Discussion on Wood Bats

**CJS** · 11-20-2009, 10:43 PM

Usually a tree that is growing on property (other than forested land) lacks the protective elements of the forest & is thus exposed to more wind, resulting in it rocking back & forth for 60+ years. This perpetual motion results in timber that is not straight grained enough for suitable bats. Also, trees in that environment usually branch out lower on the trunk, also resulting in grain patterns unsuitable for bats. Finally, the ash is OH can also be either black or green ash, which is a bit different form the stuff up in NE.

But still, that said it could still make a a nice tree for some novelty bats & so forth. Of course, it would have to be felled & dried- that could be big project.

**BMH** · 11-21-2009, 05:07 AM

CJS is correct.
The cost of transporting it from your location to say our mills wouldn't make it cost effective even if the tree was free. Another issue is most of Ohio has been quarantined because of the Emerald Ash Borer and you cannot transport cut Ash trees from county to county let alone out of state.

**ras-tbone** · 11-24-2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by hiddengem

Here's a picture of the current M302.

have been going over the whole thread to check some notes and finally got hiddengems name and checked him out. he had 7 career AB with 1 hit, a home run! he also qualifies for the MLB pension which is handy. BMH, nice work on making him a fresh model M302, unfortunately it didn't propel him back to the big dance. what an incredible mtn. to climb!

**PhilliesPhan22** · 11-27-2009, 07:33 AM

Hey Andre,

Is the NYSCM33A a Ryan Howard model? It looks pretty sweet.

**beisbolcrazy22** · 12-01-2009, 07:08 AM

Someone posed a question to me: Wondered if certain bat model sales increase determined by players with higher averages or players hitting the home runs? Which player type encourages the most sales?

**thehogans** · 12-01-2009, 07:18 AM

B,

You have a PM

**ras-tbone** · 12-03-2009, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by ras-tbone

tony gwynn often said this phrase, nine grains of pain!

pain being for the opposing pitcher from all the hits he delivered. torii hunter and joe mauer swear by as few grains as possible and they swing lots of ash. and that may be the difference. i got a game used Raw Luis Rivas ash 456B w/18 grains that is 34"/34oz fully cupped and hard as stone and also a game model Raw Mike Redmond 456GS ash w/9 grains that is 34"/32.5oz not cupped but seems to not be quite as hard. they both swing sweet and i am not sold on one way or the other. as for maple, i have never owned a grain count less than 18 grains. i prefer lots of small knots in the barrel with the widest center grains and of course the straightest. i just ordered 2 sam bats 34"/0-1oz and wait with baited breath for their arrival. it cost me a pretty penny/yen

well, got my MB1 and B1 sam bats last week. it took a while and cost an arm and a leg but they are really beautiful bats though i must be honest, the LS S370 and S318 game replica's i got last month are better by a smidge! how so u may ask? well in straightness of grain and barrel finish. the only advantage with sam is that i could request a weight with the 34" order. the B1 came in .7oz lighter than my request of 33oz, but i am not unhappy as it swings so fluidly. it is as unusual a shape as i have ever swung and a very thin handle but the small counter balance is brilliant and is the first bat that swings effortlessly for me. i have never been able to wait so long on a pitch before. wow!

brian, the S370 Sizemore came in at 898g and now sits at 901g and to be truthful it is almost the perfect weight per this model for me. i am shocked as i had given up mentally on anything less than 915g. it has climbed up to #4 position on my favorites list. for anybody who has not swung this stick, go get it! it is badass!

ps. the last 2 bats i await for are from NYstixs! andre, show me what u gots!

**PhilliesPhan22** · 12-03-2009, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by ras-tbone

ps. the last 2 bats i await for are from NYstixs! andre, show me what u gots!

