wax new skis?

[bigski6969]

Iron

www.tognar.com

great place for all your gear....for waxing i have an iron (ski specific) and universal wax..if i lived on or close to the mtn to be able to mix wax for that days conditions i would, but i dont, so the universal works just fine...

tool box is loaded with scrapers, brushes, ptex (clear and black) metal scraper, 3 edge bevels, files yada yada yada.......

Hey now don't put down the days we use to steal mom's iron, use it out in the garage and then put it back in the laundry room! LMAO! Things are just a little more user spacific these days. Spent a small fortune on tuning gear, digital iron, clamps, brushes, scrapers, ect. But it's still fun when my parents visit to remind them of what fools my brothers and I were using house hold items, and carpenters items to tune skis! Hey we thought we were pros! LOLOLOLOL

 

[bvibert]

I've never seen a pair of skis explode from not being waxed.

It could happen...

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I'm not putting you guys down for tuning your gear, I can totally see how it could be fun/therapeutic. My point being that it doesn't need to be done....

your "point" is about as sharp as a bowling ball...and from the sounds of it, your edges. A diamond stone and a few minutes of your precious time would make a huge difference in how your skis hold on harder snow/ice. Don't you notice a difference in how new skis hold on hard stuff vs skis with 60 days on them? :dunce:

 

[bvibert]

your "point" is about as sharp as a bowling ball...and from the sounds of it, your edges. A diamond stone and a few minutes of your precious time would make a huge difference in how your skis hold on harder snow/ice. Don't you notice a difference in how new skis hold on hard stuff vs skis with 60 days on them? :dunce:

Sure I notice a difference, but it's not big enough for me to get all paranoid about it. I already mentioned above that icy conditions are the only time that I sometimes wish I was more on top of tuning. Tuning the edges I definitely see as being more important than waxing.

Some weeks during the winter I barely have enough time to get out and ski for a couple of hours, I'd much rather spend my free time skiing than worrying about my skis. Not to mention that I just don't have a space where I can easily tune a pair of skis. There's no ski shops near me, traveling to one would cut into ski time and their hours aren't convenient for my schedule anyway, plus they always want to keep the skis for multiple days to a week+ which makes coordinating having my skis when I need them a PITA. Add to that they don't really do that good of a job, certainly not enough to make the cost worth it to me anyway.

I should also add that a majority of my days are at my local hill, which means I'm skiing the bump trail with my bump skis, even when it's 'firm'. Not much need to be on edge and carving in the bumps so the lack of edges doesn't bother me too much. When I get away from my local hill (or there's a rare dump here) I'm on my mid-fats and avoiding firm conditions like the plague anyway.

I'm out there having fun, isn't that what the sport is supposed to be about?

 

[o3jeff]

I dropped a pair of for their yearly tuning/waxing last week, should be ready to be picked up. My other pair only has 2-3 days on them so they will get done next year.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Sure I notice a difference, but it's not big enough for me to get all paranoid about it. I already mentioned above that icy conditions are the only time that I sometimes wish I was more on top of tuning. Tuning the edges I definitely see as being more important than waxing.

Some weeks during the winter I barely have enough time to get out and ski for a couple of hours, I'd much rather spend my free time skiing than worrying about my skis. Not to mention that I just don't have a space where I can easily tune a pair of skis. There's no ski shops near me, traveling to one would cut into ski time and their hours aren't convenient for my schedule anyway, plus they always want to keep the skis for multiple days to a week+ which makes coordinating having my skis when I need them a PITA. Add to that they don't really do that good of a job, certainly not enough to make the cost worth it to me anyway.

I should also add that a majority of my days are at my local hill, which means I'm skiing the bump trail with my bump skis, even when it's 'firm'. Not much need to be on edge and carving in the bumps so the lack of edges doesn't bother me too much. When I get away from my local hill (or there's a rare dump here) I'm on my mid-fats and avoiding firm conditions like the plague anyway.

I'm out there having fun, isn't that what the sport is supposed to be about?

you + diamond stone + 5 minutes = much better edge grip. I don't wax my skis all that often either but I do hit the edges with a diamond stone every 4 or so days...no vice, no bench, no hassle, just lean them up against a wall, hold the brake down and knock off the burrs. I free hand but you can get inexpensive guides that are pocket sized and work fine. Its easy and provides very good results for very little time. Even bumpers use their edges once and a while :grin:

 

[Glenn]

I noticed a pretty decent difference when I wax my skis. In fact, I can feel the skis dragging if they haven't been waxed recently. I'm probably a little more OCD than your average bear, but I could never go more than a few day trips without waxing.

 

[wa-loaf]

I like the feel of a fresh wax ...

 

[RootDKJ]

I like the smell of a fresh wax ...

Fify

 

[bvibert]

you + diamond stone + 5 minutes = much better edge grip. I don't wax my skis all that often either but I do hit the edges with a diamond stone every 4 or so days...no vice, no bench, no hassle, just lean them up against a wall, hold the brake down and knock off the burrs. I free hand but you can get inexpensive guides that are pocket sized and work fine. Its easy and provides very good results for very little time. Even bumpers use their edges once and a while :grin:

That may be, if the edges are decent to begin with. I have several spots that are more or less serrated from encounters with abrasive objects hiding in or under the snow. :lol:

Besides, this thread was about the benefits of waxing your brand new skis, which I still say is unnecessary.

I plan on giving my bump skis their first tune ever (after two seasons) soon. :beer:

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

That may be, if the edges are decent to begin with. I have several spots that are more or less serrated from encounters with abrasive objects hiding in or under the snow. :lol:

Besides, this thread was about the benefits of waxing your brand new skis, which I still say is unnecessary.

I plan on giving my bump skis their first tune ever (after two seasons) soon. :beer:

okay, we digressed...waxing...absolutely critical - no, but it does make a noticeable difference in how skis slide and glide.

 

[wa-loaf]

Fify

No, feel. Nice and smooth ...

 

[RootDKJ]

No, feel. Nice and smooth ...

That too

 

[Sky]

I bought stuff from Artech last season...nice vice, iron, brush, etc....including the diamond stones and guide.

A friend of mine also touts reliableracing.com

As for waxing...I like watching this video from Swix www.swixschool.com before I warm up the iron.