Taking care of a snowboard isn’t hard, but there are things you’ll have to do in order to ensure that it’s always properly functioning. This means keeping everything clean, and constantly having the proper amount of wax on your board.
Here’s a look at how you should wax your snowboard, to keep it protected for many uses and to be sure that it’s always in good working condition.
What Do You Need to Wax a Snowboard
You’ll need a few supplies before you can start. These items will all be required during the process, so you should have everything together before you begin. This way you won’t have to stop what you’re doing to search for something that you need.
Screwdriver
You’ll need a screwdriver to take everything off of your snowboard. Once your board doesn’t have anything connected to it, you should make sure it can lay flat on a surface without moving around much. It should be facing bottom-side up, so it can be properly waxed.
Iron
You will need a special iron to melt the wax onto your board. This isn’t a regular iron, like the one you use to iron clothes; however, you’ll have to find an iron that is compatible with your board.
Wax
This is another item you’ll need to get at a specialty store. This is due to the fact that you’ll require wax that will work well on your board, and is designed to withstand a range of temperatures.
Scraper
You’ll need a plastic scraper to get the excess wax off your board. You can get this pretty much anywhere, since they are commonly used to remove old paint, caulk, and other stuff. Check your local hardware store, and you should be able pick the size you want. A small- or medium-sized scraper should do the trick.
Brush
Again, this is another tool that will help you get the excess wax off your board. You’ll need something that is small and can be used with one hand. A good reference is the type of brush that comes with a small dustpan, if you’re wondering about the correct size. It is also important that the bristles not be too hard. They should be rather flexible, so they don’t scratch the surface.
Cloth
The cloth is for the final polishing of your board after you have rubbed off all of the extra wax. Essentially, it’s used to make sure that everything is smooth and ready to go. You can use something like a shop towel for this.
How to Wax a Snowboard (Steps)
The first thing you’ll need to do is make sure all the bindings, screws, and everything else is off of your board. This is because you’ll need it to sit flat when you’re working on it, and you can’t have any little part getting in the way.
Then, you’ll need to place it with the bottom side facing up on a flat surface. If you can elevate it up off the table a bit, it may be easier to work with. This is when you’ll need to plug in your iron to get it heated up as well.
Next, you’ll need to open up your wax and start melting it. Make sure that your board is clean before you do this step. You can purchase a special cleaner to clean it. Then you take the wax and place one end on the iron. This will make droplets of wax which you should evenly spread out across your board. Once you have done that, move on to the next step.
You need to iron the board, just like you would a shirt with a normal iron. Take it and run it horizontally across the whole board. When the wax is no longer in spots, and looks like it is relatively uniform, allow it to dry for at least 20 minutes.
Scraping it is the next thing you should do. Again, you need to scrape it horizontally, so you can get all the excess wax off the board. Discard the refuse and move on to the brush.
The brush should be used the same way, and will get rid of the rest of the extra wax. This will also make sure that the board isn’t too slippery, and that it doesn’t have any large mounds of wax on it, which can affect your performance.
Finally, wipe it down with your cloth. You can rub it in circles, to ensure that everything is nice and smooth. Depending on what color wax you used and what design your board is, you may be able to tell it has wax on it, or you may not.
However, if you followed these steps, you have properly waxed your board, so there’s no reason to think it won’t work well when it comes time to hit the snow.
Keep in mind that you should wax your snowboard after a few uses, depending on how it is working for you. If it feels like you are gliding too slowly through the snow, you’ll know it’s time for a new waxing.
Conclusion
Waxing your board may be time-consuming, but it isn’t hard to do; anyone can do it. All you need is a few basic supplies, including a special iron and wax that is suited for specific weather conditions and you’re set. There is a technique to follow that is pretty straightforward and you can always be sure that you’ll be sliding through the snow the way that you want to.