Me too

**ras-tbone** · 12-06-2009, 04:11 PM

BMH,
i have come across some models that intrigue me. your LS s341 do you know if it = the SAM b1 model? and can you tell me about the LS s250 as it looks like a very small barrel model. thanks

**BMH** · 12-07-2009, 04:40 PM

To be honest I'm not sure...the only thing I have for the S341 is it was made in 1994 for Dale Sveum. I'd have to ask the old model maker about that one.

The S250 is the M110 with a S44 barrel.

**ras-tbone** · 12-08-2009, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by BMH

To be honest I'm not sure...the only thing I have for the S341 is it was made in 1994 for Dale Sveum. I'd have to ask the old model maker about that one.

The S250 is the M110 with a S44 barrel.

thanks for the info, the S341 model i saw had Brian Giles on it from his pirates days. it looks very similar to the Sam B1 "old bonds" model. the LS is a good looking bat. another model with a cone knob i saw was the LS T11 it looks beefy.

**BMH** · 12-08-2009, 05:34 AM

Well, we've got a conference call with TECO today about the new rule suggestions/changes for the 2010 season. I've heard some rumors and I'm not that happy.

**ras-tbone** · 12-08-2009, 08:48 AM

please do tell when possible! and hopefully maple will not vanish from the MLB or its junior ranks!

**BMH** · 12-08-2009, 02:46 PM

The Player's Union wouldn't let that happen.

**ras-tbone** · 12-11-2009, 03:44 AM

brian, does chuck schupp still work for you guys? i just found the article that started it all for me as a wood bat obsessed individual. it came form the wall street journal roughly 5 years ago. the one thing that stood out for me was that chuck commented on paul oneill by saying that he was the only person at that time who was swinging a balanced bat 34"/34oz. i wonder what model paul used to swing in cinci and if it changed when he went to the yankees.

**sl0annuggets** · 12-14-2009, 09:05 AM

So BMH,

I got to talk to Pedroia the other day on the radio (WEEI) Anyways of course I am probably the only one who would ask him about bats. But it was cool he said he was swinging a 243 in the beginning and then grabed a 318 one day and loved it. Also this year that he dabbled with the 161. But i forgot to ask him what length??? can you help me?

And also what is the 318 like ? i have yet to see one in person.

**BMH** · 12-14-2009, 04:39 PM

Yes, Chuck still works for us, in fact he just celebrated 30yrs with us. He's been our head sales rep for a long time.

The S318 is a great model, very balanced. Imagine a C243 that has a smaller barrel by .070in, but the same overall shape. The handle is probably .020in larger and the knob is about the same size.

**CJS** · 12-20-2009, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by BMH

Well, we've got a conference call with TECO today about the new rule suggestions/changes for the 2010 season. I've heard some rumors and I'm not that happy.

Any news yet on this?

**Chris O'Leary** · 12-20-2009, 07:16 PM

So is it possible/advisable to cup a bat with a hand drill? If so, then where do you get a cupping bit?

I ask because I bought my son a 32" that's a bit heavy and I'd like to take a bit of wood out of the end to improve the swing weight.

**CJS** · 12-20-2009, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Chris O'Leary

So is it possible/advisable to cup a bat with a hand drill? If so, then where do you get a cupping bit?

I ask because I bought my son a 32" that's a bit heavy and I'd like to take a bit of wood out of the end to improve the swing weight.

I can answer that: not easy, not fun. As a lad, I once took a 1.5" spade bit & altered it with a bench-top grinder to round the edges. I drilled an initial pilot hole with a 7/8" or so spade bit (about a half-inch down) then went at it w/ a powerful drill. You will need a very powerful electric drill with the bat in a vise & a lot of pressure. If you don't have the vise, you'll need a "crotch of steel" to hold it on the ground. But don't plan on future reproduction, just incase something goes awry.

Let's just say this isnt a smooth process- it's rather violent at best- but it will produce a result.

On the other hand, since rule requiring a rounded cup probably dont apply to him, you could just use a regular spade or forstner bit for a flat-bottom indentation- same result.

