
Players at all levels want the ideal table tennis racket for their style of play. Once they find one and become comfortable with it, they become attached to it. As a result, the adhesive used to attach new rubbers to the wood blades is a concern. It's because water can affect wood – often indicating the use of water-free glues with unpleasant odors and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). But thanks to some recent changes, water-based glues are becoming more widely used with excellent results. It's because newer products are available to stop the wood from absorbing moisture (water) from the adhesive.
The use of water-based adhesive on wood table tennis blades can soften their surfaces. When the wood absorbs water, it expands and then contracts, causing the blade to lose its proper performance. For players who like to replace their rubbers with more frequency, using glue more often can damage their blades. People who replace rubbers less frequently as less likely to encounter problems. Some have resorted to ping pong blades made from teak or hinoki because of their water-resistance. But many other kinds of wood preferred by players are less water-resistant. Therefore, the arrival of products to inhibit water absorption when an adhesive is applied is of significant interest to many players.
On top of the absorption concerns, water-based glue bonds firmly to some varieties of wood, and it makes rubbers a challenge to take off. Also, remnants of adhesive may be left behind after they are pulled off. The leftover glue can be time-consuming to remove and, in some cases, even causes damage to the wood. Players trying to avoid these issues are trying wood-protecting products on their blades before applying adhesive. It's an extra step to take, but in the long run, it can be well worth the effort. They reduce water absorption from the glue and later on make the rubber easier to remove.
As they do in every area, table tennis pros have advice for players about how to use wood protectors. Most agree the protector can be applied periodically – you don't need to do it every time. Once you've figured out what works best for your blade, you may do it only occasionally to enjoy the desired results. People who replace their rubbers often or glue them down heavily probably want to put on several coats of wood protector before applying the adhesive. Sponge applicator tips on the bottles make wood protector easy to use, and most recommend a drying time of at least 2 hours.