there, higher or lower area, would be pingy as well but not more the where that swell is.
The swell is the bulk of wood in the bat, this impacts the balance of a bat in my opinion. The “Middle” is what I call the playing area of the bat. I’ll show this on a cleft a bit later as that maybe easier to explain My point or way of thinking.
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You'll have to find it out then!
What's the heaviest weight bat have you used?
On a consistent basis 2.12/2.13 but over the last 5 years or so I’m down to between 2.9 and 2.10 but these are no less powerful and I hit the ball no less further or score no less runs and still avg about the same as I did with a heavier bat.
No two bats ever feel the same to me though
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The swell is the bulk of wood in the bat, this impacts the balance of a bat in my opinion. The “Middle” is what I call the playing area of the bat. I’ll show this on a cleft a bit later as that maybe easier to explain My point or way of thinking.
You're calling playing area, middle of the bat, while traditionally, we call middle of the bat where the swell is, that's where we try to hit the ball from, to get it as far as possible.
When Commentators say, " middled it", they don't mean that the ball is hit on it's playing but on it's swell, this is why ball races to the boundary.
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You're calling playing area, middle of the bat, while traditionally, we call middle of the bat where the swell is, that's where we try to hit the ball from, to get it as far as possible.
When Commentators say, " middled it", they don't mean that the ball is hit on it's playing but on it's swell, this is why ball races to the boundary.
Actually they mean it came front the middle of the face rather than the edge.
I don't think the commentators note which player has a high swell or a low swell, then takes note of where the ball hits in relation to that.
It's quite a simple concept, if you don't overthink it...
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It's a nice looking profile and I could happily play with it.
Regarding middles, I find the size of the sweetspot/middle is probably more important to me than the theoretical middle (peak spine). I play mostly off the back foot and tend to hit a little higher up the blade as a result but have bats with a lower middle that really suit me as they have large sweetspots and are really well balanced.
At the end of the day.... you know when you are middling it and most often if you aren't it will be down to either great bowling, poor timing, dodgy pitch etc. Rarely is it down to the wrong bat profile but more likely the wrong weight affecting timing if anything bat related.
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It's a nice looking profile and I could happily play with it.
Regarding middles, I find the size of the sweetspot/middle is probably more important to me than the theoretical middle (peak spine). I play mostly off the back foot and tend to hit a little higher up the blade as a result but have bats with a lower middle that really suit me as they have large sweetspots and are really well balanced.
At the end of the day.... you know when you are middling it and most often if you aren't it will be down to either great bowling, poor timing, dodgy pitch etc. Rarely is it down to the wrong bat profile but more likely the wrong weight affecting timing if anything bat related.
Which bat and weight do you use? It's interesting interesting to know a low middle bat that plays well on the back foot.
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Which bat and weight do you use? It's interesting interesting to know a low middle bat that plays well on the back foot.
If you ever get the chance before a match clean the bat blade as well as possible and have a look where most of the ball marks are on your bat. I reckon you will be surprised and will be a little higher than you possibly imagine. Could be wrong but certainly the main reason why I don’t offer a real low swell profile on my range as standard.
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I think it is great to see a range of profiles. For what its worth, I think that the profile does make a difference.
When I first started using senior bats in the late 90s, bats generally had much lower middles than they do now. This is my first SH bat. It has a very low middle and a very thick toe compared to what you see on most modern bats.
(https://i.postimg.cc/5yjtRkNm/20210313-112926.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5Qd1HgzH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QVGrJ6BC/20210313-224312.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JHqg155C)
I don't think that playing conditions have changed such that there has been a need to vastly alter the profile of bats. For me, it came with a trend to using lighter bats and towards bats with bigger edges. The compromise for this was first higher middles and concaving and then more recently duck bill toes.
Personally, I prefer a lower middle. No doubt you will hit balls higher up the bat when you are defending and pulling and cutting where you are deflecting the pace on the ball. But you need the most power when you are planting the ball back over the bowlers head when you are hitting the ball low down the bat and for that I prefer to see the biggest part of the middle to be in that area.
Luckily as someone who uses heavy bats, I can opt for a lower middle, with big edges and without concaving but otherwise you have to make compromises.
Congratulations on the imminent arrival!
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If you ever get the chance before a match clean the bat blade as well as possible and have a look where most of the ball marks are on your bat. I reckon you will be surprised and will be a little higher than you possibly imagine. Could be wrong but certainly the main reason why I don’t offer a real low swell profile on my range as standard.
Soulman, I don't disagree on this.
Since I realised this I started looking for lighter, higher middle bats with driving power, luckily I got a few now, but it took long time to find them.
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I think it is great to see a range of profiles. For what its worth, I think that the profile does make a difference.
When I first started using senior bats in the late 90s, bats generally had much lower middles than they do now. This is my first SH bat. It has a very low middle and a very thick toe compared to what you see on most modern bats.
(https://i.postimg.cc/5yjtRkNm/20210313-112926.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5Qd1HgzH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QVGrJ6BC/20210313-224312.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JHqg155C)
I don't think that playing conditions have changed such that there has been a need to vastly alter the profile of bats. For me, it came with a trend to using lighter bats and towards bats with bigger edges. The compromise for this was first higher middles and concaving and then more recently duck bill toes.
Personally, I prefer a lower middle. No doubt you will hit balls higher up the bat when you are defending and pulling and cutting where you are deflecting the pace on the ball. But you need the most power when you are planting the ball back over the bowlers head when you are hitting the ball low down the bat and for that I prefer to see the biggest part of the middle to be in that area.
Luckily as someone who uses heavy bats, I can opt for a lower middle, with big edges and without concaving but otherwise you have to make compromises.
Congratulations on the imminent arrival!
Well said SD,
Adding to this, mid low bats do give both of the worlds.
Which bat is this one? 😀
Other thing I noticed on those oldies, that they're very balanced, wood looks equally divided, while a bit more lower down, this might be the reason they didn't feel bottom heavy.
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Absolute nonsense. There is no correlation between the weight of a bat and it’s power at all.
Ppl say this but I have honestly never seen someone hit really big sixes with a 2-7/2-8 bat. Those are usually hit with 2-12 and above bats.
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Ppl say this but I have honestly never seen someone hit really big sixes with a 2-7/2-8 bat. Those are usually hit with 2-12 and above bats.
Really? Even the pro's who hit it miles? Or people of an older generation who still managed to hit it out of the ground?
Our keeper uses a 2lbs 7oz bat and he hits it as many sixes and of a decent size, as anyone else I've seen when he gets it right.
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Well said SD,
Adding to this, mid low bats do give both of the worlds.
Which bat is this one? 😀
Other thing I noticed on those oldies, that they're very balanced, wood looks equally divided, while a bit more lower down, this might be the reason they didn't feel bottom heavy.
It is a Duncan Fearnley Gold. Back then, a Grade 3 got you more grains than you could count and no blemishes - £72 with a 10% discount my club had with the retailer!
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Ppl say this but I have honestly never seen someone hit really big sixes with a 2-7/2-8 bat. Those are usually hit with 2-12 and above bats.
A lot of pros use this sort of weight in the modern game but they generate power by incredible hand speed and use the speed of the ball coming on to the bat.
If you don't have that hand speed then a bigger bat will give you more power. Having played a lot of league cricket, I am reasonably confident that most players don't have the hand speed to hit a yorker over extra cover like Jos Butler can
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I would suggest Jos Buttler's bat speed being measured at over 100mph has far more to do with how big his sixes are than 3-4oz on his bat weight.
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A lot of pros use this sort of weight in the modern game but they generate power by incredible hand speed and use the speed of the ball coming on to the bat.
If you don't have that hand speed then a bigger bat will give you more power. Having played a lot of league cricket, I am reasonably confident that most players don't have the hand speed to hit a yorker over extra cover like Jos Butler can
Very true SD, but it seems they always refer to pros or international players to make their point account, while we're talking about as low as we play 😀
Many of us don't get the time to settle down nicely 🙂 when having to hit the ball from the word go, I'm sure most lighter bats will struggle hit 6, when ball is turning a bit as well.
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It is a Duncan Fearnley Gold. Back then, a Grade 3 got you more grains than you could count and no blemishes - £72 with a 10% discount my club had with the retailer!
DF 🙂
I wanted to buy Magnum because of Botham, but they were huuuge bats 😊
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I would suggest Jos Buttler's bat speed being measured at over 100mph has far more to do with how big his sixes are than 3-4oz on his bat weight.
His bats are very light from what I understand, so it is entirely his hand speed
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God this thread has descended fast.
the notion that light bats cant hit sixes is utter utter tripe.
most batsman I know use 2.8-2.10, every single one of them can hit big sixes. I use a 2.8 bat, and topped the sixes chart last year in our 1s.
people are reading into bat weights and shapes way way too much yet again haha.
dont overthink it, buy something you like the look of, and you feel good using, then worry about your technique rather than the bat youre holding.
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Back to the topic....nice work @SOULMAN1012
Being a little older now I love seeing older style bats come into the workshop, so a great profile this and should do well I think with some people. One question tho, can I have it at 2lbs 7oz with 40mm edges and 67mm spine? Thanks! 😂
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Chris, @SOULMAN1012
Great work on this bats. I've enjoyed your photo's and video's on Instagram. Really appreciate you posting pics.
Congratulations on the news that you are expecting a new baby.
Best wishes
JT
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God this thread has descended fast.
the notion that light bats cant hit sixes is utter utter tripe.
most batsman I know use 2.8-2.10, every single one of them can hit big sixes. I use a 2.8 bat, and topped the sixes chart last year in our 1s.
people are reading into bat weights and shapes way way too much yet again haha.
dont overthink it, buy something you like the look of, and you feel good using, then worry about your technique rather than the bat youre holding.
Depends on the bowling you're facing, you wouldn't be able to hit many 6s in our league, I'm sure
With lighter or heavier bat!
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Back to the topic....nice work @SOULMAN1012
Being a little older now I love seeing older style bats come into the workshop, so a great profile this and should do well I think with some people. One question tho, can I have it at 2lbs 7oz with 40mm edges and 67mm spine? Thanks! 😂
Thanks @jonny77 for the kind comments and words. Now let me go and find my unicorn assistant to find those specs for you and when I do I’ll let you know mate :)
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Chris, @SOULMAN1012
Great work on this bats. I've enjoyed your photo's and video's on Instagram. Really appreciate you posting pics.
Congratulations on the news that you are expecting a new baby.
Best wishes
JT
Cheers @JTtaylor145 i enjoy posting the videos although hate the sound of my voice lol.
Yes don’t me alarmed if you find me sleeping by your bat cave one morning looking for some piece and quite once the 3rd one comes along lol
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Depends on the bowling you're facing, you wouldn't be able to hit many 6s in our league, I'm sure
With lighter or heavier bat!
Ok mate...im sure the level you play is the highest around and I most definitely couldn't hit it off the square. I bow to your cricketing ability oh great one.
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Depends on the bowling you're facing, you wouldn't be able to hit many 6s in our league, I'm sure
With lighter or heavier bat!
Just stick to the purpose of the thread AJ and let Soulman showcase his artwork.
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Just stick to the purpose of the thread AJ and let Soulman showcase his artwork.
Fine with me 🙂
But no one should call an opinion: "non sense", especially on this thread 👍
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Fine with me 🙂
But no one should call an opinion: "non sense", especially on this thread 👍
An opinion that is not grounded in fact is in fact, by definition, non sense. Even though I never actually said it was in the first place!
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An opinion that is not grounded in fact is in fact, by definition, non sense. Even though I never actually said it was in the first place!
Didn't mentioned you 🙂
It's all about personal preferences and feel, so nothing works like facts 😊
You will be able to hit 6 with 2lb 8oz, I'm sure, many will not be so sure about this.
Would you try to convince your customers, buying bat at your preferred weight? Or say that, they're talking non sense?
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Depends on the bowling you're facing, you wouldn't be able to hit many 6s in our league, I'm sure
With lighter or heavier bat!
This is one of my favourite ever responses to a post! :D
AJ on another post you are moaning about batting down the order and playing in lower XIs and being too old to learn then throwing out this sort of childish playground insults.
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Didn't mentioned you 🙂
It's all about personal preferences and feel, so nothing works like facts 😊
You will be able to hit 6 with 2lb 8oz, I'm sure, many will not be so sure about this.
Would you try to convince your customers, buying bat at your preferred weight? Or say that, they're talking non sense?
You clearly don’t understand the point anyone was trying to make.
If you actually read my posts before being juvenile and trying (poorly) to insult me, you’d see that I and others have said bat weight is irrelevant and you should buy what you like 👍🏻
I was referencing the fact that you and others said light bats “can’t hit sixes” which is demonstrably untrue, and therefore again, by definition “nonsense”.
I made no comment on your opinions about how bats feel, I was just dealing with the facts.
Perhaps it would benefit you to do the same!
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Sorry Chris, seems to have gone down a rabbit hole.
Forgot to say, well wishes on the new arrival when the time comes! Hope it has no impact on time in the workshop 👀
Is it just three “bat shapes” for now or will the range extend further?
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Back to the topic....nice work @SOULMAN1012
Being a little older now I love seeing older style bats come into the workshop, so a great profile this and should do well I think with some people. One question tho, can I have it at 2lbs 7oz with 40mm edges and 67mm spine? Thanks! 😂
Would be interesting to hear what an “average” cleft would come out weight wise with those specs Jonny or Chris. Ofcourse given variables I’m sure there would be a small range. But just for interest what sort of weight are we talking for a regular density piece of timber 🤔
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Sorry Chris, seems to have gone down a rabbit hole.
Forgot to say, well wishes on the new arrival when the time comes! Hope it has no impact on time in the workshop 👀
Is it just three “bat shapes” for now or will the range extend further?
@ch1p thank you for the comments and best wishes. I will take a bit of time away but not to much and is towards the back end of the season really.
Yes just the three shapes and I also do custom requests or copies of old or favourite bats. I think personally when your a small brand as bat maker that 3 is enough of a choice for the average player to choose from. Of course any stock shape can have certain specs added or amended but it’s nice to have 3 that can be replicated with ease and confidence.
I will possibly in the next 12 months increase the range with another glove style and a bag but I’m not going to go down the route of multiple soft options, thigh guards etc I don’t think.
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This is one of my favourite ever responses to a post! :D
AJ on another post you are moaning about batting down the order and playing in lower XIs and being too old to learn then throwing out this sort of childish playground insults.
I'll respond to this, on that referred thread, not here
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You clearly don’t understand the point anyone was trying to make.
If you actually read my posts before being juvenile and trying (poorly) to insult me, you’d see that I and others have said bat weight is irrelevant and you should buy what you like 👍🏻
I was referencing the fact that you and others said light bats “can’t hit sixes” which is demonstrably untrue, and therefore again, by definition “nonsense”.
I made no comment on your opinions about how bats feel, I was just dealing with the facts.
Perhaps it would benefit you to do the same!
If you feel that I've tried to insult you, then, please except my apologies, thanks.
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Would be interesting to hear what an “average” cleft would come out weight wise with those specs Jonny or Chris. Ofcourse given variables I’m sure there would be a small range. But just for interest what sort of weight are we talking for a regular density piece of timber 🤔
I'll make start a thread and shape one up top show progress etc. Obviously lots of variables and depends what you'd class as an average cleft, but it wouldn't be a light bat that's for sure.
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Finally getting round to making myself a bat for this season, Grade 3 and an absolute cannon of a piece of willow.
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXkP2fqS/C5-E9-C719-358-E-4-AE6-BF1-E-D35731-B799-C8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Kkzj51rp)
Now we know where all the great clefts go: in the bat maker's kit bag! ;)
PS: I think it is easier to find a grade 2 (and above) cannon than a grade 3 or lower.
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Now we know where all the great clefts go: in the bat maker's kit bag! ;)
PS: I think it is easier to find a grade 2 (and above) cannon than a grade 3 or lower.
This I graded as a G3 due to heartwood and some specs and a couple of small
Pin marks all be it outside the playing area. I’m quite strict with grading by and large as I keep honest to the grading that I get the clefts in. Is easy but greedy to upgrade a nice G2 or G3. I’ll share some available clefts later including a stunner that unfortunately has a knot on the back of the bat by the shoulder.
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Would like to see how the knotted one turns out - my favourite bat has a hideous looking knot on the back edge (level with the tip of the splice) and the bat is a rocket. I would have no hesitation in buying a bat that is imperfect in a trivial area - great way to pick up a bargain :)
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Busy evening tonight and been a very busy last few weeks with the run up to the season.
Firstly finished off this G1 for a lad at our club who is skipper of our first team this season. 2lb 10oz once I add the grip. This is a SL06 but he isn’t a fan of a large duckbill so this is more of a hybrid with a small duckbill and the spine subtly dropping into the toe.
Thin shoulders and the bulk of the swell in the middle of the bat. Copied the bulk area from his old GN Select.
(https://i.postimg.cc/nzjByGCz/968751-B8-49-F7-4-FC5-8653-6-C7259572-CBD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/phvm88Qb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/28FhN684/E46-F8-F2-E-DAD2-4-C00-9-C67-BE72-E5-D4-E200.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QHCHpj7t)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g0rZhHyD/6-BB53-DAC-5-AA5-45-AD-AE6-B-EC92-AE8-EA8-C9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R35h5fD6)
Next up this evening was the initial shaping of these 3 SL06 profile shapes all from orders in the past week. Two of these are G2 and one is a G3. I’ll share more of these in the coming days.
