The day started early when the alarm went off at 7:20am on Saturday. Still wiping the sleep from my eyes, I tried to focus on my phone a sent a text to Roco enquiring as to his whereabouts. His day was destined to start a lot earlier than mine, as he needed to drive from Wales to Oxfordshire by 8:30am!!
The reply to my text was quick, and to my surprise he was already parked outside at 7:30!! Ten minutes later we were drinking a cuppa, tapping up a few bats, and planning out road trip to Kent.
We set off and eventually arrived after some help from Matt's directions. We parked by the workshop and were met by Matt welcoming us with the offer of another cuppa. The workshop was split into 4 rooms - the sanding room, the main workshop, the shop and last (but not least) the kitchen.
The workshop itself was very well equipped with a press, various cutters and electric saws, other equipment for helping and a couple of vices. The sanding areas had the proper sanders and buffers. The shop obviously had areas to show bats, pads and gloves. And the kitchen had all the essentials except for the one missing ingredient of the Battenberg cake!!!
The next hour or two was spent discussing the forum and picking up bats. The conversation went something like, "this one's nice. How's that one? Nice? Yeh, this one too! Ohhhh, that one looks nice. And this one as well. Hey, nice bat you picked up there! What do you think of this one? Yeh, it is nice isn't it! Blah, blah!"
So we sorted through dozens and dozens of part mades which Matt had been busy getting ready for our arrival! There were some pretty grains, some tight grains, wider grains, heartwood, clean, butterfly clefts,etc,etc.
We then got the trusty mallet out and starting tapping the clefts up. We managed to find lots of clefts which responded extremely well - some were cosmetically nicer to look at than others but we weren't there to worry about how the bats looked! Response, feel and balance would be more important factors.
We started choosing some bats and putting them to one side otherwise we would end up being there all day. And there was a pub just round the corner which needed our attention and the clock was ticking. We eventually chose a few heavier bats and let Matt lose with his big mallet which would look more at home in a Thor movie. He started picking up the clefts one by one, and giving them an almighty whack with the Thor mallet.
He then looked at one of the bats we'd put to one side and informed us that it was the bat he had his eye on to use himself in the 2012 season. It was not the best looking willow but the Thor mallet made one hell of a rifle shot noise.....
Little wonder that Matt had earmarked that bat!! Roco was sold too and I was quite envious as it seemed ultra-responsive. And Lord knows I need more help with my batting than Roco does, although I do have slightly more choice at home.
There was a generous butterfly stain towards the top of the cleft so I guess it's true what they say about those clefts being very responsive.
Matt got to work on the bat trimming the edges to the correct width through one of a few machines he had lying around the workshop. Then he started sanding the blade and shaping the handle. Every now and then he handed it to Roco to try the bat for feel and pickup. Once happy he buffed and waxed the blade and strung the handle and set it to one side so that the handle binding could dry.
Then it was my turn and I picked out 4 part mades that were slightly lighter but all tapped up well. I let Matt do his 'thor thang' - a few hefty wacks followed and the two clefts which felt the best to me also sounded the best with Matt's fat wack! In fact his little face lit up when he smacked the last bat - the noise it made was beeee-uuuu-tiiii-fuulllll!! No better than Roco's, but to me, it was special
Again, Matt toiled away, sanding, shaping and trimming. I was like an expectant father pacing up and down the workshop!! What seemed like an hour later (was no more than 10 or 15 minutes really) and Matt hand delivered my little baby!
Even without the binding and grip applied, the pickup was excellent. I nodded appreciatively and handed it back to Matt to finish. He buffed and binded and stood it next to Roco's bat, which was now dry so Matt applied Roco's grip setup which in this case consisted of a thin grip plus a thick grip on top. Stickers were applied and Roco ample baby was ready to go - around 3lb of lush, butterfly clad, responsive willowy bat complete with Hattori Stickers. Pictures will be compliments of Roco!
Then came mine and same stickers but without the monster bits! After all, my bat was only 2'13 but picked up lighter. In all we both walked away very happy chaps! We then took a short drive to the pub where we had some food and a drink. Then we said a fond farewell to Matt and the day drew to a nice end!
We both had a great experience and want to say a big thanks to Matt for looking after us and for making us a couple of lovely bats.....
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Topic: Roco and Hosk's excellent Adventure (Read 15969 times)