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[InternalTraining]

A quick bowler was using a brand new ball and bowling short. I was hooking and pulling. In this instance, I pulled too early and toed the ball. You can see the seam mark.

Bat weighs over 2-14, offset edge, high middle, high spine. Thick toe.

How do I fix this? If the sanding creates a crescent like crator, this could leave the toe more vulnerable? Thoughts?

[Gurujames]

Difficult to see haw deep it is or how loose. If it is fairly shallow just sand it out. If it is deeper with loose bits glue, clamp, sand. Try injecting the glue into the crack first.

[InternalTraining]

More pics. The dent is about 4 cm deep.

[WalkingWicket37]

"Glue and clamp" seems to be the default answer to everything on here, what would you be clamping exactly?? Nothing has moved, so the clamp wouldn't be holding anything in place.

My advice, get some glue in the cracks and give it a sand down once dried. I'd then spend some more time on the toe with your bat mallet, which will even out the dent (to a degree) and make it less likely to suffer similar damage later on.

[simonmay5]

I think I would clamp and glue like most of the other people have said but I would steam it first to try and draw the wood level then put some glue and clamp and then sand and give the toe a really good knocking in round the toe and edges especially

[Gurujames]

"Glue and clamp" seems to be the default answer to everything on here, what would you be clamping exactly?? Nothing has moved, so the clamp wouldn't be holding anything in place.

My advice, get some glue in the cracks and give it a sand down once dried. I'd then spend some more time on the toe with your bat mallet, which will even out the dent (to a degree) and make it less likely to suffer similar damage later on.

That's why I asked how deep it was and whether there was and movement. If not I suggested Sanding it out.

[WalkingWicket37]

That's why I asked how deep it was and whether there was and movement. If not I suggested Sanding it out.

Wasn't aimed specifically at you mate, just an observation that it is the default answer to everything.

I've seen it suggested for everything from a surface crack to a shoulder going. In some cases it is necessary, but more often than not it's just not required.

[InternalTraining]

I think I would clamp and glue like most of the other people have said but I would steam it first to try and draw the wood level then put some glue and clamp and then sand and give the toe a really good knocking in round the toe and edges especially

How do you steam? Use steam from an iron? Does it really raise the dented willow?

[Gurujames]

How do you steam? Use steam from an iron? Does it really raise the dented willow?

Yes and yes. Though there is a limit.

[smilley792]

I'm not sure steaming the face is wise, surely it's gonna undo the work the press did in making it firmer.


All I've really done on this is force some glue in, leave, sand glue level then tape.

That area will get hatee eventually so it won't make much difference

[simonmay5]

I'm not sure steaming the face is wise, surely it's gonna undo the work the press did in making it firmer.


All I've really done on this is force some glue in, leave, sand glue level then tape.

That area will get hatee eventually so it won't make much difference

I not on about the whole face just the crack I would hold over a kettle and then when the steam dries out it will pull the crack with it I done it on a fair few of my bats without a problem but we all have our ways of repairing bats

[smilley792]

steaming the entire face would be mega dumb, as the damage is only on the bottom.
Still part of the face though.

But as you say different people different methods. Sure the OP will figure out which way serves him best.

[WalkingWicket37]

I've steamed a couple of bats go great success.
Admittedly that was the back and the edge, but I don't think steaming the face will do enough to undo the pressing process.

As the suggestion was to steam then knock in anyway, any of the pressing process that was reversed would theoretically be fine, as knocking it back in would leave the face of the bat level (or equally compressed).

[brokenbat]

clamping (after gluing) will definitely help. not sure why some ppl are saying not to clamp?

[WalkingWicket37]

clamping (after gluing) will definitely help. not sure why some ppl are saying not to clamp?

What would you be clamping to where? The cracks can be filled with glue, and as nothing has "moved" just "dented" so a clamp wouldn't be holding anything in place.
You're trying to get rid of the dent, not glue it, clamp it so it gets deeper and let the glue set so it's harder to raise the willow...