Topic: How 'custom made' are our bats in England? (Read 9942 times)

procricket · « **Reply #30 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:09:09 AM »

Laver would slogger i have already inquired with him about it on my next project

golden_duck · « **Reply #31 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:10:38 AM »

the �950 pound baby !!!

Tom · « **Reply #32 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:11:19 AM »

Quote from: slogger02 on February 15, 2010, 12:07:39 AM

all im suggesting is if your including pressing as part of the custom made bat experience not one company is going to do this for you.

Disagree on that, obviously they're not going to make a (No Swearing Please) bat if you requested pressing which just wouldn't work but if you went to a company like Fusion who press their own clefts and said you wanted it pressed slightly harder for durability they'd would discuss it and if it seemed like the right thing to do they'd do it.

Watsontotty · « **Reply #33 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:11:48 AM »

Most bats require a different amount of pressing, some pressed more than others and some pressed less so i don't see why it should be a problem. Bat makers use oil or water when pressing to prevent the bat splitting under pressure and the more they are pressed the less bounce back effect the willow has.

slogger02 · « **Reply #34 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:12:12 AM »

.

Quote from: hit4six on February 15, 2010, 12:08:19 AM

I wasnt really sure on that part of this discussion. I know a bit about the manufacture of cricket bats, however, the pressing is something I have never looked into, so I was going in a bit blind on the last few comments. But I am glad I understand that now.

This topic (I hope) is making people think about what they are actually getting for their money. Just a finished cleft or a custom made bat (like advertised by most companies)!

and your topic is doing just that! made me a think, which i havnt done for quite some time now! well since primary school i think.
it all comes down to what you define as a custom made bat as to whether you are happy with the bat you receive from any given company

hit4six · « **Reply #35 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:15:11 AM »

I am glad it is making some people think.

Thats a very valid point Tom, and I must have forgotten to mention something along those lines, because any company will ensure they get the best possible bat from the specifications the customer gives. For instance, if they customer wants 40mm edges and no spine (so just a plank shape), the bat maker would have to try and ensure that the bat is made to perform as well as it can.

The same applies to pressing.

slogger02 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:29:04 AM »

back to one of the other points craig made. i think the level of 'customness' is the same in india as in the UK, its just in the UK the bats go through more stages and labour stages. this will help contribute to the costs of UK bats compared to indian made bats. the prices the UK makers can charge is also far larger. the only difference between bats in india and UK is the cost (and the willow drying).

hit4six · « **Reply #37 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:34:33 AM »

True.

I think I still on the centerpiece, and I am not leaning to one side or the other. I have used both english and asian made bats and I have to admit, the quality of the bats werent much different. Obviously, they are slight differences (cosmetics) however I think they were pretty much equal. If I was buying a new bat, I think the only thing that would make me look more towards asian bats is the price.

Talisman · « **Reply #38 on:** February 15, 2010, 07:58:05 AM »

The definition of custom made is one point that has not been uniform here, what can you change in the making process from a stock bat to a custom?

Cleft, first and most simple, you can try and find a cleft that looks right, you might also be able to find one with a lower density.
Handle Length, simple again, you choose Super Short, Short or Long.
Blade Length, standard or modified, i.e 1 inch longer blade.
Pressing, this one is an odd one, I find those with a poor grasp of pressing will allow you to specify a change, pressing is subjective and the bat maker will always being looking for the optimum pressure point when pressing. For you to want a press either side of this peak will lower the performance and if on the softer side can result in a softer blade which is likely to crack more, on the harder side a bat that may last longer with reduced performance. I used to believe that a light press gave more power before I understood the process but now know better.
Shape, mostly personal preference.

What is the difference between "Handmade" and "Machine made"?

Again I'll work through the basic process,

Raw cleft has the waxed ends sawn off, the edges trimmed to size and the face planed. All these processes are done by a person with the aid of machines on both.

Splice sawn in cleft and handle cut to match, both done by a person with the aid of machines.

Shaping, this is the difference, handmade requires the cleft to be shaped by hand, machine made uses a lathe to shape.

Handling done by hand, pressing done by hand in all stages, finishing done by hand, binding done by hand with machine aid.

Not a lot of difference really, but a lot of difference in the quality of each process between firms.

Redback Cricket · « **Reply #39 on:** February 15, 2010, 09:23:01 AM »

Craig, using India in your example... how many bats do you think are made by 1 single person in india, as in from start to finish? 1 single bat will be made by upto 10 people. How is this any different to what your describing above with one person pressing, and another shaping? Even over here, its pretty rare one single person will make 1 single bat from start to finish in ANY company.

As a CUSTOM company, you can come to me and I will supply whatever you like pressing wise from a totally unpressed cleft to one like concrete - they say the customer is always right.

SillyShilly · « **Reply #40 on:** February 15, 2010, 09:53:58 AM »

Agreed - i think it's the batmakers role to advise on how best to utilise each cleft. Out of interest - how many forum members have requested a bat to be pressed differently? i havnt and doubt i ever will - as consumers we have to take the word of the batmakers that they have attempted to get the best out of each cleft - though of course, it is within their capabilities to adjust this.

As Mike points out - very little difference between machine and 'hand made' - i just like the idea of buying british bats which have been made locally with good customer service - which is why so many of the bat makers do well on here.

hit4six · « **Reply #41 on:** February 15, 2010, 10:32:15 AM »

I would just like to clear up that I am not having a pop at any company here in the UK, and Gary, I hope you dont mind me using Redback as an example in this discussion.

I totally agree with the point made above about the pressing. Yes it is the batmakers job to ensure that each cleft is utilised to the best of its potential, and all be it, yes, 99% of the time I would agree that the pressing should be left to the 'professionals' but my point is, some people want a cleft that is pressed more than a usual cleft, and if that is the fact, then the customer should get this.

Talisman · « **Reply #42 on:** February 15, 2010, 10:33:59 AM »

I agree with you, but I would try my best to put them off doing it.

hit4six · « **Reply #43 on:** February 15, 2010, 10:40:38 AM »

Absolutely, I would definitely try and say against changing the amount of pressing, but going back to my first point, a CUSTOM MADE bat is where you can specify absolutely everything from handle length and shape, blade length etc.

SillyShilly · « **Reply #44 on:** February 15, 2010, 10:56:53 AM »

No an entirely custom made bat is when you can specify willow moisture content and density, whether the willow has been grown south facing or north facing, which round of the tree the cleft has come from etc.......you could go on and on - it just depends on what your definitions and expectations are regarding the bat being custom made - me, i would expect to choose a part made from a batch of 10-20 and ask for a shape and weight and handle.

Author Topic: How 'custom made' are our bats in England? (Read 9942 times)

procricket

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

golden_duck

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

Tom

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

Watsontotty

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

slogger02

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

hit4six

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

slogger02

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

hit4six

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

Talisman

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

Redback Cricket

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

SillyShilly

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

hit4six

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

Talisman

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

hit4six

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?

SillyShilly

Re: How 'custom made' are our bats in England?