Acmclsh1I’m trying my hand at tuning skis at home for the first time, and am using a cheap pair of second hand store youth Atomics so I don’t F-up my own skis first.
The Atomics appear to be set at a 2 degree bevel on the base, and a 3 degree side edge. I am slowly working out the rust, but feel that is an odd bevel ratio for a child’s ski?
Assuming no one has used these skis for the same purpose previously, do these ratios make sense for a Jr ski bought from a thrift shop?
Pugski member here. Lol
Yes, those are odd angles as most Atomic/most manufactures will be 1 degree base/2 degree side from the factory. Race skis might be .5 or .75 base and 2-4 degrees side for quicker edge hookup and better hold when on edge.
Base edge angles are usually how little you have to tilt the ski before the edge catches and side edge angle is usually the edge hold when you get on edge. So .5 degree will grab quickly for an expert on a race ski but will be “catchy” for most other skiers. The one degree base is a good compromise of grabbing when it’s supposed to and not when it shouldn’t and that’s why almost everyone runs that from the factory.
Rental shops will bump up the base angle to 1.5-2 degrees so beginners won’t catch edges and a shop might have done this to those skis to prevent catching edges.
Afraid to bring back base angles back to 1 degree or less, a shop would have to stone grind the base and edges flat again(to 0 degrees) and then you’d file to your desired base angle.
Your actual skis should be at 1 degree base/1-3 degrees side and if you have files with guides set at those levels, you’re not going to mess things up. Gummy stone is also handy to remove any burrs you get while filing or to remove edge damage after skiing. Lots of videos online to guide you through.
Good luck!
