8DX on it's last legs?

Discussion in 'Broken Rackets' started by dbswansea, Aug 12, 2013.

  1. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    Hi guys, playing with my 8DX and notice that what I thought was just superficial damage seems to be spreading.

    Any thoughts?

    001.jpg 002.jpg
     
  2. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    anyone got any input?
     
  3. Avenger

    Avenger Regular Member

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    IMO, yes, it is gonna break soon, time to retire this racket
    that crack looks scary..
     
  4. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    it looked only paint deep until the bottom appeared this morning.
     
  5. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    This one's a gonner - always suspicious when the crack crosses a grommet.
     
  6. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    In what way?
     
  7. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    String holes are weakpoints, shared ones especially. If a crack makes its way to one, that's usually it as far as subsequent string jobs, and only a matter of time before it fails during play.
     
  8. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    it doesn't go to the grommits though, it sort of arcs around. I thought it was from a clash and was only just slightly deeper than the paint. No big deal though as I've been playing with it's replacement for a few weeks now, the JJS was a natural progression from the 8DX.

    RIP 8DX, you have been very good to me.
     
  9. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    So I was bored and stripped some of the paint off to have a closer look. It's a chip rather than a crack so any further thoughts?

    998644_547533745343171_1101485006_n.jpg 1460963_547533702009842_1027128831_n.jpg
     
  10. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    maybe the lighting is deceiving my eyes. but i see a big crater and two cracks that grows up and down.

    if i were u, i will just keep playing with it, the strings are intact anyway.
     
  11. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    Funnily enough, the guy who strung it said it was him that damaged it.
     
  12. R20190

    R20190 Regular Member

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    Yeah, there's quite a bit of section loss there so I wouldn't count on it being ok for another string job. However the 8DX is a tough cookie, and I have seen worse that are still perfectly fine to play with.

    Although you may not "see" a crack, there may be a very fine one that's just not visible to the naked eye.
     
  13. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    Some super glue, maybe ZM62 at 23lb and just keep it as a back up until it kills someone on court.

     
  14. R20190

    R20190 Regular Member

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    Well, if you're going to try and strengthen it, superglue is not going to do much. Use epoxy resin instead, not easy and its a messy job, but its the best way to strengthen it.
     
  15. R20190

    R20190 Regular Member

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    There is another technique in that you use superglue with carbon powder... not tried myself, but heard it's good for mending things like this.
     
  16. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    That does sound messy

     
  17. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    I took your advice and tried epoxy resin and graphite powder to create a filler. It's filled the chip and dried rock hard.

     
  18. dbswansea

    dbswansea Regular Member

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    I know one or two of you are interested. So for I've done the resin/graphite mix in layers, this is after the 3rd thin layer and some sanding with an emery board.

    1471146_550945985001947_93041862_n.jpg
     
  19. visor

    visor Regular Member

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    You don't need the graphite mixed in... just the epoxy resin by itself is much better and stronger.
     

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