Before applying any wax, clean the snowboard’s base. There are several commercial wax removers/base cleaners available for this purpose. These cleaners remove old wax and dirt to prepare the base for a fresh coat of wax. If you don’t clean your board first, chances are the new wax won’t properly soak into the pores of the base material.
After cleaning the base, take a look at the condition of your board. Make any necessary repairs, such as filing away edge burrs, filling base scratches with P-tex, or tuning the edges. At this point, professionals will usually give the board a good base grind. Unless you are lucky enough to own the expensive belt sander usually required to grind snowboard bases, you are better off taking yours to a wax shop. Base grinds ensure a nice, even surface. If grinding is done incorrectly, it can cause permanent damage to your snowboard base. So, don’t attempt a base grind without the proper know-how and equipment, and make sure you take your board to a reputable shop.
There are two ways of applying hot wax. One is to hold the wax stick against a hot iron until it melts and drips onto the board. Simply move the iron and melting wax over the board to various places to ensure good coverage. This is called the “drip” method. The other method, called the “crayon method,” calls for taking the solid wax stick and rubbing it on the snowboard base like a crayon. For either method, the next step is to heat and then melt the residue with the iron, forming a layer of wax that completely covers the board. Neither method is superior to the other, but I find that most people, including professionals, prefer to use the candle method because it’s faster. On the other hand, you might have a tendency to waste more wax. Remember that a little wax goes a long way — don’t over do it. Choose whichever method works best for your time frame, budget, and sanity level.
Don’t allow the wax to get so hot that it smokes. Move the iron over the dripped or rubbed-on wax with smooth, even, up-and-down strokes. Using a circular motion will only cause trouble later when you try to scrape off the cooled wax. Pretend you are ironing your favorite shirt, and don’t leave the iron on the base for too long, or the base material may start to burn and your snowboard might start to delaminate. The top sheet should feel warm but not hot to the touch.
You must log in to post a comment.