Topic: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!) (Read 30371 times)

Devondumpling00 · « **Reply #30 on:** November 18, 2021, 10:31:30 PM »

Quote from: Chad on November 18, 2021, 10:03:41 PM

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!

Haha, I�ve seen photos of what you�ve posted, substantial is one word for it

It would be a shame not to keep your first stick you�re proud of.

hell4leather cricket · « **Reply #31 on:** November 18, 2021, 10:42:30 PM »

Well done Chad , Great work ,🥳

Chad · « **Reply #32 on:** November 18, 2021, 11:13:26 PM »

Bat 3:

Edge template - GM Maxi (Old School)
Spine template - An attempt at making an M&H Distinction off pictures...
Weight with grip and binding - 2lb 10.5oz
Notable features - Spine height is around 69-70mm at peak. Probably the most difficult profile to do out of the 7 I've tried to make...

Learning aims:

I decided to try replicate a Distinction with this particular cleft, as the spine height was pretty high! After umming and ah-ing, I decided to try the higher middled version...
I wanted to try make sure I kept the spine as central as possible, and tried to keep the concaving as even as I could throughout
I wanted to try achieve the sweeping nature of the high spine that was so distinct about the Distinction. (Sorry, I had to.)

Pictures I worked with:

Distinction Low: (Might try at a later date)

Distinction High:

Where I messed up:

I kept refinishing this bat. I couldn't quite handle how many bumps and knicks it had, which just ruined the flow of it IMO.
The shape isn't really like a Distinction, I didn't get the sweep correct, nor did I get the spine high enough. (It ended up being more of an oversized traditional profile with concaving)
The toe I had to reduce because I lost the profile flow lower down by going a bit too deep
I can't blend the back shoulder on the RH outside edge too well with what I'm currently doing (Same as bat 2) - I'll need to watch more videos of how others blend their shoulders, and see if I can learn anything from them.
Finishing isn't great, I do have some wobbles along the spine.
The edges don't quite match, but then again, the template bat I used for the edges wasn't quite matched either due to being an older and used bat.
I hit a spot on the bat on the back just under the splice, where the wood did not shave off as expected. (Pictured below during the shaping and also in the finished state

Notes I took away:

For this bat especially, I can see why having sharp tools is beneficial - but also being able to see that the wood isn't quite behaving as expected was also a valuable learning lesson.

Again, try use the drawknife for what it's intended for. (I did some of the concaving by drawknife) Occasionally I would catch the spine or edge incorrectly and have to reshape a bit.

I see what people mean when they say blemishes can make the shaping difficult

It's difficult to copy a profile based on pictures

Admission...

Now's a good time to admit that after snapping pictures 2 nights ago, I saw just how bumpy the bat looked from angles. As nice as pictures can be on a piano, they also don't mask poorly shaped lines... Here's some before and afters of the MINIMAL difference I made by sanding a bit more... I'm still not quite fully happy with it, but it's not quite as triggering as it was before...

Face, back and profile:

Help!

Any tips or tricks as to how I can achieve that sweeping spine would be massively appreciated! I think where I messed up is where I tapered too early after the peak, and also too gradually. I feel that the profile itself holds that spine peak for longer, and then swoops down and then tapers into a more gradual reduction into the splice. Also, how do I prevent those annoying wobbles/sand them out?!

Chad · « **Reply #33 on:** November 18, 2021, 11:18:54 PM »

Quote from: hell4leather cricket on November 18, 2021, 10:42:30 PM

Well done Chad , Great work ,🥳

Thank you Matt/James for taking time to read/reply - you were both a massive help in getting me set up, providing clefts and accommodating in my 2 visits.

Will be down to visit at some point in the near future hopefully - I don't normally like the feeling of weight at the back of the car, but knowing it was part mades last time I left made me drive extra careful haha.

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #34 on:** November 18, 2021, 11:50:12 PM »

great efforts mate, if you want to chat about shoulder blending or anything else drop me a message - more than happy to help.

Re the spine flow, I think its a bit of an optical illusion that you could create by concaving through into the toe, essentially, when you add concaving it pushes the swell appearance a little lower, if you look at the differences between the pics of yours, and the pics of the distinction toe up in the IJC review, the toe is heavily concaved on the original, but is full on yours, im not sure how far that convex bit extends up the bat, but even if its 10-20mm or so it can change the appearance of a bat 'flow' a fair amount.

looks like youve certainly got a bit of a knack to this bat shaping lark though!

look forward to seeing some more.

edge · « **Reply #35 on:** November 19, 2021, 07:51:29 AM »

Looking good Chad - one key thing I'd say about that sweeping spine shape is that it isn't possible with every cleft. Getting the spine height that you need higher up the blade does need a decent amount of wood left up there, and some makers process their clefts in a way that takes quite a lot off near the handle.

