Visse Balsa Center Carbon Blade

Visse Balsa Center Carbon Blade

New from Visse.  It has 9 plys (3Birch/Balsa/Carbon/Balsa/3Birch).  Thought it would be a great idea for his blade to be a little heavier and a little stiffer, but not too stiff with 2 layers of Carbon.  I will let you know how it plays.

He said he might be selling them.  Not for sure.

http://castldine.tripod.com/table_tennis

- Sean

How heavy is the blade?

Maybe the Carbon sheets are not stiff and are a little flexible causing some flex?

Or maybe the blade is light or maybe just the head is light?

My CPen felt like that as well.  I expected it to be faster.  But to me the blade head was thin and kinda light maybe causing it to be slower than I wanted.

Great

Have you tested out Mahagony?  I've always wonder about it since I love the wood on my furniture.  But not sure about it on a blade ;)

VISSE > So far the center carbon blade is about 87 grams down from what it started off with you.  Which is a good thing.  Just pefect since I've been trying it out with different rubbers both heavy and light.  So far I've tried out Sriver EL Bryce FX, 729 LKT XT, Globe 999T.

Feels solid with only a slight sharp carbon ping when struck at top speed.

SDRamones wrote: Great Have you tested out Mahagony?  I've always wonder about it since I love the wood on my furniture.  But not sure about it on a blade ;) VISSE > So far the center carbon blade is about 87 grams down from what it started off with you.  Which is a good thing.  Just pefect since I've been trying it out with different rubbers both heavy and light.  So far I've tried out Sriver EL Bryce FX, 729 LKT XT, Globe 999T. Feels solid with only a slight sharp carbon ping when struck at top speed.

my idea about the mahogany

I have been experimenting building a number of blades.  I like using Mahogany veneers.  However, on my early attempts I apparently used too much glue.  I used a 1/32 top Mahogany ply, but the poly glue I was using seeped through, which gave kind of an ugly look to the Mahogany top ply.  I didn't realize that Mahogany was as porious as it is.  Also, poly glues expand as they cure which could push the glue through. 

I have usually used Walnut as an inner ply.  Since it is hard and stiff, I have placed it in the same spot I would put a carbon layer.  The Walnut seems to add a lot of stiffness and speed to a blade. 

I have been using either Basswood or Balsa for a core ply just becuase it is easy and somewhat cheap to get.  However, I have my eye on trying Spanish Cedar for a 1/8 inch core ply after looking at some of its strength to weight.

I recomend that more folks should try building blades.  The problem is I don't know where to stop.  Every time I see a new veneer I think to myself what woods would it work with and what kind of speed and durability I can get out of it.

Carbon is good but expensive. The only place I have found it is for $14.95 per 8" x 10" sheet. 

Hello pingpongkf, Send me a sketch with some measurements I may consider it.

Good point cheapo, mahaogany is porous and glue can seep thru it.

I like carbon blades, carbon has that extra speed, consistent bounce and enlarges the sweet spot. It just feels great. I was an all-wood proponent, not any more. Mahogany, walnut, birch, balsa are are all good layers. Spanish cedar is cool too.