Topic: A quick guide to making your first bat (Read 123628 times)

Ryan · « **on:** December 11, 2012, 08:57:27 AM »

I get a few messages/ emails each month asking for tools/ tips needed when starting out making your first bat. I should it would be a good idea to put a step by step guide together, please feel free to add or challenge any information given in this topic. I'm sure that everyone will do things slightly different.

Ok, so first up is the basic tools needed to get you going.

Number 5 vice - Quite expensive so secondhand would be a good bet or you could use a joiners vice instead

Drawknife - Two types, one to shape shoulders and the other to remove wood

Normal

Narrow for shoulders

Spokeshave - Again two types needed, one round bottom and the other flat bottom - used to shape the handle/ edges/ toe

Flat

Round

Number 4 plane - usefull in shaping traditional bats

Travisher/ round bottom plane - Used for concaved profiles (various of sizes available)

Travisher

Round bottom plane

Rasp - Also used to shape handles

Sander - Various available

Sandpaper - very important to get a good quality of sandpaper (apply even pressure and don't skip grades)

Linseed oil or something to wax and buff with

The likelihood is that you wont need/ want to spend a lot on machinery but I've listed a few items to give an overview;

Bandsaw - Cutting splices & cutting the toe/ shoulders in a RAW cleft

Power sander - various available but I'd reconmend a pneumatic sanding drum attached to ether a lathe or motor (bench mounted)

Lathe - Handle binding

Like i said above, any bat makers please feel free to add to the above.

Ryan

Ryan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:59:04 AM »

I'll update with some pictures and links tonight.

Simmy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:06:50 AM »

should do a video Ryan of what each tool is used for

Ryan · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:08:13 AM »

Quote from: Simmy on December 11, 2012, 09:06:50 AM

should do a video Ryan of what each tool is used for

could do if there was any interest.

Chad · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:19:37 AM »

Quote from: Simmy on December 11, 2012, 09:06:50 AM

should do a video Ryan of what each tool is used for

It would be nice if he could do a video of that! Also to point out the tricky parts, and things like how to keep the spine central and straight.

Red Ink Cricket · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:25:14 AM »

pretty much my set up as well mate.

also worth mentioning you need a decent bench. either heavy so it doesnt move or bolt it to the floor or the wall. nothing worse than pulling wood off with a drawknife and your bench is bouncing around the workshop.

i only use one draw knife. seems to do the job for both rough shaping/removal of wood and the more tricky handle shaping.

another point to add is something to keep everything razor sharp with. you soon notice if one of your tools is a little blunt as it chews up the willow or just becomes alot harder to get the job done.

there are some images in the Red Ink section of my workshop if anyone was interested in seeing a few bits before ryan gets some images done. i must admit from what ive seen Ryans got a pretty decent set up in his homemade workshop.

ajmw89 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:35:47 AM »

Quote from: johners77 on December 11, 2012, 09:25:14 AM

also worth mentioning you need a decent bench. either heavy so it doesnt move or bolt it to the floor or the wall. nothing worse than pulling wood off with a drawknife and your bench is bouncing around the workshop.

This and having a decent vice is key. I'm working on fixing my bench to the floor and getting a better, heavier vice to weigh it down.

Ryan · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:50:29 AM »

Quote from: johners77 on December 11, 2012, 09:25:14 AM

pretty much my set up as well mate.

also worth mentioning you need a decent bench. either heavy so it doesnt move or bolt it to the floor or the wall. nothing worse than pulling wood off with a drawknife and your bench is bouncing around the workshop.

i only use one draw knife. seems to do the job for both rough shaping/removal of wood and the more tricky handle shaping.

another point to add is something to keep everything razor sharp with. you soon notice if one of your tools is a little blunt as it chews up the willow or just becomes alot harder to get the job done.

there are some images in the Red Ink section of my workshop if anyone was interested in seeing a few bits before ryan gets some images done. i must admit from what ive seen Ryans got a pretty decent set up in his homemade workshop.

Very good point there, a good solid bench fixed to a wall is ideal and will make your life a lot easier. Nothing more annoying then a moving bench.

I'll update the above with the extra items later.

Would it also be handy to list a ball park figure for tools etc?

Red Ink Cricket · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:53:46 AM »

cost wise would vary i guess. ballpark may help. to be honest its probably just worth directing people to ebay or to their grandad/dads tool box. most of my tools have come from there. once i started making more i ended up upgrading bits and pieces and buying from woodworking specialist retailers to get bits and pieces.

a bit of research is also good. spend half an hour on google and you can find alot of stuff

ajmw89 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2012, 10:00:36 AM »

The tools I've scraped together so far, not including any sanders and polishing stuff etc, have cost around �70 getting them from car boot sales, here (Cheers Ryan!) and ebay.
So a coffin plane, smoothing plane, round bottom plane, several spokeshaves, travisher, drawknife and several rasps. If you know were to look, there's some great bargins to be had!

Ryan · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2012, 11:26:52 AM »

I've uploaded some pictures Ive found on google, I'll update tomorrow with pictures of my tools.

mad_abt_cricket · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:08:25 PM »

Nice informative thread Ryan

Sam · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:23:02 PM »

Wish there had been something like this when I was looking around

, nice one mate.

paulkatich · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:27:13 PM »

I got a spokeshave from Stanley (manufacturer). I never got it to work. May be the willow was hard. It was difficult for me to shave the wood.

Sam · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2012, 08:28:26 PM »

I found it took a while to get used to. Gotta get it adjusted right and get the right angle.

Author Topic: A quick guide to making your first bat (Read 123628 times)

Ryan

A quick guide to making your first bat

Ryan

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Simmy

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Ryan

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Chad

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Red Ink Cricket

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

ajmw89

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Ryan

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Red Ink Cricket

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

ajmw89

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Ryan

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

mad_abt_cricket

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Sam

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

paulkatich

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat

Sam

Re: A quick guide to making your first bat