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[Silver Bullet]

Do I water down the glue for the edges or regular glue would do a fine enough job ?

Thanks for all the help

[Bats_Entertainment]

If you get that to me by Tuesday (wednesday at a push) i will have it back to you for the weekend.

Edit, just read the words 'across the ocean' - maybe i can't get it back to you inside a week!

It is an easy enough repair, happy to provide some advice/help.

Jake? I thought you knew your stuff!

The bat is healthy. Could perhaps do with a bit of edge tape, but that's all.

[Vitas Cricket]

Do I water down the glue for the edges or regular glue would do a fine enough job ?

Thanks for all the help

I don't personally see the benefit in watering down glue, it just weakens the bonding/adhesive quality.

The face cracks i wouldn't be worry too much about, you can leave some glue sat on top of them overnight, and the glue will work it's way in. From there you can sand off the excess.

As for the edge cracks, i would attempt to prise them open a little further using a Stanley knife or similar. From there i use a printers ink needle to inject the glue as far as i can into the gap. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-10ml-set-Syringes-Blunt-needle-for-Refilling-Refill-ink-printer-cartridges-/281435909667?pt=UK_Computing_Ink_Refills_Kits&hash=item4186e32e23

Once the glue is in there, the crack needs to be closed up. Tightly wrapping parcel tape around the bat would be the easiest way, proper clamps can be tricky on the edge of a bat. Leave overnight again and then remove the tape, sand off the excess. Done.

[Vitas Cricket]

Jake? I thought you knew your stuff!

The bat is healthy. Could perhaps do with a bit of edge tape, but that's all.

I would definitely want to give that some attention. It's hardly the worst damage i have seen, but a repair will prolong the life of the bat.

[Bats_Entertainment]

OK. But you explained 'opening up' beautifully elsewhere! I'd be happy if a bat of mine was starting to look like that.

[Bambooman]

Personally I wouldn't water down PVA glue as it will weaken the bond strength of the glue. I would try using full fat pva and use your finger tips to massage into the cracks (use as much glue as you like). You can also use a drinking straw to blow the glue into the cracks which is very effective.

[Vitas Cricket]

OK. But you explained 'opening up' beautifully elsewhere! I'd be happy if a bat of mine was starting to look like that.

I did say that i wouldn't be worrying too much about the face cracks. The very same cracks are appearing down the grain on my own GN Vortex, I have sealed them with glue but only because i had nothing else to do and it's the end of the season, so did a quick refurb at the same time. It isn't necessary to do anything with this kind of 'damage' but it won't hurt to seal it.

The edge cracks i would definitely want to address sooner rather than later, with the method i have suggested above.

[WalkingWicket37]

If only wanted down the glue for the face so it gets into the cracks easier. The drinking straw method or rubbing the glue in are probably better options.
As for the edge damage I would use non watered down glue so the bond was as strong as possible.

[Vitas Cricket]

If only wanted down the glue for the face so it gets into the cracks easier. The drinking straw method or rubbing the glue in are probably better options.
As for the edge damage I would use non watered down glue so the bond was as strong as possible.

Rubbing or blowing it in will work yes. I personally just let gravity do its magic. I leave way too much glue sat on the crack, almost like a sticky puddle. This is a bat i repaired last week. Obviously it is a much more complex repair, but the 'puddles' of glue that are not the main focus of the pictures let you know what i mean for a much smaller/less serious crack.

[WalkingWicket37]

Straws, rubbing, Gravity. Take your pick!
Like you Jake, I like to let gravity work it's wonders. Why make additional work yourself when nature does it for you??

[Silver Bullet]

Tried clamps... Don't think it's gonna work out. All they did was damage the back of the bat. They keep slipping off the edge and/or don't exert enough pressure.

Will try jakes method tomorrow.

[WalkingWicket37]

Parcel tape is excellent for things like that buddy

[Vitas Cricket]

Tried clamps... Don't think it's gonna work out. All they did was damage the back of the bat. They keep slipping off the edge and/or don't exert enough pressure.

Will try jakes method tomorrow.

If you use clamps you need to use wedges of wood to spread the load. Another option is cardboard, cut into strips and folded over, maybe folded twice if you can.

A clamp isn't essential for this, and like you have found, is actually quite tricky. Wrapping tightly with a stretchy parcel tape will work much better in this case i believe.

[Silver Bullet]

If you use clamps you need to use wedges of wood to spread the load. Another option is cardboard, cut into strips and folded over, maybe folded twice if you can.

A clamp isn't essential for this, and like you have found, is actually quite tricky. Wrapping tightly with a stretchy parcel tape will work much better in this case i believe.

Thanks my concern is it won't impart enough force to close the crack since it takes significant force to close it with my hand.

One other option is to use thin quick set glue and close the crack with my fingers. Not sure how effective that'd be. I'm probably going to use the parcel tape method first.

[Vitas Cricket]

Thanks my concern is it won't impart enough force to close the crack since it takes significant force to close it with my hand.

One other option is to use thin quick set glue and close the crack with my fingers. Not sure how effective that'd be. I'm probably going to use the parcel tape method first.

Parcel tape will work on cracks like those, believe me. The tape doesn't have to close the cracks to the level you can achieve when using your fingers, just as long as it holds the wood tightly in place whilst the adhesive sets.

The problem with quick setting adhesives/epoxies/superglues etc is that they dry to a very brittle finish. PVA wood glue sets with some elasticity to give the repair a better chance of holding together when struck by a cricket ball.