cutting knives for rubber

[tzifos]

What are the dimensions of this oversized blade? Unfortunately I have only regular blades at hand, but I think something like not much bigger should be fine as long as it keeps round enough shape. So no cybershape allowed obviously. Is this blade kind of rectangluar?

Defensive blades usually have the same shape as the classic attacking blades, but they are 165-167mm x 160-162mm instead of the ~157 x 150mm of the attack blades.


Somebody in your club might have such a def blade, I know is PIA to bring this tool to the club. So it's ok if you cannot check it. Thanx anyway

 

[Kopp]

I'm more worried the gluing part than the cutting.

 

[spino]

I'm more worried the gluing part than the cutting.

Use thin layers of glue, and spread it as evenly as possible using whatever tool at your disposal to avoid bumps.

I messed up on my first gluing job - put too much glue and it came out with lots of bump lines in the rubber.

 

[Egon]

I've already written in another thread about what I use for over 15 years, not only for myself but also for many friends, but I'll repeat it here because it's very inexpensive and produces a very high-quality cut.
I use single-edged razor blades. Since the blade is very thin, it bends easily and takes a semicircular shape. I can't recommend this method to everyone because there's a risk of cutting yourself, but I haven't had a single cut in 15 years.
Perhaps this will be useful to someone, because this is exactly what forums are created for.

 

[Kopp]

Use thin layers of glue, and spread it as evenly as possible using whatever tool at your disposal to avoid bumps.

I messed up on my first gluing job - put too much glue and it came out with lots of bump lines in the rubber.

Too thin isn't good unless you do double layers. The glue, blade, and rubber don't bond well and feel slightly off. You can try using one thin layer and then two... it plays a bit different. That’s just how I feel though, idk.

 

[sebi]

Too thin isn't good unless you do double layers. The glue, blade, and rubber don't bond well and feel slightly off. You can try using one thin layer and then two... it plays a bit different. That’s just how I feel though, idk.

Facts, I would always recommend two layers on the rubber. Just feels better and if you missed a spot on the first go you can fixe it.

 

[Kopp]

Facts, I would always recommend two layers on the rubber. Just feels better and if you missed a spot on the first go you can fixe it.

Facts, the sponge soaks up some, if not most, of the water from the first glue layer, so the second one is what really "sits and sets" properly. It also smooths out the uneven first layer. I do the same on the blade too, but sometimes I find it hard to spread a thin layer on the blade surface, so I just go with one thicker layer instead.

 

[spino]

Yes, I also use 2 layers on the rubber, just that they need to be thin layers, or maybe I need to pay more attention spreading it without having the lines too thick so they won't show up on the rubber. I have a racket from tt11 and it is spotless - I've heard they use only one layer on the rubber.