Repairing Guides

how to repair snowboard base

by Opal Hoppe IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Base Repair: Prepare the Base

  • Turn the ski or snowboard base-up and secure it in the vise to hold it in place. ...
  • If you’re working on skis, be sure to lock the brakes up and out of the way. To do this, retract the ski brake by depressing the pedal. ...
  • Check out the damage. If there are loose strands of base material around the hole, use your metal scraper to remove any extra base material around the gouge. ...
  • Brush off any dirt or debris (brush from tip to tail).
  • Clean the wound with a base cleaner to get rid of dirt and wax. Let the base cleaner dry completely.
  • Use rubbing alcohol and a clean towel to remove residual base cleaner.

Part of a video titled How To Repair Your Snowboard Base - YouTube
0:46
2:20
Having made one or two passes stub out the ptex stick and allow the molten layer in the gouge toMoreHaving made one or two passes stub out the ptex stick and allow the molten layer in the gouge to call from deeper the gouge the more layers you will need to fill it now repeat.

Full Answer

How to repair Ski&Snowboard bases?

How to Repair Ski & Snowboard Bases 1 Shallow Gouges. Der Wintersteiger will take care of those shallow gouges. ... 2 Medium Depth Gouges. Deeper gouges of 1 mm or more that still haven’t penetrated the ski or board’s laminate layers can be filled using several different methods. 3 Core Shots and Deep Gouges. ... 4 Edge Damage. ...

How do you fix scratched skis or snowboards?

If your bases have been scratched and repaired many times, bring your skis or snowboard to a shop for a stone grinding. A grind will flatten and smooth your bases and put in a structure or pattern for more speed.

Is it easy to repair dings and dings on ski bases?

It's pretty easy to repair gouges and dings on ski or snowboard bases, but the p-tex repair material you use will determine how long your repairs will last. Soft materials (like drip candles) make fast and easy fixes, but wear quickly.

Can I repair a rock gouge in my ski base?

You're arcing perfect turns down the ski slope when you hear a loud scraping sound underfoot. Don't panic; repairing a rock gouge in your ski or snowboard base is relatively easy for a do-it-yourselfer. Here’s a step-by-step look at what to do.

image

How do you refinish the bottom of a snowboard?

0:002:08Snowboarding Gear : How Do I Resurface a Snowboard? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIsn't needed but a light grind. Will make it smooth as butter as good as new ready for wax ready toMoreIsn't needed but a light grind. Will make it smooth as butter as good as new ready for wax ready to church up the edges get you back on the hill performing.

What kind of epoxy do I need for a snowboard?

A good marine-grade waterproof epoxy, or a reinforced epoxy product like JB Weld should be used to patch the core first – you may need to cut and remove even more of the base before you can do this work.

How do you repair a base?

0:032:22How to Tune Skis #2: Base Repair || REI - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo start by using your scraper to remove any extra base material from around the gouge stubbornMoreSo start by using your scraper to remove any extra base material from around the gouge stubborn spots may need a razor brush off any dirt or debris. Make. Sure you brush and scrape from tip to tail.

Can ski bases be repaired?

Base Repair: Assessing the Damage If the gouge is shallow or mid-depth and does not touch the edge, you'll likely be able to repair it yourself. If the gouge is cavernous and touches the core or the edge, bring your skis or snowboard to a ski shop to be repaired.

Can you epoxy a snowboard?

Slowly spread a good dollop of epoxy in the wound. Then grab a hairdryer and start heating the epoxy so it liquefies and seeps into the core. Keep heating the board's base, sidewall, topside and the epoxy until the epoxy stops bubbling from the escaping air. Be careful not to melt your base or topsheet.

Can a cracked snowboard be repaired?

Can a Cracked Snowboard Be Repaired? A crack snowboard can be repaired. You can repair medium-sized cracks around the edge at home with some DIY. On the other hand, more serious or heavier cracks can affect your board's structural integrity unless repaired with factory-grade equipment.

Can you repair the bottom of a snowboard?

0:052:20How To Repair Your Snowboard Base | Whitelines SnowboardingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you ride off piste at all sooner or later you're likely to hit a rock and damage your bass hmmMoreIf you ride off piste at all sooner or later you're likely to hit a rock and damage your bass hmm superficial scratches can be filled with wax. But deeper gouges will need to be filled with ptex.

How much does it cost to repair a snowboard?

ServicesTUNING SERVICESALPINE SKISSNOWBOARDSHot Wax Ironed on, scraped and buffed$15$20Sharpen Edges only sharpened and polished$15$15Wet Belt Bases belted flat$15$20Sharpen and Wax Edges sharpened & polished and hot belt waxed & buffed$25$3021 more rows

Can you use a hot glue gun for PTEX?

