Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Reviews => Topic started by: kenbriooo on October 16, 2008, 12:57:20 PM
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Bulldog Pedigree
I ordered a Bulldog Pedigree in August and I thought I would finally do a review of it.
Service.
I had previously bought some gear of Kieron and he offered me some discount if I was to buy of him again. So after using the gear I bought for most of the season it became obvious that another Bulldog bat would be the right thing to go for. I emailed Kieron with my specifications and he sent back very quickly an email with a few bats for me to choose from. Over the next few days I sent emails back and he did likewise very quickly. Kieron actually arranged for his friend to drop the bat of to me when I was in Taunton for the day, to save on the postage. A request that he did not need to fulfil.
Looks.
I had asked for a bat with a good slice of Heartwood and a large amount of grains. I also wanted a bat with a large profile, with little/no bowing and weighing in at 2.7/9. I wanted it in a short handle also. The bat was also knocked in for me and prepared for play. The final piece is a fantastic bat that in my opinion looks superb.
Performance.
The first time I was able to use this bat I managed the grand score of 1 not out, and that was of the edge. I watched on from the non strikers end while we lost 5 wickets in a little over 2 overs!! I have used it since and I am sooo please to say that the bat is a gun. The ball seems to fly of it much better than the Fusion I had been using at the start of the season. I think with it being lighter I am able to time the ball much better therefore giving more value to my shots.
I would recommend Bulldog to anyone. They are a small British company that can give you excellent service matched by excellent equipment. Checkout their website and give Kieron a ring or an email. I promise you won’t be disappointed
Bulldog = 10/10
Kenny
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/kenbriooo2007/Pedigree/1.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/kenbriooo2007/Pedigree/5.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/kenbriooo2007/Pedigree/4.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/kenbriooo2007/Pedigree/2.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg306/kenbriooo2007/Pedigree/3.jpg
Be great to hear what you think especially if you have a Bulldog
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looks nice. with 3/4th heartwood the ball will surely fly....it may afftect the life span of the bat though....
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I never seem to keep bats to long anyways so I will probably only keep it for the full season anyways. I play upto 3/4 times a week and net early in the year so it gets a full use!!
Glad you like it
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Looks ok, not to keen on that much Heartwood.
with 3/4th heartwood the ball will surely fly...
heartwood makes the bat ping more?
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The quantity of heartwood would make the bat grade 2/3, it will mean that the willow is stiffer and produce more power but break more easily.
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Looks a great bat mate i was tempted to get one for the new season but went with Redback instead.
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Hi Ken, great review and glad you like the bat.
Bats graded on looks and performance and down to the customers requirement of plenty of heartwood and lots of grains. Like you say it meets everything you asked for. Anybody else out there looking for a new bat we are offering some great deals on our new Pedigrees at the moment and also good discounts on all Bulldog gear.
Thanks Ken and please keep in touch and let me know how the bat goes next season.
Cheers
Kieron
Bulldog Cricket
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Some more heartwood lovers below Ken. You are in good company !!
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/82243.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/057750.jpg
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Cheers Kieron. The bat really is lush. I was so pleased to get a good deal even if I did miss out on the offer of the Basher u have recently emailed (although it would have been cheeky to have asked for a discount and a free net bat!).
It would be great to hear if you are going to do clothing next year as I would love to complete all the gear with a set of Bulldog whites, then it will look like I am sponsered.
I know in all the games that I played in last year with the Basher I was getting so many comments on the bat, the way it looked and people asking about where I got it from. The eye cathing logo really is fantastic and I am sure this will get you many more orders in.
Keep up the fantastic work, I will be reordering again from you and sending my Basher back for a refurb next season.
Cheers
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Ken, the free basher is with a full price Pedigree, so you did ok.
We are planning on having a full range of clothing for 2009 and have lots of samples coming in at the moment. Just choosing the best ones now. We are also adding another set of pads and gloves to our range which will be very classy and simular in style to the Newbery SPS gear. Another bat is also being added "the BLX" as in the dogs BLX.
As soon as i have images of all the stuff i will let you know.
Cheers
Kieron
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Ha I know Kieron, believe me I am more than happy with the deal I got. Looking forward to seeing the new gear no doubt you'll be getting an order, or 2!
Lovin the name for the new bat, that really will be the dogs.... where will it slip in with the range?
