Is the Tibhar Stratus Powerwood a blade you should varnish?

[ridderz65]

Hi guys,
Should I varnish my Stratus Powerwood blade before gluing on rubbers? I want to avoid damaging the blade if and when I remove the rubbers. Is this a blade I should varnish and if so how many layers of varnish?

 

[Kevin Geraldy]

Well for myself I usually sealed/varnish all my blades to avoid splinter when removing the rubber, but some believe that it can change the feeling of the blade. But I suggest you to seal your blade to avoid splinter/more cost in buying a new blade as we are all not sponsored like the atheletes.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I seal all my blades as well. I put a very think coat so that, if you look at the blade, you can't even tell it has been sealed.

To get this thin coat I use Min-Wax Wipe On Poly. You apply it with a cloth (I actually just use a paper towel). There is no mess to clean up. It takes about 5 min to do both sides. And the way Wipe On Poly works, it sinks into the wood and, if it does change the playing characteristics of the blade, it is basically an unnoticeable amount because it is such a thin coat.


Sent from the Oracle of Delphi by the Pythia

 

[NextLevel]

I never varnish my blades and they all look fine to me at least.

 

[ridderz65]

I never varnish my blades and they all look fine to me at least.

Hi NextLevel. How do you find Baracuda? Is there any reason you are using that over one of the plastic ball enhanced rubbers?

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Hi NextLevel. How do you find Baracuda? Is there any reason you are using that over one of the plastic ball enhanced rubbers?

If it gets more spin than almost everything else, it must be pretty good for the plastic ball. By the way, I think there was a post, shortly after he switched where he explained the reasons he switched from MX-S back to Baracuda.


Sent from the Oracle of Delphi by the Pythia

 

[NextLevel]

Hi NextLevel. How do you find Baracuda? Is there any reason you are using that over one of the plastic ball enhanced rubbers?

IT's Donic's most popular rubber and the ESN rubbers in general made before the plastic ball tend to grip the plastic ball pretty well. I use Baracuda because while it is relatively slow, it is pretty spinny and easy to control. The slow speed (Really relatively low catapult) enables you to spin hard, especially on backspin balls, and opening on backspin balls is a huge part of my game. The slowness also makes it easier for me to play wide, which is another big part of my game.