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Removing vaseline from ski bases

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi all, I've totally goofed and applied vaseline to both the edges and bases of my girlfriends skies - I think it's important I mention a girlfriend before the local wits get going Smile Anyhows I did this yesterday and now I'm thinking I need to get the vaseline off the ski bases asap and do a proper wax job. Would using Meths, turpentine or maybe petrol dissolve the vaseline without damaging the skis any futher - (almost) any other suggestions welcomed.
Would I be better off waiting until winter and letting a ski shop sort this ? I bought all the waxing kit last season but I'm no expert on using it.
TIA
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Can I ask why you were lubing up your skis? Was it an attempt to shortcut the ballache of waxing?

I'd have thought that just repetitive rubbing down with a cloth would get rid of most of it. Then brass brush and a hot scrape.
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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?
fair question, I started applying vaseline to edges with the intention of waxing in a few days when I'd retrieved my 'ski gear' from storage but the girlfriend was keen to get skis packed away [it is august after all !-] so in haste I thought the vaseline would stop the drying out that was already visible on the bases.
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You can get wax removing liquid.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
mopi, what a stupid thing to do!

You need to remove the vaseline as quickly as possible as any absorbed in to the base is very difficult to get out, even with repeated hot scrape cleans.

Scrape off the excess then liberally apply citrus base cleaner de-waxer & leave for 5 mins before scraping again. Don't use a petroluem based solvent or an acetone based solvent. Then hot scrape clean with a soft warm temp yellow wax. Repeat hot scrape clean if necessary.

If the base is not clear/clean after 3 hot scrape cleans (ie dull/dry with no 'greasy' areas) then its hefty base grind time.
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@mopi, and for heaven's sake don't listen to the girlfriend again wink and go and visit @spyderjon, for a lesson in how to use all of that kit.
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Buy her some new skis!
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maggi wrote:
Buy her some new skis!

There's a good chance that'll be the outcome Toofy Grin
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Hmmmm. . . was there a bit of muttering on the path of "I need new skis" or perhaps "these are the wrong colour" before she suggested you smear napalm grade plastic dissolver onto the bases . . .

Or was this just your own personal brainfart?


Do everything spyderjon says above, then buy her new skis anyway rolling eyes sheesh, numpty think - numpty does
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@Hells Bells, don't think it was her suggestion, just her skis!
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Does Acetone effect the Ptex structure if its used on sintered or std bases ?

I know a house Irons fluctuating temps can spike and melt the ptex pores ability to absorb wax .

Do these strong solvents such as Acetone do something similar as they will melt top sheets and some sidewalls ie certain plastics ?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@Tirol 164, acetone should always be used with extreme caution.
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@spyderjon, what happens if you don't get it all out?
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@mopi, just wanted to say thanks for the most entertaining thread on here all summer Toofy Grin
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@SnoodlesMcFlude, I think she wanted the skis out of the way though?
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Hells Bells, true, but I don't think she's the villain of the piece Very Happy
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I am genuinely curious and have no idea about how skis are normally cared for, but what would be wrong with removing Vaseline with hot water and detergent before re-treating them? Puzzled If this seems like a really stupid question please be relatively polite in saying so Laughing
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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?
The petroleum oil or grease from the vasilene gets down deep into the Ptex pores similar to melted wax does .

Its not going to wash out easily .
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@Tirol 164, OK, thanks.
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OK here's the story so far. @Gamsbock is amused, @spyderjon is not impressed and @mostpeople think I'm going to have to shell out for new skis. Thing is the skis were bought 9 months ago and have less than three weeks on the clock also they are about 600 quids worth so not keen on 'buy new pair' suggestion. No one asked how much vaseline I used but given the pocket tin size is 20g I'd guess about 2g per ski. Good news is I think I have a result. Here's the path to salvation.
Hand rub with concentrated lime juice, wait 3 minutes and wipe clean. repeat.
Remove vaseline from edges.
Hand rub with jiff lemon juice, wait 3 minutes and wipe clean. repeat.
Clean with datawax citrus based base cleaner, lightly rub in with nylon scourer, wipe clean.
Hot wax (yellow), wait, scrape, brush with tough nylon brush.
Clean with datawax citrus based base cleaner, lightly rub in with nylon scourer, wipe clean.
Hot wax (yellow), wait, scrape, brush with tough nylon brush.
Hot wax (yellow), wait, scrape, brush with tough nylon brush.
Inspect, looks good to eye, feels good too.
Hot wax (yellow), wait, store in attic.
Dyson living room (she's away today Happy

Notes: lemon is better than lime at shifting vaseline but I was low on lemon juice. I would have tried Isopropyl Alcohol but I cannot find my stash, I think she dumped it in a previous clear out. I'm a lot better at waxing and scraping then I was.

