Do It Yourself Snowboard Tuning and Maintenance
Do It Yourself Snowboard Tuning and Maintenance
Once you begin using your snowboard often, it will inevitably lead to some loss in efficiency. Most people wait until the end of the season to have it professionally serviced. However, if you are uncomfortable sending your board to a service shop. DIY maintenance it is usually less expensive. Additionally, it gives you the benefit of being able to tune up your board throughout the season.
Here are a few simple tips prepared by the RunRex shipping experts.
1. Use a brass brush to dirt off your snowboard. A steel brush should only be used by experienced pros.
2. You should always brush from tip to tail. Avoid a scrubbing motion when cleaning your board.
3. The base edge must always be sharpened before you move to the side edge of your board.
4. Always enquire from the manufacturer about the base edge angle. Most snowboards come with a 1-degree bevel. Some manufacturers have a different bevel, which might be disastrous if you start filing without the knowledge.
5. Use a citrus solvent or a base cleaner to remove grime and dirt from the snowboard. The snow can be quite dirty, which can affect the quality of your wax job.
6. Waxes come in different temperature ranges. Some waxes are meant for temperatures below -4 degrees up to -10 degrees. Some have a range of 0 to -4 degrees.
7. If you cannot find a temperature specific wax, you should consider an all-temperature wax. However, keep in mind that such a wax does not work quite as well as a temperature specific wax.
8. You should purchase a wax iron for waxing your snowboard. An ordinary iron box is not as effective since it has a wide temperature range. A wax iron has a narrow temperature band. Thus, it has better consistency.
9. To wax your board, touch the tip of the wax to the hot iron surface. Avoid placing chunks of wax on the board and pressing them with the hot iron. Tilt the corner of the iron so that a thin line of wax drips onto the base of your board.
10. Always wax and scrape a few times before making your final application. Waxing and scraping numerous times helps to get rid of any dirt and imperfections on the base of your board.
11. The best temperature-specific wax should be saved for the final wax and scrape cycle.
12. Clamp the tips of your snowboard so that it stays securely in place. It makes working on it easy.
13. After applying wax, scrape off the excess wax. Most people believe that a thick layer of wax is good for effective performance, which is not true. Use either a Perspex or steel scraper so that only a small layer is left.
14. Use a deburring stone to get rid of imperfections on the edges of your board. The burrs can throw you off balance when hurtling down the mountainside if they are not removed.
15. Use a P-Tex candle to fill in any scratches. Drip a P-Tex candle’s wax into the scratches and allow it to cool. Scrape off the excessive wax until it is flush with the base.
16. Before filling in any scratches, use a razor to remove and burrs or shavings from the damaged area. It helps the P-Tex wax to adhere to the board better.
17. Ensure that you service even new snowboards. Never assume that because it is straight from the factory, everything is perfecting, rub the tips of the board, and even consider waxing. It helps to avoid nasty catches.
18. Use a soft nylon brush for your final waxing before going out in the snow. You can also put final touches with a horsehair brush. Ensure that you brush from tip to tail.
19. Always dry and store your board base up after a day in the powder. It prevents the melting now from causing rust.
20. If you notice a white surface developing on your board, it is time to wax. It is an indication that there is now wax on your board.
21. After every crash, you should check to see if your bindings are damaged. Additionally, you should check the integrity of your bindings every six days during the snowboarding season.
22. Make sure you practice often. Though you may not do a perfect job the first time, repeated waxing will help you become a pro.
23. Before storage, spray your board with a hose. It helps to get rid of any lingering dirt on your board. Additionally, ensure that you allow the board to dry overnight.
24. Cover the base of the board with a thick layer of all-purpose wax before putting it into storage. It helps to protect your board from rust.
25. Store your board away from direct sunlight. The sunlight has a negative effective on your layer of wax, it causes it to disintegrate and break down, which exposes the board to moisture. When summer is over and the snowboarding season starts, simply scrape off this excessive layer of wax.
