Things You'll Need:
- Willow plank
- Cane handle
- Saw
- Wood glue
- Planer/drawknife
- Sander
- Twine
- Bat grip
- Grip cone
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Step 1
Take a plank of pressed willow wood for the bat's blade. Its exact size can vary, but the bat's total size can't exceed 38 inches long (including the handle) or 4 1/4 inches wide. Look for a piece with about six to 12 grains (wood lines) running down the plank.
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Step 2
Create the handle for the bat. The handle is usually made from Asian cane wood and is whittled into a shape similar to a baseball bat handle. Cut the top end of the handle into a wedge that will be inserted into the blade.
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Step 3
Cut a splice down the middle at the bottom end of the blade. Make sure this triangular gap is the perfect size for your handle's wedge to fit into. Measure it multiple times before cutting, then glue the handle to the blade with wood glue.
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Step 4
Whittle and shape the blade with a planer or drawknife, forming angles at each of the blade's four corners. A cricket bat's blade shape is much like a stretched octagon, or a long diamond with its points cut off. The exact shape of the angles is up to the designer.
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Step 5
Sand down the entire bat. This will take less time if you have access to a power sander. If using a hand sander, the process can take a few weeks of sanding the bat a bit at a time.
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Step 6
Wrap the bat handle in twine to give the bat extra strength. Apply more glue to the handle and wrap the string tightly.
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Step 7
Polish the bat's blade with a good wood polish. Apply the grip to the bat handle; a grip cone will help you twist the grip into place.
