you Too can fix a cracked racket !

[teachingprotx]

So I have cracked a few frames in my day and didn’t want to throw them out.whixh is what I had to do before I found the super glue trick and believe you me it WORKS,!
I got upset the other day and slammed a frame down and it cracked
I fixed it by using a squeeze of cheap super glue from the dollar store and cheap baking soda .
All you have to do is apply a thin or thick layer don’t matter and immediately sprinkle a little or a lot of b-soda onthe glued crack .wait 30 seconds and blow the existing sodapowder off .
Voila fixed . Not temporarily but fixed for life . It’s amazing .. it works on.
Wood. Carbon . Fiberglass , aluminum and all plastics alike.
I was floored and marveled at this magic trick . I have one that I did years ago and still holding strong .. what I do to make it aesthetically pleasing is do the trick and lightly sand the area totally flush and spot paint . But you don’t have to . And it really does work on anything ..
The REAL TEST was a year ago I had an old stick from the early 80,s. The string caved into the frame / pulled thru the wall to where the string had recessed and pulled all the way thru the chamber wall and was resting on the inside wall.. so all I had to do wAs begrudgingly cut out and pull out my brand new (2 hrs old ) Isospeed control string tension .... I Glued the crack where the string caved between the two grommets holes . glued the area then sprinkled on my baking soda wait 30 seconds .. then just in case , prolly didn’t need to do this ,but repeated the process for extra insurance.

 

[jbot]

I've heard instant ramen works pretty well too

 

[esgee48]

Baking Soda provides additional CO bonding pairs so the material cures much faster. If you want something a little less rigid, wipe down the surface with alcohol before applying the Super Glue. The OH radical slows down the reaction. 3¢ of chemistry.

 

[TnsGuru]

Fix that crack with crack spackle.

 

[TennisHound]

So I have cracked a few frames in my day and didn’t want to throw them out.whixh is what I had to do before I found the super glue trick and believe you me it WORKS,!
I got upset the other day and slammed a frame down and it cracked
I fixed it by using a squeeze of cheap super glue from the dollar store and cheap baking soda .
All you have to do is apply a thin or thick layer don’t matter and immediately sprinkle a little or a lot of b-soda onthe glued crack .wait 30 seconds and blow the existing sodapowder off .
Voila fixed . Not temporarily but fixed for life . It’s amazing .. it works on.
Wood. Carbon . Fiberglass , aluminum and all plastics alike.
I was floored and marveled at this magic trick . I have one that I did years ago and still holding strong .. what I do to make it aesthetically pleasing is do the trick and lightly sand the area totally flush and spot paint . But you don’t have to . And it really does work on anything ..
The REAL TEST was a year ago I had an old stick from the early 80,s. The string caved into the frame / pulled thru the wall to where the string had recessed and pulled all the way thru the chamber wall and was resting on the inside wall.. so all I had to do wAs begrudgingly cut out and pull out my brand new (2 hrs old ) Isospeed control string tension .... I Glued the crack where the string caved between the two grommets holes . glued the area then sprinkled on my baking soda wait 30 seconds .. then just in case , prolly didn’t need to do this ,but repeated the process for extra insurance.

Wow, Cool. I’ve got a Blade that has a hairline crack underneath the bridge.

 

[Irvin]

I use the super glue from dollar store (5 tubes per pack) and have been using this trick on cracked rackets when I get them. But I clean with 91% alcohol, apply glue, apply baking soda, and sand smooth.

 

[teachingprotx]

Oh yeah man it totally works ! I’ve saved many . The most recent a otherwise brand new looking head Electra pro ( thin one ). It was in pristine condition but had a hairline crack at the top making it too scary to restring . I’ve gone ahead and string it up . No problem what’s so ever . I would use this with out any hesitation .
Matter of fact in the case of this particular frame which is by all accounts quite fragile by nature . I’ve done a few more iffy spots as well

 

[teachingprotx]

I’m so happy I know about this

 

[teachingprotx]

Baking Soda provides additional CO bonding pairs so the material cures much faster. If you want something a little less rigid, wipe down the surface with alcohol before applying the Super Glue. The OH radical slows down the reaction. 3¢ of chemistry.

