How I got here

[ajmw89]

Thought I'd show off what got me on the path to woodturning.

For the last couple of years, I've been making cricket bats in my spare time and the need to get a lathe to speed up the handle binding process has been high on my list. Now I've found woodturning, it seems to have taken over from the batmaking!

This is one of the finest I think I've made (it has scored several centuries in the hands of it's owner, sadly not mine!)

 

[Terry]

Excellent work Adam. Thanks for showing !!!!

 

[Buckeye]

Lovely stuff

Peter

 

[Vic Perrin]

Looks a tidy bat well made and finished.

Vic

 

[paulm]

Thats a nice looking bat Adam, do you buy the wood or source it yourself?

 

[PhillH]

Very nice, do you make them for Pro cricketers or gifted amateurs?

 

[ajmw89]

Thats a nice looking bat Adam, do you buy the wood or source it yourself?

Buy in pre-pressed clefts. I used to splice and handle them myself when i switched supliers, but the new supplier turned around after a couple of orders and said they wanted me to order 100s of clefts at a time, which I couldn't afford, so I went back to my original supplier who charges the same whether I do the donkey work or not!

 

[ajmw89]

Very nice, do you make them for Pro cricketers or gifted amateurs?

Gifted (and ungifted!) amateurs. Have made one for an ex-pro, who then removed my stickers and put on his kit sponsor's stickers. Was not a happy bunny...

 

[Penpal]

Presumed this was always a very tricky subject with every user having a need according to their physique or leaning how do you cater for this in making mate. Recent games in Australia have seen many broken bats the commentators saying there goes a 600 dollar bat is this a realistic figure for them? I like the shaping and general look of your bats well done in every way mate.

Peter.

 

[ajmw89]

Presumed this was always a very tricky subject with every user having a need according to their physique or leaning how do you cater for this in making mate. Recent games in Australia have seen many broken bats the commentators saying there goes a 600 dollar bat is this a realistic figure for them? I like the shaping and general look of your bats well done in every way mate.

Peter.

Every bat is custom made, so I have a chat with the user before hand to find out their playing styles, favourite shots and most productive shots, what type of pitches they generally play on, height, size etc. That'll give me a rough idea of the profile. then it's a case of hacking away until I get the shape!

Pros get their bats for free generally, even if they're from a different manufacturer to who's stickers they are using. Breakages are generally some form of weakness in the willow, usually storm damage. however some are due to misuse (most of these are toe damage from trying to hit yorkers for 6...)

 

[wm460]

Excellent work Adam

 

[Winemaker]

That looks a well made Bat

 

[Jim]

Nice niche you have Adam, nice little hobby to be in my friend ..