Baseball Bat

[Ken Weaver]

Has anyone ever turned one? LOML wants me to do one for our grandson. I'm not sure where to begin and where to find a blank (probably more than 1 for mistakes) that would would work. Any suggestions? What kind of wood etc.? I found a blank at Rocklers - any experience with it? As good as any other?

[Rounder]

Use ash for the wood. I turned a small one in the woodturning class I took at Woodcraft.

[Ken Massingale]

Start with a chunk of pine 4 by 4 and practice a couple or so. Then, Ash, as George said, or Hickory for the final product. I have plenty of bat size diameter stuff in the log piles for you to practice on. Just come over and get it.
ken

[Pappy]

Ditto on using ash, less tendency to break. Good high points project with the grandson but very few kids from college level down use anything but aluminum bats.

[bmyers]

I made a small one for my son and he loves it. Problem is, there is only one thing to do with a bat and that is whack stuff! For now it's only knee caps but I fear he will get taller..

I made it out of my childhood bat which was dry rot on the outside. But nice once I turned it down.

Ash is the standard but hickory is ok too, I think I would try one in maple if I had a chunk.

Be sure to post pix of the final product. Would love to see it.

Bill

[Whaler]

The July 2005 issue of Woodcraft magazine has a great article on turning vintage baseball bats.

[Ken Weaver]

quote:Originally posted by Whaler

The July 2005 issue of Woodcraft magazine has a great article on turning vintage baseball bats.

July 2005? Maybe 2004? Do you have a copy you could scan and email me?

[Whaler]

Ken

It's July 2005, It just came yesterday.

Quite a coincidence the author of the article is also a Ken Weaver.

I'll send you a scan.

[Whaler]

Ken

I e-mailed the scans and just filled out your spam blocker form. You should have them shortly. Let me know if they don't come through.

[kwgeorge]

Quite the coincidence that you want to turn a bat and the latest issue in one of the magazines has an article on it! I was watching a show awhile back called made in America with that guy that used to be on the Cheers show. He was at the factory where the Louisville Slugger bats are made and they showed a guy turn one by hand. Man he was fast! The wood that Rockler has is Ash but I think Hard Maple would also be nice just may be harder and more expensive to obtain in the size needed.

For what its worth if anything I have been thinking about how I would go about making one. I think that I would have to take an existing bat and from its dimensions I would make a memory stick which is basically a stick with nails driven in it. I would use this to mark all the different thicknesses throughout the bat. Another way would be to measure the different point for circumference and then the distants between the different thickness points. Then you could make half circle templates for each of the circumference measurements and mark the wood where each template should go. Then it would just be a matter of turning to the template size. I would rough down using a roughing gouge for the basic shape and then switch to a 1” or larger skew and finish with a planning cut. My thoughts anyway.

[Whaler]

Ken

Would you like a copy of the article scan?

[Ken Weaver]

Got it Whaler - thanks it came through fine. That will help a lot. Ken George - The first one I will try is a t-ball size bat, got the measurements from his aluminum t-ball bat. The weight is 23 ozs so I'm not sure how close it will turn out as far as weight goes. but I think I can match the other dimensions. Think I'll take Ken Massingale up on his offer for practice material and order the Rockler ash blank for the final. They seemed reasonable ($16) compared to twice that much for a maple blank. Appreciate the help guys!

PS - Talk about coincidence - I notice the author of the Woodcraft bat article is Ken Weaver - obviously no relation, he knows what he's doing.

[Whaler]

You are welcome Ken. Post a picture whe you have finished one.

[tfischer]

quote:Originally posted by Whaler

Ken

It's July 2005, It just came yesterday.

This is why I hate magazines. The July issue comes out in May, go figure!

-Tim