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Removing Dirt from the Bases of My Skis

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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
Yes, it's springtime again.  So now my mountain has dirt and sap in the snow.  What is the best way to remove it from the bases of my skis?  I know they use a mixture of cleaning products at my mountain, but I don't know what they are.  I appreciate any help.
Mar 29 2009 9:30PM
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Silverbol
Posts: 29 - Karma: 10
Best way of removing dirt out of your base is hotwax.
Beacause of the products that they use at your mountian are bad. They destroy the baselayer of your ski.

-First your scrape the old wax of your ski.
-U take a soft wax like the normal white one (not expensive)
-When you hve dript the wax on it and irond it in. You scrape it of when it's still hot -
-Repeat this until the wax that is coming of is pure white
-Afterwords you clean with brush .

Hope you understand this (bad very bad english)
Mar 29 2009 9:45PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
I dont think it does anything aside from aesthetics man..
Mar 29 2009 9:47PM
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Silverbol
Posts: 29 - Karma: 10
Page 14 is cleaning in english
http://www.toko.ch/medias/sys_master/8451220103565056.pdf
Mar 29 2009 9:48PM
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Silverbol
Posts: 29 - Karma: 10
It is usefull beacause otherwise your base is going to get filt in the "tinny miniscule gap's " and if this happens your wax is not going to stick and hold onto your base .
Mar 29 2009 9:50PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
take a brass or copper brush, to like 5 passes tip to tail, then do a hot wax, scrape, nylon brush, horsehair brush. all the brushing will loosen the dirt from the ridges in your bases and the waxing will get it out of there
Mar 29 2009 9:50PM
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_nicota_
Posts: 70 - Karma: 4
I have always used fantastic to clean my skis (it works perfectly), point it at the base spray it a few times, grab a paper towel and wipe em down, then throw some wax on and after you iron it on immediately scrap it off, then throw another layer of wax on, let it sit a little bit longer (make sure you use hydrocarbon wax and not fluorocarbon although the chance of you even possessing fluorocarbon wax is prolly very low) and scrap that off. rinse and repeat on your other ski and you should be good to go

(if you have a metal brush use that after you scrap also)
Mar 29 2009 10:03PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
hot scrape ftw
Mar 29 2009 11:06PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
Shoot.  I was hoping there would be an easier way than waxing.  Would I have to do it after everyday I go?  Or just every couple times?  Thanks everyone for the help.
Mar 29 2009 11:24PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
uh....
waxing is easy as balls.
buy a stick of cheap or warm temp wax and you are done in 5 minutes.
 i bought a bound of 28+ dakine wax for $5 from backcountry and i clean my basis every time i go.
Mar 29 2009 11:41PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
You can use base cleaner / citrus cleaner but I never recommend using that unless you are doing serious base repairs.

It dries out your bases and effectively removes everything out of the pores, so you end up having to rewax a few times anyway..

Waxing isn't hard, it's enjoyable! Get a stereo playing, a beer and then get some one on one time with your planks.
Mar 29 2009 11:51PM
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headlight
Posts: 165 - Karma: 15

The comments to do a 'hot-wax" cleaning is the gentle way to clean skis, especially when u r removing wax and easy stuff.  Use non-flouro (hydrocarbon only) low temp melt (warm conditions ) wax. have a scraper ready, crayon it on, drip on gobs and melt  it on . when it is really liquid - scrape it off. So easy stuff like pollen, exhaust, pollution and old wax etc works this way ...  Some people even iron thu a Fiberlene towel sheet / or roll to lift off old wax & dirt....

But    when u run over some grease or oil from the snocat or u got a blob of grease or something worse.....1st clean as much as u can with a clean rag or paper towel and if there is still a stain try a small blot of Base cleaner/ wax remover. Sombody already mentioned Toko... but everyone has a Bio-citron / orange oil ski cleaner. like http://www.kuu.com  or Swix. This is used pretty regular with Cross country skis and by techs .  U may have to HOT-scrape after this to get all the base cleaner out. Don't use a lot just a dab to start - it can go deep. Test a small spot first.

If u used graphite or moly waxes u  may be left with some black smears that last for a long time and are evident on clear or white bases. No big deal for performance.

Best waxes to avoid sticky shit on your bases is MOLY. but expensive. This is the slippperiest stuff that exists.  http://www.toko.ch/en/productDetail/5509878_v_60/Base+Prep+grey.html   base or http://www.toko.ch/en/productDetail/5509325_v_60/LF+Dibloc+grey.html  

or The molybdenum additive counteracts electrostatic effects that slow you in cold, dry snow and repels dirt in warm snow. http://www.racewax.com/product/PB-3310/RaceWax_Molybdenum_FluoroMax_Racing_Wax_One_100_g_Bar_Warm_Temperature__PB3310.html

or expensive http://www.racewax.com/product/PB-6630/RaceWax_X3_Molybdenum_Hybrid_Racing_Wax_80_g_bar__PB6630.html    SWIX also has their BD waxes

lotta people don't recommend base cleaners. Use the stuff only sold for skis by ski wax companies and use sparingly ONLY when really necessary.  They are great if u know what u r doing - when needed.    

Mar 30 2009 12:10AM
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Jesus-FlwrSubaru
Posts: 1077 - Karma: 53
I dont recommend using base cleaner/ Citrus cleaner becasue it contains oils and when they get into your base they clog up the pores of your ski, and dirt sticks to oil really easy. Anoher reason, it destroys your base becasue the oils dont let wax stick to the base as easy as it normally would. The best way to clean your base is to use a soft wax and keep ironing until the was is completely liquified all the way up and down the ski and take some long scrapes from tip to tail. repeat as needed.
Mar 30 2009 12:35AM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
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Mar 30 2009 10:53AM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
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Mar 30 2009 12:35PM
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MrLarsen
Posts: 583 - Karma: 16
I would never ever, use base cleaner for anything but removing grip wax from cross-country skis.

http://www.swixschool.no has an interactive video walkthrough on how to do it.

Go to Alpine racing --> New skis --> 1.4 Cleaning the base

(Also a lot of other tips for people who don't know how to take care of their skis in there)




Mar 30 2009 12:40PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
Fuck off..my skis are still fast and my bases are almost brown now.
Mar 30 2009 7:22PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
I guess it's just a shame that you don't know what you are talking about though if you are saying that your bases wouldn't be faster if you cared for them
Mar 30 2009 7:43PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
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I'll beleive that when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbert
Mar 30 2009 8:00PM
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