 Poster: A snowHead
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Folks
I’d appreciate your thoughts on waxing & ski tuning workbenches
I’m presently using the ole Black & Decker Workmate approach which whilst does the job, is not great. I’m a bit pushed for space and as much as I’d like to build a dedicated (static) workbench, I’m going to have to go down the portable (collapsible) route
Having looked about on the Net I see that the likes of Swix and Holmenkol make portable benches but they are in the region £100-200, which is a bit pricey. In particular, the Holmenkol one is really nice, but over £200!
I’ve searched SN’s and people have suggested using trestles that are used by the likes of builders and carpenters which retail at a fraction of the price of dedicated ski benches
I’d welcome the thoughts of people that have used the trestle approach (or any other portable method): –
- Are they man enough for the job?
- Stable enough?
- Wide enough? – may be you place a couple side by side
- Can ski vices be attached without too much grief?
Are there any downsides of going down this alternative route as opposed to buying a purpose built ski bench? – I see that a number of the ski benches have feet that can be adjusted for uneven ground – worthwhile, or do I just need to pocket a few beer mats the next time I’m at the local? 
Thanks a bunch!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Build yourself a collapsible one? Old door on hinges, with 2 sturdy legs at the front that you can remove and fold the "door" flat to the wall???
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've got a portable bench which I bought in Bartletts:
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Sleipnir, I use & sell the Kunnzman portable bench which is a superb product & way better than other proprietary brands. It's full metal chassis makes it extremely stable (scraping requires a lot of pressure) & has individually height adjustable legs as you don't want the bench wobbling etc. The only downside is that it's £139 collected but I've sold a good few to racers who need to take a bench to events.
I've tried a number of DIY type trestles & not been able to get the stability I wanted but there are loads of options on the market to try.
My suggestion if you're tight on floor space but have a bit of wall space would be a piece of kitchen worktop hinged to the wall so that it folds down with a couple of B&Q's quick release legs to support the front edge. My mate did that all in for about £20.
EDIT: As per Greg's solution.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rob@rar, Looking at that picture it looks like you took the bench on holiday with you!
Is this right?
If so, that is dedication bordering on the extreme!
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Jumping Jack Flash, not quite  I have an apartment in France and that day I set up the bench on the balcony because it was raining and it was a good opportunity to catch up on some ski servicing. I have taken the bench and my service kit with me, but only on a ski course when the skis needed sharpening every day or two. The legs of the bench are removable and clip onto the body, and the whole thing fits inside a ski bag along with a pair of skis.
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vivski, Thanks for the pointer to the Sealy trestles - they look promising and I might order a set, rather than the more convential work bench I'd been eyeing.
Have been looking for a workbench/vise set-up myself, but the dedicated tools tend to be expensive. Does anyone have any good pointers for good ski vices (that take wide skis as well)? 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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vivski, those Sealey trestles look very good.
skibomb, I can recommend a number of vice options. How wide underfoot are the skis you'll be tuning & how often will you be tuning them?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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skibomb, for that many differing spec skis avoid vices that require a dummy boot or require the ski to be screw clamped in to the outrigger vices when doing edge work as it'll be a real pain to have to re-adjust the vices each time you change skis. I'd recommend the Jaws of Beast vices as their height adjustable 'finger' outriggers make them really fast to use with different skis as you just slot the ski in to the fingers & when the ski's clamped in the centre vice it uses the skis flex to lock the tip & tail. The height adjustable outriggers also allow you to correctly tension the tip & tail when the ski's clamped flat for brushing & scraping.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Sleipnir, If you are not taking the kit with you, you can mount any ski vice on a plank of wood, and then a bit of 2 by 2 mounted underneath the plank which will fix into the jaws of your workmate. I have the "jaws of the Beast" from spyderjon (see above...)- which work well and with a bit of drilling mount directly on to a plank and therefore no fiddling with G clamps
skibomb, my vice takes 1080s and Atomic crimsons well. I am probably doing it wrong but I tend to use the centre clamp clamped to the binding, so ski width isn't an issue
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Thanks for the tips. Those beasts really look like beast!
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You know it makes sense.
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skibomb, i got a pair of Beasties from jon and one cool thing is that they are a heavy duty type of plastic that dont rust and are light enough to take along on trips while being very rigid and strong
vivski, Top Tip!!! just ordered a set.
rob@rar, nice tool kit, can there be anything ski tuning related you dont own 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| skimottaret wrote: |
| rob@rar, nice tool kit, can there be anything ski tuning related you dont own |
A ski serviceman. One day...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
A ski serviceman. One day...
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surely there has gotta be a 5 day course somewhere for that. Now that you have all the gear how can you pass on the opporturnity to rock up with a yellow Toko box full of everything..
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Sleipnir, like you I use a work mate but have knocked up a 'tuning bench' to go with it. This consists of a 6' length of plastic coated mdf (easy to scrape wax off) about 3/4' thick, 6" wide a la shelving from B&Q etc. bolted to a piece of 4" x 2" timber which is then mounted in the work mate with ski vices clamped.
Very stable and can be collapsed for easy storage when not in use. Also another thumbs up for the 'Jaws...' vices - good kit and very easy to adjust for various skis.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not Sealey, but just picked up brennenstuhl folding metal trestle from machine mart which looks similar to the sealey and feels reasonably stable. I'll update when I have used it a few times, but so far it looks good. It folds down for easy storage and cost only £21.14 with VAT.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I didn't read through the thread, but I've got on fine for a few seasons now on two clamps that have rubber on the top and a notch in the middle to put the ski on it's side. Didn't pay much for it, does the job fine for edging and waxing - though if I forget to put the clamps far enough apart I sometimes lever a ski off one side and have a tip or tail crash into the table...
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I use Workmate with long piece of 3/4in ply clamped on top. My Centre ski vice is a reclaimed Record woodworking vice (carboot sale) with wooden cheeks and leather padding and the two outer rests cut from 3/4in ply and clamped. Funnily enough they look just like the Beast ones on spyderjon's website. It has to come apart to be stored in the cave. Sturdy but the shortish length of Workmate needs a bit of care on tips and tails.
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Well I finally finished version 2 of my ski tuning table and am very pleased. It folds in half when not in use, is still very stable and can hold two skis at a time, it catches 95% of the filings/scrapings and only cost as much as a good single ski vise set. If you are interested check it out here http://chris-cbphotography.blogspot.com/
The new version has a built in light stand and power outlet as well. Happy tuning and have a good season
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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The best table Ive ever used is a Holmenkol. It's sold as a rock and built to last. It's the only thing I've found good for my snowboard as well. Hands down they're the best. I've even saw a complete kit on ebay just yesterday.
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vivski, hi, how do I purchase one off you? Rich
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Resurrecting an old thread.
For those who have used the trestles from Tooled-Up; do you clamp the ski vice directly to the trestle?
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I clamp a length of wood to the trestle to add a bit of extra length and then fix the vice and outriggers in place.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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FAQ
. Like you I have a space issue and also like to take it with me to all the dry slope races over the summer so a folding one was essential. Couldn't afford to buy a "proper" ski bench so after a bit of searching got this instead. Stability is great, legs are adjustable so it copes really well at races where often we aren't on a flat area. I've had mine for over a year now, it's been all over the country in all weathers and just copes with anything. To directly answer your questions