Only a run on the slope will tell if I'll have to flash the VISA card but that's a lot of work to (hopefully) clean up a couple of gs of jelly. I'll try remember to update after next ski trip. Thanks for suggestions and happy to amuse.
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@mopi, great post, made me literally LOL! Laughing
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She'll never notice unless you show her this thread. Pretty sure my skis have has worse on them over time including a memorable time when they refreshingly bathed in some pumice stone shower gel courtesy of a single hold bag policy.
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@mopi, When you say the "Hot wax (yellow), wait, scrape" etc that implies to me that you've let the wax cool before scraping? If so, then all you've done is apply wax over the vaseline in the base which would mean boogerall absorption.

You need to perform a hot scrape clean which means scraping off the wax whilst still hot/molten to pull the contaminants out of the 'open' base. As with regular hot waxing, make sure you iron in the wax until the top sheet just down from the ski tips are warm (but not hot) to the touch.
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Goodness me, I had no idea that life as a ski was so complex. I first skied in '63 or '64 with the old cable bindings etc but still after all these years rely on the bloke in the shop or OH to sort out my bases and edges. I did contribute an iron many years ago. Good luck @mopi, hopefully the limes were not an integral part of a supper dish she had planned
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@mopi, "lime juice"

Wtf?

Given the parlous state of much of the snow skis hit in a regular day...

I think you should rename yourself "precious_mopi"... rolling eyes rolling eyes
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Quote:

Thing is the skis were bought 9 months ago and have less than three weeks on the clock also they are about 600 quids worth


Should now read ...........................they WERE about 600 quids worth.
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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.
So the story so far is basically:

- Man rubs vaseline into ski bases (why oh why oh why, everyone asks)

- Man then seals vaseline into ski using wax

- Man then rubs lime juice into ski bases and tells the world that this is a fix-all solution

- The internet responds by making Puzzled faces and faceplanting their keyboards.
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@dp, I'm just hoping he doesnt get his vaseline and wax mixed up in future as maturbation won't be much fun...... and let's be honest after wrecking his better halves £600 skis, self satisfaction is the best he can hope for Toofy Grin Toofy Grin Toofy Grin Toofy Grin
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Okay, daft question time. I've read a lot about waxing and the need to soak the wax deep into the bases, but why? Surely it's only the wax on the surface that can effect how the ski runs on the snow?
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Valkyrie, take a look at this doc - especially section 4.
https://www.dominatorwax.com/sites/default/files/dominator/wax-science-demystified.pdf
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Valkyrie wrote:
Okay, daft question time. I've read a lot about waxing and the need to soak the wax deep into the bases, but why? Surely it's only the wax on the surface that can effect how the ski runs on the snow?


Wax on the surface will be scraped off quickly. Snow... especially the icy stuff, is just mile upon mile of sandpaper.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
PaulC1984 wrote:
@dp, I'm just hoping he doesnt get his vaseline and wax mixed up in future as maturbation won't be much fun...... and let's be honest after wrecking his better halves £600 skis, self satisfaction is the best he can hope for Toofy Grin Toofy Grin Toofy Grin Toofy Grin


I can only assume that this is the thought which came to mind because you've already tried it.

Did you drip it on hot?
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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?
Oh God, let that image be erased from my mind!
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@dp, So long as he doesn't try to finish it with the brass brush...
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Nnnggghhhhhh
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From Tubaski's link

"...As technology evolved and aluminum skis and skis with cellulosic plastic bases became available, the need for the sealant part of the formula disappeared and the transition was made to straight lubricants. Petroleum-derived waxes and petrolatum (VASELINE) were the main components.."

Puzzled
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You could get a job with the Huffington post taking the point out of context not telling the whole story

Polyethylene bases from the 1950s on used petroleum derived wax is how I read it.

How many on here are retro 1950 skiers still using 1950,s kit?
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Point taken - but it would seem that Vaseline on a ski base isn't the total disaster being portrayed in this thread..
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Tirol 164 wrote:
......Polyethylene bases from the 1950s on used petroleum derived wax is how I read it......

That's correct.

That Dominator educational paper is excellent.

albob wrote:
Point taken - but it would seem that Vaseline on a ski base isn't the total disaster being portrayed in this thread..

It is actually a problem as Vaseline is so close in make-up to the polyethylene base material that it just wants to stick to/in it & stay there (it's like it's 'come home'), thus blocking future wax penetration.
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Get down to your nearest Dendix dry slope. That should give them a good clean out!
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