Cheers, lookin forward to a website update
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Ken, BLX will be between the Basher and Growler, probably around £120 retail. Website should be updated in early Jan09.
cheers Kieron
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Hi Kieron,
Surely the phrase " the Dogs B*&$$@ks " means the very best and should lead the brand?
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We did think that Mike, but then we have the Pedigree which is our top of the range and we did not want to change that. My bat last year was stickered up as a BLX and it seemed to go down well so we thought we would introduce it into our range, but yes i know what you are saying.
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Perhaps, you could market the BLX bat as a 20/Twenty bat? There seems to be a few companys aiming bats at that market so thats pos an option.
Looking forward to seeing the new design and website
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Bat looks amazing mate
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Cheers Tikolo. If your in the market for a new bat I cannot reccomend Bulldog highly enough. If you fancy one I suggest you email kieron or become a member here where you get a free basher with every Pedigree!
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2009 Pedigrees now available. Amazing bats and yes a free Basher thrown in.
2008 Pedigrees now available at reduced prices.
Cheers
Bulldog
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New stickers?
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Whens the new/updated website gonna be up and running?
Looking forward to seeing the new gear you have mentioned
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New stickers for the BLX but not the others. We are just waiting on or new soft goods and then we will get the website updated, should be around Christmas time. New top of the range pads and gloves are going to be all white with subtle logos, similar to Newbery SPS.
I will put up some pictures of the new Pedigree tonight if i get chance.
2008 stuff going cheap if anyone is interested.
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Pictures of the 2009 Bulldog Pedigree as promised. Grade 1 English Willow, Large profile, subtle concaving, big big bats. This one is 2lb 8oz.
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/DSC01468.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/DSC01469.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/DSC01470.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/DSC01473.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/boucherk_2007/DSC01474.jpg)
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looks good, like the front sticker.
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Just a quick note to say that I have been using this bat in quite a few net sessions and I can say it PINGS!!
I have nver hit the ball with so much power as I am doing with this bat, even injured one the the bowlers last week firing the ball back down the net at him!
Lovin the bat and cant wait to get to the first game and try it for real... really looking forward to this season
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Ive got a Bulldog Growler and a Gunn and Moore DXM, got the DXM for free,
and the Bulldog is so much better, better performance, goes like a train,
I asked for a 2.7 from Keiron and the pick-up is immaculate,
Bulldog should be considered by all of you
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Made in Uk or India do you reckon?
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Made in Uk or India do you reckon?
Give you thoughts and we'll answer yes or no
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Norb do you actually know for a fact the grade and type of willow kieron is using for his bats?
As a rough guess, from what i have seen in the county ground shop in taunton - the lower spec bats, the growlers and the bashers seem to be kashmir willow (grade 2 at a guess) - the pedigree's seem to be around grade 2 english willow, but there seems to be quite a bit of variation from what i have seen . I have not used their bats so i am in no postion to say how good they are, and this is just my guess - i am not aiming to badmouth bulldog.
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I had a guy bring a Basher to me to give a quick sand, pretty sure that it wasn't English Willow although he was sold it as G2. That's why I started that other topic last week.
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Norb do you actually know for a fact the grade and type of willow kieron is using for his bats?
Yep I do.... I know where he buys them from and what they are as well
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I kind of new that was coming.....i hate smart-asses!!!
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I spent a lot of money on a bat that was marketed to me as a Somerset hand made quality bat. I complained to the Director when I found out where they are actually made but he didn't understand that I wanted something with a 'pedigree' not a stock bat I could have bought for £100 anywhere. In short I was ripped off, I asked for my money back but was laughed at basically. Goggle Bulldog or look at the website for the newpaper article. It does a clever job of alluding to two guys making bats in Somerset. Truth is they are bought from a guy with a shop in London and Bulldog market them and stick the stickers on at best...
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Jamferg i am sorry to hear this - i hope you didnt spend too much on it. I was in the somerset county ground shop today where they have a few - the pedigree was £290 and in my opinion had some very poor looking grain (5 and not straight) - though this doesnt mean it is a poor bat and having not used one i am in no place to suggest they perform poorly - it's just for that kind of money i want some decent looking clean grain. My advice - the money is better spent on a custom made blade from one of the many podshavers on the forum - and at half the price of the shop bats.
