Grizzly Outfitters Presents: Tuning And Waxing Of Skis And .

Ski Repair ClinicGrizzly Outfitters Presents:Tuning and Waxing of Skisand esB.EdgesC.BindingsRepair and MaintenanceA.Minor TuneB.Major TuneC.Once a SeasonToolsA.Tools for your PocketB.Tools for your packC.Tools for your home workshopwww.grizzlyoutfitters.com406.995.2939

Ski Repair ClinicI. IntroductionIn the diagram below, you see an exaggeration ofa railed ski , a convex or base-high ski and a flatski. A railed (or concave) ski is more common thana convex one, but occasionally skis can come fromthe factory base-high. Being able to spot thesedeviations from flat is half the battle.By using a true bar, a very precisely machinedMost skiers don’t care if their ski or snowboardis tuned and waxed, and think that it is easierto replace equipment every few years. The factis, simply waxing your skis or board will put youlight years in performance ahead of most otherriders. A waxed and tuned ski or board will alwaysoutperform a dry one. A maintained ski will lastlonger and be more durable. Does your car runwell without motor oil? Wax is almost as necessaryto skis as motor oil is to your car.Flat SkiLike most things, the more practice you havetuning and waxing, the better and more efficientyou will become. Use the same protocol on bothskis every time to make tuning consistent. Sometasks are best left to a full service shop. You mustdecide how much time and expense you arewilling to commit, and when to defer to the shop.Concave or Railed SkiConvex or Base-high SkiIn order for skis or snowboard to work properly, itmust be free of base damage and be flat from edgeto edge. In this clinic we will guide you throughthe steps of inspection, repair, maintenanceand waxing. We will show you the tools that arenecessary, and try to point out what repairs arebeyond the scope of the home technician.straight edge, a ski technician can quicklydetermine whether a ski is flat or not. A metal rulerII. InspectionIt is a good idea to inspect your skis or snowboardevery day prior to hitting the slopes. I recommendthe night before, so there is time to attend to anymajor damages.In order to properly tune a ski or snowboard, onehas to know what the goal is. For both skis andsnowboards, the goal is to be perfectly flat fromedge to edge.www.grizzlyoutfitters.comor carpenter’s square could be used in a pinch.Hold the ski up to the light and look for daylight.Light showing through in the middle of the ski2406.995.2939

Ski Repair Clinicor snowboard indicates concavity, while lightshowing on the edges a convexity.function properly.After a thorough inspection, the technician willknow how much base repair will be required andwhat attention may be required by a ski shopwith the proper tools. Knowing what you are upagainst is half the battle.If the ski or board is flat, continue the inspectionof the bases for gouges and scratches. Large, deepgouges, also know as core-shots, may requireprofessional treatment. Smaller gouges and berepaired with ptex candles.III. Repair and MaintenanceA. Minor Tune UpIf they are not flat, a trip to a ski shop with astone-grinder may be necessary. It is possibleto get a ski or board flat using hand tools, but iscan be very laborious, and in some instances acomplete exercise in futility. Some expertise isrequired to determine how “out-of-flat” the ski orboard is, and if it will require the removal of toomuch material to get usable results. Once flat, therest of the tuning process can be done by handwith great results.After an inspection, all that may be required is aquick tune. The steps for a quick tune-up are:1. De bur edges using a de burring stone.2. De tune.3. Clean the bases.4. Hot wax and scrape.Since these are all steps of a major tune, we will proceed to that. Keep in mind that a very minor tunemay be a simple de bur performed in the parkinglot or after a particularly rocky run. For this reason, Ialways carry a de burring stone in my pocket.Another step in the tuning process that is difficultfor the home technician to perform is texturingthe bases. We will discuss this in more detail later.B. Major Tune UpIt is a good idea to inspect your edges for damagefrom rocks, or in the worst case, a compressionfrom rock impact. Look for cracks in the edge,or for areas of separation between the edge andsidewall of the ski or board. Run your fingers alongthe edges. Be careful not to get metal shards inyour fingers. If the edges feel rough, make note.If damage is found, be sure to seal the sidewall orbring it to a shop for more extensive repair. Also,inspect your bindings for signs of stress or cracks.Make sure that the Anti Friction Devices (AFD) the little plates usually located on the toe piece-are not missing or cracked. These plates providea slippery surface for the ski boot to interface withthe binding. If they are gone, the bindings won’twww.grizzlyoutfitters.comThe steps to a major tune up are as follows:1. De bur edges using a de burring stone.2. Fill minor gouges with ptex.3. Scrape excess ptex with metal scraper.4. Flat file and bevel base edge using file.5. File and bevel side edge with file.6. De tune.7. Clean the bases. Use hot scrapes.8. Hot wax with iron and scrape with plasticscraper.9. Polish with brush.3406.995.2939

