Do you tune your own skis?

[Jean-Pierre Skier]

If so, then I'm looking for advice.

What vices do you recommend that are good for both skis and snowboards?

Any good books/DVD's about ski or snowboard tuning that you would recommend?

Where do you buy your tuning equipment?

Lots of questions, but hopefully, all you gear-heads out there know the answers.

 

[thetrailboss]

Best to look at the gear forum...especially with the Swix School online...

 

[GrizzlyFD]

I started tuning my skis a couple years ago, and at the time it seemed like a waste of a lot of money. But now I know my edges are sharp and my bases are waxed like I like them.

You can pick up some basic tuning stuff on ebay for pretty cheap. Look to get a wax iron ($80), some wax at different temps ($20-50), a edge/base file (~$50) depending on whether you get an adjustible or fixed angle file guide. You'll also need plastic and metal scrapers, nylon/metal brushes, and p-tex repair candle/powder/ribbon.

This is a pretty good site on ski tuning:

http://www.harbskisystems.com/tuningindex.htm

http://www.racewax.com/index.html
(go to the tuning section)

Hope this helps

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

WWW.TOGNAR.COM

Great tech help line as well

 

[Geoff]

WWW.TOGNAR.COM

Great tech help line as well

+1

My condo isn't set up to tune skis since I only have 4 foot headroom in the basement. I buy a season tune at one of the local shops for $129. Drop 'em on Sunday afternoon. Pick 'em up before midnight the next Friday. They'll do one pair per week and both my quiver and my wife's quiver are on the same package. With it, I get a couple overnight tunes and unlimited demos tossed in. They'll tune a batch of several pairs if I've been on a trip for a few weeks. They have yet to ever charge me for a base weld. This isn't race tune quality but the tunes are adequate for recreational skiing.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I tune my own and generally can do it in the time it takes to drive to and from the chop to drop them off and pick them up.

I've had good luck with reliable racing.

As for clamps that'll handle both skis and boards, that might be pushing it. Likely worth it to buy both.

I have my tuning set up so I can toss it in the back of my truck & give them a tune at work (if there's down time at night, or do it in the parking lot. (I have an inverter for the iron.)

If I've had to base file a pair a lot, I'll take them to be ground just to get them back to true, but generally, I do it all myself. IDon't go too crazy, file and polish the edges and a coat of wide temp wax. Fill some gouges, if needed. Nothing exotic. Makes enough of a difference to be worth the time and minimal cost.

 

[ctenidae]

For vices, I'd recommend your favorite alcoholic beverage and/or recreational pharmaceutical.
There are, however, a wide range of vises available to hold your skis.

Unfortunately, that's about all I can add to this conversation, since I don't tune my own skis.

Okay, I can add this, too- you can tune your skis, but you can't tuna fish sandwich!

 

[thetrailboss]

OK, took another look at this, and because there are more ski tuning things in Gear, I'm going to move it...