XIOM VEGA PRO issue

Hi there, I'm new here and would like to know your opinions about this issue:
My main setup is a Stiga Infinity blade with Razka 7 on fh and Bluefiere M2 on bh. Love it! I read good reviews about the Sanwei Fextra blade so I recently bought one and glued fresh Xiom Vega Pro (red, fh) and Vega Europe (black, bh) rubbers on it. I went today to a training session to release the blade and after one hour of training I saw some red bits on the table and found out the red Xiom rubber started to break on the edge. I never had such and issue with a new rubber so far, so I'm really surprised. Have any of you ever had a similar problem? I'm perplexed
Black rubber is ok for now...

How did you cut the rubber?

Like I do always, with a standard cutter

Sure u didn't bang it a bit on the side of the table or something? All the fraying is on the 'banging on the table' side

I think it is the cutting especially that the problem area is on that part of the blade. A rubber sometimes chip off at that part when you apply too much pressure.

One really good tip when cutting rubbers that I picked up from this forum is to dip the knife blade in oil and then wiping it off so you only have a tiny bit of oil left on the knife blade. Works like a charm even on extremely brittle rubbers like Rozena.

I've always used scissors to cut rubbers. I think it's easier than using knives, just a bit messier. Never had this problem with Vega Pro (or any other rubbers). However, I had a sheet of Vega Elite that had this problem. Luckily I didn't like Vega Elite, so I never tried it again. Now I wonder if this is just a singular incident or it could happen to any Xiom rubber.

Yeah I also use big scissors and never had a problem.

The only flaking I had with rubber was with the goddamn Tibhar Evolution series (MX-S and EL-P), which both flaked away like freaking dandruff.

My daughter's been using Xiom rubber for few years and that looks very familier. It usualy happens to her rubber after about week of usage so 1 hour seems a little unlucky.

My vega pro is about 4 or 5 years old. It still looks good but I think it may be losing its elasticity.

Xiom tensors are very vivid, resilient and sinewy. When cutting, the greater pores allow the knife to take the sponge for a mm or two and release it after cutting which deformes the sponge and makes the pressure uneven especially when you try to follow the curves of the blade. If you use a knife with a straight blade with a sharp angle end and when cutting you don't apply the needed angle and pressure the end of the knife will just scratch on the pips making the topsheet to curle and detach from the sponge. Later these areas will criple. If you have problems with such cutting knifes you may try scisoors, or knifes with curved edge which will cut the topsheet without scratching on it. I personally always use a shaving blade, but most people find it dangerous and difficult.

Originally Posted by Tony's Table Tennis

so...did you do the black side first?

Yes, sir

Hey Schmetterboy,

I wanna help.
Usually, these cases happen if the rubbers are too old or as mentioned above, cut wrong.
But if you say that this happened after an hour of play, it is something that is worth looking into.

I am not sure where you've bought this, but since you reside in Europe I think XIOM EUROPE can help.

Please write to XIOM EUROPE,
1 ) with a scanned copy of a receipt of where you've purchased from.
2 ) cc e-mail to the location (shop) of purchase.
3 ) XIOM EUROPE will most likely to replace you with the rubber but with the condition where you send this rubber to XIOM EUROPE for investigation.

XIOM EUROPE CS team : [email protected] / product manager -> Simon Sangals

I hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Schmetterboy

Yes, sir

Originally Posted by hills4ever

Hey Schmetterboy,

I wanna help.
Usually, these cases happen if the rubbers are too old or as mentioned above, cut wrong.
But if you say that this happened after an hour of play, it is something that is worth looking into.

I am not sure where you've bought this, but since you reside in Europe I think XIOM EUROPE can help.

Please write to XIOM EUROPE,
1 ) with a scanned copy of a receipt of where you've purchased from.
2 ) cc e-mail to the location (shop) of purchase.
3 ) XIOM EUROPE will most likely to replace you with the rubber but with the condition where you send this rubber to XIOM EUROPE for investigation.

XIOM EUROPE CS team : [email protected] / product manager -> Simon Sangals

I hope this helps.

Wow, this is very helpful. Yeah, beside rubber cutting techniques I also believe this is quite wired... Thanks so much, I will write right now to XIOM!!