Cricket Bat Willow Felling

[TimR]

no sure if you tried this but have you tried the "letterbox cut" we all had a discussion about ? take out the main heart of the hinge and then introduce your felling cut could be as said bore through and then cut the holding strip?

 

again its a suggestion and any valid criticism is welcome

[Steve Bullman]

as i understand it the whole thing about harvesting cricket bat willows is there should be no hinge at all.

i said earlier in the thread, take your depth gauges right down so your saw cuts quick then go clean through. im sure someone will chime in who knows the right way before long!

[TimR]

that is true lol oops sorry ignore me everyone else does .....

 

must re read previous posts lol

[rbtree]

as i understand it the whole thing about harvesting cricket bat willows is there should be no hinge at all.

i said earlier in the thread, take your depth gauges right down so your saw cuts quick then go clean through. im sure someone will chime in who knows the right way before long!

 

I dunno, Steve......don't take them down too far..or cutting will be rough and could bind. Saw racers stick with high "rakers" because it's smooth, safe...and fast....

 

 

Interesting thread, tho! Anyone have pics of milled wood?

[Steve Bullman]

what wood to saw racers cut roger?

[Peter]

Poplar i think

[rbtree]

Seems it's usually soft wood....

 

out west, fir, cottonwood, pine.....typically. I've only been to a couple shows, and only run work saws and work chain, so I'm a novice.

 

What kind of wood is bat willow....? genus/species?

 

edit, I searched...... http://www.cricketbatwillow.com/index.php

 

What's the main advantage of using willow? the light weight?

[Steve Bullman]

salix...maybe fragilis?

[Peter]

Salix alba caerula, although other species are used

[Quickthorn]

 

What's the main advantage of using willow? the light weight?

 

Yes, and the sapwood is strong and resilient enough, unlike the heartwood. Once they've cross cut the butt, they quarter each section, cleave these and shape the clefts into blanks, using only the sapwood. After seasoning, the blanks will be worked into bat blades, often using hand tools such as draw knives, spokeshaves etc. The best quality stuff is at the base of the tree, and these will go for test match quality bats, which could sell for £400 + each - another reason why they try and fell them without making a sink cut.