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Where to find base type (extruded or sintered)

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cheerio
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 3,415
some ski description will include the base type but not all of them. I was wondering if its beacause brands only want to advertise sintered?

Also are volkl ledges sintered or extruded?
I was having speed issues on them last year and was wondering if its because they are extruded?

Thanks
Oct 7 2014 10:23PM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
I don't know whether the Ledges are extruded or sintered sorry.

But I can say that your speed issues can be resolved with a good base grind and wax. Also if you have any big scrapes or gashes in the base get them P-Tex'd.

Base grinds make so much difference, got my AR7's a grind when they're were getting slow and now they go just as fast as when they were brand new.
Oct 7 2014 10:39PM
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cheerio
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 3,415
NegromancerI don't know whether the Ledges are extruded or sintered sorry.

But I can say that your speed issues can be resolved with a good base grind and wax. Also if you have any big scrapes or gashes in the base get them P-Tex'd.

Base grinds make so much difference, got my AR7's a grind when they're were getting slow and now they go just as fast as when they were brand new.


goood to know but i didnt really have any big scrapes
Oct 8 2014 2:33PM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
A.Emondgoood to know but i didnt really have any big scrapes


Then you're speed issues are definitely caused by a lack of structure in the base. Go get a base grind which will put structure back in the base and then give them a good hot wax. Use wax that is suitable for where you ski.
Oct 8 2014 5:41PM
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cheerio
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 3,415
NegromancerThen you're speed issues are definitely caused by a lack of structure in the base. Go get a base grind which will put structure back in the base and then give them a good hot wax. Use wax that is suitable for where you ski.


Ok sounds good thanks but this still leave me wondering if brands advertise the type of base their skis have
Oct 8 2014 7:00PM
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Poikenz
Posts: 1486 - Karma: 3,826
A.EmondOk sounds good thanks but this still leave me wondering if brands advertise the type of base their skis have


If you want to know you can email or phone the company or just talk to your local rep.
Oct 8 2014 7:47PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7177 - Karma: 17,710
PoikenzIf you want to know you can email or phone the company or just talk to your local rep.


Or ask I your local shop that is what we are there for.

Op it can be hard sometimes, manufacturers don't really like to advertise that a ski uses an extruded base. You can normally work it out though. For example if you look on the volkl site the wall it says uses a ptex 4500 base and the step a ptex 2500 base. They do not mention any base for the ledge so you can presume it's extruded or they would say what it is. Most price point ski will have an extruded base. If your looking for a price point ski the imfamous is one of the best at the moment. You get a ptex 4000 base on a price point ski. That is pretty much unheard of.
Oct 8 2014 8:25PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6679 - Karma: 11,007
tomPietrowskiIf your looking for a price point ski the imfamous is one of the best at the moment. You get a ptex 4000 base on a price point ski. That is pretty much unheard of.


Slight correction- the Infamous uses a 7000-series base.

We only use 7000 and 8000 series bases in our adult ski range- definitely a huge upgrade compared to most any other company. We only use extruded bases on our ultra-cheap price point skis (which are mostly out-of-catalog specials for chain stores in Europe) and kids skis. This is one of the perks of being the world's largest ski manufacturer.
Oct 9 2014 2:45AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7177 - Karma: 17,710
onenerdykidSlight correction- the Infamous uses a 7000-series base.

We only use 7000 and 8000 series bases in our adult ski range- definitely a huge upgrade compared to most any other company. We only use extruded bases on our ultra-cheap price point skis (which are mostly out-of-catalog specials for chain stores in Europe) and kids skis. This is one of the perks of being the world's largest ski manufacturer.


You can tell i have been out of the shop for a while I'm underselling your stuff ;)
Oct 9 2014 3:39PM
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RubberSoul
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so what is the difference between p tex 3000 vs 7000? is it a spectrum of density, and therefore how well they perform vs how long they hold wax? and what are some benchmarks, like what is the "medium" on that range? sorta lame how sites don't always tell you what ptex it is
Oct 9 2014 6:52PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6679 - Karma: 11,007
RubberSoulso what is the difference between p tex 3000 vs 7000? is it a spectrum of density, and therefore how well they perform vs how long they hold wax? and what are some benchmarks, like what is the "medium" on that range? sorta lame how sites don't always tell you what ptex it is


A lot of "normal" brands simply think it is such a technical detail that the vast majority of their consumers will either not care or be confused by it, which to some extent is kinda true (given how many people generally clueless about ski construction). I'm not saying it should be like that, but just that it factually is like that.

Skiers that are in-the-know (as a lot of gear heads on NS, TGR; etc are) are rightly concerned about their base material because it does make a difference in how well your ski glides. The simplest way to describe what happens in base material is that a lower number has lower molecular weight. Thus a 200 series base has a much lower molecular weight than a 8000 series base, and a higher molecular weight translates to better gliding. When you see "UHMW" (Ultra High Molecular Weight) this is what they are talking about.
Oct 10 2014 3:26AM
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onenerdykid
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onenerdykidThus a 200 series base


That should be 2000*
Oct 10 2014 3:27AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6679 - Karma: 11,007
In a quick Google search, I found this ski builder website which has a few different base materials:

http://www.blankslateskis.com/base-materials/

As you click through them, you can see the different qualities and benefits they have.
Oct 10 2014 3:32AM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
awesome, thanks for the answers dude
Oct 10 2014 10:02AM
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cheerio
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 3,415
definitly intreresting, thanks everyone
Oct 15 2014 1:29AM
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