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[jonpinson]

Are you going to allow me to buy a bat yet?

[SAF Bats]

Gents 5-10 mins I need to do family stuff but I'll be back, keep them coming

[jimba101]

what gives a cricket bat a 'long' middle?

[SAF Bats]

what aspect of bat making did you struggle to get to grips with when first starting out (if any) and how did you get around it?

do you adapt your technique for different bats or are the basics the same no matter what bat you make?

handle shaping is hard to get used. Also getting used to working on the right hand and left side of the blade.

[Maverick79]

Where do you think future trends will be in terms of bat profiles? - For example the general trend currently seems to be for big profiles with big edges and lots of concaving where as most currently regard bats with thin edges and little concaving as 'traditional' profile

[johnnyw]

Andy,

What other wood has been used/tried to make cricket bats out of apart from willow?

What is the nearest substitute to willow? And also has Ash ever been used?

[SAF Bats]

Hi  Andy

Do you get your willow from a specific source ie one company, if so, is the choice of willow specifically for you or for other batmakers?

I now buy from various sources, I hope there isn't a preference!

[pacman75cricket]

What difference does a quality handle make to a bat as see recent quote about handles varying in weight by 3oz

[SAF Bats]

Thank you Jesusssssssss 

Andy, how would you fix a bat that's been overpressed?

Difficult question as you'd have to loosen the pressed area if I had to sort it I would oil or wet the blade and then  re-press it

[SAF Bats]

Do you offer extra drying of bats

Simple answer is nope, that said I would be happy to discuss taking them down to certain level but with caveats associated to them

[SAF Bats]

Hi Andy,

How can someone like myself walk into a shop look at 20 bats and choose the best performing one?
Apart from bouncing a ball against it or tapping it with a mallet what makes one bat different from the other
apart from the aesthetics?

Cheers, P

Ask me when you turn up, happy to fit anyone to one of my bats or someone elses.  If you come in and have one made with me you can pick with a bit of guidance, if required, whichever bat/cleft you want.  Riz and his brother did this [not sure of his forum name] and they picked up some nice bats.

[SAF Bats]

Are you going to allow me to buy a bat yet?

I'm not going to sell something I dont have someone else might do but I won't

[tim2000s]

How would you remove clear polyarmour if you were going to refurbished a bat painted with it?

[SAF Bats]

what gives a cricket bat a 'long' middle?

A great bit of willow and good pressing, to do this on a standard cleft you'd have to, in my opinion, make a heavier bat.

The beauty of buying a custom made bat is that is tuned to your specs so you dont have to spend the earth to get something you want and performs

[SAF Bats]

Where do you think future trends will be in terms of bat profiles? - For example the general trend currently seems to be for big profiles with big edges and lots of concaving where as most currently regard bats with thin edges and little concaving as 'traditional' profile

Don't get me started on concaving.... Lets put this one to rest, you have a cleft that starts 4lbs for example. You make one bat that is concaved that weighs 2lb 10oz and one bat that weighs 2lb 10oz with no concaving.  You still have the same volume of willow in both bats.  Is one better then the other nope not if they are both pressed the same and have middle in same position.

Ok to answer your question.... I'd like to think people will move from newer big edge style bats to Classic shape bats with a twist.. eg. the SAF Fabrica,Redback [Garys] Paradox, Newbery GT.  [ye olde bar - Millichamp Original ]