Tuning Spectrum Casual/Leisure/Basics Performance Rec. GENERAL DIY WORK FLOW (CYCLICAL) REPEAT: (RELAX, EXPERIMENT, LEARN FROM MISTAKES, FEEDBACK & IMPROVE OVER TIME) Serious (variable & subjective relative to need, cost, skill, tools, confidence, experience, conditions, time, mood, etc) Note!: on a powder day WHO CARES!...except for the right wax!! Leisure/Casual/Recreational-wants to protect their investment and do the basics only to keep it simple and fun. Performance-recreational & pros, depending on priorities and other factors can range from the highest standards to allow for some 'rationalized' or acceptable 'slop', but still want very good performance and maintain gear. Serious-racers, pros (makes a living on skis or snowboards) and performanceminded recreational, etc, where only the highest standards of tuning, waxing, repairs, tasks tools and supplies are considered and practiced. ASSESSMENT S S WAXING CLEAN UP TEST/TWEAK ASSESSMENT S -CLEAN AND DRY AS NECESSARY -VISUAL & PHYSICAL SCANS FOR OBVIOUS AREAS OF CONCERN & MARK/RECORD -CONSIDER PAST WORK AND SUBSEQUENT USE -TIME AND COST CONSIDERATIONS -DO IT MYSELF OR BRING TO A SHOP? -CHECK FLATNESS, STRUCTURE AND CONDITION -PERFORM NECESSARY GOUGES AND CORE SHOT REPAIRS -FLATTEN AS NECESSARY -REPAIR, FRESHEN OR IMPART STRUCTURE -REMOVE HAIRIES -BRUSH/WIPE CLEAN -WORK SPACE: LIGHTING, COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE, MESS CONTAINMENT, VENTILATION & BOARD SUPPORT -SHOP TOWELS, FIBERLENE & CLEANERS -TRUE BAR, FIBER PADS, SCRAPERS, SHARPIES. MEASURING TOOLS, WAX PENCILS -TOOLS, UPPLIES & BOARD STORAGE & SECURITY --TRUE BAR, STIFF BRUSHES, FIBER PADS, STEEL SCRAPERS, SKIVERS, BODY/PANZER & COARSE, SAND PAPER, RILLER BAR, PLANER -UTILITY BRUSH -WELDING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES PADS
GENERAL DIY WORK FLOW (CYCLICAL) REPEAT: (RELAX, EXPERIMENT, LEARN FROM MISTAKES, FEEDBACK & IMPROVE OVER TIME) ASSESSMENT S S WAXING CLEAN UP TEST/TWEAK S -KNOCK DOWN BURRS AND CASE HARDENED AREAS WITH STONE -CHECK BEVELS ANGLES & SIDE WALL - GRIND AS NECESSARY TO RE-ESTABLISH BAS BEVEL GEOMETRY -CUT BACK OR PLANE SIDE WALLS -ADJUST SIDE GEOMETRY AS NEEDED -SHARPEN AND POLISH SIDE WITH DIAMOND STONES -REMOVE BURR ALONG -LIGHTLY DRESS -UTILITY STONE -TRUE BAR, SHARPIES, GAUGES -DEDICATED OR MULTI-ANGLE GUIDES -S, DIAMONDS AND STONES -TOOL CLEANING TOOLS AND LUBE -TUNING STICKS -UTILITY BRUSH CLEAN UP WAXING -CLEAN S -DOUBLE CHECK STRUCTURE & FRESHEN AS NEEDED -SELECT RELATIVE TO EXPECTED SNOW TEMPERATURE RANGE -APPLY DURABLE WAX, SCRAPE & BRUSH -CLEAN S -APPLY WAX OF THE DAY, SCRAPE & BRUSH -REPEAT WAX CYCLES AS NECESSARY TO SEASON S OVER TIME PADS, STIFF METAL AND SOFTER UTILITY BRUSHES - AND DAILY WAX ARRAY -PLASTIC SCRAPERS & SHARPENER -WAXING IRON -CORK -BRUSHES -TEFLON SHEETS -SNOW THERMOMETER TEST/TWEAK -CLEAN BOARDS, TOOLS & WORK AREA -SHARPEN, REPAIR OR REPLACE TOOLS AND SUPPLIES AS NEEDED -STORE BOARDS, -WARM UP RUN OR TWO -FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE OF S AND S AND MAKE MENTAL NOTES FOR FUTURE -RE-CHECK AT DAYS END -CLEAN AND DRY PADS -POCKET STONE -SMALL SCRAPER -CORK/BRUSH -WAX
Base Repair Options Long the low tech and easy to implement method for the home tuner to make temporary base repairs has been burning and dripping Ptex candles. Common problems are the inclusion of carbon and discoloration of clear Ptex repairs, burning hands and fingers and the simple fact the repairs do not last (largely due to the wax included in the material, reducing the bonding). Typically, repairs need to be frequently repeated. If you get a core shot (through the base material and into the core), additional steps are necessary, either by adding epoxy or cutting out and gluing in replacement base sheet material. A more durable