DominatorJacques No. That would burn it.

How do you fix a broken ski base?

1:012:58How To Repair Your Ski And Snowboard Base With P-TexYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst remove the excess base material from around the damaged area using a sharp blade. Then scrubMoreFirst remove the excess base material from around the damaged area using a sharp blade. Then scrub clean the area of any dirt using a base layer.

How many times can you base grind a snowboard?

A full ski base grind is recommended after the first 5-8 days on a newly purchased pair of skis to give it time for the epoxy to settle. This process actually planes a small layer of base off the ski and can therefore only be done up to six times over the life of the ski.

Do you need to wax after PTEX?

Registered. Definitely before waxing. As you thought, PTEX candles are made of the same material as the base is made of... so you want the clean the gouge area of any dirt, debris or wax... if you can lightly sand the area to give the new PTEX material some surface to stick on to.

How do you fix a peeling snowboard?

1:343:45How To Repair Delaminated Snowboard - Ski Snowboard TuningYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimple get your two thin pieces of metal clamp them together then with your clamp not too tight butMoreSimple get your two thin pieces of metal clamp them together then with your clamp not too tight but you'll see the board.

How do you fix a cracked snowboard top?

0:052:33How to Fix a Snowboard Crack using Epoxy - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can see I have a bit of a crack on the top of the board you look at the bottom of the board it'sMoreYou can see I have a bit of a crack on the top of the board you look at the bottom of the board it's not actually going through. So I'm going to see if I can fill this with some epoxy.

How do you fix a cracked snowboard edge?

Cut out a slim semi-circle of base material around the damaged edge with a razorblade. If the edge is still hanging on, bend it back into shape as best as you can. If its completely missing, use a Dremel or file and trim the existing edges with a slight inward angle, creating a lip for the new edge.

How do I fix my snowboard chips?

1:032:49How to Fix Snowboard Chips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOut get a metal scraper. Just a piece of metal we sell them here that are really nice for ten.MoreOut get a metal scraper. Just a piece of metal we sell them here that are really nice for ten. Dollars. You could use whatever you have at home. And just go ahead by kind of scraping.

1. Gather your equipment

Try to have everything laid out on the table before I start doing anything, just so you know it’s all there to hand. Have your P-tex candle, a blade or scalpel, a candle, a lighter, a scraper and some scrap wood/metal all at the ready.

2. Clean Your Base

You want to make sure it’s clean of whatever was on there when you damaged it so you can get all the dirt out of the grooves, and so it’s ready to absorb the new wax. Use a brush at first then move on a clean cloth. Spray base-cleaner on the board, and wipe it dry with a cloth.

3. Melt p-tex into any gouges

Be careful, ‘cos when p-tex is hot, it sticks to anything. First light an everyday wax candle and place it nearby – when working with p-tex, it’s easier to use a constant flame than a lighter.

4. Scrape off any excess

Remove any excess p-tex material from the sides of the wound using your knife.

How to repair scratches on ski board?

Many people burn sticks of P-Tex and fill the damaged area with dripping base material. This works, and fills the scratches evenly, but the high heat of the flame changes the character of the P-Tex and the repair will be softer than the rest of the base. If you use any color other than black, the soot may also be visible in the repaired area. For a cleaner, longer lasting repair, it’s best to use a commercial P-Tex gun (kind of like a hot glue gun that runs at a higher temperature and holds sticks of base material) or a base repair tool (basically a soldering iron with a flat tip). These tools also use specific P-Tex stock – either large round stock (for the gun) or small diameter “spaghetti” stock that will make your job easier.

How to repair a narrower core shot?

Narrower core shots are probably best repaired in the conventional manner after making sure the core is sealed, using either the base gun or base repair tool and razor blade or metal scraper.

How to repair a gouge in a car?

Make sure the damaged area is free of dirt and debris, and cut away any dangling bits of base before you start the repair. Work the new P-Tex in thoroughly and make sure it’s fully melted and fills the gouge completely. After the area is cool to the touch (around ½ hour), you can trim the excess off with a Surform tool (a handled scraping tool) or razor blade. Finish off with a sharp metal scraper to make the filled area totally level.

How to fix scratches on P-Tex?

Shallow, superficial scratches in your base (less than 1/2 mm in depth) are really hard to fill, since the P-Tex won’t stick well. You can min imize the depth of shallow scratches by removing the high spots with a sharp metal scraper or single edge razor blade (SERB). Hot wax over the area and you’ll hardly notice the damage. If you have several shallow scratches or are simply more picky about your gear, a stone grind from a qualified shop can often completely remove shallow base scratches and edge damage.

