 Poster: A snowHead
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I get asked this question all the time so I thought I’d do a breakdown of the servicing that we did in my shop this week. We use the same processes as the DIY’er to avoid unnecessary base grinds unless the skis/boards do actually needed a grind. On average we grind about 10-12% of the skis/boards that go through the workshop.
Total services was 39 comprising of 1no. pair of blades, 31no. pairs of skis & 7no. boards.
The breakdown of the work performed on the skis/boards was:
2no. wax only
3no. hotbox base prep
16no. edge & wax
11no. edge, minor repairs & wax
5no. edge, major repairs & wax
Included in the above figures were 2no. topsheet delam repairs, 2no. pairs of skis had their sidewalls trimmed back & one of the boards had edges that were rustier than a rusty thing on a rusty day! None of them need a base a grind.
All edge work done by hand to factory angles unless specified otherwise:
Alu-oxide to base edge angles
Alu-oxide to side edge angles
Sidewalls trimmed (if required)
Med cut metal file to side edge angles until hanging burr achieved
200grit & 600grit Moonflex diamond files to side edges
600grit diamond file to base edge to remove hanging burr
Very light pass with a hard gummi at 45 degrees to the base/side edge junction to remove any hanging burr residue
I batch up the skis/boards into their different edge angles (ie, all the 89’s, all the 88’s & all the 87’s) and I have four fixed angle side edge guides for each angle so each cutting tool is clamped to its own guide ready to use. And we use the Jaws of Beast vices as they’re the fastest on the market for re-adjusting for different ski profiles. I’ve got four sets across two benches, one bench for edging and the other for repairs and waxing.
All repair work & core shots were done with a Base Doc II tool to achieve a proper welded repair and we dress down the repair with a sharp chisel and restructure the repair with a suitable grit paper.
All waxing done by hand using Dominator Zoom Lime uni wax and two Maplus 1000W T-10B.15 waxing irons – if you really want to speed up the waxing process then use two irons, one in each hand! Skis/boards heated until warm at the tips etc. The three pairs of skis for hotboxing were then cooked for four hours at 150F/65C. All are then scraped when fully cool and roto brushed. Then a wipe of Zardoz.
Total time taken was 18 hours split between two people. I do all of the edging plus the majority of the repairs and Trev The Wax Monkey does the remaining repairs and all of the waxing.
Not included in this time was the curing time for the topsheet delam repairs which was either 24hrs if just left clamped or I’ve also got heated clamps that will reduce the during time to 20-25mins.
And, unlike when servicing just a single pair of skis/boards, we also don’t need to allow cooling time for the wax as when doing this quantity by the time you’ve finished waxing a batch then the first one done is already cool etc.
So that averages out at just under 28 mins for a pair of skis or a board and includes tea’n’biccies consumption on the hoof. I’ve never found boards to take longer then skis as the extra waxing work is offset by only have two edges to do – so unlike many shops I don’t charge extra for boards although I do insist that they’re brought in with their bindings removed.
So how long will the average DIY’er take to service their skis. Well after a bit a practice I’d work on circa 40-45 minutes for an edge tune, a few p-tex candle repairs and a wax/scrape /brush following the same regime as above – and that time excludes cooling time for the wax.
So how long does it take you?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 6-12-19 18:31; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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to long! + I make a mess & nearly ruined a wood floor with the hot wax.
So now I just take it to a shop at the end of the day & pick it up the next day
€10-€15
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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 normally reckon about an hour per pair, but I've never taken that much notice. I do tend to batch up the skis in a similar way though, and then do all base edges, then all side edges etc. I usually get distracted when the wax is cooling, then end up doing the scrape in a rush so that I can vacate the kitchen and make the tea 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I do ours outside so the time taken is directly proportional to the temperature, the colder it is the quicker the wax cools and the quicker I want to go inside. A nice sunny and cold day I take my time because it's quite a therapeutic and satisfying exercise. 4 pairs probably took me 2.5 to 3 hours not rushing.
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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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Took me 3h in my first (and still unique) attempt just for side edge and wax cycle. I had the steps listed, I understand mostly their purpose but basically I had no idea if I did it right or wrong so I was very cautions.