**Chris O'Leary** · 12-20-2009, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by CJS

I can answer that: not easy, not fun. As a lad, I once took a 1.5" spade bit & altered it with a bench-top grinder to round the edges. I drilled an initial pilot hole with a 7/8" or so spade bit (about a half-inch down) then went at it w/ a powerful drill. You will need a very powerful electric drill with the bat in a vise & a lot of pressure. If you don't have the vise, you'll need a "crotch of steel" to hold it on the ground. But don't plan on future reproduction, just incase something goes awry.

Let's just say this isnt a smooth process- it's rather violent at best- but it will produce a result.

On the other hand, since rule requiring a rounded cup probably dont apply to him, you could just use a regular spade or forstner bit for a flat-bottom indentation- same result.

Fortunately, I do have such a crotch (and I'm already fixed).

This is just going to be a BP bat, so whatever should work.

I think I'll start out drilling a few pilot holes and then use a 1" spade.

Thanks.

**BMH** · 12-21-2009, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by CJS

Any news yet on this?

Nothing yet, I'm sure MLB will wait until January to give out the rules. Once again costing us as we try to catch up on orders that should have been started in November.

Anyway, some things under consideration are:

1. Limit bat density. As explained to us they would say we will no longer be allowed to make bats that have to use a 82oz or under billet. Basically controlling weight/length ratios.

2. Make the maximum barrel diameter smaller

3. A combination of 1. & 2.

4. Make the minimum handle diameter larger.

5. Put a flexible sleeve on the taper of bats with the highest rate of breakage to prevent it from separating into pieces when it breaks.

There were more but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

**ras-tbone** · 12-21-2009, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by CJS

I can answer that: not easy, not fun. As a lad, I once took a 1.5" spade bit & altered it with a bench-top grinder to round the edges. I drilled an initial pilot hole with a 7/8" or so spade bit (about a half-inch down) then went at it w/ a powerful drill. You will need a very powerful electric drill with the bat in a vise & a lot of pressure. If you don't have the vise, you'll need a "crotch of steel" to hold it on the ground. But don't plan on future reproduction, just incase something goes awry.

Let's just say this isnt a smooth process- it's rather violent at best- but it will produce a result.

On the other hand, since rule requiring a rounded cup probably dont apply to him, you could just use a regular spade or forstner bit for a flat-bottom indentation- same result.

just 2 days ago i for the first time cupped a very heavy maple X-bat 985g. i circled a 41mm ring and then drilled in 7-8 holes about 18mm deep ( just a smidge too deep probably) and then used a 9mm Oire Nomi chisel and knocked out a rough cup, then used a 40mm forstner bit on a hand drill to flat bottom that baby. had it all in a cheap wood vise and man it came out good! i dropped 31g off this way too heavy X73. i am looking forward to try it on ash to see if there is any less effort involved. my forstner bit did get slightly chewed up on the straight plane but not so much that i cant use it again. i probably could do 10 maple bat cuts with it and well i am sure to try more soon. next is finding a better solution for cupping without having to hand chisel. i gotta check what andre recommended in a previous post somewhere.
i am starting to get the fever for making some of my own and will buy a decent basic lathe come next year. the ol lady is gonna roll her eyes and talk about college savings

for the kid, but well ......

**ses4me** · 12-21-2009, 08:02 PM

Brian, I stumbled upon a new "Hard Maple" C243 at Modell's this past weekend and snatched up the 32.7 oz hoss. I noticed on the LS website that some of these "Hard Maple" bats come with the M9 sticker and some come with the regular brand. The bat I just bought came with the regular brand, but a couple I picked up last year came with the M9 sticker. What determines the kind of brand they get?

**BMH** · 12-21-2009, 09:13 PM

It depends on what the customer (store) wants. Some will order the M9, others get the #7 brand. I had a customer a few weeks ago order the old #3 (Hillerich & Bradsby Co) logo.