Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
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Chad

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #15 on: October 09, 2021, 08:56:41 PM »
Quote from: kal_m on October 08, 2021, 06:42:30 PM
That looks a cracker mate. Finish looks super clean for a first bat. And the willow looks great too.


Thanks - the willow quality kudos must go to Matt and James at @hell4leather cricket , they've been superb to deal with, and I need to write up my visit soon!

Quote from: jamesisapayne on October 08, 2021, 07:02:54 PM
Chadders that's a fantastic looking bat, and a 'proper' shape too :)

To be fair, the amount of willow you're packing you should know a thing or two about a profile ;)

Glad you like the shape! This cleft just happened to have quite a large spine capability, so went and made this one up out of it. All the wood down the centre of the bat rather than towards the edges. Why should I be rewarded for not hitting the ball in areas they shouldn't be hit? :D




Quote from: SOULMAN1012 on October 09, 2021, 06:40:10 AM
Cracking effort that chad and you should be really proud of how that turned out for a first attempt mate, big fan of that shape as well.




Thank you Chris, means a lot coming from someone who's made their fair share of bats haha. It's not easy, dunno how folks can bash out more than 1 a day, I was really struggling, but worth it in the end. :)


Quote from: Buzz on October 09, 2021, 08:53:17 AM
That looks awesome, I would be very happy to use a bat like that.

Thanks Buzz for the kind words - if we happen to be at the same forum net, I may bring it along with me! :)
« Last Edit: October 09, 2021, 08:59:08 PM by Chad »
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AJ2014

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #16 on: October 10, 2021, 03:38:06 PM »
Not surprised that you choose this shape!
Beautifully made first bat! Well done!
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Chad

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #17 on: November 16, 2021, 08:09:33 PM »
I have updated the initial post with pictures of my setup currently. Will have a few more bits and bobs in terms of tools, but think that'll be me done for now. The only other things I can think of to add is potentially a bat slot on the bench with some cushioning, so I can knock bats in on a surface, and also a lathe is a must have for binding. I HATE binding by hand...

Anyways, after reading a comment that somewhat made me feel that members feel these kinds of threads are redundant, or just don't spark them with interest anymore, I figured I'd give the format a little bit of a rejig, and take folks through what I set out to achieve, what I found challenging, where I screwed up and what I've learned through each bat I post up. I'll also try keep it to 1 bat per post, so rather than just dumping pictures and being like 'Look at what I've made!' - I'll be a little more critical of my own work, so I don't just try to bash out tonnes of bats without ever really finishing them. (I have about 3 of my own still to bind, and also 6 that @hit4six rough shaped which were wonderful, and 2 others that @wilkie113 shaped up many moons ago) I'm hoping we can all learn something from these future posts - and please do give me critique on things, as I want to make this enjoyable for myself to write, and also enjoyable for you guys to read and look at pictures. :)

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Chad

Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #18 on: November 16, 2021, 08:24:00 PM »
Bat 2:

Edge template - Old BAS Shadow
Spine template - Improvised
Weight with grip and binding - 2lb 10.6oz

Learning aims:
  • I decided to try some concaving with this one and try to learn how to use my round bottomed plane. (For any that haven't dabbled in batmaking yet, hand tools can take a while to get used to, and require small adjustments)
  • I also wanted to have the spine through the toe
  • I had initially set out to try to copy the BAS Shadow, but the spine on the cleft wouldn't quite allow for it, so just improvised and shaped what felt right.
  • I wanted to angle the toe
Where I messed up:
  • Concaving can be quite difficult to get even. I'm sure on this bat, it's not even at all at any given point, but so long as I've attempted to try keep it even, that's okay - it's handmade afterall, and it's my 2nd bat.
  • I can't blend the back shoulder on the RH outside edge too well with what I'm currently doing
  • Finishing isn't great, some knicks with the plane went in deep

Notes I took away:
  • Using a drum sander can be scary, but helps HEAPS in getting it so the back isn't bumpy from where tools get stuck
  • The round bottomed plane was actually a joy to use
  • I see what people mean when they say Butterfly can be hard to work with, or any other blemishes
  • Try not to use the drawknife to do too much, no matter how comfortable you feel with it compared to other tools. It's very easy to make a mistake with it!
  • Spend that extra time going through grits, and try not to skip any grits
Face, back and profile:


   




















Check to see if I followed my lines somewhat correctly without too many bumps:


   


   


Shoulder Blending:

   
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jamesisapayne

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #19 on: November 16, 2021, 08:36:01 PM »
Fabulous profile and finishing Chad, looks like you've made huge leaps since your last bat
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InternalTraining

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #20 on: November 16, 2021, 08:42:23 PM »
Wow!

#2 is stamped "2"! Solid.