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYXgsmGd/89504-D1-D-722-C-45-E4-9-D4-E-60-CDCE104-A1-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1wMQMvq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VkfMf8d2/92-A3795-C-C312-48-A2-94-D8-E3-AEF4215-C48.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SJPjdHLG)
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Hi Chris, how does that above G1 differ from the G3 you made for yourself? The above cleft has heartwood and spec but is a grade 1? I would be a little disappointed to receive that as a G1
I’ve had the two bats below custom made - these have been very generously sold as grade 2’s and for an absolute bargain price. These could easily pass as G1’s in today’s current market
(https://i.postimg.cc/L41W9gwX/B755-D16-E-F317-477-D-BE7-E-FF04-DEF68-A90.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xq95g80D)
Hope you don’t think I’ve gone off topic on your thread.
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Hi @e4sby this is a G1 on the basis of multiple straight grains and overall blemish free blade. This is a G1 as bought directly as a G1 cleft.
The one I made for myself has 5/6 grains from memory, cats paws or mable effect in the playing area and multiple specs and pin knots. Either way both are superb performing sticks
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Hi @e4sby this is a G1 on the basis of multiple straight grains and overall blemish free blade. This is a G1 as bought directly as a G1 cleft.
The one I made for myself has 5/6 grains from memory, cats paws or mable effect in the playing area and multiple specs and pin knots. Either way both are superb performing sticks
The grading debate on this forum has gone on for as long as the forum itself I have no doubt. I don’t and so far have not deviated from the grades in which I buy my clefts as I believe the grading To have been fair, and why I only offer G1, G2 and G3. I don’t have internal grades or “pro” Grade Grade 1+++ etc which charges more for a nicer looking cleft which is still a G1 etc.
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Little forum offer if anyone is interested
This is a G1 Cleft that unfortunately when it was machines revealed a nasty knot on the rear of the bat. It will be fully covered by the stickers but is unfortunate on a lovely piece of timber.
It’s also not the lightest cleft at 3lb 2oz before any shaping but if someone wants a me down weight bat I’m happy to offer in my SL06 profile for £150 delivered in the U.K.
If interested drop me a message.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Pf005cT2/FE0020-AE-E615-4944-AE37-B31-E59-DB0-E6-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QVkf6fBT)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RhtstS4G/C62-F4-F30-E321-4-F8-A-9-FFA-EDA1-F4-A14-ACC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/y3Vy4zJS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5Lks61p/AF542-E7-C-3744-4215-9461-42-E9-B1800147.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Hc1tzMdz)
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The grading debate on this forum has gone on for as long as the forum itself I have no doubt. I don’t and so far have not deviated from the grades in which I buy my clefts as I believe the grading To have been fair, and why I only offer G1, G2 and G3. I don’t have internal grades or “pro” Grade Grade 1+++ etc which charges more for a nicer looking cleft which is still a G1 etc.
I agree discussions on grading will forever roll on... at the end of the day there is no hard and fast rule and a G1 in someone’s eyes are a G1 in anothers...
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This one does look A Grade 1 willow, must be a pinger big time!
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Very generous offer that I'm sure someone will snap up. But could you not drop the shoulders and remove the knot that way. LH SB set up?
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@SOULMAN1012 Very generous offer that I'm sure someone will snap up. But could you not drop the shoulders and remove the knot that way. LH SB set up?
@Kez I possibly could but it would be a very big drop and in my opinion these shaped bats don’t sell very well so I’d rather just stick to offering a stock shape to be honest.
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Why not making this bat for yourself and stille that other, shorter blade? 🤔🙂
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Why not making this bat for yourself and stille that other, shorter blade? 🤔🙂
Sorry no idea what this is supposed to mean.
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Little forum offer if anyone is interested
This is a G1 Cleft that unfortunately when it was machines revealed a nasty knot on the rear of the bat. It will be fully covered by the stickers but is unfortunate on a lovely piece of timber.
It’s also not the lightest cleft at 3lb 2oz before any shaping but if someone wants a me down weight bat I’m happy to offer in my SL06 profile for £150 delivered in the U.K.
If interested drop me a message.
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5Lks61p/AF542-E7-C-3744-4215-9461-42-E9-B1800147.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Hc1tzMdz)
Such a shame and I guess it must be a bit like opening a Kinder surprise egg once you start machining a cleft! You can't get much further away from the playing area that's for sure.
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That’s very honest of you. Some would have put stickers over it and sold it as a G1.
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Sorry no idea what this is supposed to mean.
I thought you said that you'd made bat for yourself, shorter blade, which had damage lower on the blade,
Might be , it was someone
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A few pics of various bits and pieces Iv been up to over the last week.
Note to self I must get a better camera on my next phone.
Clean up of the workshop and shaping of 5 SL06 profile orders with various requests for swell position. Also an arty pic kind of
(https://i.postimg.cc/zBYNMX5P/CDF6-CDF5-E51-F-4279-8-D3-B-5-A4-DE4767-F58.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/p9C35vmD)
Profile pics of the said 5 x SL06 shapes after initial shaping stage.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pdzbDb8Q/211-E8321-B2-D6-4917-93-F4-F3-F29942-C3-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zLzcrQx3)
A couple of available clefts that Iv now takes to sanding the face prior to grading to allow a more accurate identification of what will sand out and what’s in the playing area. This is a lovely clean G2 all sapwood
(https://i.postimg.cc/zG9YbXLX/F40-FFF93-4972-4276-BB85-C0322-ADA7-F89.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrcztWcT)
Some new sample stickers on the G1 that I finished earlier this week.
(https://i.postimg.cc/nr0tC4m6/8558-BCCC-A3-E6-423-F-A23-C-47945-C98-A7-A7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WqFyyJXn)
My new match bat for this season Sanded, polished and fits comfortably through the gauge.
(https://i.postimg.cc/j2sbxgDH/847-CF51-D-4-E60-4427-B55-F-84-BFDC422-FC1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LY07vVB5)
Trying to show the attention to detail that probably quote often gets overlooked, how the toe is rounded into the edge to allow the bat to slide in when running between the wickets and also how the blade is hand sanded into the toe to ease feathering of the toe.
(https://i.postimg.cc/T29x76sC/83-E8946-D-178-A-47-E5-A43-C-BC1-EE93-DDE4-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/14fbXLsq)
Finally been playing around with the new profile shape I’m adding to my range and this one will also likely end up as a special offer on the bases of getting some feedback from those that use or have considered a higher swell position.
(https://i.postimg.cc/65bXKhtZ/B2746-F5-F-7667-4-FC1-94-C2-2-EE930-D51-F6-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xcm7yMkj)
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Nice pics, to be honest,
You're talking like a Pro, impressed.
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Nice pics, to be honest,
You're talking like a Pro, impressed.
Thank you 🙏
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That’s very honest of you. Some would have put stickers over it and sold it as a G1.
Agreed. Often an enlightening experience taking the stickers of a bat
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The bat with the knot on offer has now been sold by the way.
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Absolute nonsense. There is no correlation between the weight of a bat and it’s power at all.
Not correct at all sorry late to the party my old master taught me this I've been using a heavier bat currently than normal because im too early on the ball so slowed myself down with a heavier bat I remember this chat well.....
It is a scientific fact that Force = Mass x Acceleration, so assuming the bats are swung at the same speed, it is ludicrous and wholly wrong to suggest that a bat of 2lb 8oz will hit as powerfully as a bat weighing 3lb 3oz all things being equal
https://cricketbatblogdotcom.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/the-cricketer-article/
Nice looking shapes, Chris I like be the higher middle position shape
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Not correct at all sorry late to the party my old master taught me this I've been using a heavier bat currently than normal because im too early on the ball so slowed myself down with a heavier bat I remember this chat well.....
It is a scientific fact that Force = Mass x Acceleration, so assuming the bats are swung at the same speed, it is ludicrous and wholly wrong to suggest that a bat of 2lb 8oz will hit as powerfully as a bat weighing 3lb 3oz all things being equal
https://cricketbatblogdotcom.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/the-cricketer-article/
Nice looking shapes BTW Chris
For this reason, 2lb 11oz will hit further than 2lb 8oz as well, innit? Thanks for joining the party 😀
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For this reason, 2lb 11oz will hit further than 2lb 8oz as well, innit? Thanks for joining the party 😀
Assuming you can move it at the required speed...
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Not correct at all sorry late to the party my old master taught me this I've been using a heavier bat currently than normal because im too early on the ball so slowed myself down with a heavier bat I remember this chat well.....
It is a scientific fact that Force = Mass x Acceleration, so assuming the bats are swung at the same speed, it is ludicrous and wholly wrong to suggest that a bat of 2lb 8oz will hit as powerfully as a bat weighing 3lb 3oz all things being equal
https://cricketbatblogdotcom.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/the-cricketer-article/
Nice looking shapes, Chris I like be the higher middle position shape
Dave is correct and the article he linked is a very interesting read from Streaky - what he says makes a lot of sense
You should get a higher middle position shaped bat Dave, you have been striking the ball higher up and you are always wanting to add to your collection...
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So here is the bat I originally made for myself for this coming season, slightly higher swell than I make in the stock SL06 shape as that’s just my personal preference. Weight is a shade under 2.10 and specs are modest with 35mm edges and a fairly full profile.
(https://i.postimg.cc/76vC9Pmx/2953-CE2-A-48-B3-4973-B33-E-9-A7-CEEDE0-CFB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DWgyyT9D)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xq4rM2Rm/51-BFD477-537-A-494-A-8-D9-D-9-BC0446883-A1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njSFB1cG)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x1ccSNZf/220-D55-C8-C512-49-B4-ABA5-3-C87-D38-E35-B4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yDCVmxBt)
However the cleft I had on offer with the knot in the back that I put up for an offer price last week I managed to split slightly when fitting the handle. Spit is jut down from the splice on the front of the bat. Totally my fault in that I took a bit off the handle as was quite snug and then went in doors to put the kettle on and picked up the wrong handle I guess from the bench. Fitted the handle clamped over night and then the next day started shaping it and noticed. This poor cleft isn’t having the best of times. Anyway shaped it into an AM18 profile. Will be some quite big specs on this once finished.
This will just end up being my bat for this season along with the other one as this may not last long! Fingers crossed as it’s as pingy as it is grainy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/CMsZCgDg/C14-A6-DDC-5-F4-C-46-B0-9642-63-FDB0-A2-E1-A7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rzzFc7Qn) (https://i.postimg.cc/8c4jTRD5/12-EE07-C3-2980-4820-94-BD-1-C97-E75-B5-E6-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V0SYRbJQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQZjMVc1/A20-ADD76-F6-F4-4-A4-F-82-C5-68-D915-FDA1-CF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z0gYqjQT)
Just waiting on a small order of stickers to arrive whilst I’m working on some new stickers with some design and quality tweeks.
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A nice pair being made up this weekend for a local player who asked wanted a couple of bats and went with an SL06 and AM18 both 2.10 edges are 35mm in the SL06 and 38mm on the AM18. Asked for the handle to be set slightly back. No idea what benefit this adds personally but only to happy to oblige. I normally set them over so slightly forward.
Both in G3 but are superb in terms of the response and with change from £300 for 2 bats was very happy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qMj6C9tR/E7-ADD928-5-C6-B-4-D2-F-AF69-67-E3170-EB2-E8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vcxZJ2tF)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VkhSKnWP/937-C85-A3-5590-4848-8953-07-C32-BABADDF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SnWNsXPg)
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The bottom shape looks great.
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The bottom shape looks great.
Thanks @Alvaro that’s the AM18 and yes very pleased with how this one came out it’s a lovely shape indeed
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Been very busy again this last month so a few pics of what Iv been up to.
Also took the plunge and had some new stickers designed around my original design but with a Matt and chrome finish Witt embossing. These should be arriving in a week or so.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hGcKxXz0/CDBD6-BCA-C10-A-4-B03-AB91-896-C6-F30-EA17.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DSpV3ycW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/v8kMhqxT/B8-E83775-72-E1-47-A6-965-C-58-EAD8-D7-AF96.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0rYL2Cf1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXsRCGVY/9-C348-E2-B-E032-4588-8-D2-E-4-CE4-FBE07-A9-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Y4TJjnZM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCpSJCGw/8-EF0-F26-D-5679-45-DD-A7-E4-A2-B28710-B649.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/m1yqXbDg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wBqdMnZf/6792-BF5-A-A117-420-A-A8-CD-C72-FAD6-B5-F4-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gxT7BtY8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QdrDGFbr/438-D542-D-5-DB1-4-D6-E-A5-A1-A988-A7-D397-FC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kBwzWXzj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpbSWzPf/1-E6-F2130-6-F64-4-E37-BD0-D-3-F041668025-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrJhL60n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MN2v1xx/01-A2441-E-2-D5-E-4-EFB-A74-B-01-AB7851072-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nj7NmKf7)
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Very happy with new batch of willow that arrived today. Some lovely clefts and grains on the first 6 Iv planned the face on. Handled a copy this afternoon as well.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YS5Gh67n/5771-AF71-7152-458-D-81-F9-A5-A9-A27-A892-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3yZJqDdm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y0kvxthQ/5476-B15-D-E413-4137-AC3-E-3-E43643-EFF29.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9R8Xm5Pf)
Also one of the nicest G3 clefts Iv ever come across.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kGcB1Lbz/CEEB81-F6-F718-4-D9-E-B324-23-F0-AA701625.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CnRhdPJs)
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Most recent piece of willow to be commissioned is a back to old skool shape with a modern twist. This is a classic version of my AM18
Edges 24mm
Toe edge 18mm. Toe centre 24mm
Shoulder 16mm
Low profile swell
(https://i.postimg.cc/BnXT37rL/2-BBC4-A81-6570-4152-8-E88-D3-CAD989-BA43.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXVJy5Tn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/CLvGWpQp/E33-E8753-294-C-48-C8-8197-A111-C4-BB4-F82.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F7LkL8vT)
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New stickers have arrived and must say really impressed and they certainly make such a difference.
First new sticks to receive these are a G2 SL06 - 2.10 finished weight, 37mm edges medium concaving, double bound super thick handle as per customers request.
Second is a copy of a old Unknown and was unbranded bat - 2.8 finished weight 23mm edges and totally full shape.
(https://i.postimg.cc/xTSQkjrL/1969-BF61-56-A2-4291-9-F54-EE19-D7819-FA0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nMTggJhL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/43nRCmtR/1-F268-D82-55-C1-4-EB7-B295-49-CC82208-F4-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gw9T8cNg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJFh3FYm/56-F62-DAA-120-A-4-ED2-A36-B-EDD4-C675-B3-B8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgYXt49t)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HLFKf3db/31413299-C917-4430-8403-EA4-D366710-C0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PLz2DWLq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MZ74Fy4j/4613-DB03-F79-A-4-D55-8-FE4-75-BDCEB7-E20-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PNq2L8dt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zvFcHrWk/90-EA81-CC-FC72-4011-BD8-C-AD8-D48-E9-AEFE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kRDcLLTV)
(https://i.postimg.cc/YSvZnTKp/F2-D76822-AFBA-4-E4-E-85-CD-C07-A6-BDB497-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8FVZsKz3)
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Really like that shade of green mate, good choice and the craftsmanship looks well too
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Really like that shade of green mate, good choice and the craftsmanship looks well too
Thanks mate. I’m really pleased with the colours and how they came out in reality to the design work I saw. The green has been the initial colour choice since I started but the gold and black has been the most popular recently so after trying a couple of colour options in small batches I went with these two options and any of the shapes I make will have these two options available.
As for the craftsmanship, thank you almost 18months in now and learning more each month so enjoying it.
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So May has continued to be a very busy month with these 3 made up over the last couple of weeks.
These two are off to someone on here, both spine into toe shape light at 2.9 or a little under, 35mm edges on one and 36mm on the other. Both grade 2 and light concaving to keep weight down. Like making the spine into toe shape as it’s a bit more or a challenge.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Vs7jJC3G/B991-A9-F2-2-BDC-4-BB1-BDDA-198478270-D99.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ThDySp2g)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Lszt50pL/E5770-D43-A330-47-A9-8317-06-DCDAF3-AF3-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FfHdnp1H)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BbwDkrT9/E93-B32-FE-D856-44-B3-86-CA-445611170733.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Fk37JnCD)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8dMsfb3/A5721503-B528-4556-A61-B-570-DB55-DA772.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R6jWhzdW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cH0QnMxj/D0-EDDDA2-4094-4-E2-F-AC78-AF9793-DC9151.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gwtX9h6q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cH0QnMxj/D0-EDDDA2-4094-4-E2-F-AC78-AF9793-DC9151.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gwtX9h6q)
The third was shaped from a cleft that had a large chunk removed from the rear of the bat during machining so I made a traditional edge, high spine full profile. I based it on the M&H distinction. Weight is 2.10 finished and it’s a G3 with a half heartwood blade.
Got some lovely G3 clefts in at the moment so anyone after a sub £150 bat let me know.
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Little upload on the last week or so’s work.
Lovely size 5 G1 SL06 shaped up and off to local lad. I know my first English Willow bat wasn’t anything as nice as this back in the early 90’s.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Nf7sSt0P/70521585-1555-4596-ABCD-B0-B91-A8-D3515.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7fhrJp0g)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cJ6dv8BV/EB3-E297-D-D628-4-C43-9-AA6-4079-A30-D2-CB4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJFkwvwr)
Finished off this pair of stunners in both my stock shapes but with slight twists of spine into toe as opposed to the normal duckbill shaped toe.
