The art of batmaking...

These videos explain it really well... very interesting.
Has anyone here ever tried to make their own bat? It looks hard
http://www.gm-cricket.com/virtualtour/ArtOfBatmaking.asp


Im inspired by these videos now!

Looks like the art of bat finishing to me, bats being automatically pressed, machined etc not really bat making by hand

have you seen the video's? trescothick has ago at binding the handle but the string goes all the way down the blade!!!

Ive always been wanting to have ago at making a bat. Never got round to it though. Will custom bat makers i.e. Charlie French allow you to make the bat with them? Or will this be against healh and safety regs.

Id let you have a go at the inital stuff then Id finish it up to ensure the quality of the end result, but it would appear being in lancashire your on the wrong side of the planet .

Whats the name of your company Glen? Do you have any pictures of your bats?

MURPHY cricket bats

Hi Glen do you have a website?

One more question I see on cougar you posted a Bat Making vid but I couldn't find it any chance of a link?
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Another video for you guys if you haven't seen it!

http://www.screamingcat.com.au/ Click on A Podshaver's Story

There is also a Bradbury bats one on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNp5joqkzio

I dont actually, Tom Evans (legend) offered me some space on a website he was developing a while ago but Id prefer to build my brand locally alittle more first, before I venture into something like that.

It may have been the one Kippax made up a while ago, Have a look on their website because I think they moved it around making the link invalid.
Dan Swaine also has a batmaking video on the Chase website (though its a little vague) and there is also a short video getting around, on the boys who make the Hawk bats..

BL400, how would you rate your end product quality when compared to people like Laver or Fusion? Also how hard/easy is it for you starting up to get quality willow from the willow merchants?

Basically Ive taught myself everything with a few chats to alot batmakers around the place.
Only being fairly new to it (a few years tinkering), the bats I make are deffinitely equal to any of the ones you pick up off the shelf and pay twice the price for the privilege. But as far as rebound goes (without wanting to sound cocky) they are among the best going (GN, Kook etc wont touch them).

Im currently looking into getting an apprenticeship under a batmaker.
I see it as a way to get into the industry make what is essentially a hobby a fulltime occupation.
A fair bit of expense is required, to procure the right tools but also the sanders etc. But I justified it by starting it as a school major project. As for Willow, Im pretty certain the merchants really wont wont to know you, better off forging a link with a small batmaker willing to help you.

I'll second that JS Wrights and Anglian Willow are not taking on any new accounts. Even if you have all the tools, drawknifes, plane etc the pressing of the blade will require a specialist press.

I've sourceed willow from a couple of small bat makers and will be getting some more at the weekend. I'm looking forward to that one as I am popping in to see them and he has some real nice willow in . These cleft are all pressed and ready to be shaped. It is a bit more expensive but still alot cheaper then buying a brand new bat at those grades

Picked up the clefts and they are very nice to. I got to pick them out and had a great chat and look around whislt I was there.... It was a very enjoyable hour / hour and half spent and Gary from Redback was superb giving me tips etc. He has excellent bats up there as well.... hopefully I didn't bore him to much as the time flew for me....

I just finished another for friend of mine and would be happy to pass on any of my limited knowledge if needed....

Thanks Norbair...im working out how to make groups on the forum...trying to make a batmaker one!

Norbair wrote:I just finished another for friend of mine and would be happy to pass on any of my limited knowledge if needed....

Here is the one I recently finished for a friend..... G2/G3

i like your profile, I think you're just about there with it and the finish looks good. Can I ask though how you cut and shape the shoulders, as they may need a little work to "blend in" better. Not a criticism in any way, just wondering of I can offer you any advice.....

Cheers.

Profile wise the guy asked me for thick edges and around 2lb 8oz. The spine is quite high but had to come down a bit as I shaped it for the weight. I don't have the luxury of being about choose and shape it according to the raw cleft just yet.

I cut the shoulders in with a bandsaw. It was in fact intentionally cut square with a slight taper at the splice. I'm not sure I like the look of it but there you go you live and learn!!!!

I would normally [or previously] use the bandsaw and a rasp to curve in the edge so it is more tapered.

I think I will go for tapered from now on. I won't think like a hairdresser does Tapered or Squared

Loving the bat! But agreed...the square shoulders should go
The profile is gorgeous! Lots of mear all the way down!

Leo wrote:But agreed...the square shoulders should go

Agreed, I'll think of another way of recognising the bats. Funny thing is when the hairdressers says Tapered or Squared I always say Tapered....

Finishing the shoulders square like that with minimal ears, I imagine may weaken them slightly (only guessing though, without having seen it).
Personally I form mine up with a spokeshave, a sanding drum and then a specialised curved sanding block I made up. The style of shoulders I make are curved but with a sharp seam/edge that runs perfectly straight across the spine from point of the shoulder to other point of the shoulder and then the same on the face.
Anderson can we see some pics of your work?

BrianLara400* wrote:Anderson can we see some pics of your work?

There's a new bat in another section here. The stickered one is the "normal" shape the blank is a customer request. Just before you say it looks a little bottom heavy!
https://facricket.forumotion.com/equipment-f5/exclusive-to-fa-cricket-new-bat-t239.htm

Obviously if you take a look at the website www.andersoncricketbats.co.uk there are some pics on there. I havent worked out how to post pics on here yet!

Cheers.

If you need me to upload some pics for you feel free to PM me!

BrianLara400* wrote:Finishing the shoulders square like that with minimal ears, I imagine may weaken them slightly (only guessing though, without having seen it).
Personally I form mine up with a spokeshave, a sanding drum and then a specialised curved sanding block I made up.

Yep bandsaw just used to quicken the process I forgot to add drawknife usage on the shoulders.

It may weaken them, the actual width of the ears is the same as a curved shoulder but it just shaped almost at a right angle. That said, I won't be doing that style of shoulders again.....

Norbair wrote:I'll second that JS Wrights and Anglian Willow are not taking on any new accounts. Even if you have all the tools, drawknifes, plane etc the pressing of the blade will require a specialist press.

I've sourced willow from a couple of small bat makers and will be getting some more at the weekend

Best way to do it, find a friendly local bat maker and ask him to put some willow aside for you. It's what I used to do when I was regularly making bats.

As said the main willow dealers won't take on small accounts - you need to be buying a decent amount to make it worth their while.

So do you still make bats Austwick? Any pics of your work?!