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How to Revive Shitty Bases on Skis

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JTCasper540_MN
Posts: 742 - Karma: 3,698
Ive done a pretty shitty job of maintaining the bases of my skis in good condition. So I am wondering if there is any way that I can revive them kinda? the bases look all white and scratchy and I have tried waxing them but that does not really help. I am still able to ski on them, but if I had the money, which I dont because I am in college, I would definitely buy new skis.

Is there any way that I can wax them to revive them a good amount or am I fucked till I can afford new skis?
Nov 16 2015 8:23PM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,021
It sounds like you have some base burn
Nov 16 2015 8:25PM
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veng_m
Posts: 1267 - Karma: 2,720
You're not totally fucked. You could clean them good and get all the wax off. You could also take them to a shop and get your bases ground and resurfaced. This should be in Gear Talk.
Nov 16 2015 8:26PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,962
You might be able to get all the white stuff off with a scouring pad (like scotch brite), but if it's really bad that doesn't always work the best. The next option is to have the skis base ground, most shops do this for like $10 to $30. Then iron in a few good layers of wax, waiting a day between applications and making sure to heat the wax thoroughly and evenly but not burning the base to really work the wax into the structure and condition the bases.
Nov 16 2015 8:31PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
Yo dawg, you gonna need to get a heavy stone grind base refinishing. When you let you're bases get super dried out they scratch, break and laminate way easier, in addition to being way slower. Also, you cant wax that out, the surface of the base needs removed to expose fresh PTEX, however it is gonna be slightly oxidized already from being poorly maintained.

Long story short, wax your skis! Its a good excuse to drink beer, you go faster, your shit breaks less and will last longer, which results in more money for beer. Waxing you skis is a WIN WIN!
Nov 16 2015 8:35PM
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JTCasper540_MN
Posts: 742 - Karma: 3,698
Thanks for all of the great feed back guys! I will definitely be taking my skis in for a stone grind or whatever you call it.
Nov 16 2015 9:18PM
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CHORIZO
Posts: 2003 - Karma: 10,039
fuck it, my bases are trash but im still ridin dat shit ballin on a budget
Nov 16 2015 11:53PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,829
So any fat scratches fill them with p tex and scrape for the white dehydration wax them but leave the wax on them like if you ski weekends wax them Sunday night and scrape Monday morning leave wax on them scrape them once and a while to see how much the bases have soaked in but caution edges will rust together with wax i always wax my new skis or let them soak them up for some of the summer so they a fast as shit my friends give me shit because they think it doesnt make a big diffrence but it does and some of their skis look like shit so
Nov 17 2015 12:12AM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,829
Post pics
Nov 17 2015 12:13AM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
You have base burn. Nothing much you can do now besides hot wax them, then go to a shop and get a stone grind. Then once you've done that, be sure to wax more often and brush with a bras brush to keep that structure of your base good throughout the season
Nov 17 2015 12:36AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
Buy a bottle of extra virgin olive oil (coconut oil works too) and rub a fine layer into your bases with a scouring pad, coat with a layer of hot weather wax (like your going to do a summer storage wax), let the skis sit over night near a fire (near a fire is important, it really gets the oil so soak in), scrape off the wax the next morning, make breakfast with any remaining oil, and go skiing.


Or you can just take better care of your next pair of skis.
Nov 17 2015 12:45AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6657 - Karma: 10,898
But, the most important thing has not been asked yet: what type of base to you have?

If you have an extruded base, there is not much you can do besides give them a proper base grind (as mentioned) but waxing doesn't really help with these skis as wax cannot penetrate the base material.

If you have a sintered base, then you need to have a proper base grind and keep up with regular (once every ten ski days or more frequently) hot waxing. The wax will help keep the base protected in addition to it gliding properly.

If you don't know what type of base you have, name your ski and we can tell you.
Nov 17 2015 1:41PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6891 - Karma: 24,559
onenerdykidBut, the most important thing has not been asked yet: what type of base to you have?

If you have an extruded base, there is not much you can do besides give them a proper base grind (as mentioned) but waxing doesn't really help with these skis as wax cannot penetrate the base material.

If you have a sintered base, then you need to have a proper base grind and keep up with regular (once every ten ski days or more frequently) hot waxing. The wax will help keep the base protected in addition to it gliding properly.

If you don't know what type of base you have, name your ski and we can tell you.


Yeah I don't think there is any reviving shitty bases if they were shitty to begin with. I've had the white color on skis that weren't used for a long time and then it went away after they were skied a bunch and waxed regularly.
Nov 17 2015 2:05PM
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