Both nice and light at 2.9.2 and 2.9.9 fully finished with top quality thick U.K. chevron grips.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvJJdFhB/CC573-BAB-C1-D4-4-B4-E-9-C6-F-5-CB6-E0-F91-FC2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ppSbfqJ3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NFvtCCvc/A9-D4-F3-A0-1417-46-CF-AEEF-4-F3-E27-B71866.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MnhbfNW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/63vw0JSc/5-EF79045-363-C-4-BE2-B9-A3-F7484-D687-DDC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YGMJrVtL)
And finally had a new delivery of willow late last week and just got round to cleaning up and handling these two stunning Butterly clefts. These have lovely grains that are nice and tight and are also fairly light for Butterly so will make some decent sized bats in around the 2.10 range ideally.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xvh4d72X/3-F06398-C-7-CA1-4-B85-AF80-D750683-A67-C9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CZj3VYpV)
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Afternoon chaps,
Just had the pleasure of popping over to see Chris got a couple of hours and sorting myself out with a custom butterfly stick!
I’m sure if I’m ask nicely Chris will sort some pictures out over the process of building my new ball whacker!
Was a good couple of hours chatting bats, cricket and looking at a few different clefts times choose my stick from!
I will add I’m pretty easy to make a bat for and Chris was more than helpful in sorting out one to my specs and how I wanted it shaped.
Look forward to seeing the finished result
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Afternoon chaps,
Just had the pleasure of popping over to see Chris got a couple of hours and sorting myself out with a custom butterfly stick!
I’m sure if I’m ask nicely Chris will sort some pictures out over the process of building my new ball whacker!
Was a good couple of hours chatting bats, cricket and looking at a few different clefts times choose my stick from!
I will add I’m pretty easy to make a bat for and Chris was more than helpful in sorting out one to my specs and how I wanted it shaped.
Look forward to seeing the finished result
When are you expected to receive it?
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This time next week all being well
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This time next week all being well
Awaiting pictures 👍
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Afternoon chaps,
Just had the pleasure of popping over to see Chris got a couple of hours and sorting myself out with a custom butterfly stick!
I’m sure if I’m ask nicely Chris will sort some pictures out over the process of building my new ball whacker!
Was a good couple of hours chatting bats, cricket and looking at a few different clefts times choose my stick from!
I will add I’m pretty easy to make a bat for and Chris was more than helpful in sorting out one to my specs and how I wanted it shaped.
Look forward to seeing the finished result
Thanks @tommo256 was great to catch up mate as had been to long. Thanks for the kind words and you picked a lovely cleft and if people want to see this and others iv made recently I’ll happily share some recent work.
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Yes please. Show off your handiwork please.
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Beautiful shape on those bats.
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Here is the custom Butterly finished for @tommo256. Shape was based on a shape the the customer liked and asked me to copy for him. As I do for everyone pictures sent along the way at each stage to ensure customer is happy and I’m in on track to create a bat that the person really likes.
Must say iv made a few shapes now with a spine into toe and they pick up is noticeable light on all of them, this with a mid swell and thick handle is superb even if I do say so myself.
A few pics of this bat.
(https://i.postimg.cc/q79RjxgF/F787-C336-2-A6-C-4492-8-DED-FA220185-D389.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cKB0JYR7)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d3F0KQ2m/7865-A676-36-C7-41-D0-8-B9-E-F2-E1320-D4591.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N9Nt6cP5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0Qz7wKw/933-E5-D30-06-AF-4473-AA70-A5-F43-EA78-F97.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZvCSjM1j)
(https://i.postimg.cc/YqpSn9qt/B4845765-B028-4-F75-B115-4022-F7588343.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MXFxXzQL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pVQTJ8v0/2-B88-F04-E-2-A7-D-4-B2-C-9070-E8-F1-A603-E816.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/236rz1Vv)
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Also this week I was asked to make a size 3 bat for a local players son who is now starting to train with hard ball. Doesn’t seem to be much on the market in terms of English willow and entry level sizes and I wasn’t able to get a part made cleft lower than a Harrow so used a light cleft that had a knot towards the toe and managed to cut all away for this one as it was a sample anyway wasn’t to bothered and well pleased how it came out. Finished weight of 1lb 9.8oz and 29mm edges at Peak and full shape, was lovely to see the look on the kids face when he collected it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5H7fFvc/0-D326733-84-CD-4138-A32-D-CA4-ECF82-F8-B0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBqntjGv)
(https://i.postimg.cc/B69FX05t/5-D9-EF9-C6-3-C05-40-B4-93-B8-EAD658-FB8-F06.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Jyx02S2W)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pLrzSkXV/C8695-F2-B-3-B0-A-4-BCF-9-E67-AD2-BB2-F5-D879.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HrGrcwyF)
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Amen finally the couple of wands currently on the work bench are these:
First is a long Blade copy of a previous bat I made for the same player but a little lighter. SL06 profile mid middle with round handle. This will be 3lb finished with 40mm edges and light to moderate concaving. His previous bat was 3lb 4oz which was basically a handled cleft lol. Grade 2 oh and this lad plays Kent Prem so very decent level so not all players use light bats.
Secondly are the two nicest clefts grains wise, weight wise and up there ping wise since I’ve been sourcing my own willow, the left one has sold and will be an AM18 the heartwood cleft is available.
No BS or marketing gimmicks with Pro grade G1+++ nonsense, shame my surname doesn’t carry more weight or I could just put £1000 price tags on them and weight for people to fall over them selves to get them lol. lovely G1 clefts and lovely club player prices.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gkCLMp5s/B8-B16380-C520-4-D87-8033-252201-B573-D7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yhQ3kB4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tRmxxWNL/9069-AFD1-7895-437-D-8233-3-B7625210851.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WtgzRDKn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hvwQRRGS/82-E1-BC41-C841-470-F-935-D-908-F9104-CE8-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WqG10KrK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QtfWSTGK/F227-B77-D-C081-427-E-ACD1-6-E175189-A8-AA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njQzhMLn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DyJbd0Cm/D1-B854-C6-5-E5-A-4535-9-EEF-3-B1-A9-FD76-EA1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gnpJGzbP)
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No BS or marketing gimmicks with Pro grade G1+++ nonsense, shame my surname doesn’t carry more weight or I could just put £1000 price tags on them and weight for people to fall over them selves to get them lol. lovely G1 clefts and lovely club player prices.
I have a lot of respect for what you are doing and making bats for people at an affordable price.
The simple fact is he can charge whatever he wants for a bat as he has been making them since before many of us were even born. Concentrate your efforts on honing your skills down, making the best bats you possibly can, instead of venting anger at someone who has earned the right to charge what he wants for bats.
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I have a lot of respect for what you are doing and making bats for people at an affordable price.
The simple fact is he can charge whatever he wants for a bat as he has been making them since before many of us were even born. Concentrate your efforts on honing your skills down, making the best bats you possibly can, instead of venting anger at someone who has earned the right to charge what he wants for bats.
Also, if people stopped buying at that price, then Tim wouldn’t sell at that price. It’s simple business. I agree it’s a ridiculous sum, but ultimately he is in the business of making money.
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Look forward to picking up my stick this week mate
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I have a lot of respect for what you are doing and making bats for people at an affordable price.
The simple fact is he can charge whatever he wants for a bat as he has been making them since before many of us were even born. Concentrate your efforts on honing your skills down, making the best bats you possibly can, instead of venting anger at someone who has earned the right to charge what he wants for bats.
Don't think it's that simple!
Any well established bat maker's top range bats will be evenly as good as any TK or even better!
Therefore they should put a £1000 tag on all their top bats!
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Don't think it's that simple!
Any well established bat
top range bats will be evenly as good as any TK or even better!
Therefore they should put a £1000 tag on all their top bats!
Well that's a matter of opinion. There are plenty of stories of expensive "top range" bats that have been complete duds. I'd never spend £1000 myself but with TK you know what you're getting which is clearly part of the attraction.
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Don't think it's that simple!
Any well established bat maker's top range bats will be evenly as good as any TK or even better!
Therefore they should put a £1000 tag on all their top bats!
I would love some of whatever you are smoking.
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I would love some of whatever you are smoking.
Don't smoke,
this is the only truth! 😀😀!
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Don't smoke,
this is the only truth! 😀😀!
If you think you are speaking the truth, then you are one hundred percent more delusional than I thought.
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As someone who has the privilege of working in the business and designing bats for pro cricketers and customers of all abilities I'm amazed at some of these comments.
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Less moaning about Keeley and more on topic please. Nice bats to talk about and we can all have a chuckle at Chris not noticing that someone's written '(No Swearing Please)' in the dust on his lathe...
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I did notice that! 😆
Great work Chris and a lovely looking clefts there.
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I have a lot of respect for what you are doing and making bats for people at an affordable price.
The simple fact is he can charge whatever he wants for a bat as he has been making them since before many of us were even born. Concentrate your efforts on honing your skills down, making the best bats you possibly can, instead of venting anger at someone who has earned the right to charge what he wants for bats.
It was a tongue in cheek comment and not to insult any TK fans or indeed undermine what he or any others do just find it mental personally that people pay that.
What’s annoying now about the forum and most comments now isn’t it’s not about the bats I make, shapes I design or copy or what I or the other new and upcoming bat makes do, it’s about a comment that’s made and the arguing and drivel that then comes from it and really no comment, feedback or view on what’s actually there to be spoken about. Not just on my posts but plenty of others and seems now all people want to do is pick holes in something, argue every comment made and tbh it’s just frustrating.
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Less moaning about Keeley and more on topic please. Nice bats to talk about and we can all have a chuckle at Chris not noticing that someone's written '(No Swearing Please)' in the dust on his lathe...
That would be my wife and her amazing sense of humour as she knows a lot of pics I take have that in the back ground she will find it highly amusing when I tell her lol.
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That would be my wife and her amazing sense of humour as she knows a lot of pics I take have that in the back ground she will find it highly amusing when I tell her lol.
Ha, five points to your wife!
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So,
Chris has made up 3 bats for me so far and each one has had good balance, pickup and a decent size for the weight. He's actually shared the pictures on here I think for all three so I won't repeat but for the price you just can't beat it by going to the bigger branded names.
The finish is as good as anything else (although I will admit that I really do only care about the performance so stickers, polish etc.. I really couldn't give a rats $£$%).
I've moved all 2 on out of the 3 as I only needed one as a net bat to save using any of my match ones and there are people within the club who whilst good players .. just can't justify the cost of cricket equipment and don't want to buy the cheap crap sold. They are chuffed with the bats.
Well done Chris. Good product at good prices and I love that people are looking to not just go with the business model of ripping people off just because you can.
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It was a tongue in cheek comment and not to insult any TK fans or indeed undermine what he or any others do just find it mental personally that people pay that!
That's my view as wel!
Roehampton 1st XI keeper uses Northern Monkeys bat, can't see any other bat beating that bat's sound of the ball.
This tells the standard of high quality bat making these days.
When I came on this forum I can remember that many were talking about Scat, I didn't know which bat they're talking about.
Some while ago I saw one on ebay, in new condition, but low middle, I didn't fancy it...
One day, if I live for that long, I might get one TK, but not for £1000!
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So,
Chris has made up 3 bats for me so far and each one has had good balance, pickup and a decent size for the weight. He's actually shared the pictures on here I think for all three so I won't repeat but for the price you just can't beat it by going to the bigger branded names.
The finish is as good as anything else (although I will admit that I really do only care about the performance so stickers, polish etc.. I really couldn't give a rats $£$%).
I've moved all 2 on out of the 3 as I only needed one as a net bat to save using any of my match ones and there are people within the club who whilst good players .. just can't justify the cost of cricket equipment and don't want to buy the cheap crap sold. They are chuffed with the bats.
Well done Chris. Good product at good prices and I love that people are looking to not just go with the business model of ripping people off just because you can.
Cheers mate and thanks for the comment say and feedback. The quality and price is something I’m really keen on. I do honestly really champion the lower grades as I can honestly say that they perform in the main as good as anything else on the market that iv either owned and used over the years and I would say the pressing on the cleft seems I get is as good as anything from any other brand out there regardless of price point.
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Just been over to pick up my new stick from Chris; over the moon with and frankly it’s probably wasted on me as a bat but the value for money on this butterfly is wuality! The finish and atttention to detail is second to none!
I will try sort some pics or get someone to do them for me if I ask nicely please
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Grade 1 AM18 finished this evening, really happy with how this came out and a stunning cleft in every aspect. If you play in Surrey look out for this gun.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qqSmTqHw/D9-A40-BC9-E565-4-FBE-86-AC-758147-EF0506.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/y3hhhVd3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZfYv7FH/E373-CAA3-4-E16-45-CE-B678-9-E2-D9006-A0-D1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/18mBHNDm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SQv18TY9/BD76-DEA6-3-A7-C-4-B39-8-C50-5-C99-B92-EB9-E1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xqLPVPRj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Fz7P8c81/88-D1-A4-B7-C100-4806-858-E-194-E40-CE2098.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9wHtq4Wj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/76BsKXBp/2-D657784-7091-45-D6-AFAD-85-D2882-FD4-A9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BLKB65fg)
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Lovely bit of timber that mate.
Sure it’ll score the new owner plenty!
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@SOULMAN1012 Is the County Insignia kink at the base of the swell a signature style of yours?
Lovely bat.
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@SOULMAN1012 Is the County Insignia kink at the base of the swell a signature style of yours?
Lovely bat.
Hi @Alvaro on this shape yes it’s something that just happens when I maleness the duckbill toe shape, I call it a peacock toe as the shape resembles and peacock on bloom to me probably makes no sense to anyone’s else but before sanding when I use the spoke shaves that’s what’s it looks like to me.
I also have a more drip shoulder shape as well as I feel it gives a better feel in the hands and pick up and had no complaints so far so tjose are the the two unique traits I guess
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A little update on recent activity
This is a 2 grade 2 AM18 profile off to a lad in Manchester weight is 2.12.5 and pretty much filled the bat gauge.
(https://i.postimg.cc/y8zwNrJD/3-FC7-F7-B3-968-B-4-F19-9871-31-A095284474.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LnNyCD3S)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L8zN098X/95-C385-B0-3-AE9-4714-A4-C5-E5-AE790118-DC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJ8tJMfK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HL6KBY6M/A94-E6-C50-487-D-4-F6-B-8-CB0-5087-BA163941.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Nyrp0cqG)
Had a lot of repairs and new bats to knock in and prepare as well this is the most recent of the bats with blown out toes and belongs to a forum member. This must be the 4th of 5th toe damaged bat this month and with exception of one none have had small toes in terms of specs. Think it’s a mix of not great balls and how hard players go after the ball these days.
(https://i.postimg.cc/N0sS69kY/FF9-DA83-B-98-E9-4084-B908-C07504-C060-C0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MnL9xGLr)
Finally currently working on a copy of a special GN bat for a returning customer. This is in Butterfly grade grade I had has been really popular this season along with G3 bats. Making up about 70% of all bats making this year. So got some lovely G2 and G1 clefts at £199 and £269 respectively.
(https://i.postimg.cc/85C45LBJ/3-A12-D1-C0-9684-490-B-ACEC-6-B72-EE7-F98-D4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3jKp6Y4)
As always any feedback greatly appreciated.
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This is the latest and third stock shape that I’ll now be offering with the arrival of my latest bundle of joy in mate July. Fir those that don’t know the model names are the initials of my children and years of birth so this will be the EH21.
Specs are a spine into toe profile with light to medium concaving, mid placed middle and traditional rounded face press with a rounded toe, modern large edges and the lightest pick up on the range I would say personally.
Currently getting and deciding on the new colour way for the stickers so will launch officially in the 2022 uk season but thought I would share on here.
Currently working on a duffle bag with all the bells and whistles that players want these days at a price point that’s fair and reasonable inline with the initial company concept.
As always and feedback welcome
(https://i.postimg.cc/QMCRSYg6/E6-DDF9-F8-DDE3-485-E-A54-F-83-A946-CAC57-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Ty87394m)
(https://i.postimg.cc/6pWs4p8x/939-DDCBA-C2-AB-4-F56-93-B8-E4020-B5-E3-C6-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vcN2pM70)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L8NctFPY/429-D2-CDD-E188-4-D74-B0-A0-D09-B7775-DF6-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DS4phDBn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BvzRz5MJ/F0-DD699-D-9-B71-44-C5-AAA0-1-B1-E4-DAEE785.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SXWZ2MBP)
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Afternoon all.
Just a few pics to share what’s been going on over the last few months. The new EH21 shape (spine into toe has proved very popular since introducing this to by range with the arrival of my son in July.
Had a very successful second season as a small bat maker with my bats now in 14 separate counties by my calculations and sold all of the 30 clefts I ordered in March by the end of July and most of my winter top up order which is smaller that arrived two weeks ago.
In addition softs after a slow start have gone done well with some great feedback and some ideas from those that have used them on how I could improve on this in the future. Just deciding if I want to continue with softs as seems a slightly dodgy ground now with these safety standards that have been introduced.
If anyone is interested in one of the last few remaining clefts (all G3 that’s left at the moment) drop me a message on here or Instagram as they are at end of sale rate of £130 plus delivery. Please don’t ask or expect to get 40mm edges, full shapes at 2.8 though as more medium weight clefts left.
