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- Jan 2, 2007
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Hello all,
I have a client who plays hardball and wants me to alter a couple of bats for him and am not sure how to proceed.
The handle end is not a problem; that is a simple reduction of the very top end where it meets the knob to have that juncture be a distinct 90 degree transition. Unlike old fashioned bats that had a completely distinctive knob from the handle to give you good grip control (which is the change I will be making), they are now manufacturing them with a curved transition that is so shallow there is no real distinction between the handle and knob per se. For this handle end I simply plan on chucking the fat end in the headstock, bringing the tailstock with a live center up to hold the knob end, and then reducing the material along the length accordingly.
My problem relates to the fat end of the bat. The owner wants to hollow out a cup in the very end of the bat to reduce its weight, and I am unsure how to safely and securely hold the bat in the lathe to accomplish that?
The super small knob end would have to be somehow secured in the headstock, and the fat end supported by the tailstock somehow in a way that would still allow you the room to do the actual hollowing. The problem on the fat end is that you are only talking about a starting overall outside diameter of about 2.5", and a hollowing of about 1.75" wide by 1" deep in end grain. As a novice turner I cannot see how a live center point can be used in such a confined situation and not be in the way.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance,
Brian A
I have a client who plays hardball and wants me to alter a couple of bats for him and am not sure how to proceed.
The handle end is not a problem; that is a simple reduction of the very top end where it meets the knob to have that juncture be a distinct 90 degree transition. Unlike old fashioned bats that had a completely distinctive knob from the handle to give you good grip control (which is the change I will be making), they are now manufacturing them with a curved transition that is so shallow there is no real distinction between the handle and knob per se. For this handle end I simply plan on chucking the fat end in the headstock, bringing the tailstock with a live center up to hold the knob end, and then reducing the material along the length accordingly.
My problem relates to the fat end of the bat. The owner wants to hollow out a cup in the very end of the bat to reduce its weight, and I am unsure how to safely and securely hold the bat in the lathe to accomplish that?
The super small knob end would have to be somehow secured in the headstock, and the fat end supported by the tailstock somehow in a way that would still allow you the room to do the actual hollowing. The problem on the fat end is that you are only talking about a starting overall outside diameter of about 2.5", and a hollowing of about 1.75" wide by 1" deep in end grain. As a novice turner I cannot see how a live center point can be used in such a confined situation and not be in the way.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance,
Brian A