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Official Ski/Binding Maintenance Thread

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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
As all of us know, it is very important to know how to use/maintain your ski equipment, so my hope for this thread is to have everyone post videos or picture tutorials on how to do various forms of ski maintenance, whether it's adjusting bindings, waxing skis, dulling edges, anything, but just so you know where to look when you have basic questions about this sort of thing

I'll put 2 videos in the OP:

How to Take Apart/Bend FKS
by me

How to Wax Your Skis
by mrstskier

Next up just a few tips:

When you get home from skiing you should do 3 things:
1. take your skis inside and leave them there
2. wipe your bases and edges with a cloth or rag
3. pull your skis apart and lean them against a wall with the bases sticking up

Now it's your turn, post tips, stories, tutorials, anything relating to ski maintenance because it can greatly increase the life and performance of your gear


**DISCLAIMER**
A LOT OF THESE THINGS REQUIRE BASIC SHOP SKILL, PROPER TOOLS, AND EXPERIENCE. DO EVERYTHING AT YOUR OWN RISK AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABLE TO EXECUTE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROCESSES. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU RISK THE LIFE OF YOUR GEAR AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING

This goes for advice giving as well, make sure you possess knowledge of the subject you're providing advice for because it can jeopardize people's safety if you give them false tips. So either make sure you know what you're saying or put in your post that you're just kinda guessing
Apr 21 2009 10:27PM
270 116
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
thanks mate!
Feb 19 2010 6:56PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
uploading to vimeo now
Feb 19 2010 6:59PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
WOO THOMAS
Feb 19 2010 7:25PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
fuuuu

Feb 19 2010 8:10PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
sweeeeet.


any advantage to black vs clear ptex?
Feb 19 2010 8:24PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
clear never comes out clear for me,, always brown
Feb 19 2010 10:04PM
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Crack.
Posts: 6020 - Karma: 84
While riding yesterday, my binding started to squeek, a lot. Everytime I would go over the tiniest bump it would squeek. Does it just need a little grease?
Feb 20 2010 1:52PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
griffons/jesters?
Feb 20 2010 8:06PM
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Crack.
Posts: 6020 - Karma: 84
haha nope even worse and they are markers
Feb 20 2010 8:19PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
.
Feb 20 2010 8:37PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
m11?

and for all fks questions, pm no_steeze
Feb 20 2010 8:45PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
I may try to do an addendum to that vid.  The video was well done.  Props to mrstskier. 

You should use the same color petex that you have on your bases already.  I actually like using clear petex.  When petex burns, it gets little carbon flakes and impurities in it.  Technically, those little flake make your bases slower, and may not adhere to the base as well.  It's tricky to get petex to drip onto your base without getting carbon in it.  The trick as in the video is to keep the petex close to a surface.  When you have a yellow flame, you are getting carbon.  While the candle is burning you can use your metal scraper to cut the black flakes off then hold the candle close to your base and don't let the flame get yellow. That should keep your petex clear going on the ski.  Blue flame good!  Yellow flame bad!

Also, when you scrape with a metal scraper, I would just add that you want to lightly pull the scraper towards you.  Try to take it off a little at a time in layers instead of hammering on it and trying to go all the way to the base in one shot.  That will usually rip part of your petex job out.  Don't forget to srape the petex off of the side of your edges too.  As the you begin to get most of the petex off and your base is starting to look flat again, put your thumbs on the scraper directly over the spot that you filled and scrape back and forth with a lot of pressure.  Ideally you barely want to be able to see the circular drip marks when your done.  You definitely want to get a metal scraper for petexing. 
Feb 22 2010 4:42PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
good tips, glad to have someone other then alex(no_steeze) and I contributing to this thread
Feb 22 2010 9:07PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
Thanks.  Glad you made your video.  My metal scraper went missing too.  Beware the work bench gnomes!.  They steal metal scrapers and use them for vanity mirrors in their wee little bathrooms. 
Feb 24 2010 9:41AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
or in my case it gets jacked by the sister's boyfriend who needed it to ptex at his own house haha. he brought it back like 25 min after i finished the vid
Feb 24 2010 2:30PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
I find that warming the bases with a hairdryer beforehand makes them run faster the next day. Not heat and make hot, but warm them up.

