Topic: Questions about bat making? (Read 4120 times)

cricket247365 · « **on:** October 31, 2010, 11:25:04 AM »

I'm looking into the art of bat making mainly as a hobby but also as a potential business option, could you please be so kind to help me out with a few questions:

1. Roughly how much are clefts if you are only buying a few?
2. Is it best to get another company to press them for you?
3. Is there a preferred supplier for willow and handles who would deal with small orders?
4. If the pressing was done by someone else what are the essential tools that would be needed and there cost?
5. Does anyone provide 1-2 day training courses?

A lot of questions, its something ive always been interested in, hope you can help.

Howzat · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2010, 11:44:53 AM »

1. Looking at about �60 per cleft for G1
2. Unless you have a fair few thousand to spend on a press?
3. Best off buying from a small batmaker on here such as Hell4Leather
4. Essential tools, drawknife (�40-�50), travisher/leathershave for concaving (�40-�60), Vice, Workbench, Sandpaper, Buffing solution etc
6. I'm pretty sure Hawk provided a one day course at one point but cant find a link to it now

maxy1 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2010, 11:48:43 AM »

1 - depends where you get them
kashmir from cji - �10 - 20
g1 from H4L - �75

2 - yes

3 - best to get pressed and handled clefts of ur likley to screw up ( on the forum Talisman and matt from H4L are good bets)

4 - you can do it with just a plain - but drawnife , spokeshave, travisher, rasp , sandpaper, twine , pva glue

5 - not as such some batmakers will make a bat with you but for �200 + (good value for the experiance IMO )

all these answers and more can be found by searching in the bat making section

hope that helps

Washington · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2010, 11:51:34 AM »

Sorry to hi-jack your topic but does anyone know where to buy twine from?

Lekka Global Alliance · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2010, 11:59:19 AM »

Quote from: CustomDan21 on October 31, 2010, 11:51:34 AM

Sorry to hi-jack your topic but does anyone know where to buy twine from?

www.coats.com

cricket247365 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:02:24 PM »

Much apprecited for all the info.

I think i'll have a good go at it over xmas and see how it goes.

Looking at the tools needed i could quite easily do it in the garage or shed.

I guess it a lot of trial and error as well.

Is that �60 for a G1 pressed cleft?

maxy1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:04:16 PM »

i think talisman does them for that - mite have pressing cracks though

cricket247365 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:06:12 PM »

On a slightly different angle, it costs between �70-�85 + VAT to get a bat imported from India and they are all pressed, shaped etc in the same way i think.

At that price I can see why a lot of companies get them imported but is there negative point to Indian bats apart from not being British and taking business away from British companies?

cricket247365 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:07:03 PM »

Do they affect the performance or the look of the bat?

maxy1 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:11:26 PM »

well uk handmades have a reputation of being better , but you do get some very good bats out of india - but also some very poor ones , it is a case of getting good contacts/being in with the right people i guess

pressing cracks effect the look of a bat , not usually the performance

out of interest what is your cricket / business background ?

niceonechoppy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:11:53 PM »

Quote from: cricket247365 on October 31, 2010, 12:06:12 PM

On a slightly different angle, it costs between �70-�85 + VAT to get a bat imported from India and they are all pressed, shaped etc in the same way i think.

At that price I can see why a lot of companies get them imported but is there negative point to Indian bats apart from not being British and taking business away from British companies?

Maybe the price for when you buy 1/2 bats, but I was offered a price for 20 G2/G3 bats shipped from India for �45 a bat including shipping. Buy in bulk and obviously unit cost falls.

Howzat · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:12:43 PM »

Majority of British bats will be finished better than Asian bats although according to Mike the best finish bat he has seen was an Indian one

cricket247365 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:23:50 PM »

If you got quoted �45 for G3 what was it for G1?

From a business point of view its a no brainer to get the bats imported rather than paying or doing the bats yourself?

Consumers may prefer British made but if the price is right they will be swayed especially in the current economic climate.

Mind im still going to try and make my own bat.

Ayrtek Cricket · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:28:59 PM »

the pressing is the most important part of making a quality bat....if a company doesnt have the right skills in getting the pressing correct then a bat may look superb but wont perform...in the UK this process has been perfected which the Indians are trying to catch up on...espeically on the toe area of the bat!

The willow is shipped from the UK over there to make the bats so effectivley the labour is cheaper to make them over in India etc hence the lower prices comaprred to the UK

niceonechoppy · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:40:03 PM »

Quote from: cricket247365 on October 31, 2010, 12:23:50 PM

If you got quoted �45 for G3 what was it for G1?

From a business point of view its a no brainer to get the bats imported rather than paying or doing the bats yourself?

Consumers may prefer British made but if the price is right they will be swayed especially in the current economic climate.

Mind im still going to try and make my own bat.

Remember that the majority of the majority of big brand companies will always upgrade their bats e.g Grade 3 becomes 2, 2 becomes 1.

Grade 2 was �53 if I remember correctly, and this could probably be easily upgraded.

Author Topic: Questions about bat making? (Read 4120 times)

cricket247365

Questions about bat making?

Howzat

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maxy1

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Washington

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Lekka Global Alliance

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