How goes #1 in terms of ping and rebound? Huge profile!
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FraserJames123

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #21 on: November 16, 2021, 09:14:57 PM »
Looks great chad for a 2nd attempt!
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Devondumpling00

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #22 on: November 16, 2021, 09:30:20 PM »
Are you going to be using them?
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jonny77

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #23 on: November 16, 2021, 09:39:10 PM »
Top work  mate. Seen the 1st one in the flesh and its a nice feeling stick. Not sure I've seen anyone commit so much, so quickly 😆 You've deffo got the bug. Great effort, i applaud it!
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marsbug

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #24 on: November 17, 2021, 08:20:28 AM »
I’m still new to the forum, so maybe the novelty hasn’t worn off for me yet, but I really like seeing other people’s efforts. Even more so if it’s their first try, or they show the process and pitfalls.

And that is a lovely bat too, great effort!
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Devondumpling00

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #25 on: November 17, 2021, 09:03:48 AM »
Quote from: marsbug on November 17, 2021, 08:20:28 AM
I’m still new to the forum, so maybe the novelty hasn’t worn off for me yet, but I really like seeing other people’s efforts. Even more so if it’s their first try, or they show the process and pitfalls.

And that is a lovely bat too, great effort!

I second this. I really enjoy seeing members make bats!
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Bats_Entertainment

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #26 on: November 17, 2021, 11:56:56 AM »
Hunts shoulders.  ;)
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billyb

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #27 on: November 17, 2021, 03:54:40 PM »
If I managed to do that in my second attempt I would be convinced that I was the second coming of Millichamp. Great effort!
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Chad

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #28 on: November 18, 2021, 10:03:41 PM »
Quote from: jamesisapayne on November 16, 2021, 08:36:01 PM
Fabulous profile and finishing Chad, looks like you've made huge leaps since your last bat


Thank you @jamesisapayne - this one I actually made pretty soon after the 1st bat. I think I went into a mad frenzy and ended up shaping about 5 bats in just over a week, and gradually went through the finishing process after. I refinished a lot of them once I got the drum sander working, as well as sanded some of the absolute belters that @hit4six shaped up. I wasn't too happy with this one initially, but actually after finishing, it flowed much better!

Quote from: InternalTraining on November 16, 2021, 08:42:23 PM
Wow!

#2 is stamped "2"! Solid.

How goes #1 in terms of ping and rebound? Huge profile!


Hahaha best be simple, and so I can keep a track of how many I've personally made. Number 1 has a pretty long middle - Number 2 I suspect will offer more for your more aggressive batsman who isn't afraid to throw hands at the ball, while number 1 will probably offer more to a more technically correct batsman who focusses on middling more. Pressed by H4L, who press very well. Once knocked and played in, they should get even better!



Quote from: FraserJames123 on November 16, 2021, 09:14:57 PM
Looks great chad for a 2nd attempt!

Thanks - admittedly it was the 2nd I rough shaped, I did a bunch of finishing on numerous bats after I made the first one start to finish. (Just really wanted to avoid hand binding!) I finished bat 3 before finishing off this one!


Quote from: Devondumpling00 on November 16, 2021, 09:30:20 PM
Are you going to be using them?


Hi mate - perhaps, but really, I've got a larger collection than most people on here probably realise - some of which are absolutely spectacular. It would feel (for me anyways) a little bit sacrilege to use a shoddily shaped bat made by myself over a bat made start to finish from a proper batmaker. There will be some I keep as a memento, so probably the first one I've made, and also maybe the odd one I'm pleased with!
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Chad

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Re: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!)
« Reply #29 on: November 18, 2021, 10:12:57 PM »
Quote from: jonny77 on November 16, 2021, 09:39:10 PM
Top work  mate. Seen the 1st one in the flesh and its a nice feeling stick. Not sure I've seen anyone commit so much, so quickly 😆 You've deffo got the bug. Great effort, i applaud it!


Thanks @jonny77 - means a lot coming from someone in the business like yourself. :) I try not to look too much at the first one, as no doubt I'll want to refinish it after I find something off to the point where it's unacceptable :D


Quote from: marsbug on November 17, 2021, 08:20:28 AM
I’m still new to the forum, so maybe the novelty hasn’t worn off for me yet, but I really like seeing other people’s efforts. Even more so if it’s their first try, or they show the process and pitfalls.

And that is a lovely bat too, great effort!

Your threads are incredible - please keep up the geekery! Glad you took your time to have a read and look :)


Quote from: Bats_Entertainment on November 17, 2021, 11:56:56 AM
Hunts shoulders.  ;)

They had some of the best shoulder blending around IMO - I'll take that as a compliment  :D  In all seriousness though, my shoulder blending (And everything else!) has a looong way to go before I can even be mentioned in the same sentence as any other batmaker, nevermind Hunts!




Quote from: billyb on November 17, 2021, 03:54:40 PM
If I managed to do that in my second attempt I would be convinced that I was the second coming of Millichamp. Great effort!

One of my batmaking heroes. I'd be lucky to even be worthy of sweeping his workshop and seeing him work - even if I'd done this for years. I do regret selling on the only SCAT I've ever laid my hands on...
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