Whenever I wax skis with extruded bases, so for anyone with Afterbangs, etc, I like to apply the wax, smooth it out with the iron, and then run the hairdryer over it for a few minutes. That way, the pores stay open, and the wax stays liquid for longer, so it can absorb a lot more. The same principle as hotboxing, but a lot cheaper and quicker.
Feb 27 2010 8:58PM
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Lambo*18
Posts: 524 - Karma: 26
So I picked up some new skis, I know how to wax em and have all the right tools. my question is do I need to wax new skis or no??
Mar 4 2010 10:12PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
factory wax is a joke. always wax up new gear, multiple times even before first use
Mar 4 2010 10:36PM
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Lambo*18
Posts: 524 - Karma: 26
^^^^^anyone? Need some help would enjoy waxing em tonight!!!
Mar 4 2010 10:37PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
look above
Mar 4 2010 10:48PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
?^
thomas replied with a helpful answer
Mar 4 2010 10:50PM
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SKIU4EA
Posts: 2387 - Karma: 2,072

Can't believe it took me this long to trip and fall into this goldmine!!!

Thanks so much no_steezeClick for larger image, mrstskierClick for larger image,  Mr.Huck$, and others  (I'm still kind of reading through it...)    Videos are very well done.  My rainy Monday project is going to consist of my first attempt at waxing my rossi scratch wrs.   The bases are a mess, and I'm probably gonna de-tune some Armada PC's.

Mar 20 2010 9:11PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
i took apart my 120 heel pieces, and even tho i dont need to yet, i cant seem to properly put them back together acuz i had to replace the plastic long thingy on one of them which required me to take it apart all the guts fell out of the other one /:

haha ill just worry about it when i have the breaks tho, i need ma lizzys for spring break next week!
Mar 21 2010 10:58AM
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Mr.Penguin
Posts: 207 - Karma: 165
Not really a maintenance question but I didn't really think my stupidity deserves its own thread so

I have a pair of 171 invaders and just got a pair of elizabeths which are 172, how ever when the skis are lying next each other tail to tail the invaders are probably an inch maybe an inch and a half longer then the elizabeths, but shouldn't the elizabeths be a touch longer being that they are 172 vs the 171 of the invaders? Am I missing something here?
Mar 24 2010 10:39PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
got em back together
that situation just had to do with me being dumb
they are on ma lizzys right now in the shop, lookin all pretty
ready for spring break shenanigans
Mar 25 2010 9:17AM
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
Trevor LaCombe likes this.
Mar 25 2010 3:31PM
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-.-never
Posts: 24 - Karma: 10

Just wondering and new to this new school ski community

How often does waxing need to be done?(with what wax if skiing 60% slope, 30% rail 10% POW)

After skiing care for boots and skis

some basic info of your care would be helpful

Mar 29 2010 2:22PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
maybe read the thread?
Mar 29 2010 4:13PM
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-.-never
Posts: 24 - Karma: 10

Maybe I have but it's not really covered?

Mar 31 2010 5:20AM
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PhuzzyWuzzy
Posts: 358 - Karma: 82
Sparknotes of this thread:

Wax your skis as often as possible.  If you can, wax them every time you go skiing.  Certain waxes work best in certain temperatures, but for most people a universal wax will work just fine in all conditions.  Dominator Zoom or Swix Universal Cold/Warm work well and are pretty cheep. 

Buckle your boots and wipe down your skis with a rag when your done skiing.  Store all your gear in a warm, dry location. 
Mar 31 2010 9:11AM
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-.-never
Posts: 24 - Karma: 10
Thx appreciate it
Apr 1 2010 1:26AM
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minibus4
Posts: 517 - Karma: 13
This is kinda a weird practice that I do sometimes. I get a heat warming blanket that gets pretty hot and warm up my skis for like a couple hours or so to make it kinda like a hot box. Is this bad and does anyone else do this?
Apr 11 2010 4:39AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
depends. do you put it directly on the base of your skis?
Apr 11 2010 2:32PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Props to everyone contributing good shit to this thread
Apr 16 2010 8:45PM
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K.Saga
Posts: 45 - Karma: 10

wondering about ski vise...to ones who have it

is there any recommendations for it? or is it just cheap ones on eBay....

