Curly Maple Baseball Bat

[Tim Malyszko]

It's been a while since posting in the turning forum as the majority of my work has been flat-work. Anyway, believe it or not, I had a homework assignment for my Cost Accounting Class and that was to make a bat.

Here's the backstory...

Two weeks ago, I was sitting in class and our professor decided to use baseball bat manufacturing as our in-class example on budgeting. He asked if anyone makes baseball bats, not really expecting a response. Of course, I raised my hand and he was taken back that someone in class actually knew how to make a baseball bat. Long story short, I walked him through the process so we can account for materials, labor, etc.

Last week, the professor asked me to bring in a bat so he can see my work. I didn't have any laying around, so I went ahead and made this one on the lathe. It's made from Curly Maple (Quite the suprise when the curl popped) and measures 33" in length. The handle is 1" thick and tapers to a 2.5" barrel with a slight cup on the top. I sanded it to 600 grit and then finished it with shellac-wax.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=114352&d=1238363214
I am so ecstatic on how this one turned out. Normally, I would take one to the batting cage to try it out, but this one looks too good to actually use. I will say it feels great when I swing it.

Thanks for looking.

[Tim Malyszko]

Sorry,

Had to make 1 more post - I don't like my post number being 666.

[Chris Padilla]

Very nice...weigh it if you get a chance. :)

[Bernie Weishapl]

Boy now that is a great looking bat. I really like the maple. Well done.

[Jeff Nicol]

Tim, I agree that is to nice to hit a few balls out of the park with! You could have it custom laser engraved with your info on it and hang it on the wall. It is very beautiful! I have turned some small bats about 12" long out of figured white ash that were given to my step mother to give to her grandsons as christmas gifts. She had them lasered with their names and birthdays on them. They turned out pretty cool.

Great work!

Jeff

[Dewey Torres]

Sorry,

Had to make 1 more post - I don't like my post number being 666.

Well that's it...you now must burn the bat. Sorry that's the rules.

[Benjamin Dahl]

Tim, looks great. That curl really pops.

[Tim Malyszko]

Very nice...weigh it if you get a chance

Thanks. I forgot the weight in the original post - 31.4 oz. I was shooting for a -1 weight, but ended up with a -1.6.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Tim - that is quite the bat!!! Amazing wood!

[Dave Halter]

Great looking bat. I hope that garners an "A" in the class.

Dave

[Robert McGowen]

That is very nice. It was make an excellent trophy hanging on a wall with some nice engraving on it.

[Brian Effinger]

Wow, Tim, that has got to be the best looking bat I have ever seen.

[Don Carter]

Wow! Tim, that is one nice looking bat! Welcome back to the spinny world. I hope you stay for a while. ;) Thanks for showing it.

[Jim McFarland]

Beautiful bat! Much too nice to hit anything with!

[alex carey]

That is a great bat, love all the curl, you certainly lucked out. You cannot actually use that, that would be wrong to hurt something so beautiful.

[Billy Tallant]

Great looking bat... I have to agree with the others. Too nice to actually use. Hang it on the wall!!!

[Tim Malyszko]

Thanks for all the comments. I am definately displaying this bat and not using it. I'm probably going to mount it on my office wall down at work. It will NOT be going into my bat bag.

[Greg Cuetara]

Tim,

Great looking bat. It almost looks like a fungo with the long handle but maybe that is how the picture was taken. Now you just need to make a display case!

Greg

[Jim Kountz]

Great looking bat, that maple is awesome!!

[Tom Esh]

Beautiful display piece, but do not allow anyone to hit with it. Anything but straight grain is surprisingly weak in that sort of application.