segmented baseball bat

[Lee Alkureishi]

Hi all,

I had another go at segmenting today. This time, I tried for a baseball bat - see pics below.

Obviously, this is for decoration only! Wouldn't want to try hitting anything and risk a segment flying off...

It's made up of curly maple, eastern cedar and brazilian cherry, with pecan/hickory veneer in between. The finish is WTF, then buffed with carnauba.

C&C welcome!

Thanks

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[Kathy Marshall]

Now that is pretty cool Lee! I love the curl of the maple around the handle.

[John Keeton]

Nice work on the lamination, Lee! Great contrast, and the glue joints are nice an tight. The bat was a good choice to try this technique.

[Michelle Rich]

:-) :-).......

[Lee Alkureishi]

Thanks folks :)

The idea for this came from DW Montville. His website shows some beautiful segmented turning tool handles - I saw those and thought "bigger!"...

I'm pleased with the result and, as always, I learned a couple more things making it.

I did get some serious/problematic vibration at the thinner portion of the handle (tailstock end), once I got down to about 1.5" diameter. Even steadying with my hand, the vibration was easily visible and made turning a clean surface impossible, either with skew or spindle gouge. Had to finish the shaping with sandpaper...

I know that some degree of vibration is inevitable with long thin spindles, but this seemed a bit excessive. I understood I should expect vibration to creep in at around 1" diameter or less, but this was much earlier and really severe. Could this be related to a problem with the headstock bearings? I noticed the headstock is also now making some creaking noises at a certain point in the rotation...

Thanks again,

Lee

[Bill Wyko]

A real beauty for sure. As far as the vibration goes, You may want to make or buy yourself a steady rest. There are sevral threads here on making your own. They are priceless when it comes to preventing vibration.

[Lee Alkureishi]

Hi Bill,

Yup, it's on the "to-do" list... I'd prefer to make one, but first I need to get the new bench built, make the risers for the headstock and tailstock, and mount the new motor.

Oh yeah, I should probably study for next week's exam at some point, too :P

Cheers!

[Mike Cruz]

Lee, very nice bat. While the woods you used wouldn't be ideal for use, don't dismiss a segmented bat being usable. I made a softball bat out of maple. I don't remember how many "wedges" I used, maybe 8, with an octogon center/core (making it a 9 piece bat). Worked out well enough for me to use it at our pick up games on the weekends. Never used it in our league games... Anyway, glue joints are incredibly strong. Cedar? That's another story... But again, beautiful bat!

[Lewis Hinkle]

Hi all,<br>
<br>
I had another go at segmenting today. This time, I tried for a baseball bat - see pics below. <br>
<br>
Obviously, this is for decoration only! Wouldn't want to try hitting anything and risk a segment flying off...<br>
<br>
It's made up of curly maple, eastern cedar and brazilian cherry, with pecan/hickory veneer in between. The finish is WTF, then buffed with carnauba. <br>
<br>
C&amp;C welcome!<br>
<br>
Thanks<br>
<br>
<img src="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=232076&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="232076" alt="" id="vbattach_232076" class="previewthumb"><img src="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=232077&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="232077" alt="" id="vbattach_232077" class="previewthumb"><img src="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=232078&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="232078" alt="" id="vbattach_232078" class="previewthumb"><img src="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=232079&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="232079" alt="" id="vbattach_232079" class="previewthumb">N<br>
Nice bat can to reply in private to lewis_hinkle@yahoo.com &nbsp; can you make 4?

[Jamie Donaldson]

Now you're ready for the next challange, a decorative pool cue! Few people are aware that David Ellsworth used to make some incredible cue sticks, and they are very collectable in a seldom seen area of woodturning.;)