using rubber cement

I don't know. Elmer's is readily available... no? Super Wally world ect ect

What have you been using?

speaking of which, I need to go pick some up tonight

well then, maybe I'm headed over to an auto supply store!

rubber cement is fine to use (even though it has a tiny amount of VOCs, presumably) shrinkage ~can~, not necessarily will, occur if you don't allow it to dry "properly".
just let it dry before applying!

WHOLY CRAP!

I used elmer's rubber cement and it contains n-Heptane as a thinner, and I think n-Heptane is also a speed glue component, which is why it domes the rubber. I guess the thin rubber cement from auto parts store has more n-Heptane in it thus more like a speed glue. You wanna wait until the dome goes away before putting the rubber on and cut it...

elmer's is problematic (too thick). I prefer best test paper cement with 25% bestine (thinner loaded with heptane).

http://papercement.com/papercement.html paper cement
http://papercement.com/bestine.html thinner

75% paper cement and 25% thinner is my favorite mix but 100% paper cement is OK..

My racket was declared illegal at the nationals (enez) in las vegas using that combo even though I had applied the rubbers almost a week before. It was a voluntary testing (just to see) and my jaw hit the floor!!!

JimT wrote:   As far as I recall people glued rackets with Elmer's and it was tested fine 2-3 days after the gluing. So Best Test must be way more VOC-packed...

Best Test brand rubber cement and Elmers have the same VOC amounts.  The fact that fatt added 25% thinner to the Best Test rubber cement....pushed the VOC content way up.  

Usually I found that adding about 10% thinner was enough for a better application layer, if you needed to add any thinner.

i guess but i have found that victor brand rubber cement works best. you can use it without any thinner you can pick it up at any advanced auto parts shop.

I just use elmer's rubber cement on its own and it works just fine. You have to put a decent amount on because of its thickness which will dome the rubber. One layer on the rubber, one on the blade and you have yourself a fine setup. 

If you buy the elmers in the metal liter can it doesn't need to be thinned.  If you buy it in the small brown jar, then yeah.

yeah, the small brown jars turn to glop before you even buy them.  the metal liter tins have much better consistency.

staples or office depot

austin wrote: staples or office depot

I mean that big 1-liter metal cans. Of course I can buy Elmer's at any pharmacy or at Staples - but those are small plastic bottles...

If we use rubber cement do we need to seal our blades heavily since it is presumably a much stronger adhesive than water based glues. With water based glues hairspray protects my blades just fine.

You don't need to seal your blade at all with rubber cement.

So this means that other than the VOC issue, rubber cement is actually better gif gluing. Sticks faster, easier to take off, and no water that might harm the blade.