Topic: Iron ore / Blue stains (Read 1178 times)

myic90 · « **on:** April 04, 2025, 02:46:43 AM »

One of my bats has blue staining on it. I did some research back when I bought it and found out it's iron ore in the willow.

It's been a year since I've started using it, and all my mates have been asking to borrow it, it's genuinely a rocket, the best ping I've ever seen. My number 3 used it past weekend and hit the biggest six I've seen.. flick shot off a slow medium bowler, cleared a 30m tall tree past the boundary, must have been 120m six. I've never seen anything like it in my 20 years of cricket, neither has he, he wants to buy it from me now.

You can find a picture of it and the specs in one of my earlier posts: http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50700

The grain structure is nothing special as you can see from the 2nd picture in that thread. Now the weight of it for its size was truly unique, truly low density, and for a while I thought that was the reason why it pinged so well, until this video from Gray Nics dropped last week, I've clipped the fascinating bit:

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxPTWwjkrUOq3pYBsoVcsiNokdZx84zCLC?si=MuCRwH_QbeMHESs4

This kind of confirms my suspicious surrounding the blue staining. Now my experience corroborates this video, but before I start treating it as gospel truth, I need more proof.

I couldn't find any posts about blue staining in CBF insofar as the search function. So I guess I'm making this thread to find out if anybody has had similar experiences? Or any other bat makers can chime in with their view on the matter? Was that you in the video @thebigginge ? Would love your further thoughts on this.

Because if that's the case, then getting iron ore stained willow will definitely start taking priority in my quest for new bats and will change my view on buying player willow as I would rather lower grades with staining on it.

Buzz · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2025, 06:52:01 AM »

Thanks, great to hear you have a gun bat.

The search function on here is not great, but there are probably some mentions of blue willow on here somewhere, although I don't remember many.

The only thing I can offer is when you have a gun bat, I am not sure lending it out is your best plan...!

Chad · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2025, 07:42:32 AM »

Most batmakers I've spoken to have found that they do tend to make very good bats. (Some call it navy stain) The ones I've had with them in do tend to perform very nicely. Most likely, a mixture of having a very good bat in hand plus timing the pants off the ball in the case of the enormous six

I've shaped the odd one with some of this in it, the willow does seem a bit more brittle at times - could perhaps be due to the way the iron/willow fibres have bonded/layered with each other.

Purist90 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2025, 11:11:39 AM »

Show us your Blues!
I currently have a pleasant experience with my Blue.
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50854.0

I haven�t netted with it yet. In terms of rating its performance I dont need to.
It�s a solid pinger. I am extremely happy with it.

Bouncing a ball on the bat is a delight, up and down, side to side, it�s just as wonderful compared to good British made bats 2-3 years old now.

But, my blue staining is not on the face of the bat. I bought a Blue to try out, and I felt other than the staining it would be a higher graded willow. Hopefully stronger too as it is �blemished�.

I cant tell if the performance is due to staining or just the very well made and pressed cricket bat. I bought from Aldred for a reason.

I thought my bat performed due to specs, weight and pressing. Maybe even the 10 grains on it. But Ive never been a grain fanatic as Im a grade 2-4 kinda guy. And patience is a virtue with bats.

If Blue and butterfly willow allows someone like me to experience performance as near as damn it to grade 1 for half the price, Im all for it!

I hope now the Pros are using �blemished� grade bats a lot more now, people start favouring them. And the cycle of willow is sustained and slows down in price for a while!

(I would love for one of the batmakers on here to write a little piece on what consumers can do now to help halt shopping prices in the near future. Is it the willow or is it the bills??!)

myic90 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2025, 12:31:11 PM »

Quote from: Buzz on April 04, 2025, 06:52:01 AM

Thanks, great to hear you have a gun bat.

The search function on here is not great, but there are probably some mentions of blue willow on here somewhere, although I don't remember many.

The only thing I can offer is when you have a gun bat, I am not sure lending it out is your best plan...!

Good point Buzz! But I bat 10. No point in a good bat collecting dust languishing down the order!

myic90 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2025, 12:32:44 PM »

Quote from: Purist90 on April 04, 2025, 11:11:39 AM

Show us your Blues!
I currently have a pleasant experience with my Blue.
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=50854.0

I haven�t netted with it yet. In terms of rating its performance I dont need to.
It�s a solid pinger. I am extremely happy with it.

