 Poster: A snowHead
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Yesterday I tuned skis for last seasons' most famous GS race winner. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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So that's their chances jiggered for this year then
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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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marc gledhill,  . They were actually his race winning skis.
Hopefully he'll trust me with his proposed new'uns for this season.
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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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spyderjon, Were they Metrons? You didn't mess his skis up did you? Does the speed suit really add ten pounds? ................. Since he trusted you, you may be good enough to do mine next. 
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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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spyderjon, you missed a business opportunity there. If you'd given us advance notice we could've slipped you a few quid to use a fast race wax on one ski, and a warm snow hydrocarbon on the other
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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spyderjon,
And what did Kramer think of them?
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SnowHot, not Metron's but he now has the fastest Rossi's on the planet with edges that you could shave with .
I offer a collection & delivery service at client's cost if you're interested?
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T Bar, Rumbled 
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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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spyderjon, What kind of a tune does a girl want on her B5's?
something tells me the commute to have you do my tune would kill my pocketbook. I might even have to sell some skis to afford it.
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SnowHot, here's my top tune assuming a grind or base repairs aren't required:
Set/confirm base edge to 1 degree & side edge to 3 degrees (which are the Atomic specs). Polish base edges using 600 & 1500 grits to avoid over bevelling. Polish side edges using 100, 200, 400, 600 1500 diamond files. Deburr edge but do not detune tip's'tails. Hot wax/scrape base to clean, brass brush to clean/open structure, steel brush to add a little extra structure then fibrepad to knock-off the peaks. Hot wax with Dominator Zoom Renew base prep wax, cool & scrap. Brass brush again then hot wax with Dominator Zoom Lime universal wax, cool & scrape. Clean out structure with brass brush then polish with horsehair & nylon brushes. All base & edge work is done by hand to minimise material removed, as opposed to store machines which remove way too much material. Then you're good to go.
On most Atomic's you might first have to cut back the sidewall to allow that a clean 3 degree side angle can be maintained in the future. I use a Skiman sidewall cutter with the round blade & then blend in the 'top edge' of the side edge into the sidewall by back filing using a 6 degree guide. The top edge of sidewall is then rounded & polished with files & fibrepads or a dremel if you've got the gear & a steady hand.
The Dominator Lime Z400 uni wax (or the Z400G which is the same with graphite) is really great due to it's wide operating temperature range. You can get it from most quality outlets in the US or direct from www.dominatorwax.com
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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spyderjon, how often do you recommend skis should be waxed, assuming average winter conditions?
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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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spyderjon, I never imagined you'd give away your trade secrets. Kudos to you that you have Celebrity tuning status.
Maybe you could give me a quote on complete tune for this (from the quiver thread)
| SnowHot wrote: |
easiski, it goes like this.
I have some skis in my quiver that are used only occasionally, but I've had them for a while and just can't let them go because they're "fun"!
Here is my current quiver. Not much over lap but a few are for sale
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Damn, I see that spyderjon got here before me.
I have to say it was a pleasure to sit in Jon's garage jabbering on about skiing whilst getting to watch a craftsman at work. The amount of care and attention that Jon puts into tuning make him cheap at twice the price if you ask me.
I'm really looking forward to being a test dummy for his version of the infamous Campbell balancer as well.
Plus you get tea and biscuits as well!
Overall, a huge recommendation for Jon's ski tuning. 
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You know it makes sense.
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spyderjon, I never imagined you'd give away your trade secrets. Kudos to you that you have Celebrity tuning status.
Maybe you could give me a quote on complete tune for this (from the quiver thread)
| SnowHot wrote: |
easiski, it goes like this.
I have some skis in my quiver that are used only occasionally, but I've had them for a while and just can't let them go because they're "fun"!
Here is my current quiver. Not much over lap but a few are for sale
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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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spyderjon, don't suppose you have a mobile service a la Auto Windshields?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Charlatanefc, It's only 2 hours from your gaff & a number of client's have come further than that. The pub's only 110yds from my house & it's slightly downhill coming home. B&B available.
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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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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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Charlatanefc, if you were to make it down, I'd come and join you both for a bevvy in the pub.
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Charlatanefc, me & Nick C were talking about making getting together with spyderjon, maybe join us?
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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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FenlandSkier, Don't even think about a group discount
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FenlandSkier, when were you thinking of??? Ideally after xmas, cos my ski's are brand new, but could probs do with a service before we go to Austria
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Charlatanefc, FenlandSkier, I'm away for a week from the 23rd Dec & I'm away again for a week from the 20th Jan. Book early (as Fred Pontin's used to say) as New Year's my busiest period.
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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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spyderjon, See you on Saturday!
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AxsMan, your new toys await you.
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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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spyderjon,
Fairly new to all this 'owning my own' lark, and I feel between a rock and a hard place - spent a lot of money on planks, and feel, like with a bike I guess, that I ought to be able to at least do the rudimentary maintenance. But bike maintenance you pick up as a kid, and then I was lucky enough to supplement on a touring holiday that included daily routines and thing such as suspension work, as a part of the trip.
