About boosting

This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,680
858
3,118
Read 1 reviews
Hello,

I've been given the opportunity to boost 2 of my rubbers with falco booster, the green one. I used 2 layers on bare sponge and after a night they've both curled up like crazy, and they're not even completely dry yet.

I've only had experience boosting with baby oil so far and this is far easier that is viscous, but I'm afraid I may went overboard on the dose.

How long will they take to uncurl a bit so I can glue them? The left is a battle 2 gold and the right is a dawei 388a-4.

IMG_6609.jpeg
 
says Fair Play First
says Fair Play First
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Jan 2012
2,193
727
3,077
Something serious is getting afoot, heh. We love it so much. ITTF got now alive after standing idle for so long. Nice device, indeed.
image29.png
 
Last edited:
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,680
858
3,118
Read 1 reviews
You should take the plastic off so the rubber can expand. Other than that, 2 layers might have been a bit too much.
I suggest you try and get the excess oil off, and see how it goes after another 24h.
There's almost none left and what's left is like dry glue, I don't know how good it'll do trying to remove it.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Jan 2024
2,207
2,885
6,883
Read 2 reviews
There's almost none left and what's left is like dry glue, I don't know how good it'll do trying to remove it.
Then I wouldn't bother and hope it mixes into the glue a little bit. Just leave it to process and unless you put actual ridiculous amounts on it'll settle down eventually.
You could try to pull the legs wider from time to time to get things going.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Aug 2016
3,172
2,521
6,086
Read 3 reviews
I’ve been boosting for many years, and I’ve learned from professional Chinese players.

The basics might help you boost better and last longer:
1- Booster is an oily material. If exposed to air, it will dry up and become hard.
2- booster absorbed into the sponge; expand the holes inside the sponge.
3- You want to make sure the booster in the holes are fresh elastic, not dried, hard booster.

When drying the sponge, remove the protector from the top sheet so the sponge and top sheet can expand evenly.

Wrap the entire sponge and top sheet with Glad Wrap to make it airtight and prevent the booster from drying out and hardening.

If you don't want to wrap it up, always apply two layers of water-based glue after the booster. When the water-based glue dries, the elastic layer will slow down the booster’s drying process.

To keep it as fresh as possible, glue the sponge onto your blade while it’s still slightly curly; don’t wait for it to flatten.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Active Member
Oct 2024
839
613
3,829
If you don't want to wrap it up, always apply two layers of water-based glue after the booster. When the water-based glue dries, the elastic layer will slow down the booster’s drying process.
Isn’t it bad for the booster on the sponge if you put glue on top straight after booster. I thought it was wait 24 hours from the last boosting layer before gluing onto the blade?
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Oct 2025
101
108
255
When drying the sponge, remove the protector from the top sheet so the sponge and top sheet can expand evenly.

Wrap the entire sponge and top sheet with Glad Wrap to make it airtight and prevent the booster from drying out and hardening.

If you don't want to wrap it up, always apply two layers of water-based glue after the booster. When the water-based glue dries, the elastic layer will slow down the booster’s drying process.

To keep it as fresh as possible, glue the sponge onto your blade while it’s still slightly curly; don’t wait for it to flatten.
As long as you remove the protector before you roll it on there's no difference.

Interesting thought about wrapping it. Saying it gets harder implies polymerization, but at room temperature that is unlikely to happen in the time between boosting and gluing.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Aug 2016
3,172
2,521
6,086
Read 3 reviews
Isn’t it bad for the booster on the sponge if you put glue on top straight after booster. I thought it was wait 24 hours from the last boosting layer before gluing onto the blade?
Sorry i mean after booster dried up, you put some glue
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Aug 2016
3,172
2,521
6,086
Read 3 reviews
As long as you remove the protector before you roll it on there's no difference.

Interesting thought about wrapping it. Saying it gets harder implies polymerization, but at room temperature that is unlikely to happen in the time between boosting and gluing.

I used to not care until someone professional told me.

I noticed the sponge stayed curled up for longer when it was wrapped with Gladwrap.

I think the glad wrap force more boosters to get absorbed into the sponge.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Oct 2025
101
108
255
I used to not care until someone professional told me.

I noticed the sponge stayed curled up for longer when it was wrapped with Gladwrap.

I think the glad wrap force more boosters to get absorbed into the sponge.
Yeah but pros do all kinds of weird shit cuz they think it gives them an edge. It's a matter of materials science, the topsheet's expansion is instantaneous, and the foam + oil combo is not strong enough to stretch the rubber by itself, hence the curling.

Maybe the glad wrap prevents some evap. I'll try it next time. Do you just cover it on the foam side or wrap it up like a sausage?
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Aug 2016
3,172
2,521
6,086
Read 3 reviews
Yeah but pros do all kinds of weird shit cuz they think it gives them an edge. It's a matter of materials science, the topsheet's expansion is instantaneous, and the foam + oil combo is not strong enough to stretch the rubber by itself, hence the curling.

Maybe the glad wrap prevents some evap. I'll try it next time. Do you just cover it on the foam side or wrap it up like a sausage?
I wrap up the whole thing.

Mine was just anecdotal evidence. If you can do a control study, I’m interested.
 
Top