Swixs simplest liquid glide wax is called Swix HS liquid. Rub-on wax: For a quick-and-easy performance bump, you can use an all-conditions rub-on wax. I found the speed I got with them to be entirely unsatisfying, so I decided to look into waxing them. The technique makes use of a heat gun, and does away with iron and scraping. A place to set your skis where they wont slide around is essential. Obviously I'm not expecting it to be as great as an iron, but I was hoping for something better/more affective than rub on. If you are done blow out the P-Tex candle. This provides the "grip" needed to avoid slipping in uphill sections while delivering smooth glide performance on flat or descending terrain.There are 3 systems: fish scales, grip wax or skins. Rotate the P-Tex candle as it burns so that it doesnt droop down. that is LITERALLY rub on waxeven if you are using melt wax that is the same process. Place the iron on your ski bases, and slowly glide it down to melt and distribute the wax that you dripped onto them. We may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase through links from this site.. If the bottom of your board has not been waxed for a long time, then youll want to consider re-waxing every time you go out riding. It is important to note that not all snowboard waxes are the same, so you may need to experiment with various types of wax until you find what works. Then use wax remover and fiberlene to clean any residue left on the ski. Practice makes perfect! Quick Answer: How Often Should You Wax Skis, Question: How Often Should You Wax Your Skis. Run the iron down the surface 5 times. Be sure to let the board cool completely before using it. Iron the wax onto the ski. is essential. If you get a scratch or gouge in the bottom of your skis or snowboard you can use P-Tex candle to fix it. For a more advanced edge tuning job you can get specialized diamond stones, bevel tools to put a precise edge tune on your skis with the exact angles you want with smooth sharp polished edges.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'endlessrushoutdoors_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',621,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-endlessrushoutdoors_com-leader-1-0'); A specialized waxing iron makes this a lot easier. , depending on conditions and usage. The base has small grooves in it that run the length of your skis. In this article, well show you two ways to improve your skis' glide without having to use any kind of heat or waxing iron. His skis had absolutely zero grip against the snow. Cleaning the ski base The first step is to clean the ski base using a brass or boar hair brush, you should brush in one direction, from the tip to the tail. Maybe an option if your amish or on a hut trip. Be cautious when learning new tricks and always wear the appropriate safety gear. wax is just a medium of appling it to the ski. Wax makes your skis hydrophobic, or water resistant. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. The curved structure, large handle, and swivel cord make it easy for you to distribute the wax evenly across your gear. Essential Tools: Glide wax for the snow condition in which you will ski. Theres no such thing as too much wax.. Hold the P-Tex candle as close to the suface as you can so that it drips and isnt just running onto the surface. your new skis really just need a wax coat every couple of weeks and some shop work once or twice a season. Question: How To Wax Skis Without An Iron. Look out for the warning on the labels. When this happens you need to take them to a professional shop and get a base stone grind to restore the surface. He has tested Pro by Swix, a series of fluorine-free Swix ski waxes, over several thousand kilometres in the past year. You can find nicks and burs running a towel down the edges of your skis. SkiersGuild.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. rub the bar on the skis without heating it, i usualy o over the ski about 5 times then rub the cork on the bottom for a while and it allows the ski to absorb the wax and scrapes of the excess. Apply a base cleaner/conditioner with a sponge to remove any road salts and chemicals the skis may have picked up to and from the resort. Always work tip to tail, in the same direction, Your iron should never be so hot that its smoking, or the melting wax, In addition to your ski bases, dont forget to scrape the ski edges too, Sharpen your plastic scraper from time to time to ensure you have a sharp, even edge for scraping - you can do this with a metal file, Waxing is messy - place newspaper underneath your work area to catch the wax scrapings to make for an easy cleanup, Give your skis a good wax at the END of ski season so you have them ready to go for the following winter, Think of wax as a moisturizer for your skis. However, the more you use your skis, the faster the wax . How to wax your snowboard or skis The first thing you want to do is give your skis a thorough base cleaning. All you need is some boiling water and a container to hold it. Dont rush through this step in order to avoid any mistakes or accidents. Should I wax my skis at the end of the season? Powder days dont wear the edges out nearly as fast as icy hardpack. They are cheap, effective, and all you should need for home waxing. Buff out with a buffer brush or clean, dry rag. The wax will start melting and drip down off the corner of the iron onto your ski bases. (, If you dont have strong fingers, you will after a few scraping sessions. If youre slipping, the wax is too hard. Over time, without wax, the base of a ski or board will start to dry out and whiten, almost like the black is fading. Step Three. Scrape with a downward motion to move the wax away from the clean part. Make sure to store your board in a cool, dry place when not in use. If you are a racer or want to squeak out that last bit of performance, you can use waxes designed for the specific snow temperature you will ski on that day. Rub with your fingers to assure the coat is even, this is very important to order to have a smooth 2nd and 3rd layer. You can wrap a foil around the base of your iron and it will work just fine. Overheating your bases can damage them. Home Skiing Tips How to Wax Skis at Home without an Iron. Get out your plastic wax scraper. Waxing your skis helps them remain water resistant, which in turn helps you ski faster and turn more smoothly. You can buy this royalty free stock image on Avopix.com and Shutterstock website. Just brush with a brass brush using moderate pressure. Also, the perfluorochemicals (PFCs) used to make them can accumulate in your body for a long time. Youll get a much better wax job with an iron than you will with the methods described here. