One essential step in maintaining sharp ski edges at home is using a diamond stone to remove burrs and rust. This prepares the edge for sharpening and improves overall performance.
Preparing Ski Edges: Removing Burrs and Rust
Before you can effectively sharpen your ski edges, it's crucial to clean them up. Over time, ski edges can develop burrs (tiny bits of metal pushed out of the edge) and rust, especially if not dried properly after use. These imperfections hinder the sharpening process and can affect how the ski grips the snow.
Using a Diamond Stone for Edge Cleaning
According to the REI reference, removing burrs and rust is best done with a diamond stone. This tool is specifically designed for this task.
- Why a Diamond Stone? A key advantage of using a diamond stone is that it's designed to remove less material than a traditional file. This makes it a safer option if you accidentally slip while working on the edge. You're less likely to cause significant damage.
- Technique: Even with a forgiving tool like a diamond stone, it's still important to proceed with care. The reference advises to go slow and be careful. This ensures you are effectively cleaning the edge without overworking or damaging it.
Steps for Cleaning Ski Edges with a Diamond Stone
Based on the reference, the process involves carefully using the diamond stone along the ski edge. While specific motions aren't detailed in the provided text, the general principle is to gently glide the stone along the edge at the appropriate angle (often using an edge guide, though not mentioned in the reference) to smooth out imperfections.
- Gather your tools: You'll need a diamond stone suitable for ski edges.
- Secure your skis: Place your skis securely on a workbench or tuning table, base-up.
- Identify burrs and rust: Visually inspect the metal edge for any rough spots or visible rust.
- Use the diamond stone: Carefully run the diamond stone along the affected areas of the edge.
- Apply light pressure: Let the stone do the work; heavy pressure is unnecessary and can be counterproductive.
- Go slow and be careful: Follow the advice from the reference to avoid slips and ensure a thorough job.
- Inspect the edge: Check that the burrs and rust have been removed, leaving a smoother surface.
Removing burrs and rust with a diamond stone is a fundamental step in ski edge maintenance and prepares the edge for subsequent sharpening if needed.
