Member of the Month

profa_212
July, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Base edge durability?

profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
Hey Newschoolers.

I recently received a new ski (gs, but not a LAB model, just stiff recreational gs).

My buddy has done quite a bit of tuning now, and wanted to help me out, so together we set the base edge to .5 and kept the side edge at 2.
At one or two spots the file couldn't reach let's say 1 cm of side edge. He said, that the edge had maybe taken a bit of pressure. Fair.
Going on to the base, we marked it down and my job was to file till the pen was gone. However, at .5 (1 from factory, I'm fairly new to really tuning skis, but we agreed that .5 would be good for me) it was quite hard to reach the metal surface, as the plastic part of the bevel was lying on the base. The file would at some points hit the metal and at others it was struggling more. However, in the end 95 percent of the pen was gone, so we thought that would do. The edges was/still are razor sharp, and I think the angles ended up being right (perfectionist when it comes down to gear...).

Now, season is coming to an end, and some wax wouldn't hurt. We get discount at the local shop, and they got a brand new machine this year (should be a good one). So question is, do I want wax plus side edges, or do I also want them to set the base at .5 once and for all? How many times can the base be done? I know you shouldn't touch it once it's set (not just sure if we got it 100% right). How many times can the base edge be done (approx) before the ski is dead?

Thanks in advantage !!!
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
haggis_hunter
Posts: 399 - Karma: 207
Why didn't you start with a base grind? Do you have access to a true bar?
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
LamafamaWhy didn't you start with a base grind? Do you have access to a true bar?


Is a base grind neccesary on brand new skis? I really just thought i had to set the edge angles (was what my friend told me). Nope, i do not really have access to any tuning tools, as they are my friends. True bar is for checking if its 100% even/flat right?
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
LamafamaWhy didn't you start with a base grind? Do you have access to a true bar?


Is a base grind neccesary on brand new skis? I really just thought i had to set the edge angles (was what my friend told me). Nope, i do not really have access to any tuning tools, as they are my friends. True bar is for checking if its 100% even/flat right?
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Poikenz
Posts: 1612 - Karma: 4,931
Pretty sure most people prefer a hand tuned edge over a machine tuned, or at least a machine tuned followed with a hand tune.
I'd put off a base grind as long as possible, if you don't need one don't get one (but that's my personal preference). Go for a manual wax over a machine wax. Not sure how far the machines have come in the last few years but I'd rather do it all myself. I think most perfectionists would rather fuck up their own shit than have someone else do it for them.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Caucasian_Asian
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 1,665
ValDIs a base grind neccesary on brand new skis? I really just thought i had to set the edge angles (was what my friend told me). Nope, i do not really have access to any tuning tools, as they are my friends. True bar is for checking if its 100% even/flat right?


If your skis came from the factory with a poor tune, then yes it is necessary. The only way to check to see if you're base-high is with a flat bar.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
haggis_hunter
Posts: 399 - Karma: 207
ValDIs a base grind neccesary on brand new skis? I really just thought i had to set the edge angles (was what my friend told me). Nope, i do not really have access to any tuning tools, as they are my friends. True bar is for checking if its 100% even/flat right?


If the factory tune is bad then you should always re-set to zero. I like to check it with a true bar to see who well the base edges have been set from the factory. I usually have mine on 1 even on my GS skis as they aren't going near a fis piste theres no need to be to agressive on the base edge.

PoikenzPretty sure most people prefer a hand tuned edge over a machine tuned, or at least a machine tuned followed with a hand tune.
I'd put off a base grind as long as possible, if you don't need one don't get one (but that's my personal preference). Go for a manual wax over a machine wax. Not sure how far the machines have come in the last few years but I'd rather do it all myself. I think most perfectionists would rather fuck up their own shit than have someone else do it for them.


This, its why I always hand tune.

Caucasian_AsianIf your skis came from the factory with a poor tune, then yes it is necessary. The only way to check to see if you're base-high is with a flat bar.


As the above said, you can't count on factory tunes from machines to be perfect.
10 years ago
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 4:13PM