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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
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
yay im in the OP
Apr 21 2009 10:31PM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
I was disappointed because this thread got deleted. And then i saw it here, and I'm happy again.
Apr 22 2009 12:56AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
I think it's a good thing the freehand mount vid was taken out - that had the potential to open a can of worms if kids did that without the proper knowledge.
Not to mention the issues and unsuccessful warranty claims etc due to mismounts etc

Nice work on the waxing/fks bend tutorials no_steeze
Apr 22 2009 4:16AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
waxing is me :)
Apr 22 2009 10:02AM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
Yeah, agreed. If anyone actually wants the Freehand mount vid, PM me and i'll send you the Vimeo link.
Apr 22 2009 2:04PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Well since its not in the Original Post couldnt we post it in the thread?
Apr 22 2009 3:28PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
yes, you can do that
Apr 22 2009 4:40PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Sick, as long as Silence agrees with that..
Apr 22 2009 4:53PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
macmahoooon said it was okay when i made this thread he just didn't want it in the OP
Apr 22 2009 4:58PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
I don't see an issue - obviously with any maintanance, the person doing it assumes the risk of fucking up their gear

I guess with freehand mounting - there is a greater risk of that happening, so it's better that the vid not be so prominent (like being in the OP)

Go for it, cool thread as long as there aren't 100 replies saying 'yeah nice video but I do x instead of y, and p instead of q' etc..
Apr 22 2009 5:05PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
Sounds good. Thanks for clarification mods. Disclaimer: The following should only be attempted if you a) Don't have access to a professional ski shop/jig b) if you have a very good idea what you're doing.


How To: Freehand Mount Ski Bindings from steve power on Vimeo.
Apr 22 2009 6:33PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
yay for the sticky
great stuff in here guys
Apr 22 2009 8:27PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
here is a tutorial on rockering your skis

same disclaimer applies to this as well

Apr 22 2009 10:13PM
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blackoutbill
Posts: 2918 - Karma: 282
Thank you so much for that. I have been doing everything wrong that you can do waxing my skis
Apr 23 2009 10:23PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
haha like? and for anyone wondering on my waxing credentials, i raced for 9 years and was taught to was by ted liggety's personal waxer
Apr 23 2009 11:36PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
his friend's a pro
Apr 23 2009 11:53PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
haha no joke
Apr 24 2009 12:40AM
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blackoutbill
Posts: 2918 - Karma: 282
Haha, I use a cheapo iron from Target, I never do a prerub wax, I don't wax down the direction of the ski and the list goes on. And I've used a file on my edges which are now pretty shot. Oh well now I've learned
Apr 25 2009 1:27AM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
My bases are dirty (or they appear so since they are yellow) what should i do to clean them if i need to?
Apr 26 2009 11:43AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
use a warm wax(yellow) and right after putting on the wax scrape it off. do this till your bases are clean
Apr 26 2009 2:53PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
What about using parrafin (canning wax) to clean bases with?
Apr 26 2009 3:34PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
not recomended. pros of using the yellow is its cheep, cleans great, and adds a little bit of a base. another thing i should add to the waxing guide:

When preping new skis for the season, WAX WITH EVERY WAX. i do at least 10 full waxes before new skis even touch snow, most with pink/blue, but a few with yellow and green. this way there is a good base of wax and you will have to wax less often.

when preping skis for summer storage, put on a thick coat of yellow, after cleaning the bases, and DO NOT SCRAPE IT
Apr 26 2009 4:06PM
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blackoutbill
Posts: 2918 - Karma: 282
This is kind of a stupid question but would it be beneficial to wax my skis that I use on a summer setup? Would it keep the bases cleaner and stuff like that?
Apr 26 2009 6:22PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
it'll add more protection from dirt and grass, so i would say yes, pluss, waxed bases slide better
Apr 26 2009 6:31PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
But parafin is cheaper. I understand that repeated waxing builds up a base but if your cleaning dirt off wont you be scraping most of the wax off too?
Apr 26 2009 7:06PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
yes but there will still be some left in the base
Apr 26 2009 7:54PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
How much of a negative affect will this have?
Apr 26 2009 8:16PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
none really if you only do it like once a season on beater park skis, but on nice pows/race skis never do it
Apr 26 2009 9:10PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
storage wax... any tips? just a fresh coat before i put em away for the season? also what should i use to clean out bases before i do ptex work?
Apr 28 2009 3:26AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
I'd use some citrus cleaner before doing base work

