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Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:02:42 PM

Title: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:02:42 PM

I bought a kashmir cleft and handle from cji cricket and decided to have ago at bat making! I didn't have a draw knife so used a plane for the whole thing. Hard work and made harder by a slightly suspect cleft with a dodgy splice and some cracking on the back. Overall I was pleased with the effort and it seems to play well but has cracked when knocked in.

I wanted a bat with a fairly low middle and lowish weight so made the back concave but kept the middle traditionally shaped for more margin for error. This meant it was about 2lb 9 when I finished and seemed to pick up nicely for driving.

Any thoughts/tips?

http://picasaweb.google.com/brocks411/CricketBat?authkey=Gv1sRgCLrWt933yYKTKw&feat=directlink (http://picasaweb.google.com/brocks411/CricketBat?authkey=Gv1sRgCLrWt933yYKTKw&feat=directlink)

oh and I'm 16...

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on September 18, 2010, 03:05:45 PM

Dan

good effort considering the amount of tools you had to work with, what did u use for concaving then if you only had a plane?

must admit cleft looks very suspect along with the handle, a higher grade willow would have been easier to work with i would imagine!

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:07:36 PM

I used a spokeshave but i'm not sure it was the right kind as it had a flat edge! It was all I had...

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on September 18, 2010, 03:09:16 PM

Done well then considering that mate...fine work!

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:11:17 PM

Thanks!  :)

I'm hoping to get a higher grade cleft and try to replicate the shape but time, money and tools are at a premium!

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: kalph on September 18, 2010, 03:14:52 PM

nice one ive got a cleft from cji i think i might just have go at it today :D

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:16:48 PM

How is it? Is the splice ok or is it purely the blade?

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: kalph on September 18, 2010, 03:19:10 PM

its ok i suppose not looking like that i think im going to create a oblivion shape to advance myself after making 3 cji clefts already :)

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:20:29 PM

I guess I was unlucky then!

Oblivion shape?

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: kalph on September 18, 2010, 03:27:10 PM

gray nics new bat the on the cook uses

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:29:48 PM

It's not out yet is it? Looks pretty awesome if you could make it though!

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: kalph on September 18, 2010, 03:31:24 PM

no but there is a nice profile pic in the catolouge

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: essexhenster on September 18, 2010, 03:33:19 PM

how much can you get one of these kashmir clefts for ??
id like to give it a go

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:34:52 PM

From about £20 upwards to £40 from where I've seen

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: kalph on September 18, 2010, 03:35:30 PM

cji is the best place

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: essexhenster on September 18, 2010, 03:38:21 PM

just went on the website, cant find anything about buyiong clefts??

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 18, 2010, 03:39:04 PM

Try emailing them- that's what I did.

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: essexhenster on September 18, 2010, 03:39:52 PM

ok thanks

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: kalph on September 18, 2010, 03:40:36 PM

there on ebay

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: Wills on September 18, 2010, 03:45:07 PM

i'll link you:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Part-Made-Kashmir-Cleft-Good-DIY-Project-/300380549109?pt=UK_SportingGoods_CricketBats_SM&hash=item45f0136ff5

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: essexhenster on September 18, 2010, 05:00:26 PM

which tools are need to make a complete bat ??

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: snafu on September 20, 2010, 08:29:36 AM

Good effort,but why has it got a line about 6inches down from the shoulder? it looks like it has had stickers on,can we see a picture of the front/face the back and the toe please.

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 20, 2010, 08:43:33 PM

On the later pics you mean? That's a scuff sheet I fitted later on. I'll try and get some more pics uploaded but I warn you- the face has cracked like mad!

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: snafu on September 22, 2010, 12:35:06 PM

What about the sticker marks on the back?

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: brocks411 on September 22, 2010, 12:40:46 PM

What sticker marks? If you mean the discolouration on the back, it's where I oiled it and then realised a bit later on that I had some nicer sand paper and sanded the back down a bit smoother. Once I get the pics up you'll see what I mean.

Title: Re: My first attempt
Post by: maxy1 on September 22, 2010, 12:58:08 PM

i managed to get the clefts two for £20 from cji on ebay  :) not very easy to work with but no problem if you **** it up