Cleaning Rubbers

REvolution No. 3 – Tips for professional use


I want to give you some tips for the glue in order to obtain always same (maximum ) performance .

So ,first of all the thickness, uniformity and the toughness and elastic characteristics of remaining layer of natural rubber between blade and rubbers is what we have to reproduce all the time .The viscosity of the glue is specially designed to obtain thin, uniform layers with self-leveling effect : one layer should appear wetty, uniformly white and shiny after starting drying . If it is too much you can adjust with the sponge by taking off a part and gluing another rubber or the blade with what is supplementary ; if the quantity is not enough you can just add on the rubber more quantity of glue . You can do that and correct the surface even in 5 minutes or more after starting gluing .Coagulation will not occur .The droplets system of bottle and the sponge will be of help .

The total thickness will be the controlled result of uniform added thinner layers and must be between 0.05 mm and 0.08 mm .There are studies that will demonstrate this . If needed you can read everything on our site .
Function of elasticity , hardness of rubbers and blade(plus stiffness for blade ) the best compatibility of rubbers and blade will be given by the thickness and hardness (elasticity ) of remaining rubber layer ( the third element of the racket ) which has to be determined for each setup by every player .

My experience : the best is 3 layers on rubber and 2 on blade but depends on the quantity you put on . If the quantity is right drying is about 15-20 minutes for one layer ( at 20 Degrees Celsius and no moisture-not in the sport hall ) .Drying means that the layer is completely transparent and shine with no white islands(spots ) .You can try one rubber with 2 layers on it and one on blade and another with 3 on it and 1-2 on blade to compare .If you feel you need more power just gentle take the rubber off from the blade , add one more layer on existing glue on rubber and one more on blade (after cleaning the blade with your hand – just to be careful about ) and glue it again.

The best result it will be obtain when glue is perfectly dried ,after 1-2 days and feeling, speed spin ,control will improve until will become steady for months .

This will be the result of toughness of the elastic glue layer (in fact vulcanized natural rubber ) which will be given by natural drying process of the glue .To be closer from the first moment to this result I suggest to glue at evening ( 3 layers on rubber and 2 on blade ) letting each layer to dry perfect ( I suggest that on blade you put simultaneously with the first layer on rubber and the second on blade with the third one on rubber ) and after finishing letting everything to dry perfectly over the night .

In the morning you can stick together rubber on blade using the roller for pressing to obtain a uniform layer ( that’s why is better to have 2 layers on blade to make the two surfaces more compatible and using the roller and the press to obtain a better uniform final layer of elastic rubber ).

In the moment of applying rubber on blade ,if you are stretching a little bit the rubber in the area (from the middle to top ) you hit the ball you obtain a better pre tension mechanical effect ( same with factory tuning or chemical tuning ) which if it is done correctly there is no visual tracking on the aspect of the pimples or rubber and is not braking any rule .However ITTF regulations are not allowing mechanichal tension applied on rubbers (stretching with visual deformation of rubbers).

The tension inside can be obtain chemically or mechanically .This is mechanically so pass ITTF others regulations . Of course after making your own recipe you have to test your racket to be conform with all ITTF regulations. Don’t worry , everyone did it and is absolutely OK ,green and correct .

The best thing is to keep in the press the racket for few hours after gluing .

The sponge is better to wash after each round of gluing (rubbers and blade ), squized well and dried naturally until next round of gluing . For the next layers you just use the other top of the sponge and then the first one(already dried meanwhile) .Or of course you can use one until you finish gluing, wash it and reuse it or if you don’t want to reuse it you just cut the end of the sponge and next time use the remaining sponge .

I hope that you will enjoy the results . You will see that the glue and the method for applying have a great importance and even from normal setups one can make a really performing setup.

But this affirmation you have to check by yourself .

In the end let’s recap some tips that are useful for you:

  • do not glue in the sport hall: moisture and time pressure will make you to pay less attention to gluing, which is a very important fact;
  • weight your rubbers, weight the blade before and after gluing to know exactly what is your receipt;
  • let layers dry naturally, until from white they become naturally transparent and tacky;
  • use the roller to stick the rubbers on blade;
  • use the right scissors to cut your rubbers;
  • always use a racket press to obtain the best results for adherence and for uniformity of your layer;
  • keep racket in the press for the night to obtain the best result.

Enjoy playing like a ‘’pro’’ with Revolution no. 3!