Saul's Cross Country Ski Base Repair and Restoration
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- Saul's Cross Country Ski Base Repair and Restoration
How to Repair and Restore Cross Country Ski Bases, including how to fix gouges and scratches, restructuring, base sanding and more. Adapted from Velotique's advanced waxing clinic part 2. velotique.com
The Bob Ross of cross country ski tutorials, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Great to see such a plainly spoken, easy to follow technique. Just gouged my new skates skis being too impatient after the first real fall over here in Oslo region.
+Martin von Bargen Thanks, I do take that as a compliment. I'm working on the hair.
Great, easy to understand explanation of a tricky repair job. I was wondering whether to only sandpaper and fibretex one direction from tip to tail only to minimise opposite fuzz direction. Bruce W of Australia, Worldloppet Gold Master X 3.
What grit of sandpaper should we use?
Yes. in the glide zones of your waxless skis only. It is too difficult to repair the waxless "fishscale" potion of the base.
Hi Saul! thank you for these precious videos. Does this process of sanding and restoring structure apply for classic skies ?
Yes, the glide part, in front and back of the grip zone.
Just saw this Saul and thank you. I am going to try this on my old pair of skate skis this weekend.
Cool video! I think i am going to give it a try with old skis first Just to practice!! Thank you for such informative and educational video!
You can do it!
I'm trying to fix a scratch on my Nordic ski, but every time I finish the process the scratch appears again, not as deep but still there, what I'm doing wrong? Looks like the ptex is softer than the base and goes away with the scraping. Thanks! Love your videos.
I use 80 to 100 grit paper. Remember we don't wan't the bases to be too smooth.
Great video. Very detailed and useful!
Very nice presentation--especially for a newbie!!
Hello from BC, Canada. I've noticed two sets of my family's skate skis have a structure and two sets don't. The ones with structure glide much better. I have a structure roller tool for the wax, but no noticable glide improvement. Do you think I could added some structure with sand paper, or do they need a factory type structure ground in to get the fancy pattern? Thanks
Visible structure may contribute to the glide difference. There are other factor at play, like the base material and the differences is ski flex. pressed in roller patterns have limited benefit in dry snow. Sand paper or stone grinding might help. Remember some skis are just faster than others.
Great information here! Quick question: I work at a shop that caters more to Nordic tune work than alpine. As an alpine guy I've never considered sanding bases to get skis flat but that seems like one of the results you get from your process. At our shop we typically use a Wintersteiger NC to get skis flat and structured but it takes quite a bit of time if the ski happens to base high or convex. If you had your druthers, would you recommend using sand paper to flatten skis or would you use the stone to grind skis flat?
Both have benefits. Remember Nordic skis have no steel edges. Stone grinding can remove a lot of P-tex if not properly setup for nordic skis. Hand sanding prevents big mistakes. As it removes material much slower. Grinding is great, if you have a lot of experience with nordic skis.
Hi, I have a couple of mediocre gouges on my waxless skis on the tail. Can I wax them for now and get them fixed in the off season. I am not good at diy and am planning to take them to a shop after the season to have them professionally looked at and repaired. Also the closest repair shops are over a hundred miles away.
Yes you can! They is no right or wrong answer, you set your our standards.
can a regular scotch brite scour pad from grocery store be used instead of fibertex?
Try it and let us know how it works for you.
Hey!
I have some Fischer RCS Speedmax skate plus skiis which I accidently got waxed as a classical ski.
So its been used sandpaper underneath the binding. Is it possible to fix this? Whats recommended?
Make sure the sanded part of the base is free of wax. Lightly scrape with a sharp steel scraper. Then polish with Fibertex (plastic abrasive scrub pad)
Definitely, same process applies. White bases would look better with clear p-tex repair kit. Same for multi-coloured bases. Same for snowboards as well.
You started by using an aerosol base cleaner on the entire length of the ski. I have been told you never use a base cleaner on your glide zone only the kick zone. Can you please clarify. I have found it almost impossible not have some base cleaner migrate into the glide zone as it is.
Never say never. Avoid is more appropriate.
Hello Saul, i'm looking to refurbish old family SKI's to mount on the wall. What would you recommend to remove the scratches on the top of the ski's without sacrificing original artwork?
Test how bad the scratches are. If they disappear when you make the skis wet (with water) you can simply coat them with a clear coat of lacquer or varnish. If they are deeper try lightly sanding with fine wet/dry sand paper or ultra fine steel wool. Then clear coat.
Can i use this method on Fischer Rcs Scate plus Skis?These skis have been factory structured.The structure not gona be damaged?
If you have a gouge that needs repair your structure is already damaged. Patching will be an improvement. If you want it as good as new you should consider having the bases stone ground.
Great videos, thanks for making them; but dude, ur edges are warping in and out of spacetime, just thought you might want to know
Thank you.
Just sanding? What about all of these "structuring tools" I see in the repair section of my XC catalog?
Can you restore the arch (camber) of older skis that have flattened out some? After 20 years, my old Karhu Classics are still in great shape otherwise
If the camber has collapsed, the ski has now earned its place above the fire place.
Great video Saul! Thanks!
I think this method is suitable for non structured skis.I did this on my ones and no i have to send them to stone grind to renew the Original structure.
Will these methods work well for an all mountain ski?
Yes
Does this apply for waxless?
Does p-tex hold wax the same as the original base it repaired?
Yes -- I have skis I repaired almost 30 years ago that are still holding their patches.
Te repaired patch area will hold grip wax adequately, but it is not as porous as high quality bases found on racing skis and will not absorb glide wax as well as the original base. It is still much better than a hole.
Can I sand skies like this on alpine ski?
Two types of waxless skis - extruded plastic(cheap kids skis or the normal polyethylene base material. Saul's process applies to the normal polyethylene base material. To know the difference? - The polyethylene base material will be marked by a fingernail impression, extruded plastic will not be marked.
I was about sanding.
I wouldnt do this. In my opinion its better to use a steelscraper or a stone grind. I have never seen or heard anyone else who sandpaper their skis like this.