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Official Ski/Binding Maintenance Thread

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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
As all of us know, it is very important to know how to use/maintain your ski equipment, so my hope for this thread is to have everyone post videos or picture tutorials on how to do various forms of ski maintenance, whether it's adjusting bindings, waxing skis, dulling edges, anything, but just so you know where to look when you have basic questions about this sort of thing

I'll put 2 videos in the OP:

How to Take Apart/Bend FKS
by me

How to Wax Your Skis
by mrstskier

Next up just a few tips:

When you get home from skiing you should do 3 things:
1. take your skis inside and leave them there
2. wipe your bases and edges with a cloth or rag
3. pull your skis apart and lean them against a wall with the bases sticking up

Now it's your turn, post tips, stories, tutorials, anything relating to ski maintenance because it can greatly increase the life and performance of your gear


**DISCLAIMER**
A LOT OF THESE THINGS REQUIRE BASIC SHOP SKILL, PROPER TOOLS, AND EXPERIENCE. DO EVERYTHING AT YOUR OWN RISK AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABLE TO EXECUTE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROCESSES. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU RISK THE LIFE OF YOUR GEAR AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING

This goes for advice giving as well, make sure you possess knowledge of the subject you're providing advice for because it can jeopardize people's safety if you give them false tips. So either make sure you know what you're saying or put in your post that you're just kinda guessing
Apr 21 2009 10:27PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Get a scraper sharpener, so handy.
Oct 11 2010 8:58PM
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MammothGirl
Posts: 22 - Karma: 19
thanks! ive been wanting a good guide like this so i dont have to keep paying the shop to wax my skis for me!
Oct 11 2010 10:15PM
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emlaa
Posts: 61 - Karma: 15
ditto, cheers guys

em
Oct 12 2010 5:59AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
feel free to send me tit pics as a thank you ladies
Oct 12 2010 4:10PM
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natty.
Posts: 857 - Karma: 34
what are those cloths called that you wipe the base with after you dull the edges?
is there a special kind i should get?
Oct 12 2010 10:12PM
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arandomname
Posts: 1989 - Karma: 18
I'll send some nip pics as a thank you right away.  I hope you don't mind hair...














Just kidding.
Oct 13 2010 5:03PM
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arandomname
Posts: 1989 - Karma: 18
What kind of table should I use?  Is it worth it to buy a table or could I just make one?  If you know of a good table, could you tell me the name of it or if you know of a place that gives good directions on making a table, could you send me the link?
Oct 15 2010 9:06PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
well you can buy a waxing bench from swix for alot of money, my dad and i made our bench
Oct 15 2010 9:11PM
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arandomname
Posts: 1989 - Karma: 18
Yeah I don't really wanna spend all that money for something I could just make for 1/5 the price.  Did you just make like a regular bench or did you do something different that made it better?
Oct 15 2010 9:23PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
just a reg bench with storage under it and some kind of clear coat to help it not get fucked up
Oct 15 2010 11:30PM
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bustinthejus
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 74
Hmm on the topic of benches... Got any tips for a diy vice? Or should I really invest into a toko/swix vice set?
Oct 16 2010 1:24AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
bolt some wood blocks with rubber on top of them to a bench and it works well enough, but for sharpening/tuning get real vices
Oct 16 2010 1:46AM
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bustinthejus
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 74
And that's good enough to keep my skis in place while I scrape/brush them? Sweet thanks!
Oct 16 2010 2:25AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
yep,make sure 1 of the blocks is right behind the toe piece, that will help them from moving alot
Oct 16 2010 2:03PM
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bustinthejus
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 74
Alright thanks! By the way... You get your viciks yet!? haha looking forward to that video...
Oct 16 2010 2:13PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
lol no, edges should be in this next week, and I should have them by the start of november
Oct 16 2010 3:18PM
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arandomname
Posts: 1989 - Karma: 18
Damn those edges are taking forever.
Oct 16 2010 6:49PM
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
bending fks breaks is a bitch. how long should it take to bend them? like only put them straight ?
Oct 19 2010 2:33PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
how could they actually function as breaks if they're sticking straight out?
Oct 20 2010 2:26PM
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
have you watch the video about the fks in the thread? they guy says you need to straight them then bend them back where you need.
Oct 20 2010 3:50PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
all your brake bendings are belong to me

