Topic: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything. (Read 10887 times)

Tom · « **on:** April 04, 2011, 10:12:47 PM »

As some of you may know I've been working in the industry now on/off for 5yrs. Have picked up a fair amount of knowledge and would like to share some, to help others wanting to work in the bat industry or just to help find a decent bat.

Have worked for a UK bespoke batmaker, run my own (very small) brand, shaped bats in a Meerut factory for a month and headed up production for one of the Uk's larger cricket companies. So questions loosely based around these subjects may be useful.

So if there's anything fire away...

Edit: Oh yeh, I set this forum up too. Nearly forgot.

100 not out · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:14:59 PM »

who do u rate as the best batmaker in the world?

tim2000s · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:15:15 PM »

Which of the roles you've done was most fulfilling and why?

mattw · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:15:22 PM »

Hi tom, I was wondering if you clear up a few questions on this topic I started earlier on today regarding on choosing a bat.

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=10801.0

niceonechoppy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:15:53 PM »

What was the hardest part about running your own company?

Colesy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:20:19 PM »

Nicest pro you've met

Tom · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:20:28 PM »

Quote from: 100 not out on April 04, 2011, 10:14:59 PM

who do u rate as the best batmaker in the world?

Difficult question - I'm in awe at the shaping skills of the Indian makers. The uniformity they can create with basic hand tools in not perfect conditions is wonderful. But hard to look beyond a Tim Keeley convex face pressed, rather than the flat roller as seen on the GT, bat, he's a very knowledgeable guy too. I'm using one of his at the moment

I haven't seen the work of everyone though, so my advice is always to find a bat that suits you, taps up well and ignore the maker.

slogsweep · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:20:52 PM »

How much would it roughly cost to buy all the tools and how much does willow and handles tend to cost?

jimba101 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:21:46 PM »

do you have time to play?! what bat do you use?

Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:22:28 PM »

Quote from: niceonechoppy on April 04, 2011, 10:15:53 PM

What was the hardest part about running your own company?

Simple, accounts (more specifically tax!). Loved designing, fiddling with shapes but recording the hard numbers was a pain.

Tom · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:23:35 PM »

Quote from: jimba101 on April 04, 2011, 10:21:46 PM

do you have time to play?! what bat do you use?

I've only played the odd charity games for the past couple of seasons. After 5 days of cricket, I'm not really after playing yet more.

I've got a Tim Keeley custom which was made for Andrew Symonds. Some may call it a 'pro' bat.

Tom · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:23:59 PM »

Quote from: Colesy on April 04, 2011, 10:20:19 PM

Nicest pro you've met

Lou Vincent.

Liam-SCCC · « **Reply #12 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:26:34 PM »

I bet Trescothick would have been nicer to you if you hadn't rung him in the early hours!

Tom · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:28:29 PM »

Quote from: slogsweep on April 04, 2011, 10:20:52 PM

How much would it roughly cost to buy all the tools and how much does willow and handles tend to cost?

You can run a basic setup (finishing part mades) with just a bench, vice, spokeshave and sandpaper. So no more than �100 if you buy carefully.

But a good set-up (working from scratch) you're looking at least �10,000 for press, pneumatic sanders, bandsaws, jigs, hand tools. The best setups with CNC machines etc run into the hundred's of thousands.

If it's something you're interested in then start out with part mades! Andy from SAF or someone who has taken a brand further would be good for advice.

Tom · « **Reply #14 on:** April 04, 2011, 10:30:01 PM »

Quote from: tim2000s on April 04, 2011, 10:15:15 PM

Which of the roles you've done was most fulfilling and why?

I feel I've learned most at Mongoose. To start at a brand in Week 1 as the only employee with no stock and be in 100+ retailers selling thousands of bats within 18months is quite a journey!

Author Topic: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything. (Read 10887 times)

Tom

Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything.

100 not out

Re: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything.

tim2000s

Re: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything.

mattw

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niceonechoppy

Re: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything.

Colesy

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Tom

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slogsweep

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jimba101

Re: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything.

Tom

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Tom

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Tom

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Liam-SCCC

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Tom

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Tom

Re: Ask the ex-brand owner/shitebatshaper/bat geek anything.