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Wax?

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asian_andy
Posts: 830 - Karma: 61
so i was at midwest ski film festival last night. which by the way was a fuckin blast! scion was throwin out ski wax. i was just curious on how you use it. do you melt it with an iron and heat it in? or just rub it on? pros and cons to such a wax. and how long does it last?
Oct 11 2009 1:01PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
watch my video in the official ski maintenance sticky in gear talk
Oct 11 2009 1:03PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
melt wax with iron and drip it over skis, smooth wax with iron, scrape off the excess wax. depending on your wax and waxing skills it can last 1 day to about 2-3 weeks normally
Oct 11 2009 1:04PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
does it say if it is meant as a rub on... cause if there is no packaging for it telling you what it is, I wouldn't use it.

If it is a temp wax... then yeah, use the guys maint guide.
Oct 11 2009 1:05PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
I have a simple rub on wax as well. When your skis are fast as it is but you'd like a little extra, just rub in on in the morning before you go, us the cork that comes with it to press it in and then you're set. It doesn't last quite as long but it's definitely easier than melting it on with an iron and etc.
Oct 11 2009 1:09PM
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[cmyk]
Posts: 261 - Karma: 177

Nice man, you're about to take a big step towards being a grown-up.

seriously tho its nice to know how to tune and wax your own stuff. Was it block wax or was it a can of paste wax? thats important because they are very different. we'll start with paste:

Paste wax is great in a pinch or between hot waxes. Its fast, easy, and works ok. The down side is that it only last about a half days worth of skiing in most instances and doesnt penetrate the base as well. all you have to do with it is rub a thin layer tip to tail, then buff it in going from tip to tail in long strokes.
heh heh, i said long strokes.

Now, block wax (hard wax, hot wax) is a little more intensive, but works MUCH better. Usually there are different (color coded) waxes for different temperatures for better performance (ie less tucking to get speed to clear jumps). To start tuning your skis with hot wax you need 4 things: Wax, WAX iron, scraper, and base cleaner. You should look into a vice too, but you can get away with a couple peices of wood. OH SHIT, and rubber bands, to hold your brakes down. dont forget that.
*Be sure to BUY A WAX IRON at your SKI SHOP or online.. if you must. A household irons temperatures fluctuate too much and you can actually separate your base from too much heat. Plus your mom will be pissed theres wax all over her lingere. Trust me.
*Now, rubber down your brakes so you can run the iron from tip to tail with no interuptions. (watch that guys tutorial video)
*dribble a little wax from tip to tail (you dont need to use a ton)
*smooth w iron
*scrape off ALL the excess. its not wax on the surface that does anything, its the wax thats penatrated into the base material that makes you faster.
heh heh... i said penetrated.

Good luck, if you have any questions lemme know I tuned skis for a good number of years for a living. Rock on!

Oct 11 2009 1:19PM
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Travapple.
Posts: 6787 - Karma: 88
the stuff they were handing out wasn't rub on, it was 18-23 degree wax, i got a shit ton
Oct 11 2009 1:21PM
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asian_andy
Posts: 830 - Karma: 61
yeah that was the stuff. so i just melt it on with an iron right? seems easy as hell after watching the video of mrtskier.
Oct 11 2009 1:26PM
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dangerdad
Posts: 2228 - Karma: 317
yea, but you should really use a wax iron, not a normal iron. Also you have to scrape and brush.
Oct 11 2009 1:34PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
Make sure you keep the iron moving.  "Leave it in one place and you cook your base".  Also use a plastic scraper.  Plastic scrapers are for wax, metal scrapers are for ptex.  Sounds like it's a basic versatile wax.   If the temp is very warm or very cold, you may want to use something else. 
Oct 11 2009 1:41PM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
that's what she said.
Oct 11 2009 1:46PM
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OAK_TREE
Posts: 2683 - Karma: 12
the wax scion was handing out is for 18 to 24 degree temp. i would use and iron and melt in on. watch his video on how to wax. it's legit.
Oct 11 2009 1:52PM
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CJHski
Posts: 2384 - Karma: 126
im not trying to be cocky or an asshole, but i am really surprised with how many people on here do not know how to wax skis.
Oct 11 2009 2:15PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
I have spent 2 years with one wax and tune up to my skis per year. I get it done all at one at a shop, reality is, having duller edges at the end of the season with a little less wax won't impede my skiing. If you're a bitch about it then it really kind of makes you noob. Sure it's more convenient to have, but it's not hard to work through it.
Oct 12 2009 4:15AM
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CJHski
Posts: 2384 - Karma: 126
I don't think you understand how much better your skis would ride if you wax them regularly and take care of them.
Oct 12 2009 5:49AM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
Yeah hes an idiot.
Oct 12 2009 7:24AM
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brickerenator
Posts: 316 - Karma: 10
Waxing skis does a lot for them

I went through a lot of wax last year, even reused my shavings
Oct 12 2009 10:49AM
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asian_andy
Posts: 830 - Karma: 61
THanks guys really helpful. ill probably wax my last years pair of skis to see how its done. and then if all is well. ill wax my fresh sticks.
Oct 12 2009 11:38AM
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brickerenator
Posts: 316 - Karma: 10
Brand new skis SHOULD come with wax on them
Oct 12 2009 11:48AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
most of the time.... but sometimes its meant as storage wax so a good scrape and re wax wont hurt them.

Also, its generally an all temp wax and if it is only 5 degrees out or if its 60 degrees out, a temp wax would be nice.
Oct 12 2009 12:13PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
I realize a good wax helps now and then. Racers especially would need to wax their skis super often along with others that want a really good performance. I've skied through +1 temperature with really old wax through slushy snow and yes it grabs, but I just plow through it and know when to avoid flat sticky spots.
Oct 12 2009 12:25PM
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abc8tr8we98g
Posts: 498 - Karma: 25
i just throw on some swix universal cold or warm each week and it keeps my skis nice and quick
Oct 12 2009 12:45PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
It is also important for the life of your skis though. The bottom of the ski is a porous surface that dehydrates. By waxing the skis, you are rehydrating the base. With a black base it is far easier to see, but they will start to turn grey after a while with out waxing. This makes it more difficult for them to absorb wax there by making waxing less effective. If you want a ski to ski well for 3 seasons, you need to wax them at least enough so that they don't dry out.

I know you can say that you just plow through, but the performance with a quality wax can improve your performance as well, you will have more speed going into jumps, boxes/rails will feel smoother, and you won't have to avoid those flat spots.

At $7 for most machine waxes, I think it is definitely worth it to do it a few times a season.
Oct 12 2009 12:54PM
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-PowAir-
Posts: 646 - Karma: 30
I've been using an old iron for over 6 years. I also worked in a shop for a few years...personally i believe an old iron is just fine! The tunes i do now are the same quality that I did when I was working in the shop. I just have to go slower and be more careful of temperature but its waxing skis not rocket science.
Oct 12 2009 1:05PM
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