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[SAF Bats]

Gents / Ladies
 
As Norbs is not around I'm opening up a ask the bat maker thread - get your questions in here and we'll get them answered over a few days!!!!

Thanks
 
Andy

[Washington]

Hi Andy, when you first started out making bats, what kind of set up did you have? Small shed/garage/workshop? Did you do an apprenticeship with anyone or are you self taught?

Dan

[Ayrtek Cricket]

what do u use to sand/finish ur bats? and whats the most important tool in your opinion?

[Six Sixes Cricket]

Probably been covered before but, how do u get the bats 'middle'? And why can it not be over most of the bat?
cheers
Rob

[roco]

What is your favourite shape to make

[essexarsenal]

How did you learn to make a cricket bat and when did you realise you wanted to do it as a career ?
Thanks

[johan95]

Best number of grains which will give both performance and longevity...? Cheers!

[FattusCattus]

When refurbing a bat, what is the best way to remove that stubborn fibreglass tape.

I'm giving Ugly Betty a birthday and she's covered in whispy bits!

[jonpinson]

Excuse my ignorance (yes that should be automatically inserted at the top of ever post I make), but are Norbs and SAF bats not the same person?

Yours,
Confused.

[SAF Bats]

Hi Andy, when you first started out making bats, what kind of set up did you have? Small shed/garage/workshop? Did you do an apprenticeship with anyone or are you self taught?

Dan

Garage and I loved it - first one was pretty bad i got overly involved in the techie side of things and forgot about the pratical side of things.... I am self taught but had some great pointers from some great bat makers out there!

Nowadays, and from things I've learnt, it is all about understanding the willow, the customer needs and not making bats for the hell of it. That is , picking up a piece of willow and saying that will do but making bats from willow to suit the customer needs and understanding why the bat shape will meet those requirements

[SAF Bats]

what do u use to sand/finish ur bats? and whats the most important tool in your opinion?

Oscar the dog and a helmet for safety

[SAF Bats]

Probably been covered before but, how do u get the bats 'middle'? And why can it not be over most of the bat?
cheers
Rob

you get that middle based on the shape of bat, I imagine that isn't a surprise to you but you need to understand why the middle is middle of bat and how you can get techie areas into that middle.  I don't mass produce for this reason, if I made every piece of willow into the same shape the middle wouldn't be in the same areas it is effectively a laws of physics thing. Density, shape, pickup,weight distribution etc etc is all important.  Get one from a machine and get one from a "true" bat maker and you'll see the difference.

Why it [the middle] can't be over the whole of the bat? There isn't enough wood based on the end weight and it would look like a brick on stick

[SAF Bats]

What is your favourite shape to make

The Fabrica and Audax ------

[SAF Bats]

How did you learn to make a cricket bat and when did you realise you wanted to do it as a career ?
Thanks

2006 I started and I was asked by a friend as i was making a guitar at the time, oh and a coffee table and a cabinet for the wife     I realised it might be a career optionwhen I won the All Out Cricket awards this year but the brand is really only just starting and we are taking it forward next year

[SAF Bats]

Best number of grains which will give both performance and longevity...? Cheers!

No real answer to this, willow is an organic material and it depends on how it is prepared in the bat making process and how it is looked after by the person that owns it.