Anybody who plans on moving up from a pre-made racket needs to know how to glue on a new sheet of rubbers and cut it neatly to fit their blade. So here's some instructions on how I do it. Personally I use the Zeropong scissors, but I know others have more success with a scalpel or exacto knife. Here's the steps I use:
Prime the rubber:
I'm a firm believer that rubber plays better with a few layers of
glue in the sponge. This is more critical with the firmer
Chinese sponges than with softer ones. If a sponge is under
40, I may just give it a couple layers for adhesion. If the
sponge is 40-43 I probably will give it 3-5 brushes full. If
it's over 43 I may give it as many as 6. Also if it's harder,
you may want to wrap it in plastic overnight and let that solvent
work on the sponge a little. Even if you don't continue to
speed glue, having expanded the sponge at least one time will make
it more lively. Any rubber cement is fine for this step. You
may want to trace where your blade will be to help you target where
to put your glue, if conservation is a goal. If you put a lot
of glue on the sponge, you want to let it dry back flat before
sticking it on. Otherwise it may shrink back down on the
blade.
Priming the sponge
Apply glue to face of
blade: This doesn't have to be very thick. Let it tack dry
a couple of minutes before you stick it on.
Applying the rubber to the blade
Lay the rubber on evenly
Wet your scissors: Critical step here. I use 409, but any soapy water or really anything slick will do. Even water or spit is better than nothing. It really will help keep the rubber from grabbing the blade.
Open your scissors wide and keep them that way: Keep the rubber down in the power of the scissors close to the pivot. You'll have to open them especially wide to clear the flange at the start. It would seem like you would want to make smooth long cuts following the blade, but that's what you DON'T want to do. Make many tiny cuts of around 1mm in length. They will actually show up less that way. Be careful of hitting your blade. Take your time and keep the scissors wet.
Repeat the process:
If you're doing both sides that is.
Cutting with scissors
If using blade instead of scissors: I don't do this much, but the consensus seems to be that if you use a blade, you need to make several passes. Don't try to cut all the way through in one pass.
Use good cement: I use best test one coat. Probably Elmer's would work. I wouldn't try to use speed glue.
Paint the sponge: Rubber cement is contact cement, so you'll have to have glue on both sponge and topsheet. Allow the sponge to dry flat before putting on the topsheet.
For pips, paint the base sheet: I know some long pips like Neubauer don't recommend you paint the base sheet. This is because it tends to curl up and then it's a mess. I personally do paint it, but if it's a thin base sheet I will put a can on each corner to hold it down until it's dried. You've got to be extremely careful not to let the sheet fold over and touch itself on the glued side. If you do its a disaster. It may take several minutes to dry back flat. Be patient. You don't want it to curl on you.
For inverted, apply glue to tips of pips: This is the trickiest part of gluing an inverted rubber. Personally, I save my plastic the sponge or topsheet came in. Then I spread glue evenly across the plastic. Finally, I lay the pips onto the plastic so that the tips get glue on them. Then I peel it up and examine in the light to make sure that they're all covered. If I missed areas I may repeat the process. In fact, I usually do. Then hold the sheet up and let the tips tack dry before you put it on the sponge.
For pips - Putting on the topsheet: I like to fold my pips in the center BACKWARD so that it's easier to work with. Make sure you fold it so that the pips are touching, not the glued base sheet or you'll be sorry. When it's folded it's easier to work with. Then lay the bottom edge down straight with the sponge. I use a spray can as a roller to roll it down without getting bubbles. If you do get bubbles, it may be easier to just pop them with a needle than to try to peel it up and repeat the whole process.
For inverted - Putting on the topsheet: You can pretty much just lay the topsheet down squarely onto the sponge. If you want to tension the topsheet, you can roll it on with a can or whatever you use, kind of stretching it as you go. Be careful, it's easy to over-tension. You don't have to do much. Just rolling it on at all will create some tension.