It was quite fun and satisfying. I don't think I'm doing for time or money savings, it's just taking control of your equipment performance and doing some active work rather than the usual sitting whole day at the office 9-5.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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As long as possible, with plenty of beer on hand! And a laptop with ski films playing for motivation. Preferred time to do the waxing is when the rain is hammering down so that way I know it is snowing up top.
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Hmm - usual question is how long I can afford before I have to leave for the airport?
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Yeah I like to take my time as I love doing them (I know its snow time soon). We have a group trip once a year when everyone drops their skis and boards in and I service them. 3 boards and 7 sets of skis. Then a smaller group later in the year. Takes me about 45 mins for Ptex, edge and wax.... (set of skis or a board) about an hour and a half for mine!! I tend to do them all over the course of a week. Couple of bottles of beer and a few tunes on the gramophone...its a kind of relaxation therapy.
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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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It does very much depend on what needs doing since the last service. However, I can spend 1/2 hour on it easily with very little required doing. People who DIY make mistakes initially, then as they get more experienced they really want to DIY. It is not about time saving, or money saving, it is more about understanding of the safety and performance issues. Rather than leaving it to unknown servicer who does not love your skis in the same way. They will probably do a better job than you initially, however you will become better as time goes on and will be able to recognise service requirements better rather than leave it until a service
For example, I took my skis out of the attic this year and inspected them. 1 day skiing since the last service. Nothing needs doing except a top coat of notwax in the car park before the next ski.
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Well the edges take about 1 minute to put brake retainers on, into the vice and a quick pass with a Wintersteiger Discman.
Run a gummi and job done.
Base angles then get a quick diamond stone polish...add another 1 minute.
What an edge!
I love that machine...it saves me a huge amount of time over the course of a season as I end up no more than polishing the edge every time as I never let them get blunt....I do them every 2 or 3 days normally, daily if icy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I am desperate to do ours, but I can barely do anything with my left arm at the moment. Still surgery booked for 23rd Dec, giving me almost two months before our first trip out
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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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Takes me a lot longer than 28 minutes but I do it for enjoyment as well as knowing they will be tuned correctly and on skis that I am used to - that’s 2 less variables when skiing
I use the similar procedure as Jon starting with Alu oxide stone, then medium file if it’s after a weeks skiing v a touch up with a diamond stone during the week away, then progress to 100, 200,400, 600 diamonds
Has anyone suggested a ski tuning sub forum on Snowheads?, it would be good to have a place to discuss and swap ideas/techniques/ask questions and have it in one place
Edited to clarify use of all oxide stone
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Sat 7-12-19 7:58; edited 1 time in total
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Without any repairs 30 mins sounds about right.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Fish_Head wrote: |
| ......I use the similar procedure as Jon starting with medium file if it’s after a weeks skiing...... |
Work hardened skiing burrs and rock dings will soon damage/blunt a metal file. I'd recommend using a lower cost alu-oxide stone.
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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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| spyderjon wrote: |
| Fish_Head wrote: |
| ......I use the similar procedure as Jon starting with medium file if it’s after a weeks skiing...... |
Work hardened skiing burrs and rock dings will soon damage/blunt a metal file. I'd recommend using a lower cost alu-oxide stone. |
I always start with an alu oxide stone Jon for the very reason you stated, I meant start with a file after a week as against starting with a diamond stone if it’s just a touch up during the week away, again the very first thing would to run the Ali oxide stone over the edges
Previous post edited to clarify the use of alu oxide stone
You taught me so I’m mostly copying you 
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Sat 7-12-19 11:43; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Fish_Head wrote: |
......
I always start with an alu oxide stone Jon for the very reason you stated, I meant start with a file after a week against as against starting with a diamond stone if it’s just a touch up during the week away, again the very first thing would to run the Ali oxide stone over the edges..... |
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Such a good thread, thanks for the detailed post @spyderjon!
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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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Yup, cheers spyderjon. I just did our two SL skis (approx an hour each for edging), but my 11 year old Nordica Enforcer rock hoppers needed a good hour and a half; my god were those skis blunt and full of dings. Back to an 87 degree sharp edge so I should get another season out of them for touring and messing about.
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