![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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Going to Val Thorens at end of March so thought I would give the ski's a bit of a service. I had a look at Jonpim's site and I pretty much understand the edge prep stuff but being a 'wax virgin' I have have a question. Once the wax is ironed onto the surface and allowed to cool thoroughly how much should be left on? It mentions repeating the process several times, I assume you leave some behind but I am unsure whether you should scrape it all off or scrape off just some until its smooth and build it up in layers by applying more each time and scrape that of as well.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Colin Vince, Wax should be in the base not on it so once the wax has cooled the excess on the surface needs to be scraped off (until you can see the base structure). The base then needs to be brushed to clean out the wax from the structure. Check-out my tuning guide on my website.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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Colin Vince, a nice straight plexiglass scraper should be used to remove as much as the wax as possible. I'd strongly recommend a proper nylon base brush to expose the structure
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What would happen if you didn't scrape off excess wax and just skied on a thick layer of wax? Would the skis be very sticky?
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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lower, Yes, very.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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lower, they also pick up a load of crap from the snow. I know this as I borrowed a pair of skis for a couple of hours last week in a place where the snow cover wasn't too good and there was lots of mud and grass strewn around. The skis were pretty sticky which I noticed most when shuffling to the drag lift. when I took the skis off there was a thick layer of gunge just back from the tips that consisted of a nice mix of wax, dirt, grass, mud and all sorts of other gunge. If you scrape and brush the bases properly then the poo-poo don't stick.
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in my experience, if you don't scrape, the snow will scrape it off for you very quickly.....
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kitenski, I agree. Over the years I have experimented and find very little difference, whilst we all want our equipment to be in top order we are not all looking for the 100ths of a second per run, just drop the scraper in your pocket and if you feel really bad scrape on the mountain! I have scraped one ski only as a test and yes when I started my first run there was a big difference BUT at the end of the run I could not feel any difference. Go on live dangerously, after all, how heavy is a plexiglass scraper?
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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My observations:
It certainly does make a difference when 'traversing' flattish areas. **
The brush polishes inside the structure, hardening the surface of your wax of the day, and if you have your structure right its only half the average snow grain size. Scraping is thus only the first part of the process.
Low-friction bases make for more easily felt edging sensation and therefore better controlled edge angle modulation. *
Maybe I'm not as fortunate as some, there is never a part of the mountain/skimolehill that isn't either below -15 or slushy, and brushing and polishing makes any wax I use less sensitive to temperature swings.
* One of the interesting experiences of testing different waxes on mine and friends' skis, particularly friends who don't have significant tuning experience and on wider-waist skis, is that they feel the skis are slippery and sliding out from under them, almost harder to 'edge' in low-speed situations and harder to stay on top of when just standing around. I am beginning to think that there is, unnoticed by most, a lot of side bracing using high-friction areas of the base instead of the edges proper, again in low speed situations like getting off the lift and regrouping to wait for friends.
** On longer skis for my own use, say 184cm or more, I've taken to -not- scraping the very center on the last wax coat, from the toepiece of the binding to about 4cm behind the heel. This lets me shuffle-glide on flats using the unscraped area almost like the kick wax of a nordic ski. Works pretty well on runouts like the bottom of Cecret lift at Snowbird or at Alta.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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After waxing my skis, I scrape and then brush them as advised. The first time I did this I had to check that I was folllowing the instructions correctly! It seemed a little odd taking the trouble to put a nice, fresh layer of wax on the skis, and then scraping it all off.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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Jumpin Jack, 'tis tempting to collect the scrapings by doing the job over a clean sheet, and then re-using them!
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Perhaps collecting them and melting them down to create a lovely scented candle could be the perfect gift for the one you love ...
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You know it makes sense.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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comprex, I take it your kayaking friends all have hairy bottoms - or do they live in Kemptown?
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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Jumpin Jack wrote: |
Perhaps collecting them and melting them down to create a lovely scented candle could be the perfect gift for the one you love ... |
For shame!!! Earwax makes for a more personal gift
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Scarpa,
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For shame!!! Earwax makes for a more personal gift
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Yes but how do you get it out scrape or scrape and brush?
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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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Just follow the guide by Ren and Stimpy.
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