OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I am not sure if it is just me. Have others been having more problems with their rubber tearing or becoming useless with the change in glue? My rubber used to last forever, but now almost every time I remove rubber from a blade I have a small tear in the sponge and often a catastrophic one. It happens both with the new water based glues but even old faithful glue like rubber cement tends to tear. I much of it is the new bigger pore sponges. I also do not change rubber very often or as much as I used to. I have had problems with all rubber types-gambler, andro, etc.

Any one else having this problem?

Same for me. After ruining quite a few sheets trying to move them or reglue them, I am now super careful about getting the rubber off. No more just holding an edge and peeling in one motion. I just get a rubber edge lifted a fraction and wedge my fingers in to put pressure straight up away from the blade. I push my fingers straight in and lift a few millimeters at a time. Now I never grab the sheet and pull and try to avoid bending the rubber, especially not back on itself . If it looks like a chunk of sponge has begun to tear, I stop and work from the other edge of the rubber which can save the chunk from ripping out completely so it can maybe be patched up with a bit of water glue later.

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OSP Ultimate cpen
Acuda S1 Turbo
Hallmark Phoenix ox

What sort of rubber? Can't say I've had this problem, I've been doing a lot of gluing and removing for the last few months. I've only been using Chinese rubber, though, and DingJi glue.

I suppose, on the bright side, no need to remove the rubber after every playing session, unlike in the old Speed Glue days.

Iskandar

For me the gambler lavender sponge has been particularly problematic. Also andro rasant (using water glue only for rasant). But other chinese rubber have given me problems. I too am super careful now but have had problems.

I wonder if treating the blade with a heavier layer treatment may also help.

If fleetwood is also having similar issues, I'd doubt its through any novice mistake. Myself I've not had this issue using LKT water based glue but perhaps its a weak glue. I use a fairly thin layer of glue (I think) which is roughly 3 horizontal lines of 8 to 10 cm on both blade and rubber. My blades are also sealed. The biggest issue for me is when rubber has been removed, trying to remove the gummy residue as this sometimes pull little bits of sponge.

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Donic Waldner Senso V1,FH Baracuda Big Slam 2.0mm ,BH Victas Triple Regular 2.0mm

You don't need to "treat" blades as much as rub on a bit of lower friction material (I use flaxseed oil).