May 3 2010 1:01AM
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PhuzzyWuzzy
Posts: 358 - Karma: 82
I use this one and I've had no problems: http://www.ski-racing.com/bst_jaws.html (linking not working for me w/e)
May 3 2010 2:32AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
there's really no substitute for the classic 3-point vice.  they're not cheap though, you won't likely find one new for less than this: http://reliableracing.com/detail.cfm?edp=11086295

you can try some of the less expensive ones out there, but if you're going to be using it regularly, the savings don't make it worth it.
May 3 2010 3:31AM
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K.Saga
Posts: 45 - Karma: 10
thx +K
May 4 2010 12:59PM
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K.Saga
Posts: 45 - Karma: 10
thx +K
May 4 2010 1:15PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Build your own vice/platforms. All you need is a solid platform wide enough for two skis and with a notch down the middle for holding a ski edge-up. I got reclaimed wood for free from my friend (two 12x12x1 platforms and a load of 2x4s) and gathered screws and adhesive foam sheeting that was lying around my workshop. It's way more solid than anything I've used and zero setup time when using it. Just screw stacks of 2x4s to the planks. Really easy.
May 4 2010 1:33PM
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K.Saga
Posts: 45 - Karma: 10

it doesnt sound so technical and as you said that it s easy i will definately try it thx +K

May 4 2010 7:51PM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,289
Could someone explain the waxing when you get new skis?

You guys said i should wax my new skis 6-10 times before skiing them, do you mean wax them, let them sit for 1 hour scrap wax again repeat? or just wax scrap wax scrap
And should i wax with different kinds of waxes each time?
May 21 2010 10:40AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
Swix mkes a Base Prep wax. Buy a 60g pack: http://www.reliableracing.com/detail.cfm?edp=10620870 (this is pretty much the best price out there).

The first wax application, your base is going to suck up the wax pretty much instantly.  This will be visible; the darker-colored pools of wax will dry up quickly.  Keep dripping on and ironing in wax until this stops.  then wait for the wax to solidify (~20-30 min), and then scrape it and brush it out vigorously for about 5 minutes.  Then wax again, same process as above, except the wax won't get sucked in as much.  Then scrape & brush.  Repeat until the base no longer sucks in the wax; your last application will just leave a layer of wax above the scraped/brushed base surfaced.  Scrape/brush once more (devote a solid 10 minutes to this brushing, and then use a fiberline sheet or paper towel to wipe off any dirt), and let your skis set overnight.  The next day, apply base prep once more, and then hot-scrape it (scrape while the wax is still liquid), and let it dry.  Scrape, brush, and wait a half hour. Your bases are now ready to accept regular wax, so check your ski forecast and get-er-done!
May 21 2010 11:01PM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,289
Thanks!
May 22 2010 4:36AM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
i had a marker m11, and they had that problem of a weird noise, why?
May 23 2010 8:40PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
plastic plastic plastic
May 23 2010 9:12PM
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Plind
Posts: 416 - Karma: 33
Ye, never heard good things about marker bindings
May 31 2010 5:49PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
dukes, comp 18/20/30s are fantastic
May 31 2010 8:17PM
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omnomnom
Posts: 1280 - Karma: 73
question about mounting: is it okay to drill more than three times? my hellbents had been drilled twice by the previous owner. i drilled them again for a pair of look pivots. the pivots broke this season, so i need a new pair of bindings. my question is, should i get a pair of expensive ass look bindings with wide brakes so that way it'll fit into the drill holes or can i get a different brand and just ptex the old holes and redrill? +K for answers. kthxbai.
Jun 12 2010 12:09AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
you definitely don't want to put new bindings into old holes. they'd be much more likely to pull out.  The issue with drilling skis too many times really comes down to proximity of drill holes.  if the previous owners boot size was much larger or smaller than yours, the first two set of drill holes are probably nowhere near where you'll put new ones.  but this should absolutely be the last time you put bindings on the ski, as the core/structure can really be comprised by all those holes, even if you plug them.
Jun 19 2010 8:15PM
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