Wolfe, what did you use for a tire bat? When I worked at the bus company, I made one for the service guys - they had trouble getting any stroke on the standard wood bat, on the inside dual of the city buses. I cut a piece of rebar about 16" long, ground it nice and smooth on the ends. I heated one end with a torch and bent it around a 3/4" bolt, about 1" from the bolt head. Then I brazed the bolt to the rebar. Took me about 15 minutes to make. When I gave it to the service foreman, he treated me like I was his all-time best friend! That tire checker was still in use there when I left. I no longer have access to the tools and parts to make something like that, but I'd sure like to have a good bat for my coach.
G. Stewart