How to Wax Skis

Spreading wax at the bottom of the skis, or a snowboard, can really make a difference on how you perform out there on the slopes.

With proper care and maintenance of your equipment, you can not only increase its lifetime, but can enjoy the sport freely.

✦ First and foremost, gather the materials you'll require―clean towels, waxing iron, plastic wax scraper, nylon pads, a brush, vise, base cleaner, and ski wax.

✦ Sit in a well-ventilated room, and place the skis on the vise. Your skis need to be at room temperature for waxing. If you were in snow a few minutes, wait for about half an hour before you begin.

✦ Use clean towels to wipe excess snow and water off the skis. It's important to do this step to keep the bottom of the skis from getting damaged.

✦ After it reaches room temperature, take some base cleaner in a clean towel to apply on the skis. The base cleaner will remove dirt and old wax off the bottom.

✦ Make sure that the entire bottom of the skis are covered, and you haven't left any dry spots. After wiping the bottom, leave the skis aside to dry properly. Don't begin till the skis are completely dry, or else the wax won't stay.

✦ Meanwhile, heat the waxing iron before the wax is applied. Now you can use any iron (if you don't have a specific iron) that doesn't have any holes on its base. There shouldn't be any steam coming out from the iron while you work on the skis.

✦ When the skis are dry, apply the wax directly. You need to rub the wax at the bottom of the skis. Cover it completely and don't leave any spot.

✦ Once the iron is hot (hot enough to melt the wax, but not so hot that it damages the skis or burns the wax), use it at the bottom of the skis. Pretend as if you are ironing pants, and glide it along the grains.

✦ You will keep ironing till the bottom shows no dry spots.

✦ Let the wax cool down, and once it reaches room temperature, use a plastic wax scraper to remove excess wax off the bottom. Next, we use nylon pads to scrape the excess wax off.

✦ Use long strokes with the pads from top to bottom. This way, the level of the wax will be even throughout the skis.

✦ In the end, all you have to do is use a stiff-bristled brush to rub on the skis. Don't use too many strokes; just couple on each ski will be more than enough; apply gentle strokes.

✦ Now your skis are waxed. You can hit the slopes whenever you wish.

✦ To wax your skis without iron, you'll require - ski wax, plastic wax scrapper, hair dryer, vise, and nylon pads. Once you gather the materials, go to the next step.

✦ Sit in a well-ventilated room and place the skis on the vise. Your skis need to be at room temperature for waxing. If you were in snow, then wait for about half an hour before you begin.

✦ Use clean towels to wipe excess snow and water off the skis. It's important to do this step to keep the bottom of your skis from getting damaged.

✦ Once the skis reach room temperature, scrape any old wax there may be at the bottom of the skis; use the brush to clean.

✦ Apply the ski wax to cover the surface thoroughly. Make sure it's an even coat. Leave the wax alone to dry completely.

✦ You can use a hair dryer at the bottom before applying the wax. This will make sure that the wax is spread evenly.

✦ When the wax dries, use the nylon pads to buff the bottom to make it smooth. You can use the hair dryer again to get this step done quickly.

✦ Remove any excess wax there is at the bottom, and remove the skis from the vise. Hit the slopes once you are ready.

Be safe out there; and remember, don't touch the bottom of skis with either your palm or fingers, as the oils can damage the surface of the ski.