Ski Repair Clinic1. De burringUsing a small de burring stone, remove bursfrom edges. Always go from tip to tail. This step isnecessary before filing to remove work-hardenedsteel caused by hitting rocks. If you skip this step,edges of the damaged area with a utility knife andfill the gouge with wax during the waxing stage.This is a short-term fix, but will keep water frompenetrating into the core of the ski. I would notrecommend waiting more that a few days beforegetting a proper repair.3. Scrape with a metal scraper.Scrape from tip to tail with a sharp metal scraper.I prefer the thicker ones that tend to flex less. Useyour expensive files will be garbage in no time.Not a bad idea to wear gloves to do this step,particularly if your edges are in bad shape. Wipedown your skis or snowboard with a rag after deburring to remove and metal filings that may belingering. These may get working into the basesand be difficult to remove later.2. Fill Gouges.It may be a good idea to wear gloves for this steptoo, as ptex burns are not fun. You will find outthe hard waywhy we used torefer to ptex asnapalm. Workfrom tip to tailfillingminorgouges. A notehere. DO NOTfill core shotswith ptex. Agouge going through the base into the core of theski requires a base weld. Dripping ptex will onlymake the repair more difficult. If you have to waitto have a core shot repaired correctly, trim thewww.grizzlyoutfitters.coman old file to sharpen scrapers - it is best to runthe scraper over the file to maintain a perfectlyflat surface on your scraper. I will note here thata sharp metal scraper can be used to flattena base-high ski. Do this only in a very limitedcapacity, or you can make a mess.4. Flat filing base edges.File from tip to tail trying not to flex the file. If abase bevel is desired, wrap the file with some tape4406.995.2939

Ski Repair Clinicor use abevel guide.Filesaredesignedto be usedinonedirectiononlyandthey need tobe sharp towork properly. Tip: run a sharpie the entire lengthof the edge prior to filing. By doing so, one can seehow much material is being removed.5. File and bevel side edge with file.File from tip to tail and work in long, smoothstrokes. Although one can get by with tapeinsteadofbevel guidesfor the baseedge,thesideedgeneedsanaccurateb e v e lguide. ForM o n t a n a ’ss k i i n gconditions, you rarely need a more acute anglethan 90 degrees. If you used a 1 degree basebevel, then a 1 degree side bevel is customary.Some racers may use 2 of 3 degrees side bevelfor icy conditions - usually not necessary aroundMontana.6. De TuneAn edge that is left razor sharp after filing willbe almost unskiable. De tuning is the process ofremoving the harsh razor edge. First, use a file toround the tips and tails. From the contact pointwith the snow forward to the tip and from thewww.grizzlyoutfitters.comcontact point rearward to the tail. Then use a softstone to smooth the tips and tails where you justfiled. Use the same soft stone to taper the edge .Begin at the front of the binding and taper to thetip. Then, work from the heel of the binding andtaper to the tail. Smooth the edges slightly underfoot. The goal is to have the edges the sharpestunder foot and tapering in sharpness to the tipand tail. These are general rules of thumb. Trydifferent techniques and see what works well foryou.7. Clean the bases. Use hot scrapes.Wipe the ski down with a rag and base cleaner.Next, perform a series of hot scrapes. This is doneby melting an inexpensive, soft wax onto the base5406.995.2939

Ski Repair Clinicof the ski. Then, using an iron, heat the base ofthe ski and the wax until the wax stays in a liquidstate for several seconds after the iron has past.DO NOT let the wax heat to the point where itsmokes. While the wax is still liquid, scrape is off.Do this a few times until the molten wax is free ofimpurities.8. Hot wax with iron and scrape with plasticscraper.Just like a hot scrape, only use a wax for the currentsnow conditions and let is cool before scraping.Set the skis outside or let them sit for 20 minutesbefore scraping. If you leave them somewherewarm (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight,the wax will penetrate the bases and be very fast.9. Polish with brush.Use a soft brush of nylon or horsehair to polish thebases after scraping. Tip to tail.www.grizzlyoutfitters.com6406.995.2939

Ski Repair ClinicTuning supplies to have in yourpocket:Nice to Have Tuning Supplies for theHome TechnicianItemItemDe burring StoneTrue BarChunk of wax or wipeon.Ski VicesGet a good oneWaxing IronGet a good one.FilesChrome are the best.File GuidesBoth base and sideedges.Diamond FilesFor finish work.WaxSelection to match different snow conditions.BrushesFor buffing bases.Fibertex padsFinish work on bases.P texClear and Black.Gummi stoneDe tuningSoft StonePrep skis for filingTuning Supplies to have in your packItemGummi StoneVariety Pack Of WaxesRubber Bandswww.grizzlyoutfitters.comNice complimentto a standard deburring stone.Wider variety tomatch the snowconditions. Kickwax is nice for longback country approaches.For holding skibrakes.7406.995.2939

the ski and the wax until the wax stays in a liquid state for several seconds after the iron has past. DO NOT let the wax heat to the point where it smokes. While the wax is still liquid, scrape is off. Do this a f