To brush snowboard wax, you use a specific type of brush, typically starting with a coarse one, and run it in strokes along the length of the board's base to remove excess wax and prepare the base structure for optimal glide.
Why Brush Snowboard Wax?
While brushing isn't always considered an essential step in the waxing process, it is highly recommended to achieve the best glide and performance from your snowboard. The primary goals of brushing are to:
- Remove Excess Wax: After scraping, tiny bits of wax remain in the base structure. Brushing helps to lift and remove this leftover wax.
- Expose Base Structure: Snowboard bases have a structure or pattern (often visible as lines) that helps manage water between the base and the snow. Brushing clears the wax out of this structure, allowing it to function correctly for better glide.
Step-by-Step: How to Brush Wax
Based on standard practice and the reference provided, here's how you typically brush wax on your snowboard base:
- Choose Your First Brush: Start with a coarse nylon brush. Nylon brushes are effective for the initial removal of excess wax and exposing the base structure. Other brushes like horsehair or fine nylon can be used as subsequent steps for polishing, but the reference specifically mentions starting with coarse nylon.
- Position the Board: Secure your snowboard on a waxing vise or a stable surface with the base facing up.
- Begin Brushing: Hold the coarse nylon brush firmly.
- Apply Technique: Run the brush from tip to tail. This means starting at the nose (tip) of the board and brushing all the way to the tail in one continuous or overlapping motion. Always brush in the direction of travel (tip to tail).
- Use Consistent Strokes: Apply consistent pressure and use strokes of about 6-10 inches at a time, overlapping slightly with each subsequent stroke as you move across the width of the board.
- Cover the Entire Base: Work your way across the entire width of the base, ensuring you brush the edges as well, though be mindful not to damage the edge tuning.
- Remove Dust: You will see fine wax dust being lifted. You can use a clean cloth or a different, softer brush to wipe this dust away periodically.
- Repeat (Optional but Recommended): You may repeat the process with the coarse nylon brush, or move to progressively finer brushes (like a fine nylon or horsehair brush) for further cleaning and polishing, depending on how much structure you want to expose and the desired finish.
By following these steps, you effectively clean out the base structure, allowing your board to glide more smoothly and perform better on the snow.
