Turning a green baseball bat

[Midi Haws]

Hi all,

I want to make a baseball bat from green wood. How can I keep it from splitting - or should I let it do it's own "thing" and go back and fill the cracks.

Thanks,

Newbie Midi

 

[MichaelMouse]

Not that it will be usable as a baseball bat this year, but if you split the wood out along the grain, heart out, and turn it, it will be only oval, not cracked. Let it dry in an oversize state indoors this winter, and you should be good to re-turn for spring training.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Or, in other words, let it crack and use the parts between the cracks. Not just for baseball bats, either.

I'd reserve filling for converting more bizarre defects into "features."

 

[john lucas]

It's been my experience that if you leave wood 3" in diameter and it's green it will crack, unless drying is controlled very carefully. I cut up a lot of 3x3 blanks from green logs and seal the ends with wax. This usually works for most of the piece. I usually have to remove about an inch from the ends to avoid any checks that occur.

 

[Martin Hasemann]

Green Baseball Bat?

Since you're turning it green, I'll assume you get to cut the wood from the tree and that it's a non-functional piece.

For these types of blanks, I use the quarter or just east/west of the quarter cut and take your blank at least a few inches from center, less warpage, more even grain. Odd or strong curves in grain will cause cracking. If you can wax the ends.

Try not to 'finish' the ends until last. Sanding heats and will cause cracks if you aren't careful. After the piece is finished, wax any areas that show end grain, the ends and base of the handle and put it in a cool, dark place (I've been known to bury pieces in the fresh sawdust/shavings bin) and rememebr the old rule of thumb, 1 year per 1" of thickness before it's dry.

It'll still still warp, but depending on the wood you use, it should prevent most cracks.

 

[john lucas]

Above all else don't take it into the house until it's dry. I bought what the wood store sold me as a dry blank of Hackberry. It was 6" thick. I turned an oversize bat from it brought it into the house where I was going to carve on it. It started to check, very minor fortunately and I took it back out to the shop to sit for another 6 months. Apparently it wasn't dry enough.

 

[Rick M]

And almost anyone but a woodturner would think a bat that size would be hard to crack . . .



I'd love to see the look on people's faces the first time that bat comes out during a game--especially the opposing team!

 

[Martin Hasemann]

Most awesome John! Varmit smasher haha or scare the kids out of the mellon patch. I make some small ones for bashing around the small foam balls we have around the office and put a 'Cloo-Bat(TM)' logo on them somewhat like a Louisville Slugger.

That thing takes the cake though

 

[Jason lambert]

What is that for self defence and intimidation. LOL.