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Thread: Curly Maple Baseball Bat

  1. #1
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    Curly Maple Baseball Bat

    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.

    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.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    Sorry,

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

  3. #3
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    Very nice...weigh it if you get a chance.
    Wood: a fickle medium....

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  4. #4
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    Boy now that is a great looking bat. I really like the maple. Well done.
    Bernie

    Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.

    To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone.



  5. #5
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    That is a beauty!

    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
    To turn or not to turn that is the question: ........Of course the answer is...........TURN ,TURN,TURN!!!!
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  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tim Malyszko View Post
    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.
    Dewey

    "Everything is better with Inlay or Marquetry!"


  7. #7
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    Tim, looks great. That curl really pops.

  8. #8
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    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.

  9. #9
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    Tim - that is quite the bat!!! Amazing wood!
    Steve

    “You never know what you got til it's gone!”
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  10. #10
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    Great looking bat. I hope that garners an "A" in the class.

    Dave

  11. #11
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    That is very nice. It was make an excellent trophy hanging on a wall with some nice engraving on it.

  12. #12
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    Wow, Tim, that has got to be the best looking bat I have ever seen.
    It’s only work if somebody makes you do it.
    A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.
    Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side and it binds the universe together.

  13. #13
    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.
    All the best.

    Don

  14. #14
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    Very nice!

    Beautiful bat! Much too nice to hit anything with!

  15. #15
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    torrance, Ca
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    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.

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