Print

[Red Ink Cricket]

What sort of press is used as a cricket bat press? is it a standard machine adapted to work for cricket bats or are they all made to order/ your own design specs? i can see there are a few different types used by different makers

[RossViper]

I think they are all custom made.
I think you could make a none hydrolic one wih the right bits and bobs...

[Red Ink Cricket]

What bits and bobs are u thinking?

[RossViper]

there are basically 2 bit to a press, and saddle - the bit that the wood sits in and goes forward and back, and the press, the bit that imparts the force.

The saddle you could knock up with a few bit of metal, for the press, you would need and powerful spring to apply the force, and a strong handle and threaded bar to compress the spring, you would also need the roller, which might be the hardest bit to get, but would not be too hard to run up on a 1/2 decent lath.

This is all theory of course! in practice it might not be this simple

[Bez013]

http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2009/07/handmaking-cricket-bats.html

Picture of one on the above link.

[Red Ink Cricket]

I would love to give it a go not that engineering minded tho.

[RossViper]

humm, it would take some work! Matt one at H4L looked interesting, cant find a picture of it now. I'm also wondering if there is a "better" way to press a bat...

[SillyShilly]

There are good and bad ways to press a bat. If you want longevity for your product, the bat will have the sh!t pressed out of it. It's all about finding the mix between keeping the bat reponsive and lasting for those 1000+ runs. This is why, as has been the case for a while but one that is changing, the quality of english made cricket bats has always been prized above those made in India/Pakistan. However, as has been noted by a lot of people on this forum, the quality of their pressing is improving meaning that across the board we are getting better bats.
The question about 'better' pressing is a good one - though if you are producing 10,000+ cricket bats do you work on an average pressure for each cleft when pressing to save time? Also consider that every single cleft will have slightly different properties as well......

[RossViper]

What I'm talking about SS, is a press that does not roll over the clef, I'm not say it would be better, just wondering if there is a different way to do it, and if it would have any effect.

has anyone ever used a completely hand hardened/hammered bat?

[Red Ink Cricket]

It's bad enough knocking them in let alone hand pressing. Think I'd rather attempt to build a press. Anybody have any images of a press they have built or design ideas? Probably a no but if u don't ask u don't get

[RossViper]

I was reading back through some old posts in bat making yesterday, someone said he was goong to make one, a couple of chaps even. Might be worth asking them.... not sure if they are still around.

Do you have the kit? And the space to keep.

I wondered if hand hamering would lead to a better bat. You could make a mechine to hand hammer!

[Buzz]

I don't believe that hand hammering would make a decent bat, I'm not saying it is not possible, just that with the way the timber is compressed, doing it by hand will almost certainly leave dead spots on the bat where the willow hasn't been compressed correctly. plus the advantage of a roller is that it gives you different amounts of bow which can help the pick up and allows you to control the pressing process more efficiently.

[Red Ink Cricket]

I don't have any press kit but have the space to keep it.

[RossViper]

I don't have any press kit but have the space to keep it.

I mean the kit to make it... welding stuff, lathes etc!

[norbs]

It's bad enough knocking them in let alone hand pressing. Think I'd rather attempt to build a press. Anybody have any images of a press they have built or design ideas? Probably a no but if u don't ask u don't get

I've got 2 now I've designed and got made, but it is best to get hold of me in October when I'm less stressed but happy to help and point you in the right direction

I don't believe that hand hammering would make a decent bat, I'm not saying it is not possible, just that with the way the timber is compressed, doing it by hand will almost certainly leave dead spots on the bat where the willow hasn't been compressed correctly. plus the advantage of a roller is that it gives you different amounts of bow which can help the pick up and allows you to control the pressing process more efficiently.

You can hand hammer them you can feel the difference on the face of the bat so you'd be able to get a bit more consistency then you think.  Hand hammering can make for a better performing bat funnily enough!!!! Yep a roller will give you a bow but you'd get a natural bow after a while anyway like the good old days ;-)