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Tech Tip # 16:
PREPARING WAXABLE CLASSIC SKIS for the START OF THE SEASON |
December 20, 2001 |
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A) Clean off all the old kick wax. The best product on the market is GEL CLEAN from TOKO. It is fantastic on hard (tin) wax and especially klister. Apply a little thru the scrub-brush top, wait a minute or so, scrub a little with the top, then wipe off the entire gunk with a paper towel. Done. Remove any summer glide wax from the glide zones (tips and tails) with a plastic scraper.
B) If the glide areas need a base preparation (steel scrape and structure), do this next. Follow the identical procedure as for preparing skating ski. Refer to our Tech tip Article #1.
C) In the kick zone, use some 120-grit silicon carbide sandpaper to ruff up the kick area. Some people use a little coarser grit (say 100) for klister, and a little finer (say 180) for hard wax, but 120 works fine for both. Put the paper in a sanding block. Locate the ends of the kick pocket (zone). We suggest never going behind the heel, and perhaps a centimeter or two forward (more for better skiers). For the forward end of the kick zone, use the middle mark (if there are 3), or seek the advice of a good cross country ski shop or experienced XC classic skier. Sand the base with a pass or two perpendicular to the ski length to mark the ends of the kick zone. Then, sand the base with single overlapping passes at 45 degrees. Do this each way to make a LIGHT cross (X) pattern.
D) Put some masking tape over the ends of the kick zone and glide wax the tips and tails. Follow the procedures in Tech Tip #1. If desired, use MAP Black following tech tip #8. Remove the tape to do the final scraping and polishing. Do not get any glide wax in the kick zone.
E) HARD WAX CONDITIONS: Put masking tape over the ends of the glide zones. Apply a light coat of base kick wax, such as RODE Black Base or TOKO Carbon Green. It is best to melt in a thin layer with an iron. First clean the warm iron of any glide wax with a paper towel. The base of the iron can be used to soften the wax. Rub on a thin layer and smooth out with the iron. Alternately, a hair dryer or heat gun can be used to soften and melt in the “crayoned-on” wax. In either case, just get the wax melted; do not heat for a long time. The base should never get hot to the touch. Never use a torch or heat gun on ANY fluorinated wax (including the adjacent glide surfaces). Let the skis cool, then hand cork this base wax smooth.
F) KLISTER CONDITIONS: Use either a cold weather/ice klister (blues work well) as a base wax, or better yet use RODE Chola (pronounced like “cola” with a hard C). Apply a VERY THIN layer and smooth out with a hair dryer, heat gun, or torch. Do NOT get the ski hot. Never use a torch or heat gun on fluorinated wax. Use the heat source to warm the klister, then smooth out with a plastic scraper, cork, or the heel of the palm of the hand. Klister can be used as a base wax for hard wax. This adds a little extra cushion under the hard wax for better kick (but less glide) in conditions of mixed old and new snow. The secret is to set the skis outside so the klister gets frozen hard, then warm up the hard wax and apply 3-4 very thin layers on top of the klister (without mixing). “Purple over Purple” is a common combination.
G) The skis are now ready for the kick-wax-of-the-day. Wait until just before skiing to apply this wax. For hard wax, rub on a thin layer (just a few streaks), and hand cork smooth. Repeat this process until four THIN layers are applied. For klister, put the end of the tub up tight against the base and apply a VERY THIN layer in zigzag pattern down each side of the groove. THIN! No, even THINNER!! Now smooth out with a cork or the heel of the hand. Let the skis cool to snow temperature.
H) NO WAX SKIS: the tips and tails of these skis still need to be prepped and glide waxed, as above. The pattern area can be hot glide waxed (that’s another article), but should at least have a good paste wax applied. We recommend the TOKO Dibloc Paste wax. It works well in 20 to 30°F air temperatures, which is where most skiers ski.
Enjoy fast skis. e
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