As for storage, yeah just a coat of all temp wax, unscraped will do - try to get it over the edges too so they don't rust up..no dramas if they do though.
Apr 28 2009 4:10AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
like the same citrus cleaner you use on bike stuff?
Apr 28 2009 9:38AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
yeah for summer storage use either yellow or some white all temp wax and don't scrape

if your edges do rust they'll go away when you first ski but you can run a file in a bevel down them to shave off the rust, best to just ski the rust off tho
Apr 28 2009 10:11AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
tip for getting rid of rust on edges!!!!!!!!!! take super fine sandpaper(600 grit works for me) and us that on the rust, the gumi stone your edges!
Apr 28 2009 7:18PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
ok cool. but anyone got a more specific base cleaning method before i ptex?
Apr 28 2009 7:49PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
use a propane tourch for the ptex, it will heat it to the right temp to make it last longer
Apr 28 2009 7:54PM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
http://tognar.com/

Most helpful site ever for ski maintenance.
Apr 28 2009 10:56PM
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flexpattern
Posts: 1090 - Karma: 45

Yo!

I just checked out my skis after coming back from the Alpslike 2 months ago (thinking about my summer set-up me and my mates are makingyou see!) and i found loads of superficial rusting on the edges - which is oddas they were stored separated and in the warmth indoors etc. and this hasn'thappened to any of my previous skis)

What’s your opinion on removing this rusting? Just use agummy stone thingy? Or can I use some sort of liquid stuff?

Also what sort of wax should i be using for my summerset-up?

Cheers,

FluffMuff
May 2 2009 12:39PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
600 grit sandpaper for the rust, thats what i and every racer i know uses. for wax, just use some yellow
May 2 2009 4:04PM
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J-Wallz
Posts: 1264 - Karma: 54

do you guys have a specific brand of wax that u use?

May 5 2009 10:41AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
im a swix guy
May 5 2009 2:22PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
I use Swix wax and One ball jay slush wax and 4 wheel drive wax. I also use the rub on wax "jetfuel" on top of all my wax jobs.
May 5 2009 3:22PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i just have a giant block of generic shop wax
May 5 2009 3:33PM
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Ming
Posts: 966 - Karma: 36
** I would not recommend citrus or base cleaner unless your base is super dirty, like real bad. if it has dirt etc just hot wax then scrape immediantly that will come off,

If you use base cleaner it strips off ALL the wax on your base and that will just dry it out and then you would have to hot wax like 4x to get it back to normal or more.
May 5 2009 5:13PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
i'm partial to specific temp swix for race skis
i have a big block of toko all temp that i use for freeride skis tho
May 5 2009 8:00PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
this
May 5 2009 9:01PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
i plan on freehand mounting some skis in the near future, i'll post updates and tips that i've found are helpful for it, but mainly things not to do after i drill through my skis at an angle in the wrong place
May 6 2009 10:36PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Ive done it before, its really not that bad as long as you are careful, patient, and a little confident going into the project.

Good luck.
May 7 2009 1:18AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
yeah and i have a pair of delamed bacons to try it on to see if everything goes well
May 7 2009 1:04PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
The biggest thing to worry about is over torquing the screws.
May 7 2009 2:25PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
i've put a bunch of bindings in before, just never drilled freehand before
i have a #3 pozidriv and it should be all good
i'm mostly worried about making the plastic jig, i plan on getting a few pieces of plexiglass in case i fuck up one of them
May 7 2009 3:30PM
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