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All cricket bats have to be oiled to maintain moisture levels and minimize their chances of cracking up. Though Linseed oil is the most preferred choice of oil, several other types of oil can be used for the oiling of cricket bats.
Read on to know which types of oil can be used for oiling your cricket bat.
The most optimum oil used for the regular oiling of a cricket bat is raw linseed oil. There are good alternatives for linseed oil such as mustard oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil and coconut oil that can be used to oil a cricket bat. Even cooking oil or vegetable oil can also be used for oiling cricket bats.
Alternatives – What is a Good Alternative for Linseed Oil?
When we talk about an alternative to raw linseed oil, there is a variety of oil that can be easily used to oil and maintain your cricket bat. In this section, we will see such alternatives for oiling your cricket bat instead of using raw linseed oil.
Can You Use Mustard Oil for Cricket Bats?
Commonly found in every household, mustard oil can also be used to nurture your cricket bat. Due to the characteristic of mustard, when the oil is applied to your bat, the face of your cricket bat will shine but at the same time, it will become stinky. Though it’s not a better option compared to linseed oil. If you don’t have access to linseed oil, and you have mustard oil available, then you can go for it. But, be careful and apply it in very little quantity. Also, you need to apply the oil more frequently compared to the raw linseed oil. If you apply too much of it, it might harm your bat as it will excessively soften the wood and the bat will be prone to damage. So the bottom line is, yes you can use it in case there is no other option, but be careful with the quantity.
Can Olive Oil Be Used Instead of Linseed Oil?
The key reason behind oiling a cricket bat is to maintain the moisture level within the blade and reduce the chances of cracks. Olive oil also serves this purpose like linseed oil. Olive oil is extracted from olives, the fruits of the olive tree. Though raw linseed oil is a better option, olive oil or vegetable oil can also be used for cricket bat oiling. Olive oil can maintain the moisture level in cricket bats and give protection against the sun. If you apply olive oil on your bat, you may get some smell similar to crayons or putty. It’s a slightly better option than mustard oil.
Can I Use Boiled Linseed Oil for My Cricket Bat?
Boiled Linseed Oil is not cooked linseed oil, but it’s heated-up oil. Boiled linseed oil is ideally not recommended for oiling your cricket bat. Instead, raw linseed oil is a much better option as it has a better ability to penetrate the surface compared to boiled linseed oil. The only advantage of using boiled linseed oil is that it dries faster, whereas raw linseed oil takes a while to dry up. So for better moisture level and to avoid damages to the bat, you should always go for the raw linseed oil, unless you have very little time for drying up the bat.
Can I Use Flaxseed Oil on my Cricket Bat?
Flaxseed oil is made from ground and pressed flax seeds. Its source is the same as that of linseed oil, and hence some use the term flaxseed oil and linseed oil interchangeably. However, linseed oil is mainly for industrial purposes and is used in sports like cricket for knocking in of a cricket bat while flaxseed oil is mainly used for consumption. Having said that, using the flaxseed oil to oil won’t harm your favourite willow, but it’s surely not an optimal option compared to raw linseed oil when it comes to oiling a cricket bat.
Can You Use Cooking Oil on Cricket Bats?
There are different kinds of cooking oil, like groundnut oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil or olive oil. All such types of cooking oil can be used for oiling the cricket bat too. In the end, they all serve the purpose of moisturizing the cricket bat though they don’t have the capability of penetrating the wood as much as raw linseed oil.
Can Coconut Oil Be Used for Oiling a Cricket Bat?
A short answer to this is yes. Coconut oil is available in every household and that’s the only advantage it has. You can use coconut oil for oiling your cricket, but like other oil, even this one is no better than the raw linseed oil. Raw linseed oil is by far the ideal oil for maintaining your cricket bat for a long duration. Coconut oil is not efficient in terms of penetrating the wood surface and keeping the bat’s moisture level for a long time. And hence, if you have a choice between coconut oil and raw linseed oil or tung oil (China wood oil), always go for the linseed oil or the tung oil.
Can You Leave Your Cricket Bat Unoiled?
A batsman’s success depends on the state and quality of the bat, and a bat’s quality and the state has a lot to do with the moisture level within its wood. Without sufficient moisture, the bat can get damaged easily while playing shots due to the hard impact. So, once you purchase a new bat, the next key task is to conduct the oiling and knocking-in process before actually using the bat. So the oiling of a cricket bat is a must. Having said that, some cricket bats come with pre-oiling and on top, they cover the blade of the bat with protective scuff sheets which help in maintaining the moisture level. Such a bat does not need oiling and can be directly used. However, it is recommended to oil such bat when you decide to change the scuff sheet which is generally required between the seasons. If you are again going to apply a new scuff sheet, then only one light coat of oiling is sufficient, but in case you are going to leave the bat open then two light coats are required.
Conclusion
In summary, raw linseed oil is always the best and the finest option due to better penetration and sustaining the moisture level for a long time. However, we can use other types of oil like vegetable or cooking oil, mustard oil, flaxseed oil and coconut oil as well in case linseed oil is not available or it is not cost effective.
We gathered some of the best linseed oil for your cricket bat available on the market. Check them out!
