Topic: Butterfly (Read 5018 times)

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **on:** November 20, 2013, 11:45:47 AM »

Well guys here's a pic of a a cross section of what real butterfly stain willow is. The look has put people off over the last 10 - 15 years as everyone wants perfectly clean white faces on a bat, which is fine but as a customer you may have noticed you are paying for that. These were hugely popular in the 90s especially for young cricketers like myself who was playing as much cricket as an amateur as a professional was if not more but had to provide your own kit on a very small budget. Great performers but have stains on them.
Now as a bat maker the key is to look through the stains as if you look at every bat the grains are perfect lovely and straight and they all run beautifully through the toe as well. If they didn't have stains on they would be grade 2 and upwards. The great thing is about these is that the actual stain whilst taking a little longer to knock in, when hit goes like the clappers and tend to have a longer life. I have put pics on of a couple of the worst and some of the better looking ones that you get so you can see the full spectrum. These ones have just had their first press. As I have said before beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My mrs keeps telling me that I think she's trying to tell me something.

ajmw89 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2013, 11:50:06 AM »

That middle cleft looks perfect! The stain is right where I'd be hitting the ball!

imran75 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2013, 11:54:03 AM »

They do look lovely but I think I'd need one with Butterfly stains down the edges. Perhaps a couple on the back too.

horseman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2013, 11:58:09 AM »

Put us out of our misery paul. Price and availability! !

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:00:04 PM »

Nice thread, Paul - interesting! I was talking to the bat maker at Gray-Nicolls yesterday, and he was saying that he doesn't know why butterfly stains are so responsive, and indeed that nobody seems to know. Surely there is some science behind it, though? Would be interested to find out if anyone can shed any light?

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:09:40 PM »

My view is the stain is a little harder so it takes a little longer to loosen up as it's gone through the same pressing as the rest of the bat but once it does it just zings off. I used to get hold of these as a young lad when I was trying to get in to county cricket as they may not have looked that nice to some people but they went as well as any bat you would get but you could buy a couple for less than a top end bat. My theory was bugger looks if it goes as well and it's what I can afford.

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:11:44 PM »

Quote from: ItsJustCricket on November 20, 2013, 12:00:04 PM

Nice thread, Paul - interesting! I was talking to the bat maker at Gray-Nicolls yesterday, and he was saying that he doesn't know why butterfly stains are so responsive, and indeed that nobody seems to know. Surely there is some science behind it, though? Would be interested to find out if anyone can shed any light?

Would be nice chatting to him. I was talking to Andrew Strauss in the season about him funnily enough. I love finding out any information on the subject as it doesn't matter how many bats you make or have made you are always learning

Buzz · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:13:11 PM »

how much would one of these beasts set a poor lowly broke punter back?
(must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, but but but they always look soooo good!!)

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:15:58 PM »

Quote from: imran75 on November 20, 2013, 11:54:03 AM

They do look lovely but I think I'd need one with Butterfly stains down the edges. Perhaps a couple on the back too.

Yes this is the sort of thing that happens really and understandable to a degree as we have all got into the routine of looking at how clean the face looks. Try looking beyond that and see the grain structure. We have had image banged into us over the years so we find that difficult. There used to be some real scabby looking bats in a county changing room but they were in the players kit bag for a reason they were guns.

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:17:59 PM »

Quote from: Buzz on November 20, 2013, 12:13:11 PM

how much would one of these beasts set a poor lowly broke punter back?
(must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, but but but they always look soooo good!!)

I am going to make these available in every range at �125. I am determined to get these babies back in popularity as they are truly great pieces of willow it's just that fashion has neglected them over the years

horseman · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:20:07 PM »

Quote from: Buzz on November 20, 2013, 12:13:11 PM

how much would one of these beasts set a poor lowly broke punter back?
(must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, must not buy a new bat, but but but they always look soooo good!!)

Ha. Its the voice in your head that says ' go on get one, you haven't bought a bat in at least 48 hours!!

wayward_hayward · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:22:27 PM »

Been wanting one of your bats and to try out a butterfly stain for a while now, could have found the perfect match! Some more details about availability and price would be perfect.

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:30:59 PM »

I also believe having spoken to Jeremy at wrights that this is one of the reasons that grade 1 willow has become so expensive over the years because it has become rarer as everyone wants perfect white faces. Unfortunately nature doesn't work like that and produces timber with varying looks

Kulli · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:55:25 PM »

Might it be worth a special sticker/model for butterfly willow, like classic bat company used to do. I'm fighting the urge to buy one of these very hard!

Batman7 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2013, 01:02:35 PM »

Paul I'm very interested in one of these now especially at �125. Can you put the supreme stickers on them?

Author Topic: Butterfly (Read 5018 times)

Aldred Cricket Bats

Butterfly

ajmw89

Re: Butterfly

imran75

Re: Butterfly

horseman

Re: Butterfly

ItsJustCricket

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

Buzz

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

horseman

Re: Butterfly

wayward_hayward

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

Kulli

Re: Butterfly

Batman7

Re: Butterfly