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[Slogger]

Hi All,
Ben from Aus here.
I'm having some trouble filling some minor damage on a cricket bat.
Long story short, I was given a GM Icon 707 (Maybe 2012 model?) for free as it had some minor shoulder damage and had been mistreated. After repairing the shoulder and sanding it back, I fell in love with its pickup and it pings really nicely. So nicely in fact, that it may be my match bat next season.
Anyway, the middle of the face has an impression from where the old owner bopped the top of a capped metal pole in anger. Its only a few mm deep but too deep to sand out (it looks as if someone has hit it too hard with a heavy bat mallet) . I've tried twice to fill the void a mix of sanding dust (from the bat itself) and PVA. Both times it has dried too dark and looks ugly on the face.
I've also had the problem that when sanding the fill back, the fill gets really shallow and almost flush and then starts to peel!!!!!
Any suggestions?
Cheers,
Ben
PS- My first forum post, if I've broken any rules or etiquette just let me know

[MrCricket321]

Well mate, i think that even if you do everything you possibly can it will not return to its original colour. I dont think you can really get it back to its original colour. Best thing you can do is fill it up and tape it around with some bat tape

[Mattsky]

Welcome to the forum pal. Get yourself a drink and pull up a chair. There are some members and sponsors  on here who are very handy with the willow and will be well placed to advise you. My initial thought was have you tried steaming out the dent? If it's fairly shallow this will work. Get the dent over a steaming kettle and watch the magic happen. Take care to tape over the edges of  your bat stickers beforehand though, as the steam will lift and warp them. As I discovered the hard way. 

[MrCricket321]

Yes Mattsky is right, there are some really good bat makers here with lots of knowledge, better maybe give the bat to them

[Seniorplayer]

Try steam but it does depend on how deep the depression is. Fotget PvA mixed with sanding dust use a small amount of high performance wood filler( Ronseal if you can get it) which does not shrink or crack but can be sanded.

Or you could apply a scuff sheet.

[Rob580]

If it's not that deep, can't you just tape over it and use the damn thing?

Chances are if the indentation is on the face, then filler would just fall out as soon as you hit anything with it.

[WalkingWicket37]

Go like a bat out of hell with a bat mallet

Steam it

Put some water only on the dent then sand

Leave it and just use the thing, you're hitting hard balls with it anyway so what difference does a dent make?

[Buzz]

Given it is on the face, I would fill with pva and sawdust mix like you have said and then put some tape over it and enjoy the "used" look.

I am not sure that putting water in/steaming the face of the bat is a good option as it may cause more damage than good.

Personally I think less is more in this case.

[Slogger]

Thanks for the suggestions!
I'm going to give this steaming business a try. It sounds like magic, haha.
I think I want to make this bat as new as possible because I got it for nothing and I enjoy a challenge. I'd usually just scuff sheet it and be done with it.
Cheers

[Mattsky]

Good stuff. Let us know how you get on.

[Slogger]

So the steam went as well as it could have gone for me. It flattened out the crater to the point where I could barely feel it when running my finger over it. I've now given it 3 coats of oil and its further improved and is now barely noticeable and the bat is looking like a belter.
Thanks for all your help.
I think I've enjoyed this refurb/repair a little too much and might have  caught a bug of sorts!!!

[Mattsky]

Super stuff, fella. Glad it worked out for you.