Print

[Howzat]

Incase some of you didnt know Norbair has his own blog where he writes about cricket bats and general geeky physics to do with cricket bats 

Great article here on tools and how to make a bat - well worth a look!
 http://www.cricket-stuff.co.uk/?p=173

[Howzat]

Anyone got any idea on what grit sandpapers are best to be used to sand  a cricket bat down to a nice finish?  Will three different grits be enough?
I also plan to get a drum sander for a drill to sand a concave (If I decide I like making a bat!)

[Talisman]

If you want to make a bat and decide to concave it then save your money and hand sand, the Pro's are still working on the best way to sand concave shapes and spend a lot of money and time trying to solve it. The batmakers I know only sand with 2 stages of sanding, they just invest time in the process and polish well.

[yvk3103]

leo i recently used no. 180 nad 220 sand papers and it gave my bats a amazingly smoth finish. The trick however is to sand with coarse sand paper (aluminium oxide) and gradually move to finer sand paper.

for the final touch I used Salix bat wax

[Howzat]

Nice thanks for the tips everyone, when do you think you'll be looking at the newbery subs talisman?

[umar]

Anyone got any idea on what grit sandpapers are best to be used to sand  a cricket bat down to a nice finish?  Will three different grits be enough?
I also plan to get a drum sander for a drill to sand a concave (If I decide I like making a bat!)

Leo, I tend to use a grade 40 or 60 to start with then work my way up to grade 160 for a final finish.

[Howzat]

So does everyone use a sanding block? Have any of you use a drill bit?

[SAF Bats]

Becareful with the cushion sander drill bit things there is a huge potential for disaster....

Concaving - I use a Clifton Spokeshave or Travisher [Pattern Makers plane] and for finishing I hand sand [will check the girts latter but I do about 3 to 4 stages]

[Howzat]

Whats the disaster with the cushion sander? Im intrigued now lol?

[e4sby]

I use 3 grits, 60, 120 and 240.

Gives a decent finish with a bit of elbow grease!

[SAF Bats]

Whats the disaster with the cushion sander? Im intrigued now lol?

It can take off wood like you wouldn't believe if you don't have a varible speed drill or is spining to fast.

[Redback Cricket]

+ it will burn the wood (if spinning to fast)