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First Wax

4K views 25 replies 14 participants last post by  Tech420 
#1 ·
Got my iron, wax, base cleaner, and scraper in the mail today. So... Like any self-respecting nut I skipped the gym and spent a couple hours playing with my new board.

I used base cleaner and a scotchbrite pad to get it nice and clean, wiped it off with a couple paper towels and waxed that bitch. I didn't have any smoking or anything, but some of the wax turned kind of dark grayish and was smearing a little funny so I turned my iron down and hot scraped it to make sure I didn't leave any burnt wax behind. I then waxed it again because I hot scraped. :dunno:

Some of the wax got a little dark again, but only on the one end which happens to be black. The base is extruded but die cut different colors I believe. Meh, anyway it looked like maybe it was picking up some color from the black part of the base. In any event I scraped the shit out of it, buffed it with a another scotchbrite pad (one with no cleaner on it duh) and then brushed it out. I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself (I have no frame of reference, but it looks way better than it did new :D).

So, even in my n00bness I can tell there is a huge difference between a factory shit wax job and a (decent) hot wax... :cheeky4:

In any event, it was all Zen and shit and I actually enjoyed it. Accept for the cleaning up all the fucking wax part anyway.

I also know what a dry base looks like now. The Kuu citrus cleaner shit took all the factory wax off really slick like and the base was all white and dry looking.

I'm not sure why anyone would read this, but hey whatever... Guess if you got this far you deserve a cookie.

[The above statement does not in fact constitute the offer of said "cookie".]

OD
 
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#5 ·
Waxing is my favorite ritual. A beer and a J for company, the evening before a pow day...checking the temps to decide the right wax, waiting for the coat to cool, scraping and brushing...and sometime corking too! Clean the edges, put bindings back on, finish the beer, and clean up.

Hint: a open paper bag at the end of the board and a large wall brush help contain the mess, clean as you go so you don't step on the scraped wax.
 
#8 ·
Dude it is stupid easy... Granted I spent enough dough getting all setup to pay someone else to do it like 8 times. However, I also have 2 lbs of wax and with that I can probably wax my board 50+ times.

Like you've already been told, there are plenty of vids on YouTube, check it out. I just watched the Art of Flight (cool vid) and TRice waxed a board in the opening scene. Dude is one of the top pros in the world and he was using a clothes iron. :D I would go that way if I had it to do again. My Toko is nice, but not really necessary.

Don't over think it. Just don't let the wax smoke and don't let the iron sit in one place. Keep it moving and it's all good. Oh, and when you think you are done scraping, scrape some more... :cheeky4:
 
#7 ·
Rider89,

Snowof and others have posted AMAZING guides to waxing your board. Just as long as you have the right tools for the job, everything should be fine. Your waxing your board, not doing baby brain surgery. Your board can handle it... Just as long as you use the right iron temp, should be no problems. If you aren't sure what you are doing, or you think are fucking it up, ask for help here or at your local board shop (REAL Board shop, not zumiez or those other mall stores)

Just do it bro!
 
#11 ·
Welcome to the Brotherhood.

Next thing you know, you'll start noticing all those park rats with bases that have not been waxed since they left the factory and judging them negatively on the ashy-whiteness of their dry bases. :D

I don't know what it is about waxing/tuning your own snowboard but it is so ritualistic to me now. Of course what I look forward to most of all is getting out riding but I sure do enjoy those hours in my basement or in my friends garage waxing boards over cold beers.
 
#17 ·
While many people do it, removing the bindings is not necessary. To each their own and that is cool, but don`t think this is a must do thing....:thumbsup:

True...I just handle the board better without, and I do change angles too depending on conditions, but that means also I need new screws more often.

I also started to cover with Dtape the screw holes left exposed by the bindings. I had some infiltration of water last season on the Arbor.
 
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