To re-wax a snowboard, you typically follow a process involving cleaning, preparing, applying, ironing, scraping, and buffing the base.
Waxing your snowboard helps maintain its speed and protects the base from drying out and damage. The process ensures your board glides smoothly across the snow.
The Snowboard Waxing Process
Based on common practices and the provided steps, here is a guide on how to re-wax a snowboard:
Step 1: Clean Up the Edges
Before waxing the base, it's important to address the edges. This step involves inspecting and potentially cleaning the metal edges of your snowboard. Removing any rust or burrs ensures the edges are smooth and sharp, contributing to better performance and preventing them from interfering with the waxing process.
Step 2: Prepare for Tuning
Preparation is key to a successful wax. This step involves setting up your workspace and preparing the snowboard's base. This might include cleaning the base thoroughly to remove dirt and old wax, ensuring the board is stable, and gathering all necessary tools like wax, iron, scraper, and buffing pads. A clean base allows the new wax to adhere properly.
Step 3: Apply Wax
With the board prepared, it's time to apply the wax. This is typically done by holding a block of snowboard wax against a heated waxing iron and letting the wax melt and drip onto the board's base. You'll want to distribute wax droplets evenly across the entire base surface, from tip to tail and edge to edge.
Step 4: Iron Out the Wax
Once the wax is dripped onto the base, use the waxing iron to spread the melted wax evenly. The iron heats the base, allowing the wax to penetrate the pores of the P-Tex material. Move the iron slowly and continuously to avoid overheating any single spot, ensuring a thin, uniform layer of wax covers the entire base.
Step 5: Scrape the Wax Off
After the wax has cooled and hardened (usually for at least 20-30 minutes, or longer), the next step is to scrape off the excess wax. Use a plastic wax scraper held at an angle to remove as much wax as possible from the base. Scrape from tip to tail, applying steady pressure. The goal is to remove the surface layer of wax, leaving wax only in the pores of the base material. You should scrape until very little wax is coming off.
Step 6: Buff Smooth
The final step is buffing the base to achieve a smooth, fast finish. This is typically done using a nylon brush or a buffing pad. Brushing from tip to tail helps to remove any remaining fine wax particles and polishes the base structure. Buffing reduces friction and maximizes glide on the snow.
Overview of Snowboard Waxing Steps
Here is a summary of the process:
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clean Up the Edges | Ensure smooth, burr-free edges |
| 2 | Prepare for Tuning | Clean base, set up workspace, gather tools |
| 3 | Apply Wax | Drip melted wax onto the base |
| 4 | Iron Out the Wax | Spread wax evenly, heat base |
| 5 | Scrape the Wax Off | Remove excess wax from the surface |
| 6 | Buff Smooth | Polish the base for optimal glide |
Following these steps will help keep your snowboard's base protected and performing its best on the snow.
