Some might say the more the merrier, but when it refers to snowboards, is more wax recommended?
Yes, there is. What will happen is that leaving too much wax on your snowboard will dry the base out more quickly. Some people believe that leaving wax on the base on their snowboards will make them go down the hill faster. That is a myth.
Too Much Wax On A Snowboard: How To Remove It?
Some sources state that about one drop or two per square inch is enough. Some say that’s too much. For example, if you use 1.5 oz of wax on your snowboard, you can spend almost an hour scraping away the excess wax.
So, let’s assume you used too much wax, and now you need to take it off. How do you do it? Here are some things you can do.
First, you need to get your tools ready. Get a scraper (plastic or metal, but always remember to keep it nice and sharp) and a horse hairbrush.
Ensure Your Snowboard Is Cold
Before you start scraping, check your snowboard is chilly and nice. Then, after the waxing process, take your snowboard outside; this will help the snowboard cool down quicker. In addition, taking your snowboard outside will make the base porous around the wax, so when you do the scraping, the scraper will exfoliate less wax from the base.
Scraping Your Snowboard
Suppose you can place the scraper at a 45˚ angle and push it along the board base. In that case, it will make the entire process easier. However, please know that this requires some pressure downward to help remove the wax. And this is the reason why you need a sharp scraper.
A blunt scraper will make wax removal a bit difficult. This part may be challenging, as you will want to remove all the excess wax from the snowboard base. Otherwise, the excess wax on the base is going to dry it out quicker. If you wish to reduce the mess you make with the excess wax, try doing long scraping laps in just one direction.
The point of scraping is to remove the excess wax left on the snowboard base. You may think leaving some wax on the snowboard base will make you go faster on the hill, that is not true. Leaving the excess wax on the base will dry the base out quicker. And it is because the snow crystals will also push out the excess wax as the wax absorbs into the base.
Brush Your Snowboard
Once you remove all the excess wax, it’s time to take the brush and shine up the base. Brushing the base will ensure all that excess wax is removed, and the snow crystals won’t drag any of the wax out of the base.
Brush the base to help you bring out the base texture or structure, which will increase the speed. Brushes vary depending on size, material, and stiffness.
After you remove even the smallest bits of wax leftover on the base with the brush, you’re ready to shred. The base should be shiny and nice.
Final Test
Once completed, run your finger along the base. You should hear a squeaky noise. Once you hear that noise, you know your snowboard is going to fly.
What Type Of Scraper Should You Use?
To scrape off the excess wax, you could use either polycarbonate (plastic) or steel scrapers. Plastic scrapers may be a better solution, as steel can remove base material and damage your bases. But it should be sharp (you can use a scraper sharpener or run the flat edge over sandpaper).
When working on bases, you should always work from tip to tail. Try to angle the scraper in the direction of travel and push it from tip to tail to remove the wax. Many boarders believe it’s best to pull the scraper towards you.
Scrape the base until no more wax is coming off of it and avoid under-scraping. Don’t forget to scrape your edges with the end of the scraper.
Can You Over Scrape The Snowboard?
You’re unlikely to over scrape the base as long as your scraper is flat and doesn’t gouge the base with a corner. The angle you use may catch on a deposit of wax and leaves lines on the base. However, it’s only in the wax, not the actual Ptex base.
Scrape off the wax away from the metal edges, especially if you’re going to be in hard/icy conditions.
Snowboard waxing scrapers typically come with a notch in the side that allows you to scrape edges. You can also use something else to scrape the wax off, but it will not be that fast or easy. That’s why you should use only quality gear.
It would be best if you also brushed or scrape the wax away off the board’s surface as you go because you will see any spots you’ve missed. To be sure you’ve removed all the excess wax, scrape the entire base repeatedly. It may happen that even after several scrapes, the wax is still coming off. It will eventually stop.
Some snowboarders are wondering if it is possible to over scrape the base. The truth is – to make the wax effective, it should be thin. Therefore, little or no wax should come off if you scrape the base with a fingernail.
Don’t worry if you see any colored material in your scraped wax. It can be from the additives in the wax carbonizing from the heat when you’re ironing the wax. It can also be Ptex “hair” – small shavings on the surface of the base, typical for normal wear of riding. It won’t damage anything and most certainly won’t spoil your ride. So, scrape it!
Waxing Your Snowboard: How Often Should I Do It?
Some people recommend waxing your snowboard after every three days of riding. However, the waxing frequency will depend on several factors, including how often you ride, your base construction, and the conditions you’ll be riding in.
The base construction has two main types: sintered and extruded. A sintered base is more porous and consequently will absorb more wax. That being the case, when a sintered board is waxed well, it will run smoother and faster than an extruded base.
Unlike waxing a sintered base, it won’t make much difference waxing an extruded base. So on that account, extruded bases do not need to be waxed that often.
For example, an extruded base (EB) that is not waxed will be faster than a sintered base (SB) that is not waxed. On the other hand, a waxed sintered base will be faster than a waxed extruded base.
Conclusion
Based on how your snowboard feels and how the base looks, you can tell when it needs to be waxed. For example, if you consider your board is slowing down or seeing the base is looking dry and white, maybe it’s time to give your snowboard a wax treatment.
Then, when removing the excess wax, remember to apply firm downward pressure to the scraper to help remove the wax. Make sure the scraper is not blunt; that way, removing the wax won’t be more difficult.
In between uses, you can always apply the horsehair brush to refresh your snowboard. Then, follow up with some polish.
As you can see, you can get very involved in the process. And, it can be quite relaxing.
Remember, the only time you should leave the excess wax on your snowboard is during summer when your snowboard is in storage. And, of course, even all the waxing in the world won’t compensate for a low snowboard technique.
Sources:
https://snowboardaddiction.com/blogs/training-tuning/112862788-how-to-remove-wax-from-your-snowboard
https://www.redbull.com/us-en/how-to-wax-a-snowboard
https://www.snowboardingforum.com/threads/too-much-wax-how-much-do-you-use.35553/
