Print

[jonpinson]

Well the snow let us have it last night, theres a good 10-12 inches now, so I have nothing to do. Nothing. Except raid the rather nice wine collection. So instead here is a topic for discussion: What are your thoughts on oiling?

I have been advised by respected bat makers to oil liberally (watch the screaming cat vid on youtube), to not at all (this was certainly the Salix party line a few years ago). I tend to give new bats one coat when they arrive, and old bats get a coat whenever I remember/see fit.

Does over oiling actually cause a drop in performance? Has anyone actually seen this happen or is it just a hand-me-down myth available at any club?

Will a bat destruct itself if it is not oiled?

If the purpose of oiling is to 'lock' the moisture level of a bat, are we better off adding a more permanent coating which would only need application once?

[Perkins17]

well i have over oiled a bat and safe to say it will never score a boundry again!
If you don't oild a bat it6 will dry out as it a need a small amount of moisture in it and without oil it will just escape!
i don't tend to oil bats much as i never really have them that long but i oiled all the bats i have at the moment some old some new but i only applied one coat to the face and back

[TheBoyLegend]

I have been using the Salix Bat wax for the last two seasons and gotta say (having ruined a bat in the past with my oiling overzealousness) that I find it a lot better my only worry has been that the wax isnt getting the penetration into the wood that the oil would have?

Anyone else have experience of using the wax? any thoughts?

[tim2000s]

well i have over oiled a bat and safe to say it will never score a boundry again!
If you don't oild a bat it6 will dry out as it a need a small amount of moisture in it and without oil it will just escape!
i don't tend to oil bats much as i never really have them that long but i oiled all the bats i have at the moment some old some new but i only applied one coat to the face and back

I guess that you could describe not oil as being akin to over-drying a cleft. You will get a very dry bat that will not have a long life, but may well perform.

Counter to that, if you over oil it, you effectively end up with the same thing as an under-dried bat. It tends to hit a ball and absorb the ball rather than rebound it.

I've always done the 2-3 coats of oil on the front of the new bat, one on the rear, then a new single coat once a  year after that at the beginning of the season. Just trying to stop it drying out too much.

Likewise I store bats in a cool place to avoid over-drying.

[100 not out]

Use no more than a teaspoon a coat.

what i would recommend is oil once (a teaspoon full). wait a week or so and then apply anti scuff.
Then oil the back.

under oiling is better than over oiling.

[tim2000s]

Oiling a bat is very much like making love to a beautiful woman....

Slap on the oil, get your hands in and stroke gently, leave for 24 hours and come back for a repeat performance....

[Washington]

Fran i use salix bat wax on all my bats its great stuff im not a fan of oiling bats but i put a small smear on the face of all new bats and when i refurb a bat. I find it a lot lighter than oil so bats dont look like Dale Winton!!

[tim2000s]

A bat doesn't look right without it's yearly spray tan

[Colesy]

Didn't oil my Ayrtek, snapped.

Over oiled my Woodworm, dead.

[Cover_Drive]

I guess that you could describe not oil as being akin to over-drying a cleft. You will get a very dry bat that will not have a long life, but may well perform.

Counter to that, if you over oil it, you effectively end up with the same thing as an under-dried bat. It tends to hit a ball and absorb the ball rather than rebound it.

I've always done the 2-3 coats of oil on the front of the new bat, one on the rear, then a new single coat once a  year after that at the beginning of the season. Just trying to stop it drying out too much.

Likewise I store bats in a cool place to avoid over-drying.

With this type of winter and snow where do you store it and how is it (with or without cover etc) ?

[tim2000s]

With this type of winter and snow where do you store it and how is it (with or without cover etc) ?

Our ground floor hallway has a cupboard under the stairs and no radiators. The temperature is around 14-15 celsius, but pretty much constantly throughout the winter. I tend to store the bats with the rest of the cricket kit, so they stay in the bat holder of the bag. Any that aren't in there may or may not be covered, dependent on whether I have a cover. Generally though, I try to cover the better bats to avoid them picking up knocks.

[Cover_Drive]

Our ground floor hallway has a cupboard under the stairs and no radiators. The temperature is around 14-15 celsius, but pretty much constantly throughout the winter. I tend to store the bats with the rest of the cricket kit, so they stay in the bat holder of the bag. Any that aren't in there may or may not be covered, dependent on whether I have a cover. Generally though, I try to cover the better bats to avoid them picking up knocks.

Ah okay make sense.

Will it be okay to keep the bat in a 18-22 degrees room without covers ? (ignore dents, knocks etc factor).

Thanks a ton mate!

[tim2000s]

Ah okay make sense.

Will it be okay to keep the bat in a 18-22 degrees room without covers ? (ignore dents, knocks etc factor).

Thanks a ton mate!

Should be alright at 18-22. Covers don't really make that much difference. They are really best for maintaining aesthetics. I suppose you could shrink wrap/vacuum pack in an effort to reduce moisture loss, but I can't see it really being worth it.

[TheBoyLegend]

Fran i use salix bat wax on all my bats its great stuff im not a fan of oiling bats but i put a small smear on the face of all new bats and when i refurb a bat. I find it a lot lighter than oil so bats dont look like Dale Winton!!

Yeah to be honest I do prefer the satin type finish you get with the wax without the Katie Price Alabaster shade afterwards..

[uknsaunders]

once over oiled a bat, never again. I'm paranoid about oiling now. I don't see why 3 coats is really needed, it's overkill in my opinion and you just end up with more knackered bats.

I stick one light coat on, leave 24 hours and stick anti-scuff on. Repeat approx 6-12 months depending on use.