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. That depends on the climate youll be riding in. Wait until your bases feel cool to the touch to begin scraping. The wax helps the board move faster and more smoothly over the surface of the snow. You need to store them properly. You can, but you will need to use a lot more of it since this type of wax is not specifically designed for the purpose of snowboard waxing. Press the ski wax up against the hot iron, sliding it around on the hot iron plate. Ever see how ppl ironed before electricity. If you finish scraping and you still have a scratch, dont worry. The longer it has to cool, the more time wax has to absorb into the base. While there is no clear rule of thumb, most sources suggest that waxing is needed every 5 to 15 days on the snow, depending on conditions and usage. This channels water and snow and helps you go faster. The first thing you want to do is give your skis a thorough base cleaning. TOKO T14 Wax Digital Iron - Budget Pick 4. Spending $25 or more per tune-up at your local shop can become costly, so learning how to wax skis on your own is worth it. There's a way to protect your iron from wax by using aluminum foil. The wax should be quite soft still but not in a liquid/molten state. Leif Sunde is a highly experienced ski technician who founded the Denver Sports Lab in Golden, Colo., to make Olympic-level tunes available to the public. There are a few different ways to remove wax from your skis before cleaning them. If you are making smoke with the iron it is too hot. Keeping your edges bur and nick free gives you less drag against the snow and makes it easier to carve rather than skid across the snow. New gear, resort reviews, athlete interviews, and more. Your email address will not be published. I'm headed up tomorrow so I need a quick alternative, but yeah I'm going to pick up an iron next week, Resorts usually offer a belt wax for like 6$. Using either your fingers or an application tool, simply rub the wax over the entire base in a circular motion. You need a match or lighter to light the P-Tex or a torch. My favorite is. If you want optimum performance and dont want to stick to the snow, you should wax your skis every 2-3 ski days. To get better performance a.k.a. Now that you know how to wax a snowboard without an iron. They need to be kept rust free and sharp to perform at their best. The temperature range will be listed on the wax packaging. Position the scraper edge touching the base behind the edge that you grip, so that effectively you drag the scraper along the length of the ski or snowboard and drive the wax into the base while . (, How to choose the right kind of ski wax for your local snow conditions, Check out Sundes step-by-step waxing video tutorial. After the board has been frozen, place it near a heat source such as a space heater or open flame. Edge tuning Your skis have metal edges on them that dig into the snow and ice so you can turn and stop. My dad has been using the original version of that iron since he was a kid, and it's still going strong today. Following are just a very few methods, but the best ones that can help you wax skis without an iron. Snowboard edge angle The most common side angle for a snowboard is 89 degrees. Fat skis, for instance, tend to need a base grind in order to flatten out the base so it runs evenly and smoothly on the snow. It should smoothly glide over the surface. Always keep the iron moving, as even a couple seconds in the same spot can burn your ski base and ruin it. You will require a specific waxing iron. Let cool for 30 minutes or until bases and top sheets are completely cool to the touch. The nylon brush will clean wax out of the structure. Your email address will not be published. 2. For better performance, you can combine two different temperature-specific waxes to cover for borderline temperature changes. (you'll gouge up the bottom anyway lol) Just set it on "wool". 1. If you don't know what this is or the iron doesn't have a thermostat aim to get the wax melting but not smoking. However, cold wax is better at sticking to the surface of your board. This will smooth out the wax and give you a nice smooth slick surface. It is done using a large piece of wax and a piece of cork. My husband puts a coat of Turtle Wax hard shell (rub on) car wax on our waxless xc skis. The more the water in the snow is repelled from your skis, the easier it is for your skis to carry speed and not stick. Your skis and snowboard are glued together. This means you dont have to worry about tuning your skis according to the temperature of a given day. You may be asking yourself what is the purpose of waxing a snowboard? If its going to be warm where you live, then try using a soft wax instead. Use a nylon brush to clean the base structure. This is the new Roubaix. Are your skis or snowboard sticking to the snow? Spending $25 or more per tune-up at your local shop can become costly, so learning how to wax skis on your own is worth it. If you purchase over a specific threshold the shipping is free. There are many types of snowboard waxes available in the market. The goal is to have a blue flame. Simply rub it right onto your bases and work it in with a sponge or cork like material that is usually included. Toko T14 Wax Iron - Digital - 1200W 110V - 5547187 | Ski Snowboard Tuning Tools. Regardless of which way you choose, a little fresh wax is always better than none at all! Then use a base brush to remove excess contaminants. How to Fall Without Getting Hurt When Skiing, Choose your rub-on wax product. Wax your skis/board every 4-6 days. Cleaning the skis and then ironing in a coat of wax before the summer is a good idea. If you wax your board with fluorocarbon wax, do it in a place with very good ventilation and wear a mask or respirator to protect yourself. One of the last reasons to wax your snowboard is because it simply makes the board look nicer and more polished. Generally, you want to set the temperature near 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit (a little warmer in a cold garage). the reason google didnt help is because what you want isnt out therelots of types of rub-ons, if you wanna do it couple times a day.. go get a $6 clothes iron (dont push it into your base just glide it along), and it will do you great if you're not worried about MINOR surface blemishes, or 100ths of a second. Adhere to this advice but, if nothing is listed, 140 degrees Fahrenheit is generally ideal. Clean up your base and edges with a towel and rubbing alcohol before moving on to waxing the bottom. Hot waxing your bases, on the other hand, will be far more effective and long-lasting. Ski shops are historically busy this winter meaning you have to wait weeks to get your equipment tuned. Make sure to always wax your board when it's at room temperature so the pores will be open and absorb the wax better. Plastic scraper & cork buffer used after waxing. Thanks! 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