How often do you have to replace your cutting knife?

[Tyce]

I actually started getting into knife sharpening, so I am considering using that instead of scissors. Have an extra wood carving knife I don't use laying around.

 

[JJ Ng]

I actually started getting into knife sharpening, so I am considering using that instead of scissors. Have an extra wood carving knife I don't use laying around.

Revolution Nr 3 curve scissors work just fine. I don't feel the need to use any blades.

Yes, I have been players getting their equipment from the club coach and the cutting of the rubber by the club coach using a blade looks beautiful.

However, I don't have time and I don't have OCD. I have 12 blades currently where I switch rubbers between them so that is why I don't have the time to worry about using knife/blade to cut the rubber.

I can see if you only have 1 or 2 paddles and you don't EJ as much, then the knife/blade method works well. But when you EJ a lot, scissors is the way to go. I have been also getting better and better with using scissors over time to the point where my clubmates don't make fun of me anymore that my rubbers "look like they have been chewed on by my dog." lol!

 

[lodro]

Revolution Nr 3 curve scissors work just fine. I don't feel the need to use any blades.

Yes, I have been players getting their equipment from the club coach and the cutting of the rubber by the club coach using a blade looks beautiful.

However, I don't have time and I don't have OCD. I have 12 blades currently where I switch rubbers between them so that is why I don't have the time to worry about using knife/blade to cut the rubber.

I can see if you only have 1 or 2 paddles and you don't EJ as much, then the knife/blade method works well. But when you EJ a lot, scissors is the way to go. I have been also getting better and better with using scissors over time to the point where my clubmates don't make fun of me anymore that my rubbers "look like they have been chewed on by my dog." lol!

Exactly, and because blades are different in size and shape we also do not want to cut our rubbers tightly along the wood so that when we decide we need the rubber to go on another blade it will still be large enough .

Life as a EJ is hard ye know 🤣

 

[JHB]

I use a surgical scalpel for which I bought a box of 100 blades - around 15 GBP if I remember rightly. New blade for each rubber, however I don't change rubbers more than twice a year so they will last me ages.

 

[Zeen]

Cutting with a blade looks way cleaner than with any scizor.
I also use surgical scalpels. One for each replacement set of rubbers. Then just throw away. After 6 months repeat.
Simple and clean.

 

[burakins]

Hi,

I use surgical scalpels. Nowadays rubbers are really expensive. So for the perfect cut my rutin is to use 1 surgical blade for each rubber because these are really cheap if you buy lots of them in a box. Also consider to use glass as a cutting base plate for the perffect cut.

 

[Crimhonetsol]

i prefer to use scissors. the knives I've come across have been practically disposable

 

[TensorBackhand]

I used my $1 Aliexpress knife on my 2nd rubber, and it cut just fine. No need for replacement yet.

So this blade has done 2 rubbers so far, still seems like it's sharp.

 

[Wakkibatty]

Myself I just use the 18mm snap off knives, though I've also wondered if a linoleum knife or old-fashioned cut throat razor may be better.

I find the secret is to aim to complete the cut in 2-4 passes, depending on the hardness and type of the rubber:

- First pass goes through the sponge up to the pimples,

- second pass goes through the first half of the pips layer,

- third pass completes the pips cut and starts cutting the top-sheet cut upper surface

- fourth pass completes the top sheet cut.

Any more than this and either the blade is too blunt, the rubber is too cheap, or I've actually been cutting gouges out of the cutting sheet and table top for the last three passes 🤣🤣

PS: Don't buy cheap blunt blades! They're a complete waste of effort, time, money and perfectly good rubbers.