HOW TO WAX YOUR SNOWBOARD

Waxing your snowboard is incredibly easy...once you know what you are doing. With all the necessary equipment it should take around 20-25 minutes to wax a board. Regular waxes keep your board running fast while providing a protective layer for your base. If you would rather skip the hassle, don’t worry, we have a full tuning and repair shop in-store, here in Melbourne. If this is more your thing, bring your board in to us and we will wax it for you! If you're a seasonal veteran or just prefer the DIY method, we've come up with some tips and tricks to help you along the way. 

WHAT YOU NEED 

Firstly you will need some supplies. We offer a great wax kit that comes with the bare minimum of what you need to wax your board. This includes a waxing iron, wax and scraper. Other supplies you may need are base cleaner, a scourer, a cloth, and a structuring brush.

CHOOSING AN IRON

We always recommend using a snowboard/ski specific waxing iron over a regular one because the snow ones have a completely flat surface that will spread the wax more evenly across the base. If you do decide to use a regular iron, make sure to retire it afterwards and not to use it on anymore clothes!

HOW TO PICK YOUR WAX

The best wax to start with is an all temperature wax that will work no matter what the weather is like. You can buy specific wax for specific temperatures but this requires waxing your board every time the weather changes. Waxes will be labeled with a specific temperature rating, if you are heading over to North America, Europe or Japan, you will want to go for a cold wax that is going to suit the temperature. We also offer packets of assorted wax, perfect for anyone who likes to travel. There are waxes on the market that are designed to make you go faster, however these are generally more expensive and wont last as long.

SCRAPERS: PLASTIC VS METAL

If you're looking at buying a scraper, it is most likely that you should choose plastic. Why? As a general rule, only experienced tuners will choose a metal scraper as they are more effective, and allow them to be more precise. However, metal scrapers can easily damage your snowboard, harming your edges and shaping them into corners. Plastic scrapers are beneficial as they are less likely to cause damages, create scratches, and will still do a great job.

GREAT SNOWBOARD WAXING TRICKS

STEP 1: Clean The Base

Its always good to start with a clean base. We sell base cleaner that helps easily remove dirt and old wax so you can start fresh. Using the base cleaner, scrub the base with your scourer, paying extra attention to any grimey areas. Wipe off any residue with the polishing cloth, clearing the base of old wax and dirt.

STEP 2: Apply The Wax

Once the base is clean, heat up your iron and drip a thin layer of wax across the board. To begin with, set the temperature to a low setting. To melt the wax, gently press one corner of the wax block to the iron, watching for your fingers! Holding above the board, move the iron smoothly and steadily around the edge of the board, leaving a trail of regular wax spots. Now fill in the middle of the board, going from side to side in a zig zag pattern.

Then use the iron to smooth out the wax until it covers the entire base surface. Be careful, it is easy to use too much wax so don’t go too crazy. You can always drip more wax on if you need it, so it's better to start small rather than go large to begin with. Once the base has been covered, let the board cool down so that the wax is no longer able to be spread. We generally suggest waiting 10-15 minutes.

STEP 3: Wax Scraping

Once the board has cooled down and the wax has become solid, grab your scraper, holding it at roughly 45 degrees to the board, and begin to scrape the wax off. Work mainly in one direction, from the nose to the tail. 

There are different techniques to scraping to keep in mind. Generally you want to scrape from the nose to the tail so the scraping lines go the same way that your board rides. If you ride switch a lot you can change up the direction. It is also good to make long full scrapes from tip to tail rather than small aggressive scrapes in one section. This will keep the base smooth and make your board run faster.

A common mistake is not scraping off enough wax, but it is important to note that as the base absorbs wax, the idea is to leave the thinnest possible layer on the surface. In order to get the best possible view of your work, make sure to brush the peelings away as you go. Eventually your base will just look wet and have a richer colour. You'll notice a little notch in the corner of your scraper. This is here to allow you to remove any excess wax from the edges of your board.

STEP 4: Buffing

The final step is to take a softer structuring brush and buff out the base so it looks smooth and professional. Starting at one edge, firmly brush the base from nose to tail. Continue this process until you have covered the whole board. Structuring the base like this puts tiny grooves into the wax that help reduce friction. 

And that’s it, your board is waxed and ready to go. Head to the mountains and enjoy your new super fast ride!