Dry separated wood - repair?

[BVC]

What did you have as your "cap" of what you were willing to pay, though, given that you expected the price to finish in the $750-$800 range?

After placing my last bid, I went to bed. I had planned to go no higher than $850, but that was without noticing the grain separation. A bottle of red wine earned the consignor an extra bit of money.

Living in Seattle, I've grown to become a big Cano fan and I'm confident he will be a big part of a bright Seattle Mariners future. I am gradually picking up Seattle-related stuff for the man-cave, and I admittedly got in a hurry to fill the space reserved for a Cano bat and ball.

[stlbats]

I would personally leave the bat as is. From the picture you posted, its not that bad. I have some bats with deadwood in my collection that I've had for 10 years with no further damage.

I personally like my gamers to be cracked (as long as no pieces are missing) and the deadwood or checking is from repeated contact. Even though a grading service may subtract points for cracks or checking, I think that is rediculous. I like my gamers to show tons of use. I don't repair them unless they are broken in two pieces.

stlbats

[Roady]

I would personally leave the bat as is. From the picture you posted, its not that bad. I have some bats with deadwood in my collection that I've had for 10 years with no further damage.

I personally like my gamers to be cracked (as long as no pieces are missing) and the deadwood or checking is from repeated contact. Even though a grading service may subtract points for cracks or checking, I think that is rediculous. I like my gamers to show tons of use. I don't repair them unless they are broken in two pieces.

stlbats

Game used bat grading services are ridiculous.

[BVC]

Thanks guys. I will take your advice and leave as-is.

[soxbats]

While graders may not agree, my preference if for more use and checking or separation. This is particularly true for players like Boggs, Garciaparra and Pedroia who were/are so consistent where they hit the ball as to cause such checking and were/are known to use their bats until checking takes them out of commission. One caution, make sure there is no tape residue on the barrel as checking is also an indicator that the bat ay have been used for bp.

I am confronting the repair question myself as I have a number of bats that are cracked in half or with small pieces missing. I typically leave checking as I think it adds to the history of the bat.

Soxbats at aol dot com. Follow me on Twitter @soxbats
Looking for bats used by Ray Webster, Carmen Fanzone, George Smith, Ken Poulsen, Ray Webster, Chuck Goggin, Felix Mantilla

[BVC]

Repairing the separation should be easy. I practiced on an old store model bat, and very quickly realized that none of my clamps would go around the barrel.

So I tried zip ties, and they were perfect for the job: wrap one around the barrel over the glued area (wood glue) and tighten, then slip it back down toward the handle, tighten it one more slot and push it back up over the glued area again. Repeat until you can barely slip it up over the glued spot. Do this with as many ties as necessary to hold the wood together.

Any excess glue will wipe off easily, because it's water-based.

[Roady]

Would repairing a bat be the same as repairing a card if it is ever re-sold?

[BVC]

Would repairing a bat be the same as repairing a card if it is ever re-sold?

That's what I would be curious about as well - I don't know the rules and only have the one game-used bat, but it certainly would be disclosed if I repaired and then sold it.

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Would repairing a bat be the same as repairing a card if it is ever re-sold?

In today's market, no. It's closer to restoring a car. If a professional job (either by a bat specialist or furniture restorer), the repair can add to the value. By contrast, a sloppy job, will likely lower the value by lowering marketability and appeal.

I can't imagine anyone repairing a card... I mean, 3/4 of a baseball card is worth more than a whole card with tape on it, right?

[Roady]

In today's market, no. It's closer to restoring a car. If a professional job (either by a bat specialist or furniture restorer), the repair can add to the value. By contrast, a sloppy job, will likely lower the value by lowering marketability and appeal.

I can't imagine anyone repairing a card... I mean, 3/4 of a baseball card is worth more than a whole card with tape on it, right?

I wasn't clear and used the wrong terminology. I meant if someone trimmed a card or altered a card to make it more appealing.