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[JK Lewis]

Just back from the sawmill with the final batch of 9 clefts. This lot brings me up to a grand total of 33 clefts. Struggling to store them all tbh, but it will be easier once I can get them outside.

I'm conscious that I could have got more out of the tree, I lost a percentage in the felling, the splitting and the sawing. But overall I'm happy with the first go, and I've learned a lot for the next time. The clefts I've got are all pretty massive, so I hope they will season well, without much warping or twisting. Some of them could make bats with 60mm+ edges, but I guess by the time they're dry enough to work with the new bat size regs will have come into force!

Seasoning through the summer, batmaking by the end of the year. Form an orderly queue!

[Seniorplayer]

Here's hoping  by October you get some excellent clefts.

[jamesisapayne]

Wow John, they're some seriously meaty clefts!

Will be interesting to see what sort of density they come out at for normal moisture levels.

[JK Lewis]

Wow John, they're some seriously meaty clefts!

Will be interesting to see what sort of density they come out at for normal moisture levels.

So far the density is between 0.62 and 0.70 g/cm3. I think - don't quote me on this - the lower down the tree, the higher the density. My target is approx. 0.4 g/cm3.

The first batch of clefts have each already lost 500g in weight. So things are moving in the right direction. I'll keep you up to date with developments.

Best wishes, Justin

PS. Where's the photos of the Distinction?

[JK Lewis]

Why is everyone so besotted with new bat regulations these will only apply to professionals B&S will fall into line as far as there Professionals go but where 95% of our business comes from we will be making as big as possible for the maximum length of time

I may be wrong, but I reckon most people will make, and buy, bats that are within the new regs. You can see the direction of travel, and to keep playing with a big bat (outside the new regs) will invite controversy, at any level. Just my opinion.

[ProCricketer1982]

I may be wrong, but I reckon most people will make, and buy, bats that are within the new regs. You can see the direction of travel, and to keep playing with a big bat (outside the new regs) will invite controversy, at any level. Just my opinion.

Most reputable makers will just stop making bats outside of the regulations. It will probably mean there is a market for makers/brands who want to continue to produce big bats I suspect.

Either way, I can see th big brands conforming and most bat makers too.

[Calzehbhoy]

Back to the post in hand.....!


Is 0.4g/cm3 a 'standard' density for clefts?

[JK Lewis]

Back to the post in hand.....!


Is 0.4g/cm3 a 'standard' density for clefts?

Only of my own calculation! I don't have a moisture content meter, and I'm not convinced how accurate they are. So, I measured up a number of plane-ready clefts from major suppliers, and divided the mass of each (in grammes) by its calculated volume. The average density using this method was fractionally over 0.4 g/cm3. For now at least, I'm using this as a target for my own clefts, and when they reach this level, I'll get the plane out and see how it goes.

[manno]

Just get yourself a good quality pin type meter. Accuracy shouldnt be an issue (interested to know why your not "convinced"). Test and retest the same cleft dried to the optimum content from a supplier you trust. That, along with the weight will give you a good baseline. If the results are quite close/identical then your good to go. Test each of your clefts in the exact same way and theres no reason you cant have an accurate measure of moister for each of your clefts. Once you reach that or your own desired moisture level id machine the clefts to identical dimensions and then youll be able to weigh them again to get an indication of density between clefts.

[JK Lewis]

Just get yourself a good quality pin type meter. Accuracy shouldnt be an issue (interested to know why your not "convinced"). Test and retest the same cleft dried to the optimum content from a supplier you trust. That, along with the weight will give you a good baseline. If the results are quite close/identical then your good to go. Test each of your clefts in the exact same way and theres no reason you cant have an accurate measure of moister for each of your clefts. Once you reach that or your own desired moisture level id machine the clefts to identical dimensions and then youll be able to weigh them again to get an indication of density between clefts.

I'm sure you're right that there are better and worse meters out there. The ones I've seen are simple, and use small pin probes to take readings from the outside of the cleft. I just wonder how accurate and consistent they can be when it comes to green clefts, considering the length and thickness of the pieces.

Anyway, as an amateur, I don't have a meter - good or bad! At this stage of production when the clefts are completely wet, I prefer my method, as using maths gives me very tight control over the drying process. The volume of the cleft doesn't change, so by using mass and calculating density I can see very clearly how things are progressing.

For example, my cleft #6. When I laid it down on 27th Feb it had a mass of 6005g and density of 0.7 g/cm3. On the 10th March, the mass was down to 5504g, density to 0.64 g/cm3. The target density is 0.4 g/cm3, which means that I can calculate the target mass at 3557g. All I have to do is keep checking the clefts and noting how they get lighter, until they reach my exact target. If I can find a kiln this method will also make it easy to study the comparative drying rates.

 

[manno]

Silly question. But isnt density separate to moister weight? How do you measure the two just going by weight. Without knowing the moister content i dont know how you can measure the density. Im obviously missing something.

[JK Lewis]

Silly question. But isnt density separate to moister weight? How do you measure the two just going by weight. Without knowing the moister content i dont know how you can measure the density. Im obviously missing something.

You're right, density is separate from moisture content, and the density of the wood can be found using a simple calculation: The total Mass (in g) divided by the total volume (in cm3). I'm not worried about the moisture content because I know that the finished clefts from the well known supplier will be suitable. Whatever the moisture content of their clefts is, is fine with me. All I have to do is get mine down to the same density as theirs, then my clefts should be very similar.

[Seniorplayer]

You're right, density is separate from moisture content, and the density of the wood can be found using a simple calculation: The total Mass (in g) divided by the total volume (in cm3). I'm not worried about the moisture content because I know that the finished clefts from the well known supplier will be suitable. Whatever the moisture content of their clefts is, is fine with me. All I have to do is get mine down to the same density as theirs, then my clefts should be very similar.

Your right Justin if the moisture content is not low enough  the supplier can't cut them

[manno]

You're right, density is separate from moisture content, and the density of the wood can be found using a simple calculation: The total Mass (in g) divided by the total volume (in cm3). I'm not worried about the moisture content because I know that the finished clefts from the well known supplier will be suitable. Whatever the moisture content of their clefts is, is fine with me. All I have to do is get mine down to the same density as theirs, then my clefts should be very similar.

Ok, so your initial density calculation is based on an assumption that all the clefts have the same moisture content.

[JK Lewis]

Ok, so your initial density calculation is based on an assumption that all the clefts have the same moisture content.

I measured up 10 finished clefts from the supplier, and calculated the density of each. Then I took the average density across the 10 as my target. This average was 0.42 g/cm3 to be exact. As I say, I don't know the moisture content of the 10 clefts, but as they were supplied to a batmaker, it is fair to assume that they are suitable for use.