Can you wax ski clamps?

The patched area can be prepped and waxed as soon as the clamps are removed; you will probably need to do a bit of grinding and scraping to get the repaired area flush with the rest of the base. This is especially true on skis that have been tuned many times, where the ski base material is thinner than the P-Tex sheet used, and you may wish to bring it to a shop for a stone grind to get the repair totally smooth.

Workshop

Before you start any repairs, you'll need a good work space where you can lay your board top sheet down without it rocking from side to side. A sturdy, waist height workbench and two pieces of 4x4 plywood a little longer than the width of your board will get the job done pretty well.

Think About It

Having a designated workspace will not only prevent you from ruining your kitchen table, it will also enable you to lay out your tools and materials in a neat and organized manner so that you can think through the process of the repair and, hopefully, avoid screwing it up.

Clean

Cleaning the board thoroughly will remove any contaminants that may interfere with the bonding of your repair materials to the base of the board. It will also allow you to assess the damage that needs to be repaired.

Assess The Damage

Set your board down on your workbench, make sure you have good lighting, and take a good, long look at the base of your board to identify any and all of the damaged areas. You may notice something that didn’t seem apparent at first glance. If you're lucky, you’ll decide that the damage isn’t that bad and that a repair isn’t even necessary.

Curated experts can help

Have a question about the article you just read or want personal recommendations? Connect with a Curated expert and get free gear recommendations for whatever you’re looking for!

What tool to use to repair a flat base?

Once you’ve shaved away most of the excess, you should then be able to use a steel scraper of base flattener tool to take off the remaining material until the repaired area is flush with the rest of the base. Then, to make new repairs visibly blend in better with the surrounding material, you can lightly restructure the base with a tool such as the brass riller bar or SkiVisions base flattener...altho if the repair is small, this might be more effort than it’s worth.

How to repair a gouge in the base of a car?

Base gouges are repaired using different techniques. These include dripping in soft molten repair material from a drip repair candle ( good for small or surface scratches, or temporary repairs if you're on the road), melting in harder repair material using a base repair iron or pistol (good for deeper gouges), or gluing in a p-tex patch if the damaged area is even larger or more problematic.

How to fix a gouge that goes clear down to fiberglass?

Here are a few tricks for handling particularly deep base gouges that go clear down to fiberglass or are alongside steel edges: 1) Melt repair material into the gouge, then immediately take your true bar and press it down on top of the repair until the material cools.

What is the difference between a P-tex ribbon and a repair string?

As you can see on the chart below, the p-tex ribbon is similar in hardness to a sintered base...while the repair string is more similar in hardness to an extruded base.

How to fix a gouge with a pistol?

To apply harder (and more durable) repair materials...such as repair ribbon, string or techo stix...use a base repair iron or pistol. Hold the repair material over the gouge, and use the tip of the iron to press and melt it directly into the gouge. With a repair pistol, gently squeeze the trigger to get the repair material (techo stix) to flow out of the tip and directly into the gouge.

Why is frictional heat better on a ski?

The frictional heat that develops (especially at higher speeds) is dissipated better along the entire ski or snowboard base due to this thermal conductivity... it helps reduce the water film that can otherwise build up and create suction and drag.

Does black repair material have graphite?

Also, black repair material does not contain graphite like a sintered (electra) base...a dye is used to darken it. Although these materials don't hold wax as well as sintered material, the amount of surface area they'll probably ever cover on most bases is too small to matter.

What do I use to repair my base?

P-tex is used to repair your base. It’s the same material your base is made from and it often comes in a thin candle stick form. The p-tex is melted into any gouges or scratches in your snowboard to fill in gaps and make your base smooth again.

Will the repair be as strong as the original?

Nope, it’s a make do fix. It will generally fix any small scratches, but you’ll find that large gouges or scrapes can be a pain to repair because the p-tex keeps falling out and exposing the hole again.

Does it matter if my base is Sintered or Extruded?

Not really. If you’re not familiar with base materials, ski and snowboard bases are made up of 2 types of different types of p-tex, either sintered or extruded. Without getting technical, sintered bases are found on higher end gear and extruded bases are found on cheaper models.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Last week, we discussed waxing your board to get it ready for riding, but unfortunately sometimes bad things happen to good boards, like when you find yourself riding down the mountain and hear that sickening sound of a rock grinding into the bottom of your board.

How to Repair Your Snowboard: Base Damage

Last week, we discussed waxing your board to get it ready for riding, but unfortunately sometimes bad things happen to good boards, like when you find yourself riding down the mountain and hear that sickening sound of a rock grinding into the bottom of your board.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9