Thank you for the chemistry behind this do we know why it cures it with so much more strength ?

 

[ron schaap]

Baking Soda provides additional CO bonding pairs so the material cures much faster. If you want something a little less rigid, wipe down the surface with alcohol before applying the Super Glue. The OH radical slows down the reaction. 3¢ of chemistry.

I wonder if the glue gets into the tiny voids of a crack because it is rather thick?

 

[teachingprotx]

From what I can tell it’s like the glue seeps down into the crack and once the baking soda is thrown on, it too seems like it gets down into the crevices of the crack . Now there is no way that I know this for sure obviously but man I’m telling ya it’s amazing hoe well it works.
Granted I haven’t used this on a racket that is comlplettly shattered thru . But I have used this trick on frames that I even thought there would be no way this “ trick” could save it . But it did and is still holding .
It works so good I even add this to my list of services provided in my pro shop :
Restringing Tennis , racquetball , and squash frames of all kind . Wood - carbon graphite
Grommet repair and replacement
Racket balancing
Frame matching -weight
Grip works - replace . Build up .
Racket crack repair
Racket modification:

The below services will void all frame manufactures warranty
We offer:
Racket sanding - Increase frames flex
Racket Painting and resurfacing

 

[TnsGuru]

Seems like a good trick. You did say it's sandable and paintable right?

 

[scotus]

Well, as long as the repaired racquet doesn't produce harmful vibrations to cause an injury to your arm....

 

[teachingprotx]

And the racket will play softer even after this glue trick . I felt it .
Which to me is an added bonus !

 

[esgee48]

Cyanates are inherently unstable. It polymerizes if exposed to air and water. The CO in baking soda provides more structural support during the polymerization, more cross linking because it is there. The stuff or reaction permeats thruout the cyanate so it does get into cracks at a molecular level. The nice thing about this is the material has a different density than the graphite so vibrations do not propagate across them. This means the material destroys vibrations similar to Kevlar or Twaron. I would use this factoid to repair cracks, but won't do it for grommet channels if I cannot replace the grommet strips. Though I guess I could use FITTEX tubes, but the results do not appeal to the clients.

 

[Shaolin]

Cyanates are inherently unstable. It polymerizes if exposed to air and water. The CO in baking soda provides more structural support during the polymerization, more cross linking because it is there. The stuff or reaction permeats thruout the cyanate so it does get into cracks at a molecular level. The nice thing about this is the material has a different density than the graphite so vibrations do not propagate across them. This means the material destroys vibrations similar to Kevlar or Twaron. I would use this factoid to repair cracks, but won't do it for grommet channels if I cannot replace the grommet strips. Though I guess I could use FITTEX tubes, but the results do not appeal to the clients.

 

[Dishiki]

Bumping this. Unfortunately lost my cool last night and cracked racquet. Applied superglue and baking soda. Any idea if this affects integrity. The crack does not look like it goes through. Thoughts?

https://imgur.com/a/wg1F0qk

 

[Steve Huff]

Would it work better if you mixed the super glue and baking soda before applying it? Just wondering.

 

[esgee48]

Cyanoacrylates start to react with air/moisture. So waiting to mix in baking soda is contra indicated as it hardens even faster. Best to apply ensuring it seeps into the fissures and then dust the baking soda on. Brush off any excess.

 

[graycrait]

@Steve Huff , The baking soda is a cure accelerator. You have to apply it after you apply the CA glue. If I were going to try and fix a racket again (and I have tried CA glue and baking soda) I would try: https://bsi-inc.com/hobby/ic_2000.html

 

[teachingprotx]

Graycait I would love to get some of that !

 

[Zoolander]

@Steve Huff , I would try: https://bsi-inc.com/hobby/ic_2000.html

Bob Smith Industries?! Surely thats a front.

 

[graycrait]

@Zoolander , "a front" maybe but I have had great success with their adhesives across several areas of interest for some years now.

 

[teachingprotx]

Where to buy?