Hey guys,
Hope you're all safe and well!
Small bat maker from Sri Lanka here. Just wondering if anyone on this forum presses the bats they make?
I have a bat press machine and a wooden base, I've been pressing them Okay so far, no issues yet with any of my customers (touchwood).
Just wondering if anyone can tell me tips and tricks I should look out for? I've been taught over the years that a hard pressed cricket bat lasts longer, but doesnt travel as much and a soft pressed bat doesnt last as long, but travels a lot more? Is this true or a myth?
Do you guys think there should be a specific type of curve(bow) i should look to aim at?
Is their an Ideal time for the right amount of pressing?
Any type sound of i should be aiming to hear once i press it?
Im looking for a bow that makes the bat last a reasonable amount ,but also performing really well! As now I'm moving onto making bats for the domestic players and very shortly national players!
Also Sri Lankan players have a very fond for flat faces on their bats, so i started using a flat roller, (I still have the original slight curve roller). Is this really Ideal? When knocking it in i try and curve the edge much as possible. So it takes out much of the sharp edges. But im not sure if its Ideal for the durability of my bats. Any one have experience of using flat rollers for over a year?
If anyone is interested, I can get pictures!
Your help will be dearly appreciated as Im still fairly new into this trade, and I dont know everything as im learning something new everyday!
Cheers guys!
P.S If any of you batmakers are here in Sri Lanka while touring with the England cricket team, feel free to shoot me a message, more than happy to grab a beer or show my workshops to my fellow batmakers!