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Indeed.:-) After 15 + bats over 30 ys of playing I should have known better.Young players,however, may not and should be warned... Now using a ebay bat made by a British maker( in the NE) and paid £43 for it. Av 87.00 this season,for a 2nd hand bat it flies..but quality can be found with research :-)
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I agree, always keep an eye out for some of the ebay bats -couple rough diamonds occasionally peep there head, good work! only 15 bats in 30 years.......i seem to have got through 10 in the last 2 years.......dont ask. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.....it's just crap when it happens to you and you shell out too much money. Older and wiser im sure :)
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Bulldog Pedigree is hademade from grade 1 willow in England by one of the best bat makers in the world. You guys are always raving about his bats and he makes them for Bulldog now.
Bulldog
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Who is it? as I know all the bat makers in the South and none makes any for Bulldog. Plus none of the willow merchants has heard of Bulldog, where does your willow come from?
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Similarly, i would love to know - if he is that good surely it would be a good endorsement for your company to tell us all?
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something dodgy going on imo
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I kinda like bulldog except the pads and gloves, as a construcstive criticism ireslly think the pedigree pads and gloves look awful sorry to sound harsh but like the bags and bats :)
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Bulldog Pedigree is hademade from grade 1 willow in England by one of the best bat makers in the world. You guys are always raving about his bats and he makes them for Bulldog now.
Bulldog
Is it that he is making for Bulldog 'now' so therefore he wasn't before - yet the Pedigrees were still the price they were for what are alledgedly off the shelf Indian made bats from a stockist?
Just wishing Bulldog to clarify the situation as many of us go cricket equipment shopping in West London and have eyes and ears!
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Like i said, Pedigree is handmade in England. Just call us or better still come and visit us and we will tell you all about it.
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So what are your Growlers and Bashers made from?
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I would assume that you would want to post such information here
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Am i missing something? I would imagine 'who makes your bats' is a relatively simple question to answer and extremely important to know for those who have and want to buy your equipment.....surely the association with the batmaker 'we all rave on about' would clarify the situation and give potential customers a little more faith in your brand.
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Would you pay £60 for a Kashmir Willow bat?
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roco, we have not said that the bats perform badly at any one point, for all i know they could perform brilliantly and im glad that you are pleased with yours. The issue remains that people on this forum, some of which know a great deal about willow and manufacturers, have simply questioned the grading system used by bulldog and the extent of it's 'handmade' pedigree (pardon the pun) - i have seen their very low grade english willow and kashmir bats being sold for £150+ and being marked as grade 1/2 - considering these can cost peanuts to churn out you can see where the issue arises. Though i doubt this is an issue that is exlcusive to just bulldog - if people are willing to pay top buck then so be it, it's just not terribly fair on the younger buyers with less information and knwoledge regarding willow and potential grading.
We are still keenly anticipating to hear from bulldog regarding about the master batmaker currently in their service........
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How fortunate that a new member joined the forum today and leaves a post defending the brand, good timing.
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how very cynical - surely this kind of stuff happens everyday???
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I have often read the forums but never bothered to reply, I have no association with bulldog, just had good service, If a company says its grade 1/2/3 surely you go with what they say, Unless there is some concrete evidence.
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Could you post pics of your Growler if possible please? The Basher is the one I'm most suspect of, most of the ones I have seen look like Kashmir willow and that's having seen 1,000's of KW clefts & bats. If anyone on here has one I'd be interested in doing a swap.
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No problems. I'll Get some up now.
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As Requested some quick pictures of the bat
(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss278/roca123/CIMG0002.jpg)
(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss278/roca123/CIMG0001.jpg)
(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss278/roca123/CIMG0003.jpg)
(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss278/roca123/CIMG0004.jpg)
(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss278/roca123/CIMG0005.jpg)
(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss278/roca123/CIMG0006.jpg)
Hopefully this is English Willow and Not Kashmir
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bat looks good mate, i hope it gets you more runs! One of the better bulldog bats i have seen. Im guessing that it was sold as a grade 2/3 - did you pay retail price?
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bat looks good mate, i hope it gets you more runs! One of the better bulldog bats i have seen. Im guessing that it was sold as a grade 2/3 - did you pay retail price?
I presumed the wood was Grade 2, It had a few blemishes, But it is a 2nd bat currently but i'm looking at getting some more kit if the deal is good, I didn't Pay Retail, Got a good deal on the bat
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Three tone willow???
