Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Waxing Iron

profile picture
skitheWest.
Posts: 2304 - Karma: 1,276
Do you need to buy a special waxing iron to wax your skis or could I just use a regular iron on a low setting? I'm pretty sure you don't have to, but just checking
Jan 25 2012 8:20PM
0 0
profile picture
stickerman
Posts: 2043 - Karma: 147
you should get one. you can pick up a budget ski iron for like $30 at your local shop. Regular irons have a varying element inside them, that puts out a huge range of temps when on. Say setting 1 says it is 100 degrees, then it will very from 85 degrees all the way up to 130. This is because the element is really shit. Bases melt at 100 degrees, so keep it in mind.
Jan 25 2012 8:23PM
0 0
profile picture
BoardSideDown
Posts: 547 - Karma: 254
This,

You don't have to get one, but it definitely is recommend and less chance of warping or burning your base.

Ski wax irons heat the entire base to the same temp, while a regular clothing iron is very hot in the center and disperses it temperature around the base.

If you use a clothing iron, make sure not to leave the iron in one spot for too long and try to make it so the wax drys about 2-4 inches behind the iron to make sure your not burning or melting the base.

If you plan on waxing all the time definitely pick up a ski iron, quicker and more reliable.
Jan 25 2012 8:39PM
0 0
profile picture
skitheWest.
Posts: 2304 - Karma: 1,276
also I don't have a nylon bristle-brush for buffing, so what could I use as a substitute? I think horsehair is to soft for the temp I'm using
Jan 25 2012 8:56PM
0 0
profile picture
Crispy.
Posts: 6111 - Karma: 7,686
I just bought a waxing iron the other day. How hot should I have it?
Jan 25 2012 9:12PM
0 0
profile picture
BoardSideDown
Posts: 547 - Karma: 254
depends on the wax, if there is no temp recommended, it is trial and error heat your iron up and melt the wax find where the wax begins to smoke, then turn down the iron temperature until the wax no longer smokes. You should be good to go for hot waxing.
Jan 25 2012 9:16PM
0 0
profile picture
Crispy.
Posts: 6111 - Karma: 7,686
Thank you very much!
Jan 25 2012 9:35PM
0 0
profile picture
oil.
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,254
definitely worth it. its 50 bucks tops and you know youll have the right temp.
Jan 25 2012 9:54PM
0 0
profile picture
skitheWest.
Posts: 2304 - Karma: 1,276
bump
Feb 4 2012 9:55PM
0 0
profile picture
_Mac_n_Steez_
Posts: 259 - Karma: -6
i never buff is it better to if so with wut
Feb 4 2012 10:23PM
0 0
profile picture
cubber
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 638
shower scrubber, but this is really an unnecessary step, brushing/corking is mostly for texturing your bases i believe, which wears off after one run anyway. it's a racing thing. but this is all heresay, i'm no expert and could very easily be wrong here
Feb 4 2012 11:35PM
0 0
profile picture
.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
It will make te ski faster. If you ski park all day there is no point as the gains won't be that noticeable.
Feb 4 2012 11:35PM
0 0
profile picture
CalebT
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 765
is it okay as long as the wax melts off the iron and onto the base?
Feb 4 2012 11:46PM
0 0
profile picture
BoardSideDown
Posts: 547 - Karma: 254
it is okay if the wax melts off the iron, but you want the wax to be as hot as possible without burning so it gets absorbed into the base better, which means the wax last longer and you will be going faster.

But if you get the wax to melt to the iron that is sufficient.

Also to the other buffing post, buffing or brushing is just getting rid of any little wax imperfections that are on top of the base, not totally necessarily to buff or brush, but definitely doesn't hurt to do it and it really helps you zone out (love doing it personally).
Feb 5 2012 5:21AM
0 0
profile picture
CalebT
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 765
thanks!^^
Feb 5 2012 8:02PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)