Cricket Bat as Mash Paddle?

[rifraf]

My homebrew buddy brought me back a cricket paddle from India and I was wondering if I could use it as a mash paddle. It says "made from the finest willow" but he said it was the cheapest he could get. It's got some stickers on it so I figured I could lacquer it so they'd stay there. Any reason not to?

 

[tektonjp]

If there is no finish on it, I wouldn't put any on it. Scrape the stickers off, quick sanding, there you go. The fewer 'adjuncts' you add to the mash, the better.

 

[heckels]

Yep, sand then maybe apply some butcher's block oil.