Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A laminated wood ball bat and a method of making the same. The bat is constructed of a plurality of thin wood veneer strips extending longitudinally in generally parallel relation throughout the length of the bat and are bonded together throughout their facing surfaces. The method of forming the bat includes the steps of placing large sheets of thin wood veneer in stacked relation in the cavity of a press with glue being applied to the contacting surfaces of the stacked sheets of veneer. The press exerts pressure on the veneer sheets to densify and compress the stacked veneer sheets while the glue is cured to form a large laminated panel having a thickness of half bat billets. One surface of each half bat billet panel is optionally grooved to form a core in the hitting zone to optionally receive material less dense or more dense than the wood veneer and a recess in the handle portion to receive a reinforcing rod. Two half bat billet panels are placed in a press cavity with the facing surfaces being glue coated to form a laminated full thickness bat billet panel which is then cut into substantially identical square bat billets. The laminated square, cured bat billets are formed into the desired bat configuration in a lathe and a final finish is applied.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim