How to Create a Cricket Bat

Building a cricket bat does involve whittling and shaping wood, much like creating a baseball bat. But while a baseball bat is made of one piece of wood like ash or maple, a cricket bat is created using two pieces of wood of different types. The "blade" portion of the bat is usually made of willow wood, and the handle is made of cane. These two pieces are cut separately and then glued together.

Things You'll Need

  • Willow plank Cane handle Saw Wood glue Planer or drawknife Sander Twine Bat grip Grip cone
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create the blade of the bat from a plank of pressed willow wood. A piece with six to 12 grains (wood lines) running along the plank will work best. The plank should not exceed 4 1/4 inches in width, and its length needs to work with the handle so the bat's total length isn't more than 38 inches.

    • 2

      Make the bat's handle out of Asian cane wood. Whittle the cane into a handle similar to that of a baseball bat. The handle's top end is cut and whittled into a wedge that you will insert into the blade.

    • 3

      Cut a triangular splice into the blade on the bottom end and right down the middle. The wedge of the handle needs to fit perfectly into the blade's splice, so measure the wedge before you cut the splice. Use wood glue with the wedge and splice to glue the two pieces together.

    • 4

      Shape the blade by whittling it with a planer or drawknife. The cricket blade has an angle at each of the four corners, turning the shape into a stretched octagon or long diamond with the points cut off. The angles' precise shape is up to you.

    • 5

      Sand over the entire bat. Wrap the handle tightly in twine for more strength, using more glue to help the twine stick to the handle. Polish the blade of the bat with wood polish.

    • 6

      Twist and slip the bat grip to the bat handle, similar to the type of grip used on metal baseball bats. A grip cone is a device that can help you twist the grip into place.