pm me if you need my services
Oct 20 2010 9:40PM
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
well.. would it be possible to ski with only 1 stopper on 1 break. and the other is fully okay btw
Oct 23 2010 1:43PM
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MN_Nice
Posts: 3824 - Karma: 56
One brake you mean?
Oct 24 2010 2:33PM
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
well i broke one. so there would be only break to stop the ski. The other ski would be okay.
Oct 24 2010 10:32PM
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MN_Nice
Posts: 3824 - Karma: 56
That happened to me before. No difference really. You'll be fine without it.
Oct 24 2010 10:38PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
Sorry, I was intoxicated. I would bend them back about as slowly and deliberately as you can.
Oct 26 2010 3:53PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Is there a way to get PVC off ski bases without using the wax/scrape method? (Trying to save wax.) I don't want to use base cleaner.
Oct 26 2010 10:30PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
how the hell do you have pvc on your base?
Oct 26 2010 10:45PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
PVC rail.
Oct 27 2010 11:09AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
ive never seen pvc rub off onto the base

just hot scrape it, can you honestly not afford a $15 bar of wax? just go dig around for quarters
Oct 27 2010 12:06PM
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B@Seattleski
Posts: 38 - Karma: 14
WORD. BUY a gummy stone and use it on all of your burs etc it will keep it smooth.
Oct 30 2010 1:49AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
This. I'm pretty sure that this is imposable. Can you describe what your base looks like/take pictures? It could be something else.
Nov 1 2010 12:42PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
threads for in some hours, i just made myself some sweet maintenance stands (like a vise but without the vise ;D )

works like a charm, all i used is some spare wood, rubber and a handfull of screws :)

pics will be up later today or tomorrow !
Nov 2 2010 7:34AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
what'd you do? make blocks of wood with rubber, set the skis on the rubber so the wood didn't damage the topsheets, and then screw your skis on to the wood so they stayed in place?

because that would not be a good idea, you would have holes in your skis
Nov 2 2010 11:31PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
Not to mention that he'd damage those precious topsheet graphicz.
Nov 3 2010 12:09AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
no, the rubber is to protect from that
Nov 3 2010 12:50AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
I know, but drilling your skis to keep them in place would do a number to the graphics. Which would defeat the purpose of the rubber, indicative of the stupidity of one who would take care to protect the topsheets and not care about drilling through the part of the ski that matters.

I thought you were mocking the average NSer on more than one level; I'm sorry to have given you so much credit. Have fun at Stanford.
Nov 3 2010 12:58AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
if you put rubber down, nothing will happen to the topsheets. it doesnt matter what you do. i read that somewhere so i believe that, not you
Nov 3 2010 1:01AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
I see what you did there.
Nov 3 2010 10:13AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
well, you're a buzzkill ...


Nov 3 2010 12:46PM
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Vino
Posts: 2939 - Karma: 1,117
Is it true that new fks brakes doesnt fit on old FKS ? ( the black and gold ones )
Nov 3 2010 4:58PM
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arandomname
Posts: 1989 - Karma: 18
So artechski.com says that I should use a bronze brush then a horse hair brush and that a blue nylon should be used for finishing touches.  I really only want two brushes so blue nylon or horsehair?
Nov 4 2010 9:07PM
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Jgombasy
Posts: 180 - Karma: 62
Just bought a pair of used new lifes. knew about core shots, but was told they were fix immediately. Got my skis and found the p-tex was all cracked. What are my opinions to do with this??

standard chapstick for size reference.

Click for larger image
another one
Click for larger image

Both are underfoot if wondering location. Any help/advice would be grateful. Thanks
Nov 4 2010 9:09PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Dig it all out and fill it with epoxy (Araldite is fine). If it's underfoot it's not going to flex much.
Nov 5 2010 4:30AM
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Jgombasy
Posts: 180 - Karma: 62
i figured it had to be dug out. but what do i use to dig it out with??
Nov 5 2010 5:35PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
stanley knife?
at least that's what i use when i have loose basematerial...
Nov 6 2010 4:26PM
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Brokemo
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
i didnt read this whole thread so i dont know if you guys are talking about binding but im about to get my bindings mounted on my new AR7's and im not sure if i should go mid sole or factory recommended. i ski probably 60% park 40% mountain any ideas?
Nov 9 2010 5:37PM
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natty.
Posts: 857 - Karma: 34
which ski vise would be better for me?
i am a beginner when it comes to waxing and i have Surface New Life skis (122 underfoot) if that makes any difference.
the two choices are:
http://www.rei.com/product/792994



or...

http://shop.skibarndurango.com/swix-compact-ski-vise.html

Nov 14 2010 5:12PM
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MrLarsen
Posts: 583 - Karma: 16
Both would probably suffice, but if you get the compact one it might get a little wobbly with fat pow skis, it shouldn't really be a problem though.. I use a swix world cup vise and that's fine for me with EPs..
Nov 15 2010 6:33PM
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natty.
Posts: 857 - Karma: 34
thank you. i guess i made a slightly better decision by just buying the wider ones. internet ptz 4 u.

and 500th post.
Nov 16 2010 12:02AM
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