Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Turning a kid's baseball bat........
I have a little 5 years old living next to me.......the other day we talked about playing catch......he was very excited about that and then he mentioned that he did not have a bat......so I thought I would turn one ......I've got some old beech that I could laminate into a blank......but, if any one has done this, I'd like some input on dimensions.....
I'm thinking about 28" long......a 2 1/4" barrel.......1" hand grip area.......
Re: Turning a kid's baseball bat........
Hey Roger, In the off-chance that he ends up playing little league baseball, I recommend that you look up the rules about bat dimensions from their website. That way, he will have a legal bat to use.
Joe
Re: Turning a kid's baseball bat........
He's five......he is a long way from organized ball......this is just a first bat......something he can swing......get use to doing that......hit a tennis ball sitting on top a stick......he will use this and discard it and move on to league sanctioned equipment if he takes to sports and goes that way......for now, he is just a little boy with big eyes that is excited and having fun.....
Re: Turning a kid's baseball bat........
I turned many when my daughters played softball. Go to sporting goods store and measure one of the right age size. I think you are thinking a little too big for age 5.
Re: Turning a kid's baseball bat........
Don't want to discourage you from making this wonderful gesture, but don't they all play with aluminum bats now, except in the majors? Don't get me wrong, my grandfather made me one when I was a kid and I would give my left hind leg to have it now.
Re: Turning a kid's baseball bat........
There you go......who knows......maybe he'll grow into an old man who played/enjoyed sports and make a bat for a small boy who lives next door......like someone did for me once......
I think you missed the point
This kid is not playing ball (nobody does in November). He wants something that looks like a bat, feels like he thinks a bat should feel, and he can act like he is playing ball. Most would solve this need by going to Walmart and buying a plastic bat for the kid to pretend with. He will probably sleep with a bat make special for him.
Hint...at least in traditional ash. I flamed the bats, then lightly sanded to reveal a nice color to the bat. Don't know if it will work on beech.
BTW when it comes time to actually use a bat..... I made bats sized to the size of my batters. It was hard to find small bats at that time. My kids broke the ash bats I made them with some regularity. I finally bought them an Eaton Al bat.
pictured is youth ash softball bat 2" x 30".
Re: I think you missed the point
I looked for an appropriate piece of ash from my regular sources and came up empty.......the beech is probably a poor second choice for this purpose......but, they build woodworking benches from beech......and our adjoining backyards are a mass of beech trees......I'll be telling him it's of the same wood that his trees are.....might mean something to him......
Beech Bats
break easily because of the wood. Ash is used for its ability to flex without breaking. Why not try some walnut to make him/her a "Black Beauty"?
Re: Beech Bats
one of the beautiful things about woodworking......if it breaks, I'll make another......
as a 5 year old......hitting tennis balls in his back yard......if he breaks this thing, I want to measure how far that ball went.....
seems like the old tennis racket frames I played were bamboo laminated (Bancroft rackets)......they lasted years and took a ton of abuse......we'll see how this goes......this beech had tight growth rings......
Making a bat......step 1.....
With all due respect and apologies to wood turners on this forum......I'm a flat worker who is invading your space to present this simple project......come over to Messages from time to time and give us a look at something flat you've made......
Step 1......the glue-up......I've always believed, if you have clamps, use them.....
Re: Making a bat......step 1.....
A lot of us do go over to Messages quite often but we are perplexed by what seems to be a fascination over there about "making things square".
Bill
square.....flat.....90*......it's madness I tell ya......
An example.....
part of my collection of squares......
and still can't guarantee that what I make is square......
Re: An example.....
So, it was round when it was growing, you went and made it flat and square, now you are going to make it round again? Yep, this is what we do...
Not sure who is having the most fun, you in the making and giving, or the youngster when he receives it.
Re: Making a bat......step 1.....
something was bothering me about the picture you posted - as I stood knee-deep in shavings, you appear to glueup in your living room. How do you work without leaving evidence?
Re: Making a bat......step 1.....
it's a Dutch thing......
Making a bat......step 2......
I'll not bore you turners with my stumbling efforts......but, to let Jeff see some evidence of work being done......
I'll just get this thing formed.....put on some finish......and give it to my neighbor......
Oh BTW, for you turners, that's a Moxon vise resting on the bottom shelf......we flat workers use it when we make dovetails and such for drawers and case goods.....
Re: Making a bat......step 2......
Well, it looks like a bat.......some finish tomorrow......
Re: An example.....
Clifton......I hope he will have the most fun with this......it will be his first bat......and it was my first bat also......using that lathe is really not my thing......I'm a practical turner at best making things for the shop or parts for furniture......on this project, I followed the old saying and removed wood that was not a bat......
Re: Making a bat......step 2......
Wow, that old Delta looks to be in great shape, did you restore it?
Re: Making a bat......step 2......
Jamie.......no, just like me it's original.....but, then again, I clean and wax my lathe.....lol.....
Making a bat......step 3......
He seemed very happy with his new bat......
Re: Making a bat......step 3......
Great job, Roger!� My bet is it will become a� cherished momento down the road. Well done, sir!
Brad, who is a life-long fan of the game