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[SillyShilly]

Well i thought i would upload a few photos of my first attempt at making a cricket bat - to be honest i was a little dissapointed, i got a little overzealous with the draw knife and before i knew it the toe had vanished........ the rest of the bat was then shaped slowly and tediously by a small plain, therefore i struggled to create any real shape with the bat - however, this was my first attempt and with just these two tools i cant complain and considering i've never seen anyone do this or what to expect im happy that it doesnt look a hundred times worse than this - any tips would be greatly apprecciated!!!! PS - for any of those who are thinking about doing this, it's really worth while spending a bit of time sharpening the blades........i was ripping willow away left right and centre, poor old bat!




I would like to hear people's honest opinions, dont hold back! The photos are not particularly good, sorry but its the best i can do.
 - Apology to Mike -  sorry for destroying what should have been a nice cleft

[ianbuchanan]

I think it's a good job and a superb effort for a 1st attempt! apart from the toe of the bat the rest of it looks fine, nice even profile, well done mate!

[RoCo Da Pixie]

For a first attempt it looks good, i wouldnt even know where to start, Encouraging signs for future efforts i would say

[raymond]

Not bad at all.

Care to divulge whats in the folder called DEATH?

[Dobbs]

Looks very nice... whats the weight of it now?

[SillyShilly]

cheers guys - im not sure of the weight, going on pick-up alone i would say 2.8/9 without binding and a grip - quite heavy when compared to other bats with  larger profiles - but i think i was kidding myself if i ever thought i was going to whip up a masterpiece first time around!

As for the death folder, it is a shortlist of forum members who have ever got on the wrong side of me...........but in reality it was a university module i had to study.

If anyone has any little tips that make life a little easier when using a drawknife and the plain please let me know, or any advice as to any bits of kit which will make the process a little more rewarding, thanks.

[Hads45]

Not a bad attempt and as someone else said id have no idea where to start.

Only downside to the stick is it seems to sort of go in the outwards idrection at the top of the bat before the handle. Not that thats an issue.

Would be intesreted to see how it pings and stuff anyway.

[Howzat]

Thats awesome mate... Looks like you took a bit too much off the back side shoulders though.
You should have seen Gareth and Joes first attempt at making a bat (upload some pics lads!)

[SAF Bats]

Better then my first attempt.... Umm a good tip draw the edges on the bat to get the shape you are after....... I twittered a bat shaping on my twitter page you may need to click on more to see it as I got excited during the ashes....

It was a Harrow and links to pictures on there aswell that might help a bit... If not get Mike to give you my number more then happy to help

[Talisman]

I'm very impressed as the cleft had knots and graping in it making it harder to shape. I'll give you the other low grade cleft and then you might want to tackle the tight one.

[SillyShilly]

Leo - i agree, but to be honest, i could still take some more wood off the shoulder area (from the middle, not the sides), i need to get hold of a spokeshave for the finishing touches - there is a lot i would like to change, maybe next time!
Norb - Just had a read of the twitter page, the pictures and advice are a a great help - great looking bat by the way! I cant believe you got one of your bats signed by warney.......i hope that is framed by now! - The thing i found hardest out of all of it was not necessarily getting the shape to how i wanted it but making sure both sides were as even as they could be. But you are right, having a shape and sticking to it is a must. Out of interest, out of all of your batmaking tools which would you say was the most helpful/useful in the entire shaping process (and your not allowed to say your brain).
Mike - Cheers for chucking me in the deep end! I thought that willow was trouble as soon as i set my eyes on it! I watched the batmaking videos on youtube and thought "how hard can it be to use a drawknife, if this Milli-chump fella can do it, so can I! - I mostly used the plainer, i left the draw-knife alone after it had ripped off huge chunks of willow, not the easiest tool to use! I'll have a go on another cleft when my arms recover

[SillyShilly]

Norb - whats this inaugral willow of yours about then.........

[Master-Basterd]

Shilly, i have a spokeshave for sale. i bought it from an old bloke at a carboot sale.  PM me if you want it.

[SAF Bats]

The thing i found hardest out of all of it was not necessarily getting the shape to how i wanted it but making sure both sides were as even as they could be.

You get use to looking at it and ummm feeling it.... see below

But you are right, having a shape and sticking to it is a must.

Get yourself 1,2 or 3 templates of bat shape edges the template will always be slightly larger then the bat you are making.  If you are really precise make it bigger on purpose.... Use the template to draw the edges on both sides of the bat.  Then you can get the eveness sorted out as well as both edges are the same... you can see or feel the difference in the spine on both sides.... If you make a mistake and the template is bigger then you've got some scope for correcting it...

Out of interest, out of all of your batmaking tools which would you say was the most helpful/useful in the entire shaping process (and your not allowed to say your brain).

Ok 2 things I could do without my Drawknife it is both a monster and precise, you can shoulder the bat, shape the handle also lay the back edge flat you can use it as a plane.... 

The other thing is my wooden block plane, great for edges, centering the spine and it can remove wood as well....

whats this inaugral willow of yours about then.........

Inaugural Willow is high performance willow that is pressed by me on some convoluted roller and press design to provide lovely tones and super high performance....  I need the correct raw material first, more details after I speak to you know who on the 23rd... One of my sponsered players uses / used one from about half way through the season he likes it  I got one just right before my press went off for a suspension refit   

[SillyShilly]

Blimey Norbs, plenty to take on board there-  cheers for the advice on the templates, i'll have to knock up a few designs......watch this space! Like you say, at this stage it's best to err on the side of caution when taking wood off the bat - cant put back on what you've taken off.
As for the draw knife, im just going to have to man up and get used to it, there is no way i'm going to plain an entire bat! I have a half decent bench plain but it would appear the wooden block plane seems to be the weapon of choice for batmaking, time to get bargain hunting me thinks!

Inaugural willow sounds pretty special.....and familiar.......i can imagine the carnage created by the correct raw material and your precise technological approach to the pressing of the cleft........you must have a very happy sponsored player!