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[Ryan]

Ok, we all know enjoy a good challenge and having a little spare time today so simmy and I decided to have a bash at making a laminate out of one of his bats.

First step was to cut out the handle, a new handle would be fitted once the face had been laminated.

Second step was to decide how much wood to remove from the face, obviously this would vary up the blade due to the bow in the blade. Once we had that one figured out I had to set the bandsaw then make the cut.

Third step gluing, not knowing what type of glues generally used we both decided on using PVA as animal glue would be too thick and create a bigger seam/ join.

Fourth step clamping, I've used off cuts of various old grips to clamp mainly because of the difficulty to clamp the back of the bat due to all the concaving etc.

Fifth step re-handle, this will be done tomorrow once the glue on the face has set.

[Spanky]

So you cut the face off the bat then glued it back onto the same bat?

[Ryan]

Correct.

[wilkie113]

Soooooooo observant some people lol.

Shoulda used shugoo see what that does

[Spanky]

Just I was expecting you to have applied the face from the first bat to a different bat.

Didn't mean to come across in the wrong way. Looks a good bit of work.

Jealous of your worshop.

[Red Ink Cricket]

What's the benefit of doing this? Obviously there's going to be a very minute amount of wood lost via the cutting which may be filled by the glue but I may be missing the point. Surely you laminate the face of another bat to this one rather than cutting and re gluing the same bit? 

[Nickauger]

The glue acts as a trampoline between the two faces (or at least thats my understanding of it). Transplanting the face of another bat onto it would have the exact same effect!

[Ryan]

What's the benefit of doing this? Obviously there's going to be a very minute amount of wood lost via the cutting which may be filled by the glue but I may be missing the point. Surely you laminate the face of another bat to this one rather than cutting and re gluing the same bit?

Whats the difference from using a bit of willow from another cleft or using the same section? I would have thought that the glue creates the tramplime effect not the willow.

Anyway, its just a bit of fun and a bit of an experiment. If it works it works, if not then simmys lost a bat lol

[Ryan]

The glue acts as a trampoline between the two faces (or at least thats my understanding of it). Transplanting the face of another bat onto it would have the exact same effect!

That's exactly my understanding, like i said its a little bit of an experiment. So wont know till its all re handled and used in the nets.

[Ryan]

My poor bat....................... cry cry! Looks like you had fun guys. let me know how it performs!

will do 

[Ryan]

Heres an idea........slice it again and put a wedge on the back. You can really bulk it out that way?

Like a "double wood"? Although in the case it would be a "triple wood".

Could do, just want to see how this turns out first.

[Spanky]

I just always thought from the TK Lams iv seen that the laminated wood is from a different bat due to variations in the number of grains. Not saying that you are wrong. Just that was my understanding.

Will be interesting to see how it performs now.

[Nickauger]

I think part of that is to enhance the aesthetics of a bat. It will not necessarily increase the performance as there probably isnt enough wood to enhance the performance (I think). Double wood laminates are a different type of thing entirely, as they consist of 2 bats glued together.

[Buzz]

do you have a link to the original laminate you made, I think that is what MSR needs to see to compare.

nice work Ryan.

[Ryan]

I just always thought from the TK Lams iv seen that the laminated wood is from a different bat due to variations in the number of grains. Not saying that you are wrong. Just that was my understanding.

Will be interesting to see how it performs now.

I believe lamination was first done in England because grade one stocks were low and they decided to "ration" the willow by only using it to face bats therefore making more "grade one" bats.

The grade of willow doesn't really have an affect on performance, just cosmetically. Although i could be wrong.

However, we all know the a tight grain bat will perform from the off where as a wider grain will take longer to play in.