Chad · « **Reply #36 on:** January 08, 2022, 10:16:44 PM »

Quote from: LEACHY48 on November 18, 2021, 11:50:12 PM

great efforts mate, if you want to chat about shoulder blending or anything else drop me a message - more than happy to help.

Re the spine flow, I think its a bit of an optical illusion that you could create by concaving through into the toe, essentially, when you add concaving it pushes the swell appearance a little lower, if you look at the differences between the pics of yours, and the pics of the distinction toe up in the IJC review, the toe is heavily concaved on the original, but is full on yours, im not sure how far that convex bit extends up the bat, but even if its 10-20mm or so it can change the appearance of a bat 'flow' a fair amount.

looks like youve certainly got a bit of a knack to this bat shaping lark though!

look forward to seeing some more.

Thanks @LEACHY48 - perhaps I should have ran the travisher/plane through the toe more aggressively, or maybe worked at it on a sander. I guess in the end, very much a stylistic thing which each batmaker would do differently. Enjoying this nonetheless, even if I obsess a fair bit on trying to match a shape - feels pretty difficult to achieve from pictures, but I also think this profile itself is a pretty difficult shape to achieve!

Quote from: edge on November 19, 2021, 07:51:29 AM

Looking good Chad - one key thing I'd say about that sweeping spine shape is that it isn't possible with every cleft. Getting the spine height that you need higher up the blade does need a decent amount of wood left up there, and some makers process their clefts in a way that takes quite a lot off near the handle.

Thanks @edge - you have a good point there. I guess I'd have to look into getting slightly larger handles and possibly working from as minimally processed a cleft as possible. I believe this one had been machined somewhat, but was a slightly larger one, so allowed for a higher spine.

Will probably look to get some oversized clefts, as I want to give this profile another crack.

Side note - if anyone spots a M&H old school styled Distinction, Amplus etc, drop me a line! The CK series onwards I'm not so fussed about...

Chad · « **Reply #37 on:** January 09, 2022, 12:29:23 AM »

Been a while since I've updated this, been quietly churning away the odd bat here and there, just binding is a pain, and I've got a fair backlog haha.
Bat 4:

Profile template - A H4L Butterfly bat
Weight with grip and binding - 2lb 11.2oz
Weight of template - 2lb 11.5oz
Grade of willow - G3
Notable features - The willow itself has a fair few knots, and was quite difficult to work with at some points. Lovely piece though, and performs nicely.

Learning Aims:

Wanted to make a lower middled bat, and with a fairly chunky edge
Trying to duckbill (Ended up not really achieving this)
Just liked the look of the profile, and thought that it should be somewhat achievable at a medium weight
I actually got a polishing wheel and machine recently, so refinished this post bind, so was trying to get a decent finish

Where I messed up:

The edge isn't quite matching on both sides - I've accidentally caught the edge at the toe either with a handtool or the sander. (I've forgotten which as it was a while back I made this)
Didn't manage to get the duckbill going
It's a little bumpy on the side of the back with those knots - I think I could have taken less out with tools and sanded more to achieve a smoother finish
The spine profile isn't too far off, but is a touch bumpy

Notes I took away:

Again, I shouldn't take away so much by tools, but I don't like sanding too much haha
Much easier to make an attempted copy when there's the actual bat in front of you
I REALLY hate binding, I need to get a proper lathe to bind
The finish wasn't too bad! I think I need to take more care sanding, aa the point of the polish and buff is to enhance the efforts put in, not really to hide any chunks that may have been taken out

Chad · « **Reply #38 on:** January 09, 2022, 07:13:50 PM »

Unfortunately, we had a leak, and bat 5 suffered pretty badly from that, so we'll skip it for now...

Bat 6:

Profile template - Keeley Superior
Weight with grip and binding - 2lb 10.3oz
Weight of template - 2lb 10.6oz double gripped
Grade of willow - Butterfly
Notable features - The piece of willow was pretty damn nice to work with. I actually ended up making it thicker in the toe, but decided to trim it down to match the profile aesthetic, but kind of wish I just left it now, as the toe is a bit on the thin side... There's a lovely bit of butterfly stain right up at the handle/shoulder area at the back, which made blending the shoulders there a bit more difficult, but should add strength to the bat overall. I believe the spine height is also higher on the copy just to allow for a larger bat higher up, and the duckbill is probably a touch more aggressive than on the Keeley

Learning Aims:

Just to try match the overall profile flow a bit more accurately than the last attempt
Try duckbilling
Have some deviations to the profile by having a slightly thicker shoulder and handle, without affecting the look of the profile too much
Again, practice my polishing on this as I had already bound this one by hand a while back