Bouncing a ball on the bat is a delight, up and down, side to side, it�s just as wonderful compared to good British made bats 2-3 years old now.

But, my blue staining is not on the face of the bat. I bought a Blue to try out, and I felt other than the staining it would be a higher graded willow. Hopefully stronger too as it is �blemished�.

I cant tell if the performance is due to staining or just the very well made and pressed cricket bat. I bought from Aldred for a reason.

I thought my bat performed due to specs, weight and pressing. Maybe even the 10 grains on it. But Ive never been a grain fanatic as Im a grade 2-4 kinda guy. And patience is a virtue with bats.

If Blue and butterfly willow allows someone like me to experience performance as near as damn it to grade 1 for half the price, Im all for it!

I hope now the Pros are using �blemished� grade bats a lot more now, people start favouring them. And the cycle of willow is sustained and slows down in price for a while!

(I would love for one of the batmakers on here to write a little piece on what consumers can do now to help halt shopping prices in the near future. Is it the willow or is it the bills??!)

Read through the thread, interesting that he offers a grade called blue! I thought blue stains were rare. I've always liked the aldred shapes and handles, perhaps I'll shoot through an email looking to pick up one.

myic90 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2025, 12:35:55 PM »

Quote from: Chad on April 04, 2025, 07:42:32 AM

Most batmakers I've spoken to have found that they do tend to make very good bats. (Some call it navy stain) The ones I've had with them in do tend to perform very nicely. Most likely, a mixture of having a very good bat in hand plus timing the pants off the ball in the case of the enormous six

I've shaped the odd one with some of this in it, the willow does seem a bit more brittle at times - could perhaps be due to the way the iron/willow fibres have bonded/layered with each other.

Interesting, thanks for the insight @Chad . When you say brittle, do you mean it tends to delaminate easier? It's fascinating that it's just iron that comes out as blue and not other impurities or metals in other colours, brown for copper for instance.

Chad · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2025, 10:35:23 AM »

Quote from: myic90 on April 04, 2025, 12:35:55 PM

Interesting, thanks for the insight @Chad . When you say brittle, do you mean it tends to delaminate easier? It's fascinating that it's just iron that comes out as blue and not other impurities or metals in other colours, brown for copper for instance.

Sorry, should have clarified. The brittle nature is more when shaping, it can really peel off and sometimes take a bit more than expected - especially when the blue is more present. In terms of cracking up more during use, I'm not sure!

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2025, 06:51:52 PM »

Funny that Alex has kept that tip quiet?

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2025, 06:58:23 PM »

I don't mean to be a killjoy, but isn't this bat illegal?

thebigginge · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2025, 07:20:25 PM »

Hello.

Blue stain is wicked. I've never made it a secret 🤣🤣.

Blue stain isn't rare...however it historically gets pushed down the grades and then bleached/painted/covered as it's seen as cosmetically challenging.

Most of my players ask for it, I've not had complaints...and I've had plenty of players turn down grains for blue anything.

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2025, 08:25:23 PM »

Sounds like it's the new butterfly.

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2025, 08:27:35 PM »

Quote from: thebigginge on April 05, 2025, 07:20:25 PM

Most of my players ask for it, I've not had complaints...and I've had plenty of players turn down grains for blue anything.

Surely this also means you hold it back for them?

myic90 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2025, 11:55:03 PM »

Quote from: thebigginge on April 05, 2025, 07:20:25 PM

Hello.

Blue stain is wicked. I've never made it a secret 🤣🤣.

Blue stain isn't rare...however it historically gets pushed down the grades and then bleached/painted/covered as it's seen as cosmetically challenging.

Most of my players ask for it, I've not had complaints...and I've had plenty of players turn down grains for blue anything.

Thanks for clarifying @thebigginge ! Is there a difference in the kind of blue you get? I am to understand the blue could either be iron ore or the Ophiostomatales fungus. I know Aldred is selling an entire grade of blue bats and his website says the blue could be caused by trees growing near silage or sewerage. Have do you tell the difference between the blue caused by iron ore vs these others?

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2025, 10:29:53 AM »

I noticed Aldred is doing a blue 'grade'.

Author Topic: Iron ore / Blue stains (Read 1178 times)

myic90

Iron ore / Blue stains

Buzz

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Chad

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Purist90

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

myic90

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

myic90

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

myic90

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Chad

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

thebigginge

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

myic90

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains

Bats_Entertainment

Re: Iron ore / Blue stains