Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
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WalkingWicket37

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Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« on: September 13, 2017, 06:28:51 PM »
Evening all

As you may have seen in the bargain spots thread, Sports direct were selling their exclusive GM Chrome "players" bats for £45 each.
Add to that a 10% discount code I couldn't resist such cheap English Willow bats.

Working out £81 for the pair, these arrived today



Initially I was slightly disappointed to see these were painted with a fake grain sheet, but all is not lost! I like the profiles and we've all seen those nice butterfly bats that are hiding underneath these in the past.

Here are the pair as they arrived. I'll post updates as and when I remove the grain sheets and paint from the back.
Fingers crossed for a couple of gems!  :D







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Jones129

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2017, 06:47:50 PM »
How do they tap up for a lower model?
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SOULMAN1012

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2017, 06:54:16 PM »
Shape looks identical to the 2 Chrome Signatures I have and I must say thy have massive middles hopefully some bargains under those fake grain sheets
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Umi

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2017, 06:57:29 PM »
Out of all the 2017 GM I thought the Chrome had the best profile
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Seniorplayer

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2017, 08:34:29 PM »
They look nice It seems a shame to strip them back
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2017, 08:40:37 PM »
Quote from: Seniorplayer on September 13, 2017, 08:34:29 PM
They look nice It seems a shame to strip them back

They'll look much nicer not covered with white paint and a fake grain sheet though!
I prefer the look of ugly willow to gloss paint myself
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KW9221

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2017, 08:42:25 PM »
Quote from: WalkingWicket37 on September 13, 2017, 08:40:37 PM
They'll look much nicer not covered with white paint and a fake grain sheet though!
I prefer the look of ugly willow to gloss paint myself
I wonder what they look like under the sheet. Can't you see from the back how many grains do they have?
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2017, 08:59:23 PM »
Quote from: KW9221 on September 13, 2017, 08:42:25 PM
I wonder what they look like under the sheet. Can't you see from the back how many grains do they have?

The back and edges have been painted so no timber is exposed.
Hopefully I'll see some actual wood when I remove the grain sheet!
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Mpt7

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2017, 09:14:56 PM »
Set them free Cam!! Set them Freeeeeeeee!
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Chalkie

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2017, 10:39:15 PM »
Quote from: WalkingWicket37 on September 13, 2017, 08:59:23 PM
The back and edges have been painted so no timber is exposed.
Hopefully I'll see some actual wood when I remove the grain sheet!

Can't tell if they have a toe guard or if painted, either way you could take that off first Cam, then you may get an idea of the grains before stripping the rest.
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2017, 08:04:10 PM »
Okay so after a couple of days I've done one of the two bats.

I'll post the progress up to where I am now in stages.


Anyway, underneath the grain sheet it turned out there was... more paint!


So I took a drawknife to the face and started scraping off the paint


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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2017, 08:07:19 PM »
I decided to use a travisher to take the paint off the back.

I made a bit of a mess but nothing a bit of sanding won't sort.
Anyway, I counted 5 wonky uneven grains and there's a possible hint of heartwood on the right handers outside edge.









« Last Edit: September 15, 2017, 08:09:21 PM by WalkingWicket37 »
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2017, 08:12:12 PM »
After this I decided to clean up the worse of the snicks I made with the drawknife and travisher.
I used 80 grit by hand all over the bat. I then used a generous amount of linseed oil to remove the sawdust







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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2017, 08:18:08 PM »
And to where I am now.
I've sanded it all over, going up the grades to 240 on the orbital.

Once I sanded it all over I applied a coat of linseed oil.

Once the oil is dry I need to give the bat a fine sand by hand all over, then apply a scuff sheet and its ready to go.
For the record I still haven't tapped up or weighed the bat yet!







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KW9221

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Re: Sports Direct exclusive players - the reveal
« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2017, 08:32:54 PM »
I would say G3 from the looks of it. A good buy for £45.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2017, 03:32:29 AM by KW9221 »
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