As always comments or feedback welcome
(https://i.postimg.cc/KY6fJwKF/28095-F94-218-E-43-FD-8-B71-F057-B9-A8-A046.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yJT0NfXr)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WzJ92VQd/56761-A0-C-8323-4-E7-E-B1-C3-A9-FADDE4-CE2-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8fNdH2kG)
(https://i.postimg.cc/D02qNT7V/25-EC6-EBD-5-F12-4198-A8-DE-FF340-E831316.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cgbgKPKT)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RjX9R5C/10-F0333-F-9047-4857-80-CF-A6-A0-A7-A135-BD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gXJL2G0n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/43qLjnSD/7-FE3-EB2-E-2-F61-4-AC5-95-A4-F98-DC78-E586-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJ81d4gs)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g20gJvF9/B9298129-52-DB-48-D8-BB42-0-B2-EC51167-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/56ZBKQ2p)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TY0kftsq/78-EC0-B71-CAB5-4-EAD-8535-9626-E41-CBF3-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykJhTysk)
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Talented stuff Soulman! I like the finishing.
Out of interest, how long does it take to make a bat? Has it got much quicker over time? There must be a point at which it can't get any quicker, of course, but still. SO skillfull.
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Talented stuff Soulman! I like the finishing.
Out of interest, how long does it take to make a bat? Has it got much quicker over time? There must be a point at which it can't get any quicker, of course, but still. SO skillfull.
Thanks mate the finishing is something I’ve invested in over the last 6 months so pleased you commented on it.
Now it’s about 2.5-3 hours from start to finish which is due from 4-5 hours when I first started. Being comfortable with the hand tools is now a big advantage as well as confidence that people like the shapes I’m making as 80% of this years sales are to new customers so not club mates or ex club mates etc.
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Couple of recent bats made up for customers and a major overhaul and refurb on a stunning GM Mana OLE
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxhPj1Gv/05-E71-BB6-FF82-4-C44-B381-56-C1-B771-D758.jpg)[/url
[url=https://postimg.cc/nsyk2ZpH](https://i.postimg.cc/NMMzgfnr/3-F888054-7077-4-F67-A997-8-B74-C53217-E2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HcbtPKkb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7hJt2twH/3-B080695-E0-A8-46-B0-BDB9-637-EECDDDCF4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tnyz05sw)
New 2022 profile EH21 with the original non embossed stickers forgot how nice these are in a traditional kind of way.
(https://i.postimg.cc/JhKFVBpL/6-B381654-58-C7-4069-8995-D259-A5-B56-ECB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyL0nh87)
GM with a toe graft, new piece shaped in and full refurb
(https://i.postimg.cc/7LqRWNM9/1-C0-EA210-6-D59-44-B7-A5-FD-1-BE1-F3-B31-D67.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hX3MJTYQ)
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A few of the bats iv been busy with over the last month, Oct has been a very busy time with repairs and orders which has been really good on these miserable evenings.
Finished this one last week for my first international order off our to NSW Australia.
Shaped based off customers old bat that he sent pics and specs of. Finished at 2.9.9 thick oval handle, no scuff high spine, 33mm edges
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZR1jgJ1T/E95-C22-BC-18-E1-45-DE-B589-A9-DF2-DA32-FAB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njGv9fF5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wB4wXX2R/4-D180-CD1-6-FAD-4-D20-8-F58-B7661-B599483.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ns7KZQ6n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nzs00XSR/1-F13-CB5-D-2-CBD-4695-9-AF5-2382-BF7-A201-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zbrCfGrK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g2DSJF6D/F8-A3999-A-F467-408-D-82-EA-022-FA95-BAAA2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjjcYzpL)
This one is a Sub Grade and is available to purchase immediately. Small pressing crack on the rear of the bat fully glued and I don’t feel will have any negative impact. Mid/low middle based on a bat that belonged to Pujara of India. Full profile and weighs 2.12 with lovely pick up. Available for £135 plus postage.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hn952Hmv/BD24-FD87-9-FA1-42-C9-BB08-3-B890-E55460-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0KrbkTb7)
(https://i.postimg.cc/65BCQ7Vk/85743-BA0-7976-415-B-9-BF9-3-A06-F8-B0-FEC1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HjPrZkhz)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1RGpP0F0/A6-B2-EE65-466-C-47-DB-B737-B4-E3-C984-F451.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jCjW47ZC)
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A few of the bats iv been busy with over the last month, Oct has been a very busy time with repairs and orders which has been really good on these miserable evenings.
Finished this one last week for my first international order off our to NSW Australia.
Shaped based off customers old bat that he sent pics and specs of. Finished at 2.9.9 thick oval handle, no scuff high spine, 33mm edges
(https://i.postimg.cc/wB4wXX2R/4-D180-CD1-6-FAD-4-D20-8-F58-B7661-B599483.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ns7KZQ6n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nzs00XSR/1-F13-CB5-D-2-CBD-4695-9-AF5-2382-BF7-A201-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zbrCfGrK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g2DSJF6D/F8-A3999-A-F467-408-D-82-EA-022-FA95-BAAA2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjjcYzpL)
Lovely spine here flowing into the handle - I hope that we see trends heading towards having more wood in the spine and shoulder area, and a little less distributed to the edge. Seems like the GM Prima is catering to this, which is probably my favourite of the new GM profiles. :)
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Thanks @Chad this has been the way on the last half a dozen or so iv made as its far easier to distribute the weight weight through the bat through the spine than just edge size.
As for edge sizes the general consensus through sales is that edge size isn’t high in most players wish list, it’s very hard for small bat makers/shapers to get enough willow across all grades to offer 35mm plus edges in the most common 2.8 - 2.9 weight options so this shape for example is a trade off off long middle, decent enough specs throughout edge, toe and centre edge shape.
Hope your shaping is going well mate and look forward to a few more pics of your work as well.
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'edge size isn�t high in most players wish list'.....
And 95% of CBF members recoil in ewusl parts shock and horror! 😆
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'edge size isn�t high in most players wish list'.....
And 95% of CBF members recoil in ewusl parts shock and horror! 😆
Has to fill the gauge for at least 4 inches, must be 40mm thick through the splice and have a 30mm toe with 24mm at the edge of the toe. Oh, and has to be 2lb 8.5oz dead with grip and scuff. :D
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This is the current bat I’m working on, looking for a new home so if someone wants a butterfly GM PE replica at around 2.12 let me know. Price is £159
(https://i.postimg.cc/kgtfY0cX/F71-AD535-403-E-47-D4-B793-52-BEAA2-BA245.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HrdwVPRf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/FKyGN08M/90-C8-E96-B-5-A3-C-436-C-95-C4-429-C62-EDB452.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9q6LvTH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gJGsJnPn/541-E4055-5700-4827-AD1-B-5-D02-AFF50032.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yJrcp6xH)
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Probably your best effort yet. Really like the shape
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Probably your best effort yet. Really like the shape
Thanks mate, it’s one of those that’s coke out really well and the cleft is very nice to work with, for a copy I’m very happy with it and would agree it’s one of my best copies.
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Really nice shape! Out of interest, how much does the GM weigh? Is it the same as yours?
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Really nice shape! Out of interest, how much does the GM weigh? Is it the same as yours?
No the GM is a little lighter at 2.10.6 but I guess that’s why you pay £500 plus if your wanting an oz or so dead weight lighter weights plus prettier clefts
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Evening all
Just thought I would update what iv been up to over the last month.
Been tweaking my stock shapes and this is the 2022 SL06 profile. This is a stock bat grade 2. Weight is 2lb 12 oz and available for £150 if it takes anyones fancy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/W3J7KSvv/25147-E8-A-99-F0-41-CB-A0-B3-9-B68-C0-DA1-A23.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VrmM0qvG)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fTQH44yg/46845-A94-F635-458-F-8001-B33-ACB805-B83.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/23TdvK44)
Another stock bat Grade 1. Needs final touches and sanding but will he around 2lb 10oz. Mid/high middle, semi oval handle, light concaving probably a couple of MM. normally £269 but available for £225 if again takes any ones fancy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fb1cxX0g/E583-B700-9-D8-D-4247-B24-A-F462478-D1289.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zLSHNy7n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7h8Ny7HT/8-D4-BBE13-848-D-44-F9-8-E05-BCE9-D342-F228.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vghnr46Q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9FBYvrvr/5-F569-F14-4-B50-4090-BC6-C-4-F77-FEE66-B9-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JGGXX47L)
Grade 3 AM18 made mid December for a customer, finished weight was just under 2lb 8.5oz 34mm edge and lovely full profile.
(https://i.postimg.cc/K8JQgRNd/210-DF71-F-EBDD-4759-A9-D1-53-E2-F2-A2809-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5XQ8h9D3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fbV7t5k9/1-D165-C06-5-F88-44-CE-A0-AD-73-FB661-FB64-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7CyJj33H)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pLGYL3Vv/67-B4-EADB-F7-CD-4-D5-D-BA55-B09837-AE6746.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DSGbCjbp)
Bat on the right was the first bat I made and has been my match bat for the last two seasons, now making a new modern replacement but sticking to the same profile and middle position. Toe a little thicker on the new model. Square toe, mid/high middle, oval handle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/85Whw5Rk/5-E8-F522-A-B0-B9-47-B5-AA10-65-B5-AD7-BD2-AA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBbB5JsX)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WbV7WMYB/9722-A87-C-BDED-4188-854-B-51663552-B668.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/py08ynHC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/dVtjvJYn/00-D580-C8-424-D-4497-8-A19-4-F2-A52-FEF65-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jLm740CJ)
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Lovely stuff @SOULMAN1012
Personally think thicker toes are an absolute must for durability so interested to see you're going with one on your own bat.
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Lovely stuff @SOULMAN1012
Personally think thicker toes are an absolute must for durability so interested to see you're going with one on your own bat.
@Jimbo thanks for the comments. The toe on my own bat is currently very thin due to a A) drastic weight reduction from its original weight to what it weighs today and B) repairing some spike marks that went deep due to a badly placed bat at the end of last season.
The toe on the SL06 with the higher middle is 14mm at edge and 26mm centre as standard and on the AM18 its a little thicker at 18mm edge and 28mm centre.
Fingers crossed not had any returned to its blown toes but these are a little thinner than I have made before. Main reason is to be able to make these scale weights that’s a fascination of so many. So had to start removing MM here and there to get more clefts from the limited I buy in the grand scheme of things to be under 2.10 years with a big enough profile players to want.
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Always surprised that more people who love the big specs aren't willing to compromise with a LH/SB setup.
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I've toed 6 bats over used in the nets. I found out that
it doesn't matter if the toe is thin or thick, as long bat is pressed well by the bat maker.
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Always surprised that more people who love the big specs aren't willing to compromise with a LH/SB setup.
The AM18 is that set up but as you say most choose the traditional SH set up. Personally I prefer the slightly shorter blade set up.
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Hi all, just a little update on a few bats iv made since the new year, abs these show off the 3 stock shapes nicely I feel, with a range that caters for most
(https://i.postimg.cc/V6pwtWQK/C3-B8-B2-EE-8-CC1-4514-A8-E1-A00-CC42-D0-B7-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dk2gPd0C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Yg4CzBN/CA9248-AC-9470-402-B-9-B61-D4-DF6-B744-B4-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mNqqYRK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xq5bkBn4/8051717-B-96-A3-41-AD-B7-CD-FB23-DD718010.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/64Bg937m)
EH21 profile is the new for 2022 spine into the toe shape, mid/low middle, light concaving
(https://i.postimg.cc/G3TdCVGV/21-CB6-E0-C-1-EC2-4-F03-A978-F8-D13-F83771-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fks67HHf)
SL06 is the most popular shape and very much the on trend shape, mid/high middle, duck bill toe, traditional round toe shape, big abs full in profile.
(https://i.postimg.cc/yYqBYjTd/77-AB0135-349-C-4-C14-B52-B-D07-CC6-AA9-F03.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/grK1gvQF)
AM18 is shorter blade longer handle, mid middle, square modern toe, very light concaving
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Morning all, hope your all looking forward to winter nets and the season being 8 weekends away now (well for me anyway).
If you like anything you see please get in touch and as always and feedback or questions you want to know please just ask.
Just thought I would share a few of the bats iv made in the last month or so.
This is the new for 2022 EH21, standard SH blade and handle with a spine into the toe and mid middle, with some concaving aimed at the player that wants a light weight bat
(https://i.postimg.cc/T32wCk8B/F8-C90885-84-A9-41-F6-B481-23-C3-A5-DC1615.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CztSKsx4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MKSXj696/CA301-C2-A-9080-4-D79-BEA7-917916205-B3-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xq69w2rh)
The popular SL06 duck bill profile mid middle
(https://i.postimg.cc/yNM74j51/2-AC7-F5-AC-0454-4-DD8-8-CB7-DE8176-E5-DFF2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Y4z5Q6MZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/prxxyTR3/66-EB32-BD-654-A-4613-9-EB1-11-E6-B6-CC1-FB1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sQnbN3BJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/15s53Wz4/5-C2-C8-A4-D-9-B50-4-C20-8-EBB-0234-DDCECE98.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F1CQPV3Q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpBRJP3H/0-B9871-E7-3250-4499-B2-AD-33531389-B94-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PCtNm4jn)
Also invested in some new mops and new polisher to finish is now even better than it’s ever been,
(https://i.postimg.cc/gkscXvws/1-A83-AABB-72-D8-47-D5-B221-FA26-BA5106-C3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJ3Q1SfS)
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Few refurbs completed this week been offering all refurbs for £20 excluding re-handles as Feb offer and been very popular
(https://i.postimg.cc/QxZqrjzN/C60-FE2-C1-1-A7-E-4-DD2-ADBF-4124-FFE56996.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kDwSQP9L)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NGHxVKpP/D923-A906-38-C0-4476-BC08-142339-B1-FB36.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Dm7s4wVq)
Most popular Grade I sell is G3 as offers fantastic performance abs often good looking clefts as well at this price point, here is a couple that have been made up this week.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4NvQfrC6/598211-C7-23-C6-4-ACA-A2-D8-E8-F37-A7-E64-A2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4md9w2xy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSsQLZKG/1-F3701-F0-9-ADF-482-C-9-A36-75-C6-D384-FD5-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GH5sfP4Q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSm5GS8Z/433817-AC-B4-F8-4817-A590-0-FE0-DF078173.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WdmTZTck)
Including my new 2022 wand
(https://i.postimg.cc/j2PQJ1Dr/F01529-A5-1316-4330-8-ECF-C33-D74-B2-B0-AE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D4fb9BQC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0ybjWwCz/35-DD1-CE5-84-DD-4-C66-8098-EABE94-B0930-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VJPz55pw)
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Looking superb.
The clean ups look top notch.
The fresh bats have a nice flow to the shapes.
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Looking superb.
The clean ups look top notch.
The fresh bats have a nice flow to the shapes.
Cheers @Alvaro for your comments, the puma was a bit of a pig as it had the worst quality scuff sheet iv ever seen but the vintage Puma was stunning UK made which I believe was made by an old forum sponsor when they made for puma, just a shape that’s not “cool” any longer in the mainstream market
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Top work mate. Your new stick looks nice, so hope it scores you plenty.
Not surprised refurbs have been popular at £20! 😆
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Top work mate. Your new stick looks nice, so hope it scores you plenty.
Not surprised refurbs have been popular at £20! 😆
Just keeps me busy mate and has been a way to attract and promote locally. It’s been great to meet and get to know a few players that have reached out that iv seen around but never really spoken to. If you have to post to me and then pay to have it sent back it’s still inline with most others but from the 12 or so I had this month 10 have been local and 8 new customers so been worthwhile. Covers cost of sanding discs and grip I guess lol
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Morning all, hope your all looking forward to winter nets and the season being 8 weekends away now (well for me anyway).
If you like anything you see please get in touch and as always and feedback or questions you want to know please just ask.
Just thought I would share a few of the bats iv made in the last month or so.
This is the new for 2022 EH21, standard SH blade and handle with a spine into the toe and mid middle, with some concaving aimed at the player that wants a light weight bat
(https://i.postimg.cc/T32wCk8B/F8-C90885-84-A9-41-F6-B481-23-C3-A5-DC1615.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CztSKsx4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MKSXj696/CA301-C2-A-9080-4-D79-BEA7-917916205-B3-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xq69w2rh)
The popular SL06 duck bill profile mid middle
(https://i.postimg.cc/yNM74j51/2-AC7-F5-AC-0454-4-DD8-8-CB7-DE8176-E5-DFF2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Y4z5Q6MZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/prxxyTR3/66-EB32-BD-654-A-4613-9-EB1-11-E6-B6-CC1-FB1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sQnbN3BJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/15s53Wz4/5-C2-C8-A4-D-9-B50-4-C20-8-EBB-0234-DDCECE98.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F1CQPV3Q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpBRJP3H/0-B9871-E7-3250-4499-B2-AD-33531389-B94-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PCtNm4jn)
Also invested in some new mops and new polisher to finish is now even better than it’s ever been,
(https://i.postimg.cc/gkscXvws/1-A83-AABB-72-D8-47-D5-B221-FA26-BA5106-C3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJ3Q1SfS)
pretty sure i saw one of these at nets yesterday, lovely looking bat and flew off the bat.
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@Warneymonster hopefully was one of mine and if so that’s the feedback I like to hear.
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@SOULMAN1012 would say it looked very much like the duckbill model, said he got it in the last few months. was very impressed - even more so when he pulled 2 pairs of Plimmers WK gloves out of the bag.
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@SOULMAN1012 would say it looked very much like the duckbill model, said he got it in the last few months. was very impressed - even more so when he pulled 2 pairs of Plimmers WK gloves out of the bag.
What’s his name mate? Sounds like he knows class with a WW stick and Plimmers custom WK gloves lol :)
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@SOULMAN1012 Dan, hes played a few clubs in surrey but he moved to the village a few years ago and just strolled in asking for a game. Best amateur keeper ive seen in a very long time
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@SOULMAN1012 Dan, hes played a few clubs in surrey but he moved to the village a few years ago and just strolled in asking for a game. Best amateur keeper ive seen in a very long time
Yes mate He played for Surrey CCC a few years back by all accounts, lovely G1 stick and could be very handy at Village level I’m going to guess.
