Waxing....to scrape or not to scrape?

[Svend]

Thanks Ron.  Any feedback/recommendations re. the questions about burrs and base repair?

[Gary]

Svend....for burrs...I use my guides with a diamond stone (blue) followed by the Ceramic stone, fine (white). Deburrs, polish and hardens. I always travel with a medium file also just incase.

I detune the shovels from tip to where the board runs flat both tip and tail using some fine grit sandpaper and keep those edges fairly rounded off.? I know not all think this is necessary but I have no problem carving my skis and haven't been thrown to the ground having caught an edge.

Between brushing stokes tip to tail, I use a paint brush to remove the brushed out wax.

My brushes are Steel to open structure and brush out the first heaviest coat of wax usually 2 strokes tip to tail only,? then brass/nylon combo untill majority of wax is brushed in and off, followed by white nylon, followed by horsehair followed by blue short nylon brush for polishing. The blue nylon brush get's lots of strokes to the ski. You can see I'm into brushing cause I've seen great results with how well the bases hold up, provide exceptional glide and actually get better as more coats of wax are brushed in.

P-tex is a funny creature....I use the sticks you flame up and drip...I've repaired small holes but the bigger ones still give me headaches....they just don't always hold. Scraping even on the smaller ones sometimes pulls out the material. I think the key there is to be patient, let it cool, and scrape gingerly. Apply more coats of p-tex in layers if needed. I honestly admit this is one area of tunning I am weak on. I just had a core shot along the edge under foot and was very patient applying and re-applying the p-tex untill they looked really good. Took them to the mountain on Sunday and end of day, the entire repair had blown out. So...took them to the shop at the mountain and for $10, they repaired them. Haven't skied them since but I'm anxious to see if it holds. If so...I'm going to ask the boys what their secret is.

I might have a tuna or turkey sandwich...

Best,
G

[Svend]

Good one - thanks for the very detailed reply, Gary.? It looks like I'm in pretty good shape with what I'm doing, and can use my ceramic stones to remove burrs.? Like Ron's regimen, I'm doing pretty much everything you are, except that I'm not doing nearly as much brushing as you and Ron, though.? Am I doing too little? Or are you guys just gilding the lily, so to speak, to eke that last little bit of glide out of your bases?

As for the PTEX, I've bought some sticks and will try those soon.? I've heard they're more durable than the candles, which will be a good thing.? I'll test 'em on an old pair of kids skis, though, to make sure I get the temp right on the iron.? I'd fall on my broadsword if I melted a huge crater in the bases on my Supershapes.....and Terryl would push me onto it if I ruined hers! Will let you know how that works out, as Terryl has some shallow scrapes across one ski that have been bugging me every time I pass the waxing iron over them (these are the ones the candle drips won't grab onto).

BTW, 10 points to whoever can tell me what a barley sandwich is! I threw that in as a little puzzler to see if anyone caught on.? No bites yet... (Jim may know, as he's originally a flatlander too....)

[jim-ratliff]

Barley sandwich?? ? I saw it but just assumed that it was something "unique" to Canadians.? Kansas grows wheat, and we used to chew wheat kernels until they were sort of like gum, but Barley Sandwich isn't part of my up-bringing.

[Gary]

Hey Svend...do not be guilding my Lily....the brushing is just an act of extra love maybe...Like I said, I've seen extra results and will show you my Icelantic demos purchases after I worked on them....the bottoms look shinny and happy as do my year ole SS.

Should be no worry burning a hole in your base...ya burn the p-tex stick and let the hot stuff fill in the damaged area...wear a mask of some kind...not sure breathing that stuff is good for ya!

Barley Sandwich...It's a meat lovers sandwich invented by John P. Barley in 1932. John was a avid skier from Ontario. He realized that on the mountain he needed a good hearty bread and protein to make the most of skiing in the harsh Canadian winters. So, he would gather up meat scraps from all the local bars and restaurants at the end of the day, place them all in a grinder, make a patty and slap that bad boy in some bread. Yep....the same sandwich and same process is duplicated all over Canada at their finest resorts.

Thank you John P. Barley!

Best,
Gary

[Svend]

John P. Barley! Love it! Good one, Gary.? You forgot to mention that he put road kill in the grinder too...raccoons, squirrels, ski lodge mice.... ?

Actually, the term Barley Sandwich comes from the prairies (which is why I thought Jim might know it).? It's a fermented beverage consisting of malted barley, hops, water and yeast....in a word:? BEER.? The phrase "Going for a barley sandwich" was used as a round-about way of saying "I'm off to the pub for a pint", ......or just sitting at home on the porch having a beer, taking a break from chores.? Lot's of workmen's lunches included a greasy slider (burger) and a barley sandwich in the local watering hole, and it became a code for "Meet you at the pub, Joe!"

[Gary]

nice Svend.....we'll have to use that this next trip!

I too am surprised Jim was not aware of this.....

Gee....hmm....maybe if you had said...a Corn Sandwich....now Jim knows "white Lightning"!

G

[Svend]

White Lightning? OK, now I've heard that term, but not sure what exactly that is.  Could be a NASCAR racer, but sounds more like something that gets distilled in a shed out on the Back 40...lemmee see, some fermented corn mash, boiled and condensed....am I getting close?

[Gary]

Crystal clear and ya can run your "Thunder Road" 49 Ford on it.

Oh yea....good ole corn mash!

White Lightning!

G

[jim-ratliff]

Basically, medicinal strength grain alcohol.  The kick of a mule, from what I hear.

[Gary]

Yeah.. for sure it would de gunk your internal combustion mechanisims....

I had it once in the Army down at Ft. Bragg...wahoooo.... .wicked stuff....looked like rubbing alcohol...tasted... well....strong!

A dab will do ya! Sure do warm the cockles of your heart!

G

[Svend]

Yeah.. for sure it would de gunk your internal combustion mechanisims....

A dab will do ya! Sure do warm the cockles.....

Sounds like just the ticket for poor old Phil.... a good de-gunking is what every man needs from time to time.?

[Gary]

geez Svend...man, I must be out of the loop.....is that what they're calling it now days..?

"a good de-gunking".....wait a minute....you know you Canadians kinda have funny words for things....

I mean,  in your neck of the woods do you have: "Houses of I'l-de Gunks", or are they "I'l de Gunk Houses"...

and are the people that work there refered to as "de gunkers"? I mean...are their customers called the "de gunkees"? 

It's just so hard learing a new language   

I'm so confused.....geesh. ..good thing Jackson Hole is only a few days aways...a few solid runs is as good as a solid "de gunking"!

AND if my wife catches me talking like this..."I'm gunked"!

Yeah....I'm oh so bad! 

G

[Svend]

Hey, just picking up on the line that you started...."de gunk your internal combustion mechanisims...." "warm the cockles....."  You know...nudge, nudge...wink, wink.....  Hoping we could help a frustrated Phil with his plumbing.... (See post #1, here:  http://skiforums.org/rev2/index.php?topic=1525.0)    Jeez, do I have to spell it out for you?  (insert sound of Gary's head being thumped with a provolone) 

[Gary]

WHy what do you mean....well at least have the courtesy during my thumping to include some salami and a nice hard roll!

G

I'm out of here....have a great weekend!