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No about 1/2 heartwood but the heartwood edge looks lighter because of the edge tape.
And talisman stop being so cynical, if someone started a topic on another forum saying that Newbery are rubbish I'm sure you would register and say how pleased you are with your bats? Same with RoCo Da Pixie.
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someone in my team has just got the top one, growler? He said he went to the house of one of the Bulldog team to get his bat (not kieron) and said that the bottom bats, basher, look typically india/asian,
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Missing a trick here though Bulldog don't you think? 'Everyones' most talked about batmaker making your bats and suddenly all bashful and shy?? Why not shout the name from the roof tops? Im sorry but this is poor and should be exposed so people who spend a lot of money arent being duped as I was... Time to show your hand
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Its not that easy Jim. We have an agreement with the bat maker that does not allow us to tell anyone certainly in the short term anyway.
Call me and i will try to explain.
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I thought you guys made bats?
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Thats what i call a good old fashioned rhetorical question.
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Well maybe but I think it is answered
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=10.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=10.0)
How did you get into bat making? Who trained you? Any advice for
young bat makers?
I'm self taught to be honest. I did an apprenticeship with Westland
Helicopters in Yeovil, where i trained as a machinist, so i am a skilled man by
trade. From there i have spent a small amount of time with various bat makers in
the Somerset area
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Thats some keen investigatory work there, your skills are obviously wasted as a batmaker, you could have been the next Columbo.......or Miss Marple?
I've worked a few jobs as a student that required machine work - yet i get the feeling i wouldnt having the Philliest Foggiest of how to make a bat - as for batmakers in the Somerset area the only two i know of is Redback and M&H - he was very lucky to have got some time with either of these guys.
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OK Can you tell me how what they charge for their top of the range bats and how much are yours currently selling for?
It wasn't the quality of the bat you sold me that I objected to, it was a fine bat, but I wanted a bat that had providence, I wanted to know who made it, what skills they had,who they made bats for. You knew this and yet still sold me a bat under these pretenses knowing it was none of these things. I know now that it could have come from Somerset, Devon, India or East London. That's why I'm on here posting Kieron.
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http://www.hornscricket.co.uk/pages/the-ultimate (http://www.hornscricket.co.uk/pages/the-ultimate)
"Ivor" the batmaker is from Somerset
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good spot Leo - i got a funny feeling he used to make bats just under the name 'Ivor' bats and now he is joined up with Horns, but i may be wrong on this one......
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Lots has happened since that interview. Things move on.
I used to own Horns cricket with Ivor and his son Richard.
We started the company approx 4 years ago. Ivor knows Paul Bradbury very well and we got all our willow from Paul. Ivor made bats with Paul and i think still carries out repairs for Bradbury UK. When Paul moved back to Australia we managed to get hold of some of his tools and machinery and some more clefts. We made bats in Ivors shed at the bottom of his garden. (He still does for Horns)
Things did not work out with Horns so I decide to leave and start another company Bulldog. At this time, we split the remaining clefts we had between us. Jim, your bat was handmade in Somerset from one of these Bradbury clefts.
Bulldog has since taken off and along with work commitments (Bulldog is not fulltime) we could not keep up with demand hence why we asked another bat maker to make bats for us.
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Ive got a bulldog, Growler goes like no other bat that i have
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The orginal bat was made from a Bradbury cleft but if you remember we swapped back again. I then bought the bat in question
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yes i remember Jim, it was still made from a Bradbury cleft. That was all we had at the time.
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Hi guys. The "Ivor" you are discussing is my partner in Horns. He is the only bat maker I know of who still uses the traditonal tools to make his bats. He even finishes the blades with a horses shin bone!! His first bats were made under his own name later shortened to ID. Kieron, how did you find learning these techniques from him?
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Mark there are still a few bat makers out there using traditional tools to make bats
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Hi Tills,
Not easy at all, especially when we had limited tools and no press. Hardest parts were getting the splices cut correctly in the cleft. This was done by eye without any jigs or fixtures, but was helped when Ivor obtained Bradburys band saw. Also without a press the bats we produced were very soft but did go very well. The finishing was also a problem as Ivor did not have any drum sanders or burnishing equipment. All the sanding was done by hand and then like you say finished with a shin bone.