Where I messed up:

Apparently binding is meant to be pulled through the back, not the front. (Oops)
Edges aren't quite equal - I should try practice making MDF traces of one of the edges instead of just using both edges on the bat. (Will be especially important if copying used bats)
Maybe could have left a little more in the toe area, but I guess it overall improves the pickup

Notes I took away:

I really enjoyed making this profile, and I don't think I was too far off, especially since I wanted the shoulders and handle to be thicker
I REALLY need to setup a proper lathe to bind
Spending extra time on sanding and polishing is worth it, I felt a lot more satisfied with this particular piece.

hit4six · « **Reply #39 on:** January 09, 2022, 07:29:53 PM »

Fantastic work, Chad! 😍 a beautiful looking butterfly cleft too!

marsbug · « **Reply #40 on:** January 09, 2022, 08:44:43 PM »

Oof - the Keeley replica is lovely, great job! I really like the look of it. And I think I prefer your toe shape to the original. Can you tell any difference with the pick-up of them both?

Bungle · « **Reply #41 on:** January 09, 2022, 09:44:19 PM »

Lovely work Chad! Very similar to the Keeley and I'm sure you are very proud of this beauty.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 09, 2022, 09:53:22 PM »

Top work @Chad and the fact you can identify the areas to improve and share these is testimony to the care you take to aim for perfection.

Think that Keeley is a great attempt mate especially the convex profile.

Quick and easy option is some craft card as it�s got enough stiffness to allow a template to be made and used on a couple of occasions and you can easily cut it out with a Stanley knife or scissors and then when you happy can transfer to a MDF template if it�s one you want to use again

AJ2014 · « **Reply #43 on:** January 10, 2022, 08:59:27 AM »

@Chad, what is more satisfying:buying The Bat you're looking for? Or making a Bat you're trying to make? 🤔🙂

Chad · « **Reply #44 on:** January 10, 2022, 10:18:10 PM »

Quote from: hit4six on January 09, 2022, 07:29:53 PM

Fantastic work, Chad! 😍 a beautiful looking butterfly cleft too!

Thanks mate, I really loved this cleft, and I was actually happy with how this attempt turned out! Just wait till I finish up those you had shaped - there were some absolutely stunning ones in there!

Quote from: marsbug on January 09, 2022, 08:44:43 PM

Oof - the Keeley replica is lovely, great job! I really like the look of it. And I think I prefer your toe shape to the original. Can you tell any difference with the pick-up of them both?

Thank you! The Keeley Superior is really pleasing to the eye.

In terms of pick-up, they're both really quite similar - I'd say the Superior edges it as it does have the second grip and weigh a little bit more, but pretty similar! The slightly trimmer toe, thicker handle and shoulders would have helped with the copy, but I also had a larger bulk in the middle, so just about balances it out!

Quote from: Bungle on January 09, 2022, 09:44:19 PM

Lovely work Chad! Very similar to the Keeley and I'm sure you are very proud of this beauty.

Thanks mate - I was pretty happy with how this turned out, I've not really done anything exactly the same, but still trying to find my own style with shaping etc.

Quote from: SOULMAN1012 on January 09, 2022, 09:53:22 PM

Top work @Chad and the fact you can identify the areas to improve and share these is testimony to the care you take to aim for perfection.

Think that Keeley is a great attempt mate especially the convex profile.

Quick and easy option is some craft card as it�s got enough stiffness to allow a template to be made and used on a couple of occasions and you can easily cut it out with a Stanley knife or scissors and then when you happy can transfer to a MDF template if it�s one you want to use again

Thanks Chris - yes, the key thing is to try challenge myself to make different profiles, but also make them well! Gotta accept that I'll cock up at times, and things won't work out the way I wanted. (I've made a few more bats than the ones I've shown, and attempted some absolutely disastrous looking shapes) I'll keep it in mind with the craft cards, I've used some thin plywood, but it is a pain to cut out! Think I'll need to bite the bullet and get a bandsaw or something like that!

Quote from: AJ2014 on January 10, 2022, 08:59:27 AM

@Chad, what is more satisfying:buying The Bat you're looking for? Or making a Bat you're trying to make? 🤔🙂

I'd say they're both pretty different forms of satisfaction. The process is very satisfying in making a bat for sure, but nothing quite beats unwrapping a bat I've really wanted and admiring it.

Author Topic: Chad's Batmaking Thread (The first Bat Shaper in Scotland?!) (Read 30371 times)

Devondumpling00

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

hell4leather cricket

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

Chad

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

Chad

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

LEACHY48

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

edge

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

Chad

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

Chad

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

Chad

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

hit4six

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

marsbug

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

Bungle

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

SOULMAN1012

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

AJ2014

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

Chad

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