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[safcdeans23]

hello again glorious CBF Forum members!

im going to tidy up a new bat i got for nothing, a friend got it from one of the Pakistani guys on his team and it really looks horrible but with a bit of potential to at least be a club bat for one of the 2nds (imran sports bat?). to start with the guy has removed the front sticker so i removed the residue left behind, but the face of the bat beneath the sticker (the exposed bit) is very rough and of a poor finish. on the back of the bat were 3 stickers 2 of them Ive removed with the hairdryer method and taken of the residue but with the 1st sticker, someone has previously tried to remove it lifting some wood, Ive saved it and used a Stanley to cut any loose strands off.

thats as far as Ive got and decide to as for a bit of input from anyone with experience or helpful tips.

for example how best to restore the back of the bat where the strands had lifted?
how do i deal with any tough residue to remove?
and whats the best technique and tools for the job?

the bat will also need a oil and knocked in when im done, as its not had any of either in its short life.

all help appreciated     will try and get some photos if needed

[Vitas Cricket]

If strands lift, just sand them out, it's not the end of the world if they peel quite a deep gouge, just means a bit more work with the sander.

Use linseed oil or even a touch of white spirit to remove really tough sticker residue.

[WalkingWicket37]

Cut the strands at the bottom with the Stanley knife, as previously mentioned white spirit gets the residue off.
If you have an electric sander they save time, but if you don't elbow grease will do the trick. Sand it until its all one colour with a tough grade of paper, once it is use finer grades until you get to a finish you're happy with. I then use linseed oil on a cloth to remove dust and oil at the same time, then scuff the bat up.

Hope this helped

[timshort15]

Cameron, what do you scuff it up with, just a cloth?

[Vitas Cricket]

Cameron, what do you scuff it up with, just a cloth?

I think he means apply an anti scuff sheet.

[safcdeans23]

cheers folks.

ive cut the strands down and have ordered some finer grain paper that i'll get tomorrow, the lifting isnt very deep so should do the trick.

does the linseed really help with the sticker residue? still quite a bit on the back from the really cheap stickers.

[Vitas Cricket]

cheers folks.

ive cut the strands down and have ordered some finer grain paper that i'll get tomorrow, the lifting isnt very deep so should do the trick.

does the linseed really help with the sticker residue? still quite a bit on the back from the really cheap stickers.

I tend to find with cheap/fake stickers that the adhesive used is a right pain to get off. A little white spirit soaked into a cloth is the best way to shift it if the conventional method of scraping it with a credit card/Stanley blade doesn't work. Run the cloth over the affected areas and allow it to settle for a moment, then start to literally scrub with the still soaked cloth to loosen up the adhesive, don't be afraid to use some elbow grease, it can take some effort to shift.

[ajmw89]

Sticker/Edge tape/Scuff sheet residue is best removed using white spirit and an old credit card/stanley knife blade.

In between grades of sandpaper, I usually give it a brush off with a soft bristle brush and a few hits with a mallet to get rid of dust.

The lifted fibres can be sanded off to flat.  This is best done with a rough grit (40 or 80)

[Red Ink Cricket]

depending on how deep the lifted strands are you dont need anything too rough when it comes to sandpaper. something 180-240 will be more than adequate for most work. also means you get a reasonable finish straight away as you dont have to get rid of any deep scratches caused by the paper.  ive never used white spirit. just tend to stick with the stanley blade and scrape away.

i have a drum sander as well as an random orbital sander but always finish with a bit of hand sanding with the finer grades. gets a nice finish to the bat.

oiling wise i never use a cloth to apply. apply with your fingers as you can make sure most of the oil ends up on the bat rather than soaking into the cloth. onces its fully covered, rub it in well and leave for a bit. after an hour or two get a soft cloth and buff it all over. removes any excess oil. leave overnight to fully dry

everyone has their own ideas on what works best. plenty of good advice so far so just go with what works for you with the time and tools you have. be nice to see some before and after pics if you have any

[timshort15]

I think he means apply an anti scuff sheet.

Oh yeah, makes sense now hahah 

[WalkingWicket37]

I think he means apply an anti scuff sheet.

Sorry I didn't make that clear, I did indeed mean apply a scuff sheet

[safcdeans23]

little update for everyone.

the bat has been sanded all day today (rather sore arm now!) and is now resting with oil.

i used 280 and 400 grain paper. the 280 tidied up the back. getting rid of the loose bit around the lifted strains, i've now gone so far as sanding it perfectly smooth like i probably would have for a better bat but is a lot better than before. ive got rid of 90% of the residue however the sticker nearest the toe seems to have stained the wood with little red dots, so once again ive sanded it to a smooth finish but not deep enough to take all these out.

just applied a layer of oil with my fingers and will have a light rub with a cloth later before taking the 400 grain over it tomorrow for a onceover. then im just on to knocking her in.

only the one photo of the bat before i started


all the others are once sanded and the coat of oil has just gone on

back

front

sanded down strands

[no1red]

Looks nice man