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@SOULMAN1012 yeah i think he played few 2's games back in the day. hes pretty useful for a surrey champ lower division player but i suspect the wickets might not be what hes used to.
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Morning all, how everyone is well and gearing up for the start of the season next weekend, some maybe have even had some friendlies already.
Just a little update, been very busy the last month or so. New stickers are designed and being made, new softs, duffles have arrived and of course bats still going well.
This is the newest profile the SH21 which has been very popular over recent weeks, spine into toe profile. This one was 2.10 bank on 37mm edge and thick oval handle based on an older Newbery series 1. This is Grade 2
(https://i.postimg.cc/g0s7w0py/E69471-C3-9407-494-D-A15-A-2-F3-D665-D51-F2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JyyxvMGt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/W3ffnfhh/AD3-E6-F70-1719-40-C7-A461-72-BD71222-E15.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R6KRCd1B)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1tzjDZRk/7-F28-E53-C-31-FB-4-D6-E-B23-D-86525-A2-D9668.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d7z6Kpy6)
This was a nice custom job. SH width but Harrow length blade and handle for a young lad in Suffolks County set up. Thought being that when he grows a little no doubt by the end of this season it would be an option to just change handle over buying a new bat. And weight was also the other factor. This was 2lb 4oz with 32mm edges and minimal concaving. Grade 3
(https://i.postimg.cc/bY4qYm3y/364-A139-E-DFCD-4739-9-C63-111-B49-E1-E7-E1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mh3v8NvJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/P5jhYNg0/6-BEFFAE7-AD3-D-4-D95-9129-6366-E4-B7-C73-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qzj9dBMG)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BZjqGr57/F8268-D9-F-B35-B-4588-9244-B5198-A46-F478.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fkh4cgrY)
new kit, like a kid at Christmas
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Zn4VwDh/7066964-D-7-A75-4-DD0-A548-B445236081-A7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/21ygjp1N)
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Really love the custom job. That sort of profile seems like it would have a beautiful pickup and a long middle. Great job mate.
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Top stuff mate, seem to be pushing it on 💪
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Week off from the main job means a full day in the workshop.
(https://i.postimg.cc/K88jH29N/16-CA8181-B97-C-4-FBA-B522-2886-EA1-E6-D8-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pp3PmgMh)
Butterfly AM18 profile 2lb 9.2 finished weight
(https://i.postimg.cc/FKfRhxXk/B14401-E5-8-AAF-4-B8-F-99-B4-1284-D2-E98-C8-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZb38dJn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/G3Pp32VK/99793-FA2-F80-C-4820-8-E23-A2320-E3285-ED.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hhjnpSSQ)
Grade 3 SL06 Profile 2.10.2 finished weight and fills the gauge this one
(https://i.postimg.cc/26hSZ86z/15925-B97-E076-4-D06-9-BBE-6-DEC971-A28-E0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1nRSxSwT)
(https://i.postimg.cc/N0W0FrQJ/19-D9-F2-A4-C135-4742-8-FAD-4243-C62-A7418.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZkWDqGd)
Grade 1 AM18 profile 2lb 12oz finished weight
(https://i.postimg.cc/j2TdQ0wy/4139-C804-373-F-43-BB-9-BEF-31-C289-BDD300.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgPsbKvm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8Pj6xMh/A36-FB1-A2-26-A4-43-AD-90-CE-C67-F18-D62-A8-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kRBd4yjv)
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Lovely stuff mate, especially that first butterfly, love the character the stain adds.
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originally made this for myself but my first ever made bat is still going strong. Maybe even see this later on in the season in the hands of a top batter in our league after the early few rounds.
2lb 9oz finished, including double thick chevron grip and performance was exceptional
(https://i.postimg.cc/50PCDVDg/5-D55-CA61-539-F-4-C82-ABD5-A9-F5-AA22-CE00.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/34vNDP80)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9Xn9pcdF/3-EBDEE01-4960-4-FB2-AA2-D-EF4-EC2202-EEF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bd1dYcVK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mkJF2SLF/BAFF32-CF-FAE8-4-BBD-BCC6-1-EDB1-FBC4-CCF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dZR05rTq)
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Harrow G2 2lb 4.5oz
(https://i.postimg.cc/7bvjp5q2/81-F370-B4-2-DD0-4-B03-B6-D8-AEA19-EC2-EEDB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FkZPSsdr)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pr5gGfMv/EC39-F594-D5-D3-4-EAE-BC8-A-4769-A6-CA931-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bS8Cd2vV)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PqtnXvYb/3697-E9-ED-51-C4-4561-9-F4-C-315-AA54-F3-B9-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Jsd2KnTt)
Butterfly G3 2lb 12oz dead
(https://i.postimg.cc/mD5vydqV/547-EE6-BD-7239-4276-8-F12-531-E208-ECBCB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vg52QvG6)
(https://i.postimg.cc/85c8W8yj/7-A14912-A-8-FA5-45-D0-AF47-279-AC7-D2-E8-CA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GBWSwfnC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bv3csY97/2648-DE18-4-FDB-4622-BFE3-62871-C643957.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GB8SfCNK)
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Couple of this weekends orders finished up this evening and dressed in the new stickers. Same design with the added option of a Royal Blue colour option.
SL06 profile finished weight of 2lb 8.3oz
(https://i.postimg.cc/HnP5TF18/91682-DC4-9-CE2-4801-B4-A9-FC3-C1-B6-C1-BA0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PvYN43xd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/FRp3B7PZ/2-DEEF119-0695-4706-92-EE-DA8-E24087-EC4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N9yKyfv9)
AM18 1/2inch shorter blade option finished weight of 2lb 10oz bang on.
(https://i.postimg.cc/xjsLGNNj/F9772-C7-F-09-D6-4706-A354-C08-D3052-EBB8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t7x1pTz8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wMBL8gZd/38-CC97-B1-0-A2-E-4899-8298-C6-ED0-F01-C96-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MLb7R9t)
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A few of the bats iv made up over the last few days
Grade 3 custom made bat based loosely on customers existing bat
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxfKCW3g/0907-A60-D-2-BB0-4015-B716-E2-E2521-CE434.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgtXrspq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pdc4qJFy/6-BECEBB2-D90-B-4-EDD-A71-F-A18-D60-EFA8-CC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xkH6dHgS)
Grade 2 SL06 with a high middle for a local lad who plays in the EAPL 2lb 9oz dead
(https://i.postimg.cc/28xH0xpm/64-CE7321-21-E2-4819-9-F1-C-4-A1485381-C77.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HVV4xXsP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XYQzYkxx/0-F112-DB7-78-D5-493-C-94-F1-AC97-E950-A82-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cvtmDYp8)
Replica of a Kook Ghost from a 2019 model kook
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCT8qCM9/6023-AAC8-AFE0-4-BA6-A547-4-EB831-F69-BD8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4H73VJ0V)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdHJft3b/3-DC63-B16-0-BA0-4-C22-9979-203616-EA3-C2-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t1qCDdfX)
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The progress in the way your bats' shapes flow is really marked. I really like that Grade 2 - a lovely looking bat.
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The progress in the way your bats' shapes flow is really marked. I really like that Grade 2 - a lovely looking bat.
Thank you @Alvaro takes a while to find your feet and what works well for my brand and the way I shape my bats but the fact people see the improvement means a lot so thank you
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Finished these up in the last week or so
2lb 9oz EH21 profile
(https://i.postimg.cc/QdLLc8hh/96-B9-AD74-AA3-F-4-AE7-9675-711-EF15-DD9-B3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7fNQky5W)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HLHfP6rN/74-E6-DB2-B-C1-DF-4148-A8-BA-A22-B784-D0365.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJCCJBBk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QMbRLc5d/9-BCA5-FD8-B440-4496-BCCC-4-F7-EEE587-DEB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5HXPLYnh)
2lb 9.8oz Grade 1 SL06 profile
(https://i.postimg.cc/8CXgJhCn/6-F893-E24-3-C24-4246-B8-E2-B3-F4-A2783-E08.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LqPbGgLz)
(https://i.postimg.cc/2SwDmpNY/D475-D7-E6-21-D4-4166-BDFA-44-CBBF07-C6-CC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FY7qgBKC)
(https://i.postimg.cc/s2gRgn3h/EC0-F094-C-7-AE4-4-FFB-9758-9-BA94-D890-C3-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bZW569Dy)
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Lovely stuff mate. Nice profiles and finishing looks great
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Lovely stuff mate. Nice profiles and finishing looks great
Cheers Jonny means a lot mate :)
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Couple more that iv made up over the last few days
2.11 Grade 2 in the SL06 profile. One of the best pieces of willow iv ever worked with just a joy to shape.
(https://i.postimg.cc/W1YC0XQx/67262-C00-1-B3-E-40-B5-BAC3-2468-B4623-DEF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zmVsd5C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g221wfBv/540-B1558-D45-A-408-C-A4-F2-1-ED0-F7-CD8-EA5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9rsLKN2M)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PqLcy1HJ/9942-BA75-2-EAD-4-B62-871-C-BDAB6169-A0-EC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8FStPJjg)
Copy of a old Newbery Mjolner. The actual Newbery has 13mm edges where as this one will be 19-21mm when it’s finished but aiming for a weight of 2lb 6oz just needs final tweaks and sanding but don’t get asked to make to many traditional bats as it’s all about edge size in most cases.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6RcSqtQ/4-CE8-D1-B6-D4-EF-4953-B0-C0-64-AC611-A7-DDF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t7SSt4mF)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L4jcGk1Z/BA571742-F8-A0-4712-A2-F9-01-FE48-DB76-CE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t7CvxxDX)
Finally a gorgeous AM18 off locally to me in Suffolk this is just one of those ones I wish I’d stuck in a corner for myself when the time dictated I need a new one. Double bound handle and will finish 2.10-2.10.5
(https://i.postimg.cc/d3czL3z1/4-EECB411-34-A4-4-EF7-91-EB-ACB0783-F1397.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/r0ghHVyX)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYwYp7gH/473-CDB0-F-8555-49-AE-941-A-1641-CB01-BF9-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/67Vwyvcr)
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2lb 9.3oz double bound AM18 simply stunning all round. Love the new Blue stickers and seem to be going down well.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4dGG8RzY/E7-B6-A36-E-D070-45-D4-9-D30-C663-F34-B3-A7-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KK0CzVpb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rsFkkGZc/F01-D2-F3-B-4-E56-4-F50-85-F2-38-CF7-A6-A803-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3466jGHb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Pf2HMcNq/69-C9899-C-E6-DD-4505-BCFB-7-C387-A776-FB6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4n7jfW6C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PJ3krL0D/4-D6979-A5-2272-4-CFD-945-B-10-ABDDE86648.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fS9P8bzW)
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Blue stickers look really smart. Purely personal choice but I'd prefer it without the model number sticker, or maybe something more subtle that could be overlaid on the splice sticker, but really nice either way. Looks a cracking size for the weight as well, plenty of bang for your buck.
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Blue stickers look really smart. Purely personal choice but I'd prefer it without the model number sticker, or maybe something more subtle that could be overlaid on the splice sticker, but really nice either way. Looks a cracking size for the weight as well, plenty of bang for your buck.
Thanks for the feedback and I actually really agree on the model stickers but I want to identify the difference in the range but when I sit down and design or look at the next phase of the companies branding I will look at address the model stickers and how to better incorporate into the design. Iv player about a little with placement of the model stickers but currently this is the best overall option. Hard catering for all tastes lol
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Took a bit of time between all the mid season refurbs to make a new wand. Iv got a few clefts in to try from a different source and this is the first one from that batch.
High spine, 33mm edges, 22mm toe and 18mm shoulders, spine into the handle and thick chunky toe toe with a mid middle. Wasn’t trying to produce this shape it just kind of came together this was as I tend to make full profiles in stock shapes.
Decided to put this one in my own kit bag unless someone wants it before I play next.
Weight is 2lb 9oz with medium thick semi oval handle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fLxv4w1c/760830-A8-03-FE-4-FE2-9-B63-E1-CC1-EAA27-B7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mzg9CGLk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VvgB6Kf5/A2-C08778-31-EE-4-C2-D-94-B0-D3-A879-C8-D4-D6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/n9sQSYQt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/T1fJfzXZ/8-A8-D214-C-B0-EE-4-EE7-989-C-9-EA1-C4-F5-F4-D4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ftq9vgyK)
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Lovely copy of an old favourite. Was nice to make something where the spec wasn’t “big edge, full profile” quite happy how it turned out. Finished 2lb 7oz and fingers crossed will last the owner 20yrs like his last one. That must be blasphemy on here lol
(https://i.postimg.cc/PJHdn18Q/DD62-CFAB-3677-411-D-8-D8-F-08-AD43-BBC161.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TLtzrL0K)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3rjKCfPS/AB3-A52-C3-458-F-41-B8-81-EB-4-DA71401-AFB1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ThwMT02g)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Ghqd683v/E51-A19-E7-95-F4-44-A6-BAC5-0-D187-E16-DD30.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8J9XzXz)
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Lovely work mate. Always good to recreate someones old favourite!
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Lovely work mate. Always good to recreate someones old favourite!
Cheers mate thanks for the kind words and yes makes a nice change when you get a copy to make
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Love it mate! Agree that it's nice to see a more traditional shape and size, I don't particularly look for big edges and full profile, so like the fact someone is sticking with a favourite profile and not succumbing to the trend. Plus a great change up for you I imagine.
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Finally after 4 seasons and being the first bat I ever made under the Willow & Wand brand I have had to make a new wand and here she is AM18 profile 2lb 9oz stunning half and half heartwood. Went alright on her first outing today.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L4kqtZdc/60-F312-D8-DC42-418-F-93-D8-5338-DCC2-C841.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qgRM0qvw)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HnmrGTMv/886-EF57-C-308-D-4-FD5-907-B-9-E5-B593880-F2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N9NsmqpR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zvkV84Sz/EA07-F9-B3-B76-F-4-C46-B2-B2-025814-F4-DCC5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTHcj75V)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MTVnrnnj/4480-E867-80-A2-4-F49-BE1-D-9-A7-A7-E71049-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1nRR85c9)
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Finished up this stunner today. I Don’t sell bats as G1+ etc but this is certainly one of the best grain wise that’s passed through since I started in 2018. Anyway 2lb 9.4 in the EH21 profile and off to a lad in the Surrey Prem.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCGcyr0X/6-B56-BA9-A-BF52-4-A19-8354-0-F60-EB80-CF5-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cgT3f1Kn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NGR487kV/AD3-CC9-AE-E1-D0-48-F9-932-D-9-E4-F53-D791-F1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ThYgfbSq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/GhrjX8Mp/191-FFD6-C-D950-40-B7-9-B88-474-B8-B1789-A2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pyG8TTMN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/yxhyVsNB/6-B5565-DE-1-BC5-4126-A75-D-F6-DE82-AF0946.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9wM7b3TN)
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Love that bit of willow, the grains and colour pairs well with the sticker colouring. The blemish right at the toe is perfect, will keep the toe strong - top work. :)
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Love that bit of willow, the grains and colour pairs well with the sticker colouring. The blemish right at the toe is perfect, will keep the toe strong - top work. :)
Cheers @Chad yes it’s a lovely piece of willow 1:100 these days I reckon. The gold/black works really well on sapwood clefts as you say
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Recent model based on a copy of one of the earliest bats I made but with some refinement that’s come with practise weight is 2lb 9oz bang on.
(https://i.postimg.cc/G2LY2xJY/A2-D2-FEE2-F8-E1-4302-959-F-24-FE59-B85628.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CZ2drD2L)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1X4q0Rd3/E0606-E59-908-A-4465-B67-F-C9-DED2-FFBC63.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fSnyDsZG)
And these are from a new supplier cleft wise that’s allowed me to make from a raw cleft that’s just been pressed and handle fitted. Allows greater specs and choice of shape. These are available if anyone is interested to find out what my bats are like in profiles that I personally prefer
(https://i.postimg.cc/fyF08n4j/0-C891-EC8-4-AB9-470-D-801-E-2086104-D3-AE9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5QB0tr26)
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that bottom one looks lovely mate, nice work!
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that bottom one looks lovely mate, nice work!
Cheers mate modelled on a a GM contracted players bat that was in for a little refurb who plays in the East Anglian Prem and basically a GM PE
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cant wait to get mine mate, thanks for your help
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cant wait to get mine mate, thanks for your help
More than welcome mate thanks for the support
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Cheers mate modelled on a a GM contracted players bat that was in for a little refurb who plays in the East Anglian Prem and basically a GM PE
Was his name Darren?
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Was his name Darren?
Not that I remember no was a few weeks ago now and the bats were brought along by one of his club mates who uses one of my bats to be done at the same time as his. Plays for Bury St Edmunds CC
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Had a couple of weeks off for a summer break but back in the workshop, wouldn’t believe season finishes in a couple of weeks time.
First one made since being back is an AM18 profile but in standard SH blade and handle. Finished weight 2.10.4. Very nice and clean for a G3 cleft
(https://i.postimg.cc/HsT2Qdmr/2-CCC9663-44-B8-42-E0-9-C65-B6141-B02490-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9zNZ23r2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZFLDdN9/2-F04-C3-E1-CEFD-47-B1-A55-E-0-AEF1-B1-A617-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WhBZDMGf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXkBC4Vq/55-B11866-8-F26-4909-8-D33-199013-F6-EC0-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6y2R5Hvv)
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A few of the bats iv made up over the past week.