How is Ivor, i have not spoken to him for a while ?
Good to see HORNS are still going being that i played a part in setting it all up and and designing the logos etc.
How are things going at Chard this year ? Em keeps me up to date and tells me you have all the “stars” playing. Do you think you will get promoted this season ?
Cheers
Kieron
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Hi Kieron
If I am a one of the "stars" I would be more than happy!! Wasn't playing to start with as nobody seemed "up for it" but after seeing the first two results felt I had let the boys down a bit. Results now going our way, even gave Lydeard an absolute hiding on Saturday, thay were not HAPPY! How is being back at home?
Tills
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Your one of the stars Tills. Whats it like playing with Mark Garaway ? he must be a different class.
Yes its nice to back home. Thought the time was right and the travelling in those top divisions was too much. Leaving home at 9.00am and having a 200 mile plus round trip on some games to get home at 10.00pm was tough.
Now a home game is only 5 mins down the road for me. Standard is not great but its good fun.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
Kier
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Kieron
must admit playing with Mark Garaway is something else. I have played with some good players in my many years, like James Hildreth and Wes at Glastonbury and against some very good players in the days of the old Somerset league but never seen anyone with so much time! Even at 35 he can still teach you a hell of a lot about cricket. He had us doing an old England training session a few weeks back, great but nearly died!! How is Bulldog going?
Tills
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Quite interested in the we had not press bit... So did you hand knock in bats?
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No press, no saw, no drum sanders........Ivor clearly loves a challenege!
Can i just ask a rather naive question - but with no press, how can they make the bats? You need the press in the early stages of batmaking to compact the blade, then as some batmakers do, use the press again to simulate the knocking in process - without a press surely batmaking becomes an impossible task???
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i think the blade can be knocked in by hand ,what a task that would be!
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so are you saying that you dont need a press at all? surely you must need one in the initial pressing process......are you telling me that a person knocking a bat in can simulate several tons of pressure??? i find this very hard to believe.
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im guessing the clefts would be pressed already . . . maybe . . .
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Hi
Ivor now has the clefts pressed before they get to him. The cost of a press is enormous! Yes he does like a challenge and everything else is left to him.
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Press cost are not really that enormous in fact way under a £1000
Sillyshilly yep you can hand knock in bat you should get better performance from an unpress hand knock in bat
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Fair enough - sounds like a rather monotonous job!
Mark, it would be good to see some of the horns bats and gear - perhaps you could post some pictures up in a seperate link?
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Fair enough - sounds like a rather monotonous job!
Yep it is
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I'd imagine this is said from past experience, i feel sorry for you if it is - how long does it take????
Out o curiousity, has it been difficult getting hold of the appropriate machinery and tools for the batmaking - i cant imagine a decent workshop would materialise over night, have you gradually accummulated or went crazy and got it all from the start?
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handle and pressed cleft...Vice Drawknife and plane is all you need so it doesn't take long....
You do accumulate stuff though - bandsaw / convex spokeshave / flat spokeshave more planes, more drawknifes... finally that elusive press
edit: and I have knocked in from scratch 2-3 unpressed bats and yep it is a pain ;D
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you make it sound very simple - vice, drawknife and plane. I got two out of three (lots of plains and plenty of vices - how difficult is it to get hold of a drawknife - having finished uni and not looking for a job quite yet, i would love to spend a bit of time just trying it out (im sure there will be many people telling me i should stay away but you have to try everything once!)
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It is simple... Talisman has one nick his or ebay or oldtools.co.uk or try Tom, Axminster tools also do one but I found it to thick...
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I have a few tools I don't need anymore if you're after some.
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probably just the drawknife if im honest, unless there is another tool you think is completely necessary. I have rasps aswell and other weird and wonderful tools that im sure could come in useful.
send me a pm with prices, or just post them here.
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I'd like prices aswell please Tom
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any prices??
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I'll let you know when I'm back at home as I'm working away at the moment. Then I can look through what I have and the condition of them.
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cheers, that would be grand!
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Nice one Tom :)
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Why not set up a tool bank? People could buy shares in the tools needed to produce a bat. That way everyone could have a crack without massive expense. If they decide it's for them they could 'sell' their share and buy their own long term tools.
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tom have u got any good conditon smoothing plains that could be used for joinery say a number 4