How to Make a Wood Baseball Bat
While Babe Ruth used bats made out of hickory and Barry Bonds won the home run record with maple bats, most people prefer wooden bats that are made from white ash. If you are a skilled woodworker and love the sport of baseball, you should try your hand at making your own bats, especially if you already have a lathe that can be programmed using Machining/Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technology. Then, when you have perfected the process, try selling your customized baseball bats to church, work, and neighborhood teams that compete in wooden bat leagues and tournaments.
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Things You'll Need
- Dehumidification dry kiln Wood lathe CNC Technology Bat Profile 42 inch Length of white ash, 3 inches in diameter Wood stain Clear sealant Paint brush Paint thinner or turpentine Fine sandpaper Scrap piece of white ash
Instructions
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Make sure that your piece of white ash does not have any knots. Then, reduce the moisture content by 6% using a dehumidification dry kiln or in a solar kiln at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Weigh it before placing it in the kiln and then weigh it after every 24 hours. Divide the new weight into the starting weight until the quotient is six.
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Check the wood to make sure that it has a straight, flat grain. Then, turn it on the Machining/Computer Numerical Control Technology compatible wood lathe which you programmed with your favorite bat profile. You can buy these profiles from a vendor such as Copy Lathe. (See the link below). Turn the bat. It will end up shaped exactly like the bat you imagined.
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Sand the bat by hand. Then, rub the sanded bat with another piece of hard wood to burnish it. This will cause the wood to shine as if it were reflecting light.
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Brush on your choice of wood stain. Allow it to dry overnight or until the stain is thoroughly dry. Sand it lightly before brushing it with a clear wood sealer. Let this dry overnight again. Once the bat is dry add any engravings, painted logos, or other decorations.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective eyeware whenever you are using lathes or other machines.