But I have no idea where to start on learning on ski-maintenance, other than by asking what may appear to be basic questions...! I don't want to become a pro, and I will continue to use a 'paid for' service for at least an annual tune. I just don't want to be reliant on the mountain village workshop for what may be simple straightforward work, and good daily practise.
Initially it was something Charlatanefc said that caught my attention: - what do you need to do to new skis, if anything? - Do they just work out of the packaging, (break off the cellophane, lay-down, step-in, ski- off, type of thing?) or is there any preparation you should do to them?
And De-burring on a daily basis seems like a good idea, as you mention above: but what does that involve? - as I've never done it before, do I need to get lessons, or a book, or watch a pro do it, or is it somethig you can pick up from the words on the back of the pack of the tool you buy to do it? And do I need any specialist clamps / bench alignment angle thingys, or can you just do it by feel, in the kitchen?
Any ideas and suggestions, or where I might look for something like " the Dummies Guide to ..." or a training course to attend would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Wax them before you use them. The edges should be good to go, right out of the box, but the bases should be waxed before you use them.
If possible, you should use temperature specific wax for the conditions you are going to ski.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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JimW, do you keep your skis, at home or in Les Arcs? I've got a small collection of tools, a wax iron and a portable ski vice that I keep in my place in Arc 1800 and that's where I do my ski servicing now, so I don't have to worry about carting extra stuff out to the Alps. For a basic kit you don't need that much: one or two diamond stone files for keeping edges free of burrs and dinks (plus some sort of guide to hold the file at the correct angle); an iron for melting wax into the ski base; a plastic scraper for removing wax from the ski's surface; a brush for polishing the wax and brushing out the excess from the ski's fine structure in the base; and a supply of universal wax that will work with most snow conditions and temperatures. Having a set of ski vices that can be clamped to a work bench or similar will make a big difference as trying to hold the skis steady will working on them is a complete pain otherwise (although I don't recommend you work on the kitchen table as it's quite a messy job). This level of kit should allow you to do a reasonable job of general ski maintenance, so you'd need to take the skis to a service shop if there was some unusual damage to the ski edges or base.
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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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JimW, basically as SnowHot & rob@rar have said.
I do a great DVD & my own written guide which includes a section on new ski prep.
It's fully comprehensive DVD/guide which you might think is way more than you want to know. However the benefit is that'll it give you a full insight into everything 'tuning' allowing you to choose the level of work you require based upon performance requirements, DIY ability, time & budget etc - & more importantly, will give you the knowledge & terminology to specify to store exactly what you want rather than getting what you're given.
I'd also recommend an 'Edge Trick' tool for a regular side edge touch-up. It's dead easy to use.
I'll PM you the cost.
Alternatively, if you fancy a run up to Nottm for a lesson & we can prep your skis together etc.
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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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spyderjon, I wish you lived near me. I am looking for a good shop to tune my skis. My old shop ticked me off and the ski resorts tune shop is usually staffed with bubble gum chewing kids..
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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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spyderjon,
you are the man!
I'll be in touch as soon as I get 10 mins when no one is looking over my shoulder on the work computer...
And as for "get what you need rather than get what they give you", that's spot on - just like dealing with garage mechanics in the UK!
Rob - I'll be leaving them in Arcs when I get them there this Jan. Maybe share a beer over a hot waxing iron?... 
Snowhot thanks, I guess you go through a lot of wax with that quiver!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| JimW wrote: |
Snowhot thanks, I guess you go through a lot of wax with that quiver! |
I do in deed!
Oddly though we don't need to sharpen edges much, I'm thinking it's because we have enough skis that we don't get a lot of detuning on hill..............
but we are pretty savvy about waxing for specific temps and snow conditions so we wax regularly.
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| Kramer wrote: |
Damn, I see that spyderjon got here before me.
I have to say it was a pleasure to sit in Jon's garage jabbering on about skiing whilst getting to watch a craftsman at work. The amount of care and attention that Jon puts into tuning make him cheap at twice the price if you ask me.
I'm really looking forward to being a test dummy for his version of the infamous Campbell balancer as well.
Plus you get tea and biscuits as well!
Overall, a huge recommendation for Jon's ski tuning. |
I'd just like to second that. Couldn't have put it better myself.
I was at Jon's on the Saturday morning, well worth the journey.
Cheers Jon
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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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| abv wrote: |
I'd just like to second that. Couldn't have put it better myself.
I was at Jon's on the Saturday morning, well worth the journey.
Cheers Jon |
I'll third that.
Jon gave me an excellent lesson and it's well worth the trip and time if anyone is thinking of doing their own maintenance.
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abv, PhillipStanton, Thanks for the kind words.
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FAQ
Honest 
