An Australian Tradition

**bitingmidge** · 14th October 2006, 04:21 PM

Well it should be an Australian Tradition anyway!

I've spent far too much time playing with the PDRacer.info website lately, and while I've not actually come anywhere near finishing that project either

, today was time for a new one!

My father was fond of reminding me, that the biggest disappointment in his life came on the day he finally realised that I was never going to make a decent cricketer.

The second biggest disappointment came, when he realised that neither was my brother.

He made my first bat, probably when I was about two, of old packing case timber, and it is one of four or five artifacts which for some reason have survived in my hands since mid last century. If you study the photos carefully enough, you may see among its many scars, the original nail holes, and some dents which I accidentally made, while trying to belt 2" nail-masts into a model boat I was building before my age reached double figures.

I still remember the shame I felt when I realised that the nails weren't actually going anywhere, just damaging the bat.

Sometime in the next week or two the first boy baby in two generations is due to announce his presence, so it seemed to me logical that his grandfather should mark this occasion by presenting him with a cricket bat.

Yep, I know you can buy little bats of plastic, or even wood, made in countries who think cricket is a source of protein to be consumed with steamed green vegetable and oyster sauce, but where's the tradition in that?

So, on to today's recipe:

1) Pull out your old bat and find a suitable bit of pallet to make a new one.

2) Trace round the outside to make a pattern, then cut it out. Almost done! Of course if you are a bit careful with selecting your bit of junk, you'll be able to work a grain pattern that comes close to looking like the "spring" pattern in a proper bat! This of course is absolutely unnecessary, and it could be said that you are bordering on conceit if you can actually pull it off.

3) Using the trusty Nikko, mark all the necessary lines to outline the shape.

4) This is where it gets a bit interesting

Suffer from a wave of nostalgia, and decide to use only the actual tools the old man used in making your own, the Pacific #4, the spokeshave and rasp - cheat and buy new sandpaper!

Notice the "spring" appearing in the bat - no one else will, but I love it when a plan comes together!

P

**bitingmidge** · 14th October 2006, 04:23 PM

5) Now mark out the handle and commence "eight siding" it with a spokeshave or rasp, or even a knife will do really. Then round it off.

6) Finish the handle rounding and give everything a good sanding, being careful not to be too good, after all this has to look like a grandfather made it, not some whizz bang wood artizan!

7) Splash on three or four coats of U-Beaut shellac, then bind the handle with a course twine to make it feel more "cricketbatty". Glue on a sticker with the young bloke's name or initials (s r 2006) and give it a couple of coats of anything at all (I used hard shellac)

After that goop on some of that old wax you've got in the back of the cupboard with the black dye in it, and give it all a bit of a rub with steel wool, then a few more layers of UBeaut traditional wax and TARAH!!!

8)Just like a bought one.... not!
(and I do like the way the grain worked out!)

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did, and race out and build a few thousand more!

I think it takes a few thousand to make it a true tradition.

If anyone's interested I'll measure the thing.

Cheers,

P

**robbiewy** · 14th October 2006, 05:50 PM

Gees that brings back memories. I made my first bat when I was 8 or 9 looked nothing like yours took me a week to cut it and file it so as not to get splinters and I got a few of them but I can remember how proud I was of that I had made it myself especially when I knocked a few over the fence even thou it was out.

**Auld Bassoon** · 14th October 2006, 06:19 PM

Nice one BM! Brings back some memories for me too.

**Tex B** · 14th October 2006, 06:31 PM

Really nice work Midge. One of these days, your grandson will really appreciate this. And, if they're still playing cricket in 50 years time, he can do the same for his grandson and etc.

Tex

**Driver** · 14th October 2006, 06:47 PM

Brother Midge

You're a bloody legend! Have a greenie! (I know they're worth bugger-all these days but it's the thought that counts

).

Col

**stevesandy** · 14th October 2006, 07:16 PM

robbiewy, some of the most complex rules ever devised were in backyard cricket,little memories return,over the fence six and out.

See Ya Steve

**jmk89** · 14th October 2006, 09:49 PM

Good one Midge

I remember the one I made out of an Oregan 4 by 2 when I was 9 - it weighed a ton because I made it full size.

Dad was a baseballer, so he couldn't help

You've given me a great idea for my 3 yo's Xmas present!!!

Cheers

Jeremy

**ozwinner** · 14th October 2006, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Driver

Brother Midge

You're a bloody legend! Have a greenie! (I know they're worth bugger-all these days but it's the thought that counts

).

Col

Too true Col, but I sent one anywho as Im sure you did.

Al

**gazaly** · 14th October 2006, 09:58 PM

Midge,

That is one of the best posts I have read.

The bat is fantastic, steeped in family tradition, with a great story to match.

Here's hoping the new arrival will be the next D.G. Bradman.

Thankyou very much for sharing.

GG

**Gecko** · 15th October 2006, 03:04 AM

That is a nice bat. Great for you to pass on tradition but I just don't understand the fasination of chasing bugs around with a bat. What, do you get so many points if they are on the ground and so many if you hit them on the jump? LMAO

**gazaly** · 15th October 2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Gecko

That is a nice bat. Great for you to pass on tradition but I just don't understand the fasination of chasing bugs around with a bat. What, do you get so many points if they are on the ground and so many if you hit them on the jump? LMAO

Oh the pain....the pain.............

**Ticky** · 16th October 2006, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by Gecko

That is a nice bat. Great for you to pass on tradition but I just don't understand the fasination of chasing bugs around with a bat. What, do you get so many points if they are on the ground and so many if you hit them on the jump? LMAO

Don't feel forign mate, I live here & I can"t uderstand the fasination either.
Couple of things though:
first off, great job mate & I must admit that I too remember the local rules, ours was over the road & out for 6. I always found neighborhood cricket much more fun the the real deal.

There should be more home made toys. I'll bet the youg fella gets plenty of good memories out of that bat that he will still remember when he is our age.

Well done

Steve

**Dean** · 16th October 2006, 08:54 AM

So what day is the WW forums cricket match on?

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