Print

[iand123]

I have a few bars that need knocking in and when I went to visit Paul @ IJC he was very complementary of his and said it sped up the process. I hate knocking bats in and have 3 to do.

I've emailed the guys at elviar.co.uk but in email dialogue he said this

Lignum is significant more dense than oak, the grain is "cross hatched" and very tight unlike oak which has an open grain.  The advantage is in more weight and density in the same footprint.  You might "pound" a best with an oak or other wood mallet, whereas with lignum the weight of the mallet head does the job.  Overall the advantage is more efficient working and less time knocking in.  But like anything the skill of the end user is most important - in the wrong hands a lignum mallet can wreck a bat like a sledge hammer.

I'm very much in the wrong hands category. Assume he means you don't just start smashing the bat as hard as you usually would with a normal hammer? Anyone got one of these and care to share any advice?

[InternalTraining]

I was looking for a while but learned that the so called Lignum mallets are actually the less dense version of the wood and not the proper "officionale" LV mallet. Plus, I also tend to hit too hard with the mallets. I settled for a Grey-Nicolls mallet which has a heavy head and a shorter handle and it has been great so far.

[iand123]

How do you know you hit the bat too hard with a mallet?

[smilley792]

I am awaiting the arrival off mine hopefully Monday.

But....

I do have a nylon hammer that weighs around the 750 g mark and I believe has a similar effect (although the head is although tad smaller than a normal knocking mallet)


How I "learnt" to use mine may not work for everyone.

I got an old bat. Very used one that was knocked in. But not needed anymore (was a kook ricochet with damage).

I slowly start to hit it as if knocking in. But very lightly. Then after a full pass, i Increased the speed/energy put in. I did this over and over until I began to damage the bat (only very light indents). I then knew I had gone to hard. And backed off so to speak.


I then moved on to a ca 10000.  Brand new needed knocking in. A did the edges and toe with my gray nics deluxe. Until nicely rounded and firm.
I switched to my nylon hammer. And did the entire bat. Again starting lightly, and very sporadic increasing impact speed. But never to the point I knew would damage the bat (as proven on the kook).


Knocked 2 or 3 in this way. But takes about 1.5 to 2 hrs to do a bat.
I'm. Hoping when the vitae mallet comes the larger head brings knocking in down to 1 hr to 1.5hrs.
Will update on arrival if anyone interested.

[iand123]

Thanks smiley. So you are still using a normal mallet to start things off and then moving onto the heavier mallet?

[InternalTraining]

How do you know you hit the bat too hard with a mallet?

because I leave cracks all over the bat face.

[iand123]

Ah ok fair enough

[InternalTraining]

I do have a nylon hammer that weighs around the 750 kg mark and I believe has a similar...

You mean grams not "kg".

Can you post a pic of the nylon mallet?

[smilley792]

Thanks smiley. So you are still using a normal mallet to start things off and then moving onto the heavier mallet?

I am yes. Others may do it differently but I found I can easily crack and damage the edges and toe with a standard mallet if not careful.  So don't trust myself to go at them instantly with the heavier one.



@InternalTraining when you say that on investigation they aren't the official lv mallets.
can I ask what you mean. I.e which ones and from where? It's a very sweeping statement if you mean all manufacturers (there are a fair few out there)
But if you mean one you found isn't real lv. then it may be helpful to add who that seller/manufacturer is??

[Come in 5 and left a bit]

Id listen to Les to be honest. I've spent a lot of time talking to him recently and he really knows his stuff when it comes to wood

I was going to get an LV mallet but Les said unless your knocking in loads of bats the and oak mallet is more than good enough.

Les is going on a long holiday soon so if anyone wants a mallet your better get in quick.

[smilley792]

You mean grams not "kg".

Can you post a pic of the nylon mallet?

Obviously.lol. I put 750g and autocorrect changed it to 70 kg. I added the 5 but didn't remove the k. Sue me.

I'll add a pic later. It pretty battered (it was originally a work mallet to hit brass couplers with) hence replacing it with an lv.

[smilley792]

Just weighed my nylon. It's actually heavier than I thought. Lol.

[InternalTraining]

@InternalTraining when you say that on investigation they aren't the official lv mallets.
can I ask what you mean. I.e which ones and from where? It's a very sweeping statement if you mean all manufacturers (there are a fair few out there)
But if you mean one you found isn't real lv. then it may be helpful to add who that seller/manufacturer is??

"Made from solid Paolo Santo Lignum Vitae wood. Double ended and measures 15cm x 7.5cm approximately"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/professional-Cricket-Bat-Knocking-In-Mallet-Lignum-Vitae-Approx-1Kg-/121571682394?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c4e3ca85a


http://www.woodworkforums.com/archive/index.php/t-136339.html

"According to Dertien (2009), it appears that there are significant enough differences between these sections to merit the genus being broken into two; with the revised genus Bulnesia having five species and the section Gonopterodendron being elevated to genus status. Within Zygophyllaceae, Bulnesia, section Gonopterodendron is genetically the closest group to Guaiacum. Hence, when people call Verawood or Palo Santo "Lignum Vitae," they are not being strictly correct but the timbers are very close genetically"

[InternalTraining]

Just weighed my nylon. It's actually heavier than I thought. Lol.

Ah...I see. These are the replaceable nylon heads which I thought were pretty cool!! I was worried about the diameter of the head and opted for Grey-Nics (also in your picture).

[smilley792]

Fair enough and a sound theory.

I shall have to ask my maker which "lv" mine is made from. Although at an apparent 900 kg. I expect it to do a decent job regardless.