John,
If you have not turned bats before a few tips;
Because of the length and diameter of bats, reducing vibration when your turning the middle portion of the bat is very important. A steady rest is neccessary with full sized bats, with the short little league bats, probably still needed?
Turn with the handle portion at the tail stock, this will reduce vibration when your turning in the middle.
Turn from tailstock moving towards the headstock, this too will minimize vibration.
Have a bat on hand to take measurments from (the model you seek to replicate). On the model bat mark lines at several diameter transition places ie the location of the greatest and smallest diameter, each end of the grip portion of the bat etc. Turn the ash blank to a cylinder, then mark lines in the same locations as your measurements from the model bat you are trying to replicate. Use a parting tool to cut where the lines are marking those locations. Part down to the corresponding diameters of the model bat. Then you simply turn from one tranisition to another matching the curve to the diameters already established at each end.
Take your time and sand it well, mass produced ash bats are rarely sanded or finished well, your bat should easily be superior to a mass produced one, and as people pick it up and notice this, you may get other people wanting to pay for a homemade one?
Label the bat so that you get referral buisness from others who see your bats.
