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Tips for waxing a backyard rail

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public_enemy14
Posts: 140 - Karma: 11
any special way to wax the rail? any tips to make the rail slide better?
Nov 19 2006 4:50PM
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Geoff.
Posts: 2378 - Karma: 12
can you use they same wax you use on the base of your skis/board on a box?
Nov 19 2006 4:51PM
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Tucks
Posts: 2120 - Karma: 161
you can use candle wax, works well. Ski wax works well but is a little expensive for that. You can, with ski was, rub it on or melt is on.
Nov 19 2006 5:03PM
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III
Posts: 2041 - Karma: 22
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I actually tried this and i did kinda work.
Nov 19 2006 5:04PM
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chrismoJBEATS
Posts: 5898 - Karma: 44
^haha i got that stuff haha.....
but candle wax works fo sho
or like curb skate wax
Nov 19 2006 5:06PM
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Albino
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 123
HOLD UP.

ok, wax 101

why does wax make ur skis go faster. is it because its slippery. NO!!

its because it creates FRICTION between your base and the snow, and that melts the snow immediately beneath, making them slide.

If you wax both your bases and the rail, you will stick.

use oil, soap,. something slippery. i find cheap shitty cooking oil on pvc works real well.
Nov 19 2006 5:08PM
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ZavierV
Posts: 5077 - Karma: 100
^^ I was just going to say this. DO NOT WAX YOUR RAIL. You will instantly eat shit on contact. Things that work well:

grease
motor oil
cooking oil
(anytype of oil)
dishsoap
WD-40

Things that will eat into you bases and ultimately destroy your skis:

grease
motor oil
WD-40

If you're using your good skis then don't use the above mentioned^^
If you're using crap skis, use whatever turns your crank.

Using nothing on the rail works as well. If your rail is hardened steal and not a softer metal (like aluminum) and is smooth, you can spray it with a hose and it will slide. This is my favorite if you're slidding natural, if you're learning to jib unatty, use a lubricant.

Nov 19 2006 5:17PM
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public_enemy14
Posts: 140 - Karma: 11
ok thanks guys
Nov 19 2006 7:25PM
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nate-layton
Posts: 115 - Karma: 10
just wax it with regular wax
Nov 19 2006 7:29PM
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nate-layton
Posts: 115 - Karma: 10
use a candle
Nov 19 2006 7:30PM
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winterkid33
Posts: 2267 - Karma: 52
then why when i put bunches of wax on my metal rails does it make them slide better? you can talk theories and what should happen but be assured when I put wax on my metal rails they slide much better then they did previously. same with my box with lexan topsheet. it could be that this will only work in the summer when snow melts to create water that then slides on wax and that in the winter wax will not be so good on rails but when its above freezing its a must. I got mine from stop and shop some kinda car wax it was 8 bucks for 4 huge bricks of it
Nov 19 2006 7:34PM
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jibsworth
Posts: 1554 - Karma: 12
Physics 101:

Friction does not make you go faster, friction makes you go slower. Ski wax makes your base becomes smoother and your skis gain the water repellent properties of fluorocarbons. The wax reduces the drag and the ski glides on a cushion of water on the surface of snow, also the wax reduces any sort of ice/dirt build up on the bottom of your skis, again reducing drag.

I realize this is kinda off topic but I couldn't let this one go.
Nov 19 2006 8:31PM
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eheath
Posts: 61161 - Karma: 118,908
Why the fuck would you put oil on a PVC rail? Shit its fucking plastic it already is slick enough? Are you trying to be Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation or something?!?!
Nov 19 2006 9:22PM
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Albino
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 123
fair enough, i described that badly.

you are right, the idea is to find a wax that will adhere to the ski, but not to the snow.

But that thin film of water you speak of is created by the friction of the wax on the snow - its a crucial part of it.

I guess my point should have been, if theres wax on your skis and wax on the rail, those two should not make sliding easier as it does on snow.

i dont know why some say it works - its totally fucked up any attempts in which ive used it.

as for the guy who dissed me using oil, try it. im not the best rail grinder in the world, but i sure as shit makes the pvc on my backyard setup slide well.
Nov 19 2006 9:55PM
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jibmaster_josh
Posts: 2369 - Karma: 23
pour water on it to makeit icy
Nov 20 2006 12:35AM
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winterkid33
Posts: 2267 - Karma: 52
i know oil will make it slide but it also will rust the rails faster, ive tried it. wax makes it slide but stays on the rail longer and somewhat rust proofs the rail. again its not the friction between the wax and the snow that creates the thin layer of water it is the pressure of the skis (edges for the most part) that melt the snow slighty. wax helps because like the other dude said, it creates a less permiable barrier on the base of the skis making them slide faster on the thin layer of water. skiing works on the same principles as ice skating being all of your weight is on a small area melting the ice creating a thin layer of water u can slide on, its not the friction between blade of the skates (which is very smooth) and the ice that melts the ice.

maybe the wax melts the snow even more with the heat created by friction but i do believe it is primarily the pressure melting that creates the water layer. either way wax works on rails well if you have just waxed your skis and then wax a rail youll prolly eat shit because wax slideing on wax= no good
Nov 20 2006 1:05PM
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TimothyLord
Posts: 2114 - Karma: 568
i would just wax it
Nov 20 2006 1:15PM
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STACKS
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 42
just use soap on the rail and soap the bottoms of your skis
Nov 20 2006 2:08PM
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public_enemy14
Posts: 140 - Karma: 11
he is right
Nov 21 2006 2:41PM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
There isn't any special way to wax a rail... Theres a special way to wax a ledge though. For your rail you can use any wax like skate wax, candle wax and ski wax. Make sure u have the rail covered with wax but don't make it too slippery.
Nov 21 2006 2:58PM
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Smed193
Posts: 188 - Karma: 10
^^ hes not right, wax does not make base smoother, at least it shouldnt if u scrape and brush. wax repels the water we ski on, yes we all ski on a thin layer of melted snow, aka water. and if ur skis are structured or brushed right it makes easier paths for water flow.

but overrall wax just repels water to make you fast, it doesnt make the base smoother causing less drag, or add friction
Nov 21 2006 3:02PM
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Swick825
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 11
plumbers grease for sure.
Nov 21 2006 3:02PM
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