Print

[Bez013]

I'll try and be more aggressive next time, I just get worried about taking too much off!

I discovered from my first two attempts that it is very easy to take too much off the edges by accident which is why I kept stopping and going back to this one, you can get carried away or slip!

I've come away from each one with thoughts about what I need to do differently next time.  I guess if it was easy to make a bat everyone would do it.....and I'm only working from part mades.

[GarrettJ]

I think you are correct about the Distinction's .... oversized clefts is what they call it on their website

Do you think oyu will ever branch out to actually taking a cleft and doing all the pressing and handle work ..... that would be satisfying

I wish i was in a position to do bat making but i dont have anywhere to work.

[Bez013]

I think you are correct about the Distinction's .... oversized clefts is what they call it on their website

Do you think oyu will ever branch out to actually taking a cleft and doing all the pressing and handle work ..... that would be satisfying

I wish i was in a position to do bat making but i dont have anywhere to work.

Haha, I've only shaped 3 bats so that would be getting way way ahead of myself - eventually I would love to branch out into the whole process of taking a cleft and doing all of the work, however I think I have a lot of work to do before I get anywhere near that point! 

You would need to make a serious commitment in terms of time and money, I have two young kids and don't have enough spare cash or time to invest in it to get that serious at this stage. 

I would have to get a press made and that isn't going to be cheap as it will need designing and then I would have to get someone to build it for me.  I imagine you would have to spend a significant amount of time and money (trial and error) in getting the pressing right and I'm not sure how much information those who still do their own pressing would like to divulge on the subject.

I'm just happy to be able to do what I have done.

If you really want to make a bat you will find a way  my first effort I did with minimal tools and without a workbench or vice, I just used a garden seat and my hip as a brace and used two different types of plane until I got a shape, I think I had a spokeshave as well but didn't really have it sharp enough to use.  It is possible to make one from a part made cleft with a bit of effort and persistence.

Give it a go, it really is rewarding seeing the bat taking shape.