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[tbarnfield99]

Managed to get my hands on a very reasonable second hand Hunts County Custom Classic Insignia. In the day these cost an arm and a leg. A very traditional bat, and must weigh at most 2lb 7oz. Picks up even lighter!

The price probably related to the condition of the bat, but I thought I would take a punt on it. It was technically in great condition, it just needed a really good clean! Struggled to get the weathering (from the stickers) off the bat, but I suppose I could of kept on sanding, but was wary of taking too much weight away from the bat.

Anyway here goes:

BEFORE





AFTER

[tbarnfield99]

Photos aren't the best (iPhone).

This is the process I used to refurbish the bat:

1 - Heat gun to the stickers and anti-scuff sheet.
2 - Removed the majority of the above by hand, but then picked away for about an hour with a sharp knife getting rid of the remaining residue / stickers.
3 - Rough Sanding
4 - Slightly Finer Sanding
5 - Fine Sanding
6 - Wire Wool
7 - Applied Bri-Wax
8 - Buffed Bri-Wax off.

[tim2000s]

Good first go. Have a word with Hunts to get some nice stickers on it.

Bit surprised at the willow looks for a Custom Classic. How does it feel off the mallet?

[tbarnfield99]

Good first go. Have a word with Hunts to get some nice stickers on it.

Bit surprised at the willow looks for a Custom Classic. How does it feel off the mallet?

Yeah awaiting an e-mail back from them. Pings very nicely to be fair. It's nothing like today's bats with huge edges and massive concaving. The edges are 15mm at their widest point.

I think if I spent more time on it I could get a better finish. Took me 1 hour 3/4's in total. The majority of the time was spent trying to remove the old stickers!

Willow seems OK. 6 Straight-ish grains that are evenly spaced out. I'm unsure what the previous owner asked for. Once I've got the stickers and sheet on it, I think I might take it for a hit, or most probably sell it on.

[tim2000s]

Yeah awaiting an e-mail back from them. Pings very nicely to be fair. It's nothing like today's bats with huge edges and massive concaving. The edges are 15mm at their widest point.

I think if I spent more time on it I could get a better finish. Took me 1 hour 3/4's in total. The majority of the time was spent trying to remove the old stickers!

Willow seems OK. 6 Straight-ish grains that are evenly spaced out. I'm unsure what the previous owner asked for. Once I've got the stickers and sheet on it, I think I might take it for a hit, or most probably sell it on.

I've had a couple of Insignias in the past, so I can vouch that it should have a decent middle.

[procricket]

tom how long did you leave the bri wax on for mate

[tbarnfield99]

tom how long did you leave the bri wax on for mate

Not very long. Only about an hour at most. What should I have done?

[EaglesCC]

Good job. I still love the profile of the old insignia. they don't make this anymore, right?

[tbarnfield99]

I think you might be able to get hold of them, but they are not the same as the old ones. This bat is currently for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260830665829&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_699wt_932