The best cleft that’s ever been through my workshop finished off over the weekend. AM18 profile 1/2 shorter blade, full width (as all my bats are) modern square players toe and under 2.9 without scuff as is owners choice. Performance matched looks
(https://i.postimg.cc/zfqnX05q/A7989191-E0-B8-433-A-9530-22-DA5153-B06-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cv5KF7rz)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rs71VTyH/7475-A440-3-B67-4-B6-B-A9-D3-A45-FD500-EA43.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bSHDgKt0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZ77B2kP/EAECCD46-EF15-4-BD6-993-A-4-E8-C285-B7913.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QFM9gYx5)
Second is the most popular shape I make the SL06. Normally a slightly higher middle but dropped to copy the swell position of his current GN.
(https://i.postimg.cc/C5n862Cs/1070468-D-1094-463-C-A760-8577-DE3-F22-FE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZvZ0WVMW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydb9jKRN/142-B01-F2-4331-4-EC0-8721-6084-E7-D9-BEDF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Fd07F2Dt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/V66nXvdT/E2-A4-F6-E8-F4-F1-4-F3-E-973-C-0492-D5605-F8-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gwCxWYyq)
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Nice work! The craftsmanship matches the looks of the first one also. Well done.
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Top stuf mate. Did the customer request the square toe in the looker? looks different to your usual style.
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Lovely profile, especially on the 2.7. Imagine what that would have looked like with an extra few ounces packed in! Top work there @SOULMAN1012
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Top stuf mate. Did the customer request the square toe in the looker? looks different to your usual style.
Yes mate was a request and first using a new bandsaw so very square with edges just rounded by sanding into the toe
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Latest one from this week.
Super busy with refurbs and repairs but nice to still be getting orders in Sep and Oct
(https://i.postimg.cc/nhdhByWB/A4-D82-FEA-F7-AC-4-F20-ACBD-215-F14-FAA0-DB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYLvQBNH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MTBZkvpm/9605-E720-5-E25-4229-881-E-A004-AD026-E36.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MMWJVZRn)
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A few more that have been going out the workshop over the past few weeks
(https://i.postimg.cc/Vv7kKjWh/02-BDFE3-F-B5-C8-422-D-8652-40-FB7-E88-B992.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4H9GdHMv)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VNyLZsXz/47-FEF36-E-96-C2-4-FB0-ACB3-5-ECECEDCEEF0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jDXbLb81)
(https://i.postimg.cc/5tw9hcmL/F9-AEBECF-754-B-4-AE1-AA43-C978-EB8-EFFF5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7CZyzWdZ)
Couple of bats that will be used on the county circuit next season if the owner has a break through season having signed a recent pro contract.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4ds4Z88M/98547988-9525-4-A85-88-E9-94608-E702-A9-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qtDHxGHX)
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Can I ask what the yellowish mark is on the bat?
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Couple of bats that will be used on the county circuit next season if the owner has a break through season having signed a recent pro contract.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4ds4Z88M/98547988-9525-4-A85-88-E9-94608-E702-A9-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qtDHxGHX)
Great stuff! Will they have your labels?
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Can I ask what the yellowish mark is on the bat?
If you asking about towards the toe it’s a very small butterfly mark that must show that colour on the photo after oiling and buffing.
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Great stuff! Will they have your labels?
No unfortunately not “sponsored by a sticker brand unfortunately” even county 2nd team players that would give you minimal exposure really require between £2k -£5k in terms of kit value and cash requests from the limited conversations or messages iv had.
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If you asking about towards the toe it’s a very small butterfly mark that must show that colour on the photo after oiling and buffing.
Ohh ok
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Lovely stuff mate. How's the travisher?
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Lovely stuff mate. How's the travisher?
Thanks mate. Not used it yet mate been away on holiday and only came back earlier this week, back in the workshop over the weekend so will let you know.
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Recent one that I knocked up over the weekend. Grade 3 with a SSH set up and 2lb 8oz with binding and grip. 37mm edge and very full shape with a mid/low middle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/d3GXvvJF/758-FB272-52-EA-499-E-AC13-CA58-D53-B00-A9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/m12VNvcp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8kLn7pVQ/AD899-ACD-D00-D-42-CE-917-D-9-C3669-CF9040.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Wtb7KP3X)
(https://i.postimg.cc/5y5PT3mN/FD17-CF03-684-E-487-F-B8-D9-682-BA47-EB54-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/y3dXS05w)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3J7fpsKy/6-E6-AE95-E-943-F-459-A-B287-A1-D137-E090-BF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rzn92YRc)
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That looks lovely mate, well crafted.
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What a nice shape! That's a stunning bat and decent specs for that weight
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love that mate, is it making its way to surrey?? ;)
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love that mate, is it making its way to surrey?? ;)
Not yet mate lol.
It’s available as I’m trying to build up a small selection of bats ready to go so like some workshop stock basically.
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Couple of heavier clefts that iv knocked up as “stock bats” both will 2.12-2.13 when finished. Both in the SL06 profile
Big full profiles and G1 and G3 available if anyone is interested.
(https://i.postimg.cc/s1dH79KV/92255654-7-A15-416-D-BB76-46-CE8-C1-D8878.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/64chNZDS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MHjrnr7P/41-ADDB37-34-AC-4-C30-9-E68-44809-E1-E7-D61.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rRM9bjYx)
(https://i.postimg.cc/252tMWjw/3-BD739-E0-38-CA-4711-8-FC2-E8-F6-BC2-FA1-C5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mc1VFtHz)
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Hi @SOULMAN1012
I have the same questions for you as I did Jonny:
Now that it is resolutely the offseason, what do you think is the biggest improvement you've made as a bat maker over the last 12 months? Where are you looking to improve still? What is the most interesting thing you've learned?
Personally I think that the flow of your shapes has come on leaps and bounds. You're work is really coming along.
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Hi @SOULMAN1012
I have the same questions for you as I did Jonny:
Now that it is resolutely the offseason, what do you think is the biggest improvement you've made as a bat maker over the last 12 months? Where are you looking to improve still? What is the most interesting thing you've learned?
Personally I think that the flow of your shapes has come on leaps and bounds. You're work is really coming along.
Personally I think the two biggest improvements are A) the flow and design of shapes now is lot more repeatable to be able to produce 3 stock shapes time after time to almost identical specs and B) the finishing of which those that have used either my refurb services or bought new provide great feedback on the finish of the bats.
Most interesting thing iv learned - I would say now it’s the ability to know when a cleft has reached its optimum shape to weight and having the ability to say no to people. At the start I would try and achieve specs that just were not realistic from a willow supply that at my level is just not possible ie the unicorn cleft that produces 37mm edges full shape at 2.8 finished without any narrowing or edges etc. I find willow wonderfully interesting in that no clefts are every the same
The next stage now is tye shoulders and some new investment in some more machinery for sanding shoulders will help as being totally honest I still do this like when I first started which is a sanding disc wrapped round a very straight stick which does a decent enough job but is very labour intensive.
Thanks for your question and if there are anymore I’ll be happy to answer them. And finally thanks for the feedback on the shapes @Alvaro its great that people notice the improvements as I can be very self critical at times
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So finished this one up last night, sub grade due to the large knot on the face and also there was another on the rear by the splice. Finished weight 2lb 8.8oz, 33mm edge, 17mm toe at edge and 27mm toe in the centre. Shame as would have been a G1 cleft otherwise.
SL06 profile, semi oval handle
(https://i.postimg.cc/5tQgYR64/1-A85-C8-E2-B3-FC-492-D-B9-D7-170-A57001-EBB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cKZwPTR2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KjxDWcQj/B17-A2676-7599-490-E-A539-8111775-A5-B3-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zb2hbrsY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kGsvPrhc/F64606-E6-A271-48-B8-BC46-8-F01-FACD91-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q6t32Frh)
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Perfect example of a cleft that a big brand would just chuck a sticker over the blemish and call it G1 anyway - lovely shape mate, great work.
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I’d agree with Adam,,,that’s a lovely piece of willow
Shape looks perfect tbh,,,cracking job that Chris
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Agree with the above, lovely stuff. I see some ridiculous Grading out there. G2s which wouldn't pass as G3s and its not great for the customer. I appreciate its subjective, but sometimes its just taking the *#@&, so fair play to you mate
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Perfect example of a cleft that a big brand would just chuck a sticker over the blemish and call it G1 anyway - lovely shape mate, great work.
Thank you mate and means a lot to have kind comments from a brand who’s business model and rise iv admired for a while
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I’d agree with Adam,,,that’s a lovely piece of willow
Shape looks perfect tbh,,,cracking job that Chris
Cheers Mark
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Agree with the above, lovely stuff. I see some ridiculous Grading out there. G2s which wouldn't pass as G3s and its not great for the customer. I appreciate its subjective, but sometimes its just taking the *#@&, so fair play to you mate
The main reason I started my own brand, honest grading and honest pricing for the grades. Some of the BS that’s spouted around and some of the claimed grades iv seen recently is truly shocking and that’s from big established as well as some others, very rarely seen from forum makers and sponsors I must add so even more reason to support the forum brands and retailers
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Happy new year to everyone. Just a couple of bats that have been keeping me busy over the festive period.
Firstly is this copy to a degree of a 1980’s Newbery. This cleft had some damage to back and edge so required a small edge profile so I created a high spine small edge profile. Grade 2 and finished at 2lb 9oz with a very thick oval handle and huge toe 31mm at centre of toe, edge was 21mm at peak and 17mm at shoulder and toe edge.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1tt8NVQ4/7-ED326-D6-62-DC-4-E4-F-A1-A5-A99-A6-B45-D360.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJkDkjhq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/6TsqSHGG/698-ACD43-2668-45-AE-BB46-7-DE72-D8-C6-C59.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTQbTxKc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/05zCTbw8/2-DF68-DC1-1-D66-44-DC-9-F3-E-A1663-CB02136.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vDd998hj)
Secondly was this grade 3 modern “Pro” shape very similar to the SL06 I make but with a mid/low middle really pleased with how this one came out as was a bit of a pig to work for some reason, shape really flows well and will be around 2.10.5 - 2.11 when finished ( it’s currently available at present time)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1XV4vx4Q/711-F042-E-04-DC-48-A4-9-C6-E-A159433390-A0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q60k758b)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DfRcnnr1/5035-B44-B-2-C91-4-AAC-959-C-42670565-ABE3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yWXRTqrN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/63myV6Wc/0-BFB1184-B80-D-4756-8-E6-B-D3-CE74878728.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mz7LBsF1)
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Evening all. These are a selection that I’m making to exhibit at Suffolk Crickets first expo in late January. These are a selection of my AM18 and SL06 profiles.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bdX2J22v/0-F398750-213-F-4-BC9-A559-0-A702-FD05-FDB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sGc2HxmF)
This is a super light SL06 currently 2lb 4oz, 32mm edges. Grade 1. Full profile working on the basis this year that I’d rather offer fully shapes than edge size as I personally fell that just offers a better all round bat on the stock shapes and I’ll leave the EH21 as the concaved profile.
(https://i.postimg.cc/x13gw9Wm/A5-DDF69-D-56-BA-43-BA-9-CD6-13-E438-CBDB8-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0zrpm155)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PxP4vYNb/9-B3-E675-B-0441-40-ED-AC35-AF97-D66-B44-B3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hzRxHJLh)
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First batch of 2023 orders completed.
2 x EH21 profiles both weighing 2lb 9oz. One Grade 1 and the other Grade 2
1 x SL06 custom weighing 2lb 7.8oz, Grade 1
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZ2Nwgm0/5-F4-B9-A31-F929-444-D-B687-157-B653-EF45-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrcjbcpM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J07nRgNp/B8-C8937-A-F2-BB-4236-9-B57-79-FC009-A268-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yg5BPLrR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xC38DYzk/CDAA82-B0-8276-4678-9-FE5-A66-B5-FDBC10-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MMXqVCtx)
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Recently attended my county’s first cricket expo, was great to be alongside Gray Nicolls, NV play and lots of companies with so much experience and insight into the game. Had a great conversation around this new softs regulations but any way.
So I was able to display my full range and here are a couple from the day. Both G2 and both 2.10
(https://i.postimg.cc/MKn7rdTJ/E74-A992-D-A41-C-498-A-93-B6-F1-DD9-CCEC837.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WhPqdmg5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/j58fM7Yj/634844-ED-3955-4-F1-A-BAA8-6912-BF407-D0-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cgn6H6Hq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Jn7J3Qgg/1-CB47-BBA-838-B-4-CC8-8966-C03977-F225-E3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xk7cnL9y)
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Really like that slightly fuller shape, lovely bit of work mate.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/MKn7rdTJ/E74-A992-D-A41-C-498-A-93-B6-F1-DD9-CCEC837.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WhPqdmg5)
I think I have told you before but, while I really like the branding, that still just says 'SLOG' when I see it.
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I think I have told you before but, while I really like the branding, that still just says 'SLOG' when I see it.
I don’t get it mentioned a lot but I do see what you mean will look to change that on the next sticker run which will probably be towards back end of this year. Thanks for the positive feedback on the branding.
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Really like that slightly fuller shape, lovely bit of work mate.
Cheers mate, fuller shapes over edge size these days. Need to invest in better camera or upgrade the phone but really pleased with how these are coming out shape wise now since some investment in some Windsor tools, better polisher and new sander as well.
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Big fan of that, as much as I love a big edge there's something so much more aesthetically pleasing about a full shape. Purely psychological but the confidence of a full shape does it for me way more than massive edges too.
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So been busy finally getting around to creating a website which will be launched soon so I had to make a few bats to show the range.
SL06 modern “pro” shape
(https://i.postimg.cc/kM1Rk9fL/9743-C00-B-0-D94-4-D5-B-98-F0-81-E3684820-EC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7bzLzvvN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kg8V6Sqd/F4-C116-EC-DD17-4-F22-A267-507-B32180391.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mn6Zgvns)
AM18 - 1/2inch shorter blade full profile
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y2sjdRSH/338-C13-F9-7-E95-4122-8-A8-E-B296-FDF00333.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ThnRwrm7)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPQv6mJ7/6-E006205-660-A-47-AB-859-B-241-B9847-C656.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3d73DdFK)
EH21 - now currently iv got a few partmades that have a flat face press so I’m using these for this model to give a slightly bigger edge to a more traditional profiles bat. We’ll see what customers feedback is like on these as the feedback on the clefts iv used since creating WW has been amazing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NFSMLsnM/EA4428-AD-DBD3-46-EC-BDC5-AB8750-B2-CF8-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/64VwmXtJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d3L3qk4p/4-C34-B1-C4-599-D-423-E-9904-D0993669-AF44.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PvnTyxGQ)
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Couple of bats made up this week.
First up is this outrageous Butterly. Not sure iv ever seen a nicer one especially with no blemishes on the face just on the rear and is actually covered by the toe sticker. This finished 2lb 9oz with 34mm edge 20mm toe at the edge and 26mm in the centre in the SL06 profile but the customer asked for the traditional round toe shape from the AM18 instead of the square/flat toe as standard on this shape.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YShr9hCx/F7-B5532-F-BDD5-4-CAB-8291-028-CB037-BCEF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DW3kpfsW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kgjMqxq4/C08-AB648-D6-E5-4-CF2-B1-FA-1-E9-D09-C3-EACE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qN3HG6tV)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d0pqTw7c/68-BDBBDD-917-B-4411-8-A6-E-02-E791878-D00.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qtcfPfX1)
Next up was this AM18 grade 2. Finished at 2lb 14.2 and his current match bat is 2.14.3 so very happy how I managed to basically get it spot on weight wise. This is 1/2 inch shorter blade longer handle set up and has so far this year been the more popular shape. Seems the outside forum world is catching onto the benefits of slightly shorter blades. This bat has 37mm edge, 23mm toe at edge and 29mm at centre of toe, customer specified a thick toe.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zvmX485F/5-E60-D2-BA-6790-4-C5-F-990-B-09-AC4-FF982-D9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FdZ4LtYY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9FYFg6ky/337-B4010-95-BF-48-E3-9996-A8-F3-D8-CA2-F7-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Tph6p4fP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0y55TtgF/0-BC284-C0-138-F-4-E9-F-B063-49-CADD3298-FC.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sv8RS4g4)
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Oh my Chris - some absolute stunners, I love how the shapes have evolved.
Clearly lots of thought has gone into what us batters like best.
I can’t seem to find your website tho mate… have you got a link pls?
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Oh my Chris - some absolute stunners, I love how the shapes have evolved.
Clearly lots of thought has gone into what us batters like best.
I can’t seem to find your website tho mate… have you got a link pls?
https://www.willowandwand.co.uk/ (https://www.willowandwand.co.uk/)
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https://www.willowandwand.co.uk/ (https://www.willowandwand.co.uk/)
Cheers @Jimbo
Here you go @t2ylo
My first ever attempt and took me days to figure out lol, certainly not the “design your website in 10mins”that was advertised
No idea about SEO either but I’ll message you link
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Cheers @Jimbo
Here you go @t2ylo
My first ever attempt and took me days to figure out lol, certainly not the “design your website in 10mins”that was advertised
No idea about SEO either but I’ll message you link
Happy to pass on a few tips about SEO mate (given it's my job), I'll take a look at the website and let you know what i think can be tweaked :)
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I recently noticed an Aldred-based lament on the 'regret buying' thread and @SOULMAN1012 's offer of help. I had also come into possession of an Aldred, which while very pingy and well balanced, possessed a handle Clive Lloyd would have trouble getting his hands around with a single grip. After a few quick messages, a deal to reshape the handle to match a GM Neon (my favourite handle ever) and give the bat a bit of a diet.