and easy option for smaller repairs is Base Welding. Metal grip with it s heat actuated adhesive can be melted and adhere to core and edge material and serve as a primer for base repair materials that can provide a virtually permanent repair. Welding can be performed with soldering irons, welding guns and hot air welders. The soldering iron approach requires a lower temperature iron than those used for conventional soldering. Though still fairly low tech and easy, care needs to be taken to avoid damaging the bases Welding guns and hot air welders may be easier to use, but can get pricey. S Base Flattening A ski base must be flat for optimum ski performance. If a ski is flat, there will be a solid, unwavering light band across the width of the base, it will be very obvious that is it flat. If the ski is concave, there will be a greater amount of light coming through at the center of the base than at the ski edges ("edge high"). If the ski is convex so that the base in the center of the ski is higher than the edges ("base high"), the light band will be more narrow at the center of the base, wider over the edges. Keep in mind, you can also observe your base flatness just by the structure pattern. If it is consistent the entire base, it is probably flat. Inconsistencies disclose high or low spots and are generally easy to see. Base Structure The objective of structuring is to impart grooves into the base material. This removes suction or surface tension that a perfectly smooth base would produce, especially in wetter snows. The structure also channels water that is produced by the friction between the ski or snowboard base and the snow. A finer structure is desired in colder snows as it holds the smaller amount of water longer and helps the glide. Changing the structure frequently is not practical and should be done relative to major trends in the snow temperatures and time of year. Coupled with a welding option, cutting and finishing tools need to be employed to clean up and blend the repairs with the existing base and base structure. For a more detailed explanation and How to Repair Bases and tools & supplies needed, please visit our Base Repair page. Shop base grinds with a precision machine and reliable operator can reestablish base flatness and level base edges in addition to imparting a uniform base structure. This may be your best option if your bases have had a lot of repairs, the base is out of true and numerous other reasons. The downside is that base grinds remove base
S CLAMP FOR DEDICATED GUIDE DIAMOND STONE SIDEWALL HOLDING STONE OFF OF OR IS FLUSH WITH, KEEPS STONE FROM CUTTING 3 GAP OR FLUSH BB= 1 SB=3 /87 DEDICATED SIDE GUIDE OR Side Edge Sharpening THAT PESKY HANGING BURR BACK-D SIDE WALL ARKANSAS STONE SPRING CLAMP FOR DEDICATED GUIDE DIAMOND, STONE OR EXISTING 2 BEVEL 3 DEDICATED SIDE GUIDE OR DIAMOND, STONE OR CUT BACK SIDEWALL AS NEC. 1 Hanging Burr DEDICATED SIDE GUIDE OR DESIRED 3 /87 /93 BEVEL LINE 93 US 1 BB 87 INT'L EXISTING BEVELS 1:2 (BB= 1 : SB= 2 /88 /92 ) Increasing Side Edge Bevel-2 to 3 90 3 SB PANZER OR COARSE SIEWALL SECTION TO REMOVE/BACK FOR SHARPENING & POLISHING WHEN NECESSARY CUT A LITTLE INTO METAL DEDICATED SIDE GUIDE OR SET TO 5 to 7 BEVELS 1:3 (BB= 1 SB= 3 /87 /93 ) Cutting Sidewall with Edge Guide Edge Bevels
WAXING -We recommend the following iron temperatures to melt Maplus ski or snowboard waxes: -120 C (248 F): Universal; -130 C (266 F): (Soft Soft Graphite)Racing Base, (P1- P2-P3) Hot; -140 C (284 F): (P1-P2-P3) Med; -150 C (302 F): (P1-P2-P3) Cold; Relative Wax Durability by Type HEATED HIGH MELT LIQUIDS and SPRAYS HEATED HIGH MELT SOLIDS and POWDERS HEATED LIQUIDS and SPRAYS HEATED SOLIDS UNHEATED HIGH MELT LIQUIDS and SPRAYS UNHEATED LIQUIDS and SPRAYS RUB-ONs and CREAMS/PASTES