So I got a bit of an unexpected tax rebate this year which I decided to put to good use and booked a trip down to Appledore in Kent to get myself a custom made H4L.
First things first: Matt is a top chap. Friendly, easy going, really happy to answer my questions (I had a lot..) and very clearly knows his stuff.
After the obligatory small talk over a cuppa we got down to business. I really like the shape of the H4L Tempo - large spine height, comparatively modest edges and gentle concaving. Specifically though I was after something around the 2lb 10oz mark with more traditionally sized edges and a lower middle. I was quite pleased that Matt seemed really positive about a request for something without 40mm+ monster edges for a change.
I was presented with a selection of part made up clefts and handed a ball and mallet for tapping up to see which I liked best. I must admit I hadn't held a rough cleft like this before - obviously they've all got much more wood on them so all appear to have enormous sweet spots - but Matt talked through various things I might want to consider and helped me settle on one I was happy with.
Then the fun bit started! He drew some lines down the sides of the cleft to check I was happy with my future edge profile, grabbed a draw knife and got to work. I've read posts on this forum before about members who've tried their hand at a spot of amateur pod-shaving asking about how to maintain symmetry down the blade, so I took the opportunity to ask Matt. His response: "hmm.. I suppose I just do it by eye really". He certainly didn't get out a measuring tape during the shaping process but I've just double checked the finished article: the two edges are perfectly symmetrical to the millimetre. I don't know about anyone else but to me that's some pretty impressive craftsmanship.
Obviously we soon moved onto the spokeshaves, then some serious sanding, fine sanding a very fine finish by hand followed by polishing and twining up the handle. I think the whole process took less than two hours.
We opted for the tempo stickers seeing as that's the shape the bat is based on, and I chose the silver and black grip from the large selection he had in the workshop. I think I'll probably take the stickers off at some point - not because I don't like the H4L branding, but simply because I think all bats look much better 'naked'.
The finished blade has a superb pickup and having just given it an initial knocking-in session I think she might turn out to be a doozy. Will report back once I've finished knocking in and had a chance to give her a run in nets.
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Topic: Custom H4L (Read 4147 times)