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[Ayrtek Cricket]

decision such as profile now fall upon me....what would you say is the easiest starting shape to form as don't wanna run before i can walk as such!

Got 2 clefts so can try two different ones out of will be resulting to a middling bat if all goes bobbies up and a stick for dexter dog to chase (all be it an expensive one) in which case oscar may be required too!

[SillyShilly]

go for it tom, i wont be using it for a while - plus, as andy has so kindly pointed out, concaving is for women, real men make classic bats
Tom - send me through your address and i'll post it up tomorrow for you. Maybe find a bat shape you like, draw a template and cut it out of carboard and then stencil it onto the edges, that should give you a good place to start from. Also, it's very easy to get carried away with the draw knife and whittle a mighty cleft into a meesley twiglet - just take loads of time on it, no rush.

[SAF Bats]

Sharpen tools, sharpen pencil then go to the local to ask for advice, you'll get lots of it as you'll find that most people in pubs are experts, always look interested and  stay for one extra drink as you are now a bat maker and don't want to let the side down.  Go home place cleft on kitchen table and draw the edge it, admire and leave it..... Place an earser by the side of the cleft for rubbing out in the morning!  Redraw edge on the bat [both sides is preferable] get draw knife, if hungover after lastnights market research do this carefully. Place Cleft in vice tighten, then retighted turn on the Radio, Radio 4 or Radio 2 nothing to exciting.  If your favourite song comes on the radio quell the need to sing you should be concentrating on shaping the bat.

You'll find the difficult stuff is getting use to the drawknife and other tools [if you haven't use them for a while] cursing rip out and getting the weight down whilst keeping it looking acceptable.  Recommend a classic shaped back to start with as you can always concave it after [if you drew a fairly big edge on it]
 
Once complete place a 50p [or 5p / 10p / 20p] on the edge take a picture and admire. If posting on forum take 2 or 3oz out of the actual finished weight when stating the weight

[Ayrtek Cricket]

lol top quality Mr SAF will stick to these rules militantly! im just off to the local to check opening hours for later on in the week as its only 2min walk down the hill....could struggle with the walk back tho!

yeh had the thought of tracing the profile of an existing bat onto either side of the cleft to ensure you dont whittle down too much on either side. guessing the key is to get the rough profile/shape and then tidy everything up with a sander etc to get a finish of the bat prior to any buffing etc....

Other tools required???

ruler
digital scales
beer
plasters ( on standby)

[Howzat]

Also stick a number on the front of the bat so it looks like you have sold a lot

[Ayrtek Cricket]

cant imagine anyone wanting to buy something iv made mate!

[SAF Bats]

jump to conclusions or use it as an invoice reference number

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Good thinking although i doubt ill get above 2 in that case:(