Do you tune your own gear?

[Glenn]

I'm looking at getting back into this. Well, I am getting back into this given I now have a good set of vises, an iron, and some edge sharpeners. I used to really be into this back when I raced...but that was almost 15 years ago.

Hot waxing and edge sharpening: No problems there...doesn't look like much has changed.

Base structuring: This was something I've never done. Either it wasn't that popular for the DIYer back then or just something I never paid attention to. I'm looking into the Ski Visions Flattener & Structure Tool: http://www.tognar.com/base_flattening_structuring_tools_scrapers_ski_snowboard.html

Scroll down a bit to see it.

Anyone use anything like that?

 

[thetrailboss]

I do my own tuning and would be interested if folks use that same device.

 

[RootDKJ]

I do my own tuning and would be interested if folks use that same device.

+1

 

[Philpug]

I had a Mohn and Montana for home tuning. Now I just sell the ski before it needs a tune

 

[drjeff]

I'm looking at getting back into this. Well, I am getting back into this given I now have a good set of vises, an iron, and some edge sharpeners. I used to really be into this back when I raced...but that was almost 15 years ago.

Hot waxing and edge sharpening: No problems there...doesn't look like much has changed.

Base structuring: This was something I've never done. Either it wasn't that popular for the DIYer back then or just something I never paid attention to. I'm looking into the Ski Visions Flattener & Structure Tool: http://www.tognar.com/base_flattening_structuring_tools_scrapers_ski_snowboard.html

Scroll down a bit to see it.

Anyone use anything like that?

I've had the Ski Visions Flattener for pretty much as long as it's been on the market (maybe 10 years now). Love it. Real easy to use. Planes away any high spots of the base/edge quickly with the cutter bar. I'd buy one again in a heartbeat if needed. Perfect for just about every gearhead out there. Note, if you're a super duper elite level racer, you might want something a bit more techy, but then again if you're a super duper elite level racer, someone is probably tuning your skis for you.

The only tip I'd add about using the Base Flattner(read as the $2.00 super brake retention rubber bands, not the rubber band thats around your Sunday paper each week ), is make sure that you have a really good brake retention device to keep them out of the way, or else you can end up with base irregularities basically below your heel

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I do my waxing and edge work at home but any base structure work is done at the shop. My skis may see a stone grinder once a year, the rest is done by hand. I don't see the need for the home tuner to mess around with structure...find a shop with a good machine...on a solid floor.

 

[wa-loaf]

Wax and edges. Stone grind once or twice a season. Don't want to mess with base levelers and structure tools. I do do base repair and fix coreshots.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nope...AtomicSkier is my ski tune guy..I'm not very handy..so I'll leave the tuning to an expert.

 

[Glenn]

I've had the Ski Visions Flattener for pretty much as long as it's been on the market (maybe 10 years now). Love it. Real easy to use. Planes away any high spots of the base/edge quickly with the cutter bar. I'd buy one again in a heartbeat if needed. Perfect for just about every gearhead out there. Note, if you're a super duper elite level racer, you might want something a bit more techy, but then again if you're a super duper elite level racer, someone is probably tuning your skis for you.

The only tip I'd add about using the Base Flattner(read as the $2.00 super brake retention rubber bands, not the rubber band thats around your Sunday paper each week ), is make sure that you have a really good brake retention device to keep them out of the way, or else you can end up with base irregularities basically below your heel

Thanks Jeff! That's just the feedback I was looking for. I'm going to ask my wife to get this for me for my birthday in early December.

Do you find you need to use anything to shave any of the base plastic hairs after using this...or does it do a fairly clean job? Do you use any brushes at all after using this? Or do you just use the brush for post scraping wax structuring?

Now all I have to do is build that work bench in the boiler room...and hang a new light. ;-)

 

[drjeff]

Thanks Jeff! That's just the feedback I was looking for. I'm going to ask my wife to get this for me for my birthday in early December.

Do you find you need to use anything to shave any of the base plastic hairs after using this...or does it do a fairly clean job? Do you use any brushes at all after using this? Or do you just use the brush for post scraping wax structuring?

Now all I have to do is build that work bench in the boiler room...and hang a new light. ;-)

The "high speed cutter bar" (I believe that's what they call it) does a GREAT job at shaving all the stray base hairs off with each pass(note, keep your ungloved fingers away from that thing ), and rarely unless I'm dealing some some serious core-shot like damage reapir will I see any leftover hairs on my bases after a pass. Note, I've replaced my cutter bar once, about 2 seasons ago in the 10 or so years that I've had it, not so much for dulling, but my "old school" bar wasn't wide enough for the width of modern tips/tails

Usually structure wise, I'll have a pre-season stone grind set the structure, then typically some passes with my brass brush pre-wax. The wax that I use and LOVE (the race wax from stuntwax - www.stuntwax.com) actually reccommends NOT scraping so I don't do any post wax structuring. And about the only time I did any post wax structuring was last April when I ran out of my usual stuntwax at seasons end(thought I had another bar in my tuning box ) Maybe every 10 to 12 days of skiing(basically once a month), I'll through the stone structure bar into the ski-flatener pre-wax for a little extra strcuture development. Kind of also depends on what the snow conditions been like lately.

 

[Glenn]

That's the metal bar that comes with it, right?

I just looked at that website...interesting on the no scraping recomendation.

 

[wa-loaf]

I just looked at that website...interesting on the no scraping recomendation.

I tried the stuff out last year on the docs recommendation. It's pretty sweet and feels real fast. I used it for Night league racing and improved a little after using it some. I'll be getting more this year.

 

[Glenn]

Thanks loaf! Maybe I'll give it a shot as well.

 

[drjeff]

That's the metal bar that comes with it, right?

I just looked at that website...interesting on the no scraping recomendation.

Yup, that's the metal bar that comes with it. You use the included allen wrench switch inserts in the flattener.

 

[drjeff]

I tried the stuff out last year on the docs recommendation. It's pretty sweet and feels real fast. I used it for Night league racing and improved a little after using it some. I'll be getting more this year.

I'm all about ways to makes the skis run faster with less work involved

 

[Marc]

You know what they say. You can't tune a ski, but you can tuna fish!

I don't tune my skis and no one else does either, lol.

Ok, I'm lying, I give em a half assed waxing and edge sharpening once or twice a year, but skiing with Austin means two things

1) wax doesn't last long
2) edges don't last long

 

[bvibert]

You know what they say. You can't tune a ski, but you can tuna fish!

I don't tune my skis and no one else does either, lol.

Ok, I'm lying, I give em a half assed waxing and edge sharpening once or twice a year, but skiing with Austin means two things

1) wax doesn't last long
2) edges don't last long

Oh sure, blame the kid... :roll:

Wait, on second thought; it probably is his fault. Carry on...

 

[Marc]

Oh sure, blame the kid... :roll:

Wait, on second thought; it probably is his fault. Carry on...

Actually the first real structuring I gave the bases of my T-Stix via the fresh asphalt on the Mt Washington toll road was with Nate, and Austin wasn't there.

Go figure.

 

[bvibert]

Actually the first real structuring I gave the bases of my T-Stix via the fresh asphalt on the Mt Washington toll road was with Nate, and Austin wasn't there.

Go figure.

I'm sure Austin was somehow involved...

BTW - I hear asphalt works really well for structuring, even better than the partially frozen dirt that I usually use.

 

[Glenn]

Yup, that's the metal bar that comes with it. You use the included allen wrench switch inserts in the flattener.

Cool. I'm sold! I'll put it on my list. Thanks Jeff! :flag: