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June, 2025

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How many tunes can a ski get before it is dead?

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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,323
My 16-17 Kartels have 200+ days on them and have been tuned like 4 or 5 times. I'm starting to get anxious about their possible demise. At what point do skis usually run out of base? These things are my babies so I need to spread out the last base-grinds as much as possible.
7 years ago
5 0
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,519
maybe overdoing it a bit on the base grind bud.
7 years ago
7 2
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10097 - Karma: 76,790
Why grind so much versus once a year? Fill in your core shots and sharpen edges yourself? But 5 base grinds seems a lot for 2 years even with 200 days. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
7 years ago
5 1
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tfsh
Posts: 190 - Karma: 554
depending on how you ski i think a base grind or 2 every 50 days isnt too bad. Conversly, base grinds can put allot of life back into a ski. Really you can do a base grind till you have no material left. Next time you can ask the tune shop guy to do one pass vs two and that will take off less material. i have a pair of 15/16 jeffery 114 that i have probably base grinded 6 or 7 times. still runnings strong
7 years ago
6 0
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OregonDead
Posts: 7089 - Karma: 26,776
How many .10s of a second have you taken off of you time? Did you request a 'race tune'?
7 years ago
2 2
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B.Quincy
Posts: 1074 - Karma: 964
Are you tuning your skis in between (like waxing) frequently think 5-10 ski days. If yes then a base grind 4-5 times is okay as long as you are also recutting sidewalls, edges etc and then continuing to tune in-between. People don't understand that base grinds are for when you start to get base high or lose all the structure in your skis. If you don't have structure, your bases don't accept wax as well and mainly do not interact with the snow as well. If you tune your skis in between, and only base grind as needed you will be fine.
7 years ago
4 0
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chicken
Posts: 6844 - Karma: 2,122
measure the thickness of your edge and subtract 0.6mm and that's roughly how much base you have left. Of course you can't grind it completely up to that point.
7 years ago
1 0
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
Theres enough material for more unless your tune shop has had to be super aggressive for some reason. 1.8mm thick base compared to the usual 1.2mm.

This is a perfect question for your shop tech - but I'd just have them stone ground and only stone ground unless theres some fills to the base that need a belt grind.

Also, make sure the edges get lightly detuned 2-3 inches past the rocker contact points, makes a world of difference.
7 years ago
1 0
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,323
brett_fishermaybe overdoing it a bit on the base grind bud.

Having sharp edges is more important when you ski big mountain instead of park. And 50 days is more than a season for the huge majority of skiers. Don't call me bud, pal.
7 years ago
3 0
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,323
OregonDeadHow many .10s of a second have you taken off of you time? Did you request a 'race tune'?


I'm sorry, is tuning skis only for racers? I guess park skiing is so mellow you don't even need edges anyways.
7 years ago
3 0
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,519
QuaffHaving sharp edges is more important when you ski big mountain instead of park. And 50 days is more than a season for the huge majority of skiers. Don't call me bud, pal.

Aye budy guy you can sharpen yours ski w out getting a base grind.
7 years ago
3 0
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,323
brett_fisherAye budy guy you can sharpen yours ski w out getting a base grind.

I don't ski park all the time like a total pussy, so bases get pretty chopped up in 50 days, cunt.
7 years ago
5 3
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,519
QuaffI don't ski park all the time like a total pussy, so bases get pretty chopped up in 50 days, cunt.

You like the soul 7 dads that come in my shop once a week for a tune.
i ski it all park,bc,street
7 years ago
6 0
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,323
brett_fisherYou like the soul 7 dads that come in my shop once a week for a tune.
i ski it all park,bc,street

Yay pancakes!
7 years ago
1 0
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7295 - Karma: 18,720
brett_fisherAye budy guy you can sharpen yours ski w out getting a base grind.


Not the base edge. You can do the side edge, but to get the base edge flat again before beveling you have to remove base material.
7 years ago
2 0
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,519
tomPietrowskiNot the base edge. You can do the side edge, but to get the base edge flat again before beveling you have to remove base material.

Hand file like a race boi
7 years ago
0 1
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7295 - Karma: 18,720
brett_fisherHand file like a race boi


But what if you want to maintain the same base bevel? If you just file more without flattening first you will be increasing the bevel. It is a pretty common misconception that you can sharpen edges without grinding, so don't worry lots of people get it wrong.
7 years ago
1 0
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,519
tomPietrowskiBut what if you want to maintain the same base bevel? If you just file more without flattening first you will be increasing the bevel. It is a pretty common misconception that you can sharpen edges without grinding, so don't worry lots of people get it wrong.


I file mine on my park skis bc the edge under foot will be fucked underfoot and idc but at work we machine everything
7 years ago
1 0
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