The design and production of wooden bats has changed quite a bit over the last 160 years. The official game of baseball dates back to the 1800s, when players made their own bats out of varying types of wood, shapes and sizes. Eventually, the manufacture of wooden bats took place in factories, with the final design consisting of a long, tapered barrel and carved knob at one end. If you are a ball player and use a wooden bat, proper care is essential. Not only will taking care of your bat prolong its life, a well-cared for wooden bat can also improve your game.
Step 1
Clean the wood or your bat with alcohol after each use. Dampen a soft cloth with isopropyl alcohol. Rub the damp cloth over the surface of the wooden bat. The alcohol will remove dirt and tar from the bat.
Step 2
Dry your wooden bat with a soft cloth if it has gotten wet, then rub it down with linseed oil. Always store your wooden bat in a dry location.
Step 3
Keep your wooden bat in an upright position, in an out of the way place, when not in use. Store the wooden bat with the handle facing up at all times.
Step 4
Bone your bat. Keep the surfaces of your wooden bat silky smooth, while creating a harder surface by rubbing it with a piece of bone, another wooden bat or a rolling pin.
Step 5
Store your wooden bat in the main part of your home and not in a garage or basement. Garages and basements tend to be damp, which could damage your bat.
Tips and Warnings
- In the early days of baseball, athletes used to rub a soup bone along the surface of the bat to smooth it---hence the term "boning your bat." If you do not have a soup bone, a rolling pin or second wooden bat should suffice.
- Do not clean your cleats with the barrel of your wooden baseball bat. Instead, knock the dirt out of your cleats using the handle of the bat.
Things You'll Need
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Soft cloth
- Linseed oil
- Bone, wooden bat or rolling pin
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