How do I save this old Timo Boll Spirit?

[Robin0910]

So I found this black tag no serial number pre 2006 blade on fb marketplace for 80 bucks which I believe is a sensible price for it.

Now my questions are:
1. how the hell does a blade get to be in such a state? It looks like it’s been chewed around.
2. How can I clean the wings and the handle?
3. How can I fix the edges?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

1. those are physical contacts - hitting the table.
2 and 3. i'm no carpenter, but I read some where, you can use fillers and sand for the edges. I'm not sure what is wrong with the handle, but edges you could do

beautiful blade

 

[mamedium]

wood filler + superglue mixed would do the job

 

[pong99]

I would fix it by clipping out all the overhanging crap, then repair with wood epoxy. After mixing, it's like putty, so very easy to use and easy to start over if you mess up.

If you don't know what you are doing, avoid superglue. It dries really fast, so easy to screw it up.

 

[Amayzde]

Mine is not a black tag, but is decently old (2013), and the edges also look a bit like that, but not as much.

Do you use a scissor to cut your rubbers? I also used to use a scissor and I would have edges like that on my blades because of cutting a bit too tight around the edges resulting in the same chips you have in your blade. People told me I hit the table too often. Even though I never hit the table at all, Maybe with the rubber, but never the blade.

Now I use a knife and never have that problem again.

 

[NetProphet]

So I found this black tag no serial number pre 2006 blade on fb marketplace for 80 bucks which I believe is a sensible price for it.

Now my questions are:
1. how the hell does a blade get to be in such a state? It looks like it’s been chewed around.
2. How can I clean the wings and the handle?
3. How can I fix the edges?

Leaving a TT racket in the games room for a few wks will do an amount of damage you probably can't believe.
Children can be creatively destructive!
Qs 2 and 3 I've no idea...
But I also don't know how this was worth more than $5!

 

[Robin0910]

Leaving a TT racket in the games room for a few wks will do an amount of damage you probably can't believe.
Children can be creatively destructive!
Qs 2 and 3 I've no idea...
But I also don't know how this was worth more than $5!

Never heard of black tag butterfly blades? These sell for 400-500 bucks when in good condition I’m willing to throw 80 bucks for it just to try it out. Also, even though it’s this clipped it’s still 91! grams

 

[Robin0910]

I would fix it by clipping out all the overhanging crap, then repair with wood epoxy. After mixing, it's like putty, so very easy to use and easy to start over if you mess up.

If you don't know what you are doing, avoid superglue. It dries really fast, so easy to screw it up.

do I add something to the wood epoxy?

 

[SFF_lib]

It's a really deal, it's a reasonable state. Just enjoy it

 

[NetProphet]

Never heard of black tag butterfly blades? These sell for 400-500 bucks when in good condition I’m willing to throw 80 bucks for it just to try it out. Also, even though it’s this clipped it’s still 91! grams

Nope, you have me on pure ignorance there.
Good luck with the repairs 👍

 

[hope2getgood]

Piggybacking on this thread since I got a TB Spirit for $50.

Does anyone know how I can raise/improve the depressions on the blade face above the handle/serial number? Would it affect play and even be worth addressing?

 

[Robin0910]

View attachment 39539Piggybacking on this thread since I got a TB Spirit for $50.

Does anyone know how I can raise/improve the depressions on the blade face above the handle/serial number? Would it affect play and even be worth addressing?

Is this damage from delivery? I never saw any btf blade like that and it looks brand new

 

[pong99]

Ask SDC Sergio about how to fix depressions.

There was a thread a while back where Sergio said his process is to get the depression area wet, then run a hot iron over it. The steam will expand the wood in the depression.

There's probably some important details and tips on doing this correctly that you can ask Sergio about.

It's up to you as to whether it's worth fixing. The ball will likely hit your finger/thumb where the depressions are.

 

[hope2getgood]

@Robin0910 I'm not sure. It was out of the butterfly 50% off return table.

@pong99 I thought about that with the iron as I've seen it for wood floors. I don't imagine it would be good for the layers and glue of a blade. I'll do it but would like to know how to do it safely.

Some of the depression extends out to the right of the blade out of thumbs reach which is why I'm asking.

Is SDC Sergio's handle on here SDC?

 

[pong99]

Sergio's user name is "SDC", he is a well known custom blade maker

 

[NextLevel]

View attachment 39539Piggybacking on this thread since I got a TB Spirit for $50.

Does anyone know how I can raise/improve the depressions on the blade face above the handle/serial number? Would it affect play and even be worth addressing?

No, it will not affect play and at the risk of doing anything damaging to the blade, IMO, it is not worth addressing. A blade ultimately is something of a dance partner, you adapt to it as much as it works for you. And that is not in the hitting region of any stroke and the depression itself is not enough to affect a ball that contacts that area.

 

[StreamOfWater]

Never heard of black tag butterfly blades? These sell for 400-500 bucks when in good condition I’m willing to throw 80 bucks for it just to try it out. Also, even though it’s this clipped it’s still 91! grams

How are these different/exclusive?

 

[Robin0910]

How are these different/exclusive?

They’re glued together differently and the quality of the wood is different. It’s very different and not catapulty at all, very linear.