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[Pelican042]

Just thought I would start this topic on my new bat.
It's a oversize g3 cleft from h4l so isn't the prettiest with 5 straight grains but a fair few blemishes.
The profile is based on the st shape with a low but long middle and the spine running through the toe.
The main difference being I have gone for spine over edge with a 77-78mm spine but a 25mm edge.
A few features I have used is an offset edge, a small scallop at the base of the splice (similar to the salix slx), a fish fin handle and a tapered toe. The handle is an this egg shaped oval moving to round at the top.
There is zero concaving on this bat giving it a large forgiving middle
As you could probably guess it's pretty heavy at 2'14.8 but picks up surprisingly light
A big thanks to h4l, and I hope you guys enjoy the pics















I have just realise the toe up picture looks like the spine isn't central or straight but it's just the photo angle

[Buzz]

what a brilliant piece of work. we haven't seen nearly enough people having a go at making bats recently and this is great.

nothing wrong with a big heavy beast of a bat.

well done!

more please

[GarrettJ]

Superb effort

How did you find the shoulder area? Was the hardest part for me.

[Pelican042]

Cheers guys,
I used a mix between a Shinto rasp and a file to do the shoulders, don't have a drawknife so was all shaping was done with a spokeshave and a plane. I used a random orbital sander for rough sanding then a belt sander for the toe shape and to angle the toe.
Hope that helps you get an insight into the process

[Bambooman]

Well done for making your own bat! Was wondering what you used to press the face, unless you received the cleft pre-pressed?
Also, I was wondering if there were any makers out there with thoughts on pressing the edges of their bats. I don't think it is often don't but have certainly seen it years ago.

[Ryan]

Good stuff, i agree with everyone else about the shoulders. Very good for a first attempt.

Did you struggle with anything specific?

[Pelican042]

Yeah it was a pre pressed cleft, pressing the edges sounds like I would crack easily during pressing?
Ryan, I struggled with holding the bat as my bench is on a wall so I couldn't walk around it and the metal working vice I had means I had to use a lot of scrap wood to hold it which was fiddly. And as mentioned I only have a plane meaning the bat had to be parallel to me rather than perpendicular also a pain

[Bambooman]

Nothing wrong with using a plane (as long as it's sharp). I prefer the feel of it to the draw knife. I still use it with the bat in the traditional horizontal (or near ) position.

[Ryan]

Yeah it was a pre pressed cleft, pressing the edges sounds like I would crack easily during pressing?
Ryan, I struggled with holding the bat as my bench is on a wall so I couldn't walk around it and the metal working vice I had means I had to use a lot of scrap wood to hold it which was fiddly. And as mentioned I only have a plane meaning the bat had to be parallel to me rather than perpendicular also a pain

You'll find that you are more accurate with he plane when you're bench is solid, the extra movement can be a nightmare. I use a metal work vice (number 5 with a 5" mouth) and two bits of oak to clamp the bat up. just get two pieces and cut a notch out of the bottom to sit over the internal bottom brace. They should stay in place then.