I have just received the bat back in just a couple of weeks and must say that Chris has delivered on his part of the deal. The handle is thinner and very much similar to my much loved Vitas Neon. The weight reduction is spot on and the balance retained from the original feel. The finish is very impressive - shame that it will be diminished as the stick will be going into my bag for nets.
I do like the detailing in the stickers - although I wonder if the 'refurbished' sticker could be refined for future iterations.
(https://i.ibb.co/FbbhvkV/004.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vxxc5CY)
(https://i.ibb.co/mv6ksfV/005.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LQnmwVX)
(https://i.ibb.co/jWYZc2n/001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yYCBw1H)
(https://i.ibb.co/37m2fB4/002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rm2Yb4F)
(https://i.ibb.co/Tk8ybdx/003.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zrRd7DT)
I extend my thanks for making an unusable turkey into a potential match bat for this season.
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Got any before shots.
I think I've given Chris similar feedback before, like the stickers, the model name designs and fonts need a redesign though :D
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I don't have any photos of the handle pre job. Chris did send me the measurements, which tell quite a story by themselves.
Handle was 46mm wide at its thickest point plus rope for binding. The new handle is 37mm and squarer, which is how I like it.
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Got any before shots.
I think I've given Chris similar feedback before, like the stickers, the model name designs and fonts need a redesign though :D
Stickers and fonts are currently in the re-design stage. These were my first proper set of stickers and I have no background in design work at all.
However like anything iv tried to take the feedback ok board which in the main has been positive but the font and positioning of the model stickers and refurb stickers will be reviewed on the next design
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I don't have any photos of the handle pre job. Chris did send me the measurements, which tell quite a story by themselves.
Handle was 46mm wide at its thickest point plus rope for binding. The new handle is 37mm and squarer, which is how I like it.
Sorry I didn’t take any pics of original handle but yes it was huge and certainly unique in its dimensions. Glad your happy with the work and that it’s a bat you can now use and get value out of
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I think that rebalancing a bat after taking so much out of the handle takes skill. I would be more than happy to order a bat from you if it was needed based on this.
Customer service is also good - what you’ve said you’ll do in all aspects, you’ve done. Can’t ask any more than that.
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I think that rebalancing a bat after taking so much out of the handle takes skill. I would be more than happy to order a bat from you if it was needed based on this.
Customer service is also good - what you’ve said you’ll do in all aspects, you’ve done. Can’t ask any more than that.
Thank you that feedback means a lot
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A lovely EH21 finished off this evening and a clean up on customers old bat. This profile has a full spine into toe shape, moderate edge size and a long driving area. Grade 1 piece of timber with a finished weight of 2lb 8.7oz. This one is off to one of Suffolks lady county players and head coach of my counties ladies team. Other bat cleaned up was a Newbery 7
(https://i.postimg.cc/MGNGDdCQ/4-FA27-FE6-0011-4099-A0-EB-4-BB7-C0-AF57-FF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QBgsNkx8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MKqpdcFd/B0343158-1617-4214-98-DF-4472-F84-EF0-B5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5jKJtt1C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DfqzrQBS/AEBC75-CB-5-F30-4-EE9-AB4-B-5-D67-DE07-B31-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/3Wx77GMh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/m2j2qLxR/A2554683-07-FC-4882-A656-7-AFD99-FFF082.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vc1sxdHS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/prYXPxpf/F3-EA0-EBF-37-EE-45-BF-B01-D-3-A6802-DA0780.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PvJkMgbJ)
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bat looks awesome and congrats on the website - very good value bats. I have a pair of your batting gloves which are still going strong.
Would echo comment on the sticker font for models and refurb - love the main branded stickers
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bat looks awesome and congrats on the website - very good value bats. I have a pair of your batting gloves which are still going strong.
Would echo comment on the sticker font for models and refurb - love the main branded stickers
Thanks for the feedback mate. Working on the new style stickers at the moment with the aim of better Font and style.
Pleased to hear gloves are going strong mate, feedback on them has been really positive all round
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Big thanks to Chris for some recent work to remove stickers and refinish/polish a couple of bats. I no longer have the equipment myself to do this sort of thing to an acceptable standard.
Without being disrespectful to Chris in any way, I'm sure he will know what i mean by this, I did not want to trouble the well established bat makers, I still work in the cricket industry and i know there aren't enough hours in the day nor days in the week at this time of year. At the same time I wanted someone I knew that I could trust to do a good job on 2 brand new bats that I intend to sell on. Knowing where Chris learned his skills and the care he has for quality equipment having known him for some time, I had no issues with sending the bats out to him. Given this was just quite a small refurb, it was nice that he took the time to send photos and updates of the job in progress. I have no doubt someone buying a bat would be well looked after. Lovely finish and well applied high quality scuff sheets, speedy postage in a well packaged box, top stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/bCakcR5l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xgM3UAXl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/M6Qayuil.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2CYRmM7l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lr1nHC5l.jpg)
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Big thanks to Chris for some recent work to remove stickers and refinish/polish a couple of bats. I no longer have the equipment myself to do this sort of thing to an acceptable standard.
Without being disrespectful to Chris in any way, I'm sure he will know what i mean by this, I did not want to trouble the well established bat makers, I still work in the cricket industry and i know there aren't enough hours in the day nor days in the week at this time of year. At the same time I wanted someone I knew that I could trust to do a good job on 2 brand new bats that I intend to sell on. Knowing where Chris learned his skills and the care he has for quality equipment having know him for some time, I had no issues with sending the bats out to him. Given this was just quite a small refurb, it was nice that he took the time to send photos and updates of the job in progress. I have no doubt someone buying a bat would be well looked after. Lovely finish and well applied high quality scuff sheets, speedy postage in a well packaged box, top stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/bCakcR5l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xgM3UAXl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/M6Qayuil.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2CYRmM7l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lr1nHC5l.jpg)
Thank you for the kind words mate. Happy to do any kind of work for any customer as all a learning journey still for me. As you say customer service and the customer being at the heart of what I do is the main thing for me
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February and early March have been great months for orders and enquires, and here is a couple of recent bats iv been making.
First up is an AM18 but with a mid/high middle as per customers request. Grade 3 willow 2lb 10oz finished weight.
(https://i.postimg.cc/65tWN0LG/5-D90-C707-575-D-48-A5-A426-E1-D6-FAE84998.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/c6kyRfzs)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3xw3kxq8/A489-EF68-4-A12-4198-9623-36-FF1-C31-A19-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PP0gcTh9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Z5D4phkr/898-BD39-A-49-EF-4-D1-D-8-EC8-BDD2-EB831898.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dhdbcpV1)
Secondly was a copy of this Kook. It was originally a Ghost from 2018 but had some weight removed by someone else and it ended up a very full shape. Anyway customer loves it and kindly asked me to copy it. He popped over and had it made whisky he was here which was just as well as he travelled 2.5hrs from Richmond so I felt very privileged that someone would travel that far for my work.
Grade 1 cleft and kook is 2.10.7 so this finished 2.10.9 so pretty happy with that and overall happy with how this one came out. Didn’t take any pics when it was finished but like the AM18 was finished in the blue stickers with a yellow grip.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bv7PVHwr/9-BB106-C8-8-ED9-4-D13-833-F-2-DC32-AF2-AF88.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9xXCN3z)
(https://i.postimg.cc/YSGkxykT/022-E0045-0140-4-DE6-BD5-B-C91-F7-CFA7570.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJBHDsX0)
Finally another AM18 in its stock profile. Grade 2 and finished at 2lb 8.2oz. Was a stunning cleft and one that I would have loved to have had in my kit bag for 2023
(https://i.postimg.cc/h4HCJy3f/3-DCF30-F6-2-DCF-4192-BB17-1-CB0-B73809-C0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YjzNZ37H)
(https://i.postimg.cc/GmRqKBRR/BC4-D421-F-2830-4-A10-942-D-136-D85-D3-A0-A2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qzmsMvgD)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6Lxjtrv/DB0-E9-F11-7-AB7-4680-8-F45-4563-F85-E50-AB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cr17Sn18)
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Latest one finished off, been rushed off my feet with orders, repairs and refurbs so sorry not shared much recently.
AM18 profile Grade 2 finished weight 2lb 9.4oz and just one of those clefts that was a joy to work on from start to finish and the ping is unreal. This is off to old boy I used to play with when I lived in Kent and still plays for Kent over 70’s. Oval handle and full profile
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0kP3359/EA070-AB4-E134-4-C11-8-EC8-645443-FD83-C5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xN9vnz7R)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BZrhSyqs/E44-DD8-BF-7-EE8-4-BD2-A012-14-A647-B0-DF95.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhVkvxY0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Qds05T9y/75-E242-A0-A183-4464-8089-7-E7-D56-FB8-BFA.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzPGpd4G)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7ZVXNZSY/24-EF5-F4-D-02-E1-4-D73-8-AC0-4-D43-B0-DA8075.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cvvQxZDV)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQ2mXg6F/5-AD2-DA58-99-A9-48-F3-9-EAD-A69-E6-EA467-F9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/56NBr889)
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Very nice shape and decent G2.
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Very nice shape and decent G2.
Cheers @Chalkie
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Lovely work mate! That side on profile shot looks lovely 👌
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Lovely work mate! That side on profile shot looks lovely 👌
Cheers @jonny77 been the most popular shape/profile this year so far and very happy with how this one came out. Now to design some new stickers as running low on the current batch
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A few of the bats that iv been making recently.
Couple of mid/high versions of the SL06 but with a rounded toe. Stickered one finished 2.7.6 and the other 2.9 dead on
The other two are an AM18 profile on the right and the left is a copy of a GN Shockwave from a few years back.
(https://i.postimg.cc/d03jVmqF/D90710-DC-F19-A-40-EB-AF9-E-72-FF219-EACE8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wtKmWNy4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rpwQt2Nv/2317-E8-E8-792-C-4864-A9-A5-000899-B26-DB9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4YjzrMM5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BnMC3wfN/2-D686-A6-A-7-FB8-4-C32-A0-AF-BC9-A56119172.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fVSdjCL0)
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Here is a Harrow that iv made up just to practise using a plane more than anything else. Made from an adult part made. Found it quite hard to get part-made Jnr bats in size 6 & 5.
But anyway going to introduce Jnr bats into the range in Harrow size only at the moment. Shape is as yet unnamed as this will be 4 models but I only have 3 children. For those that don’t know the model names are my children initial and year or birth.
Totally full shape but more traditional edges as trying to achieve weights 2.4 to 2.6 for Harrow is a struggle with large edges, we will see if younger players buy into the more traditional shape
(https://i.postimg.cc/MT96fz2V/IMG-6727.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R6n5j50Z)
(https://i.postimg.cc/k5dXkjv6/IMG-6729.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjM0FBy4)
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Few bats iv made over the last few weeks
First is a stock bat but most likely will be in in my bag if still around when I play my next game. G2 AM18 profile 2.10.4 finished and fills the gauge.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VNmKXFqN/IMG-6969.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXpG2MFr)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpbCkHtv/IMG-6970.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjbYHqr0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/76cc12PQ/IMG-6971.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FdyDN1Lj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZR02ycmd/IMG-6972.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mzf8v7tL)
Next is a G3 Butterly finished worthy 2.9.5 lovely blade with superb straight and even grains just a few marks on the rear of the bat.
(https://i.postimg.cc/44WnG4L2/IMG-6748.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Dmb7dhK1)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rFbmdnLS/IMG-6750.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bsx8WRrJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rFbmdnLS/IMG-6750.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bsx8WRrJ)
Regular customer had 3 made recently 2 more for himself and one for a team mate. Copies of an Asian I believe made bat but no branding so unsure who the original maker is. Happy how they came out all 2.9 finished
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6sYgggM/IMG-6893.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qg9M9RGm)
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New stickers have arrived with 4 colour options now and a slight revamp to the original design. As always thoughts are welcome.
Turquoise on a AM18 Butterly. This was going to. Regular customer but unfortunately in the drying process a small pressing crack appeared so this is now a stock Sub grade bat. 2lb 12oz big full profile and lively performance. Semi oval handle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VvjJWcR9/B4-EC8593-F2-DC-4571-B257-56-E40058-B4-EF.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Pv5fd90N)
Next is my match bat featuring the new scarlet red colour option
(https://i.postimg.cc/9FhRFrmL/9-A27838-D-8-FA3-4562-AD92-7-BADD00-D26-D9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MX9K9ZjB)
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Should 'hand crafted & suffolk' not be 'hand crafted in suffolk'?
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Should 'hand crafted & suffolk' not be 'hand crafted in suffolk'?
Yep well spotted lol that’s being rectified
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Is the willow and wand on the red only backwards for me?
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Is the willow and wand on the red only backwards for me?
You'll be glad to know you're not losing it 😅 suspect it will be from the pictures being stitched together.
Like the new stickers, big improvement on the previous iteration.
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You'll be glad to know you're not losing it 😅 suspect it will be from the pictures being stitched together.
Like the new stickers, big improvement on the previous iteration.
Yeah looks like it's been flipped. Top stuff soulman!
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Is the willow and wand on the red only backwards for me?
Yes mate but only because I flipped the image to fit into a layout for social media
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You'll be glad to know you're not losing it 😅 suspect it will be from the pictures being stitched together.
Like the new stickers, big improvement on the previous iteration.
Cheers for the feedback
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Most recent bat made up for a top league player and local Suffolk coach
Custom shape with convex profile finished weight of 2.10.5
(https://i.postimg.cc/25WwZmKj/IMG-7343.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d7qrMMFg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxCt0Kqw/IMG-7344.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zL0W8dXv)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PxzQSyHB/IMG-7345.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bDrnJQsT)
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Lovely shape that, new stickers looking great too.
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Couple of G1 bats finished for the same customer. A stock AM18 profile at 2lb 8.7 and a copy of a TON bat at 2.10. Both superb grain wise and at £329 offer pretty good value. Both finished in the new Gold and Black stickers. AM18 had 33mm edge 19mm toe at edge and 26mm at centre of toe. Ton copy has 36mm edges, 21mm at edge and 29mm at centre of toe and unlike every ton iv ever seen it’s full width lol.
AM18 on the left, copy on the right in first couple of pics
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvnppCL1/8-B583-CB2-5597-440-E-B01-F-F846-E93-CBEBD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8JdCCrv)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sXBSjRqw/9336-D415-1-DDF-4428-8-FF7-E7-A93656-F908.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0Msrnh8w)
AM18 profile
(https://i.postimg.cc/Px846ZXX/IMG-7552.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sQs7xMGq)
Copy profile
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZqQHFjhs/IMG-7558.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/f3xYMcyY)
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Another G1 finished off today in the SL06 profile which is a modern “players” shape with a square toe vs the AM18 with the traditional rounded toe shape. 2.10 finished weight with 33mm edges and full profile. This one has one of the sample colour sets of stickers which I didn’t release as thought they were similar to the gold. Opinions ok this colour option??
(https://i.postimg.cc/h497yYDk/IMG-7570.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w3jv30s2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/h497yYDk/IMG-7570.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w3jv30s2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8CXPnh9f/IMG-7572.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t1PjsVX9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pdrP8mrW/IMG-7573.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8WWfQ2k)
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Custom shape based on the specs of the customers current match bat, blade length, handle length and size, edge, toe and shoulder thickness all matched and finished 0.5oz heavier than the current match bat.
One of the nicest clefts iv ever worked with just so easy to shape and lovely tight grains
(https://i.postimg.cc/rsLkV8NZ/IMG-7606.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wyFPFYPD)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MZY4Mb6p/IMG-7605.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RqNG2tJk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sgM0NkpM/IMG-7604.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JsWqydY8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sgM0NkpM/IMG-7604.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JsWqydY8)
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Looks stunning!
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Looks stunning!
Thank you
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Been a quiet month of Aug with being on holiday and also coming towards the end of the season. Lots of repairs etc but a few new bats made up that I’ll share for those that maybe interested.
First up was a new bat for myself. Had an awful season with the bat so thought what better way than a new want. Shorter blade longer handle AM18 as is my preference with a mid/high middle and duckbill toe. Pretty simple shape but one I really like to make and use. Nothing to write home about in terms of specs 2lb 8.6oz so lighter then I have been using, 32mm edges Grade 3 cleft
(https://i.postimg.cc/CKVDYP8p/IMG-8056.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PC2NQMKS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wBFK5FWC/IMG-8057.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZZD4K6L)
Next up was a custom shape or copy of his existing bat for a young academy player at Yorkshire CCC who I was lucky enough to get to know via an old friend who had recently got a new job at the county. Lovely players shape really in standard length blade and handle. 2lb 10oz without stickers but including grip and scuff, 35mm edges and full shape. Grade 2 cleft
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9yJZ0B8/IMG-8095.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LYLCZHXZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/br74Y5Jt/IMG-8121.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/T5ctCCnd)
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Great bats as usual.
Terrible season for me and eldest son has also just nabbed my Garrard bat so maybe a new bat over the winter is the answer!
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Great bats as usual.
Terrible season for me and eldest son has also just nabbed my Garrard bat so maybe a new bat over the winter is the answer!
Thanks mate appreciate the feedback.
To be honest iv had 2 terrible seasons with the bat albeit I don’t play as much as I used to and don’t bat where iv always batted but still just been pretty poor so decided a new bat was needed. Old one has been donated to a lad that’s scored over 2000 runs with an earlier WW I made so rewarded him with my bat lol
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So alongside the bats I also offer a simple range of softs with a single pad, split and sausage glove option. All made from a leading manufacturer and top level kit.
Recently there has been a lot of questions around softs and the requirements of them and seems to vary from county to county but took the plunge on a small order to now include some Navy coloured softs. Appreciate your views and if you’re at all interested can check out my website or message me.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qqFFX2dS/IMG-8155.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wRhF9yMQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PJJcw201/IMG-8160.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GT0q0JLp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wB5S8thR/F08-D55-ED-9-DDB-4-F51-946-C-F4-E7540-DDE00.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/94MxyQgc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/k4nLnnc1/A20-EF8-C2-D55-E-453-B-B2-F3-B3-BA45863-F0-E.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KKH0fhCB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/50JnR1y3/29870a72-a1cb-40ab-8b96-61db2126332b.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2qHQ1s4b)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cHcXqj8N/eff5e562-b52f-485e-9a92-e3d4fbce00b9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xJcKM6Rs)
(https://i.postimg.cc/htJyJpN9/IMG-8161.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bZhHWHyJ)
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Just to give people an idea these are the 3 stock profile shapes
Right is the AM18 - 1/2 shorter blade longer handle mid/low middle traditional toe
Middle is the SL06- 1/2 shorter or traditional blade and handle mid/high middle modern square toe.
Left is the EH21 - mid middle spine blends into the toe vs duckbill toe on the other two traditional toe
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXkYJ7gw/IMG-8168.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KRkMZ9cf)
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Morning all. Not shared much regarding Willow and Wand recently which if I’m honest is mainly due to the fact that engagement vs time to upload is the main reason but thought as I uploaded a few pics of the GN powerspot I’ll do a few W&W ones.
So couple of things iv been looking at since the end of the season. Firstly new shape iv been working on for 2024 using a 1 inch shorter blade/longer handle set up. Just trying to make these as big as possible but at realistic weights. Iv used a shorter blade set up for years and to me they do just work so much better. This has come about as a pure T20 swing it and smash it bay and will be best suited to a weight range of 2lb 12oz and above to get those 37/38mm edges, fairly full shape and 63/65mm spine.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Kj1KzHg3/IMG-8576.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wRdx4F29)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SsNY0sSr/IMG-8578.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyF3gTWL)
Secondly was that with the rapidly increasing costs of all materials involved in making a bat etc iv in the last years had to move from not being able to offer a bat below the £200 mark using the G1,G2 and G3. Iv still managed just about to keep the top grade below £350 so wanted to ensure I was able to get back to offering sub £200 handcrafted bat. So Iv managed to find a supplier and will be offering a sub £200 bat for 2024. This will be the same price as Butterly and the range will be G4 and Butterfly clefts
(https://i.postimg.cc/DyLb9RQ8/IMG-8572.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N5GMTJzc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xvh6W13z/IMG-8619.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nsvPYkX4)
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Truly custom made Jnr bat finished this evening. Young as moving up from size 4 and had a growth spurt so we have a size 6 blade length with a size 5 handle so when he has his next growth spurt we can switch the handle as every chance he will outgrow it before he out uses it. Finished at 2lb exactly
(https://i.postimg.cc/nh3636R0/IMG-8672.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MnjPTr8Q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/W3kCbt2H/IMG-8674.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/343nt80X)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SK5Hhcp9/IMG-8680.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d725Rk3Q)
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Cannot get my head around hiding the lovely willow under those fibre scuffs, but some lovely looking sticks there Chris. Just as well my bats for next year are sorted or that G4 pricing would be mighty tempting!
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The cost might be a factor - I bought a roll of Fibre scuff for 30ish pounds but the clear one was 3 times as much! Might be different with volume purchasing by a batmaker but I was surprised the difference was so big.
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Cannot get my head around hiding the lovely willow under those fibre scuffs, but some lovely looking sticks there Chris. Just as well my bats for next year are sorted or that G4 pricing would be mighty tempting!
Bit of a mix of preferences certainly seem to have moved to the fibre scuff sheets I guess they see the pros use it and also weight saving on the kids and light weight bats. Some also ask my opinion and I feel the fibre is better from a Protection element which is really what you use it for. Thanks for the comments on the bats @Jimbo
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The cost might be a factor - I bought a roll of Fibre scuff for 30ish pounds but the clear one was 3 times as much! Might be different with volume purchasing by a batmaker but I was surprised the difference was so big.
Nope that’s about right £90-100 for clear helicopter scuff £30 odd for the fibre and I’m
Not big enough to buy in any kind of bulk that would generate a discount that’s for sure
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Couple of bats made up over the last week. Gold AM18 profile 2lb 9.8oz, 36mm edge, gauge filling spine height semi oval handle grade 2
Blue stickered SL06 mid middle 37mm edge, grade 3 thick semi oval handle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fyj43Xzb/IMG-8801.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vxB2k46R)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J08vWnNC/IMG-8803.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0MtcY9XV)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QMBRQv8w/IMG-8800.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KK2qFqgD)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pLdNTpg2/IMG-8804.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tY8vvCqf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RFKy8fnT/IMG-8805.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DJfx4S6W)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pdg3qkyT/IMG-8808.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8FmyCRRQ)
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So for this year iv decided to get some G4 clefts to be able to offer a hand crafted bat at the sub £200 mark.
I was able to offer this in my G3 offerings until last year and generally found it disappointing I could no longer offer that. However now managed to secure some G4 clefts which include Butterly as that’s the grade I class Butterly at.
Anyway here are a couple iv made over the last weeks . For a couple of local players as net bats. One is Suffolk academy player, nets 3 times a week against side arm and bola machine so great option to save his more expensive G1. Other is for lad at a local club that plays occasional Sunday cricket and bought in SD slaz Kashmir for a refurb and walked away ordering a new stick.
Both are 2lb 10oz in the SL06 profile, Red is a skinny handle at customer request and gold is a standard semi oval handle
(https://i.postimg.cc/kg3PywQL/IMG-9138.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/563r4Bkm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Vsh8Jzdf/IMG-9140.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5j8GGdBT)
(https://i.postimg.cc/5NFMvDCw/IMG-9139.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7fDcrsX6)
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Said it before but your new stickers really are a lovely improvement on the previous iteration.
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Lovely shapes! And I like the look of the grains and two-tone willow of the red stickered one.
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Great that you can offer a sub 200 handcrafted bat.
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Still remember when I bought my first clefts and was ordering in 3-5 at a time now doing a workshop extension and ordering at 50 a time.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BZ8WpfdR/IMG-9653.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BtGwZkZC)
First one off the batch is pretty nice
(https://i.postimg.cc/HkgfTcVC/6595-E516-08-E3-428-F-9-FAF-51-F8-AE0-CD225.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mW85368)
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Brilliant pics and fantastic to see your trade growing.
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Morning all. Just thought I’d share a few of the bats I made up in April for customers before the elbow injury which has largely kept me out of the workshop the last 2 weeks.
As always please share your feedback and if you like the shapes you see please get in touch, over 60 clefts in stock across all grades.
These were all under 2.10 finished weights
(https://i.postimg.cc/vT8Bghqc/IMG-9999.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xJ7YBvS2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d1wQpnK4/IMG-9998.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NyCwr6FH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hjs4BxDg/IMG-9951.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5YHW5XQk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPfDkfHW/IMG-9948.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0b11m2kc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zX6z8qrL/IMG-9923.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ppQbBbyx)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tRrRvhvN/IMG-9922.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WtkPhJvd)
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True craftsmanship! They look really good.
Hope you are healing well!!!!
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Lovely work mate.
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Thanks gents for the comments
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So last few weeks have been a real struggle with the elbow fracture at the start or April and a tear to my MCL whilst hoovering the living room ( the most random injury ever)
But anyway finally managed to get a couple of orders done.
First was a super light 2lb 7oz SL06. Nothing to write home about specs wise with 30mm edge, moderate concaving and a round handle but pleased with the first one back.
Second one ( gold stickers) is a 2lb 10.5oz SL06 with a full almost convex profile and some of the straightest grains iv seen, match perfectly from back, through the how and into the blade. Lively cleft to work with also with a lovely semi oval handle.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DZj9TNxz/IMG-0096.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7Gzs1K8v)m
(https://i.postimg.cc/DZj9TNxz/IMG-0096.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7Gzs1K8v)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NfmQ6gN7/IMG-0138.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8fVFK38)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NLhPGvmQ/IMG-0139.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/H82t3K6N)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xd9hbQ7C/IMG-0141.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXFtWw9D)
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Been a while since I shared what’s been happening in my little Suffolk workshop
Been making a few more traditional shaped bats as they have gone down well when people visit the workshop. When I say modern the edge size is between 27-32mm depending on weight and shape but been able to use some of the heavier clefts I always get at the end of each order and priced them at a G3 price point regardless of actual grade and this mix of lower price for smaller bat has worked well. Feedback has been great in that no one has said they feel less powerful or go less far than what ever they used before. Tend to be for the 2.7 -2.9 range mainly
(https://i.postimg.cc/593MtLxx/1433-E280-E9-A2-4-B7-E-904-F-7-C98-B530400-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WthyWDFK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fR345PYL/IMG-0796.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/87VnztKQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QM52ZW4Z/IMG-0797.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8SYxtfm)
Once again the AM18 has been the best seller, this is the 1/2inxh shorter blade longer handle set up and often those that have always used traditional pick these up and comment on the light pick up and once told most seem to say they never noticed and I think that’s something I’ve learnt that using the forum as a test centre is pointless as 99% of club players are no where near as nerdy as us lot and buy on reputation or price really from my 5 years ( 4th season with W&W )now making from the part mades.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BvWzpnqY/83-A2-BA3-D-F56-D-46-F4-A471-5-E6-F0-C72-DA4-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mPwV2R1C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/g0vTTbjY/IMG-0743.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wtj21PDP)
Finally decided to still offer a small and simple range of sorts as the local authorities to me have never been in contact and tbh I have no idea where the industry stands on this PPE nonsense anyway. Focused on a single pad and split and sausage glove in white, navy and for next season black and gone with a carbon design on the top hat of the bats and lead fingers of the gloves. Looks best in black in my opinion but is subtle on the white and looks very slick. Been well received as price wise sifts are new mental so being able to offer a top end bundle for less than a set of pads from some places is a winner.
Also ordered early in terms of my willow and softs to ensure than for 2025 I will not be increasing prices as the cost of game is now at a silly level, lucky as a one man band working from home and as a second job/hobby I don’t need to rely on this but seeing and hearing of some of the increases for next year already it’s getting a very very expensive hobby now cricket.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qRxWzHHm/9-E8-D67-CF-5-F74-42-F7-9-CF7-3428-BD94-BD9-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sQ1TN8XS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nh95qDt9/IMG-1065.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKYpcLFQ)
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softs look great mate, got a white set in SMLH for a full kit w@nker?
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softs look great mate, got a white set in SMLH for a full kit w@nker?
@Warneymonster yes I do in the black and white options as the orders just arrived
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How this stunner survived not being picked until the last couple of weeks of the season I’ll never know. 15 grains, even strip of the heartwood on the LH outside edge of which new owner is LH and why he picked this one. Finished 2lb 10oz with 37mm edge, 54mm spine, some concaving as bat is modelled on his previous bat which was a GM Mana so the AM18 profile shape suited very well.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4dsVSqw0/IMG-0142.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CZrRZv3C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/90fTW96t/IMG-0143.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XGTXLr7p)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nz2Bb2Ph/IMG-0145.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/r0dK51TB)
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Beauty
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Stunning!
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Beauty
Thank you appreciate the comment
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Stunning!
Agree it’s a lovely piece of willow. Luckily got a few more like it
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Hi all
Made this one up last week as a super light version of the GM players edition ( Ben Stokes). Made for a dad at a local club who loved the shape of his sons PE edition but A) didn’t want to spend £700 and B) wanted something super light so the compromise was go local and get top grade willow at almost half the price ( could be less than half price when the new 2025 prices are released)
Finished weight 2lb 7.4oz. Think toe edge and thin shoulders with all the wood in the centre of the bat, semi thick semi oval handle
Grade 1 Willow
Anyway hope people like it
(https://i.postimg.cc/sXTfHJSX/BA4-DF6-FD-2-FED-4-AB4-BA53-4-EB488937713.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2bBfVh0R)
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Lovely work @SOULMAN1012 Chris, as always.
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Reminds me of the old Newbery GT shape...
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I like it
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Lovely work @SOULMAN1012 Chris, as always.
Cheers @JTtaylor145 not a shape if made before but one I certainly like. Would make with a thicker toe mind personally
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Reminds me of the old Newbery GT shape...
Now you mention it, it does a bit. That’s when Newbery made great bats
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With it being new release time thought I would share what’s new for 2025 and it’s simply a new couple of designs and colour ways in the labels
Gone for Matt black with chrome and embossed logo and really happy with how they have come out
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8kxZGrf/IMG-0551.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wRpQymTZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0rRfHLdn/IMG-0552.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0KnDzX4K)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vH5FHyjQ/IMG-0553.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tYRm2Kpf)
This was a copy of his previous W&W 2.10 finished grade 1 willow semi oval handle
(https://i.postimg.cc/dQbcY35H/IMG-0558.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YjzsNrKY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sfQCq74G/IMG-0559.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qgTFCtYp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zb2MHN9/IMG-0561.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjX7G28B)
This is a stock shape SL06 in grade 4 willow
Just in case anyone is interested in here I have kept my prices for 2024/2025 the same as last year despite the now increase of 8-12% in willow prices as I ordered heavily last year so be able to stay true to the reason I started W&W that was high quality at prices I feel club players can justify
Grade 1 £389
Grade 2 £329
Grade 3 £259
Grade 4 £199 - These are limited
Pads £80 gloves £70 and bundle £120
Wheelie duffle £70
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They look gorgeous.
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They look gorgeous.
@thegowerwaft thanI you appreciate the kind words
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Awesome as always. That green one ♥️
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Awesome as always. That green one ♥️
Has been in the range since the beginning and well refined now can do with either a mid/low or mid middle. This is the mid middle profile. Personally think the green and yellow really stands out
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Not been a huge fan of the stickers to be honest, but the chrome ones look banging.
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Not been a huge fan of the stickers to be honest, but the chrome ones look banging.
Thanks for the feedback. Design work and I.T are not strong points of mine but by and large feedback is positive on the design so I think this will be the 3rd year using this design just trying to refine them with the Matt background, texturing and chrome embossing.
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Thanks for the feedback. Design work and I.T are not strong points of mine but by and large feedback is positive on the design so I think this will be the 3rd year using this design just trying to refine them with the Matt background, texturing and chrome embossing.
Yeah, you'll never appeal to everyone, so wasn't a criticism. Just a note that the new ones are a big jump. In my opinion anyway :)
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Evening all.
So tried my hand at a couple of Jnr bats. These are made from adult part mades that had some damage and splits from pressing and machining that meant they would have made thin edges traditional shaped bats that in this day and age are a hard sell I’ve found.
First is a G1 size 3 that had a little storm damage and a small split and really pleased with how this came out. Lovely shape very similar to the adult AM18 shape I make a lot of. I’ve never tried my hand at these really so the stickers I have are designed for adult bats so made up the decals from the old vinyl I used to lay over the Matt WW stickers to give a chrome effect when I first started. Weight is 1lb 3oz
(https://i.postimg.cc/NMG1vtqd/IMG-0491.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mc4c1hGB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L4bjwGyV/IMG-0493.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PN1L8VnL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0Qt7849P/IMG-0492.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/62v8cY7m)
Next one is a size 4 and he asked for a Dhoni style bat as that his favourite player and I rember him having a very round toe on his SS bats so tried to copy that. Fuller shape needs finishing off but again pretty happy. This had a split in the toe from pressing so was able to cut all that away and plane the width down will aim to get this to finish about 1lb 6oz to 1lb 7oz
(https://i.postimg.cc/pX5KHk4M/IMG-0500.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RN9W11vg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BbXHtCvD/IMG-0502.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q6Hz5yyM)
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@SOULMAN1012 Chris, great work on that Dhoni profile bat. Very impressed.
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I'm not a fan (of the mega rounded toes) but the Dhoni bats I've seen have been even more rounded, like proper half circle.
Do think this looks better though.
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@SOULMAN1012 Chris, great work on that Dhoni profile bat. Very impressed.
Thank you helped to get the size as was 3-4inch up an adult cleft when sawn but pleased how it came out. Very helpful having a bandsaw now and not just on sanding alone to round the toe on these.
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Hi all just sharing a few I’ve made up so far in January
G1 SL06 full convex profile 2lb 11oz, semi oval handle - stock bat so available if anyone likes it
(https://i.postimg.cc/J4SR5S76/BC390-E8-B-D2-FB-4-EDE-AB55-755-E79-D1-FC7-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Wh6R2Wkg)
G2 AM18 traditional ( which is the thinner edge very light option I’m now doing) full 108mm width 1/2 inch shorter blade 29mm edges max finished weight 2lb 7.5oz medium thick semi oval handle. Young lads first senior bat
(https://i.postimg.cc/0ymPWZb8/IMG-0672.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mPbvhYYq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9fhVvT7y/IMG-0674.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zy09hypf)
Grade 2 AM18 finished weight was 2lb 9.2 for a player in the Norfolk Premier league finished weight 2.10 oval handle
<a href='https://postimg.cc/LgLcgv0d' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/L5b27bts/IMG-0974.jpg' border='0' alt='IMG-0974'/></a>
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xvk33Jfm/IMG-0975.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/f3y1fMgf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QxT2hCsm/IMG-0973.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LnmCVHJg)