How to Buy Ski Tuning Tools

If skiing well is important to you, it is vital that you learn to tune your own skis. Once you're equipped with the right tools, you can start taking a more active role in taking care of your skis.

Things You'll Need

• Files
• Emery paper
• Wax
• Diamond stone
• Plastic coated spring clip
• Cork
• Ptex candle
• Edge bevel guide
• Fine to medium grit whetstone
• Steel scraper
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Base bevel guide
• Plastic scraper
• Iron

Instructions

Tune Up for the Next Ski Season

1. Buy a base bevel guide. This tool will hold your file and stone in place while you cut the edges and eliminate burrs on your skis.

2. Look for an edge bevel guide to help you sharpen the edge of your skis. It will hold the file at the correct angle for sharpening and will also aid in the de-burring process on the sides of your skis.

3. Put files on your shopping list. You will need hard metal files, at least 8 inches in length. You will also need a file cleaner which is also called a file card.

4. Find a plastic-coated spring clip. Four inches is the recommended length, for it will be used to hold your file on your edge bevel guide.

5. Get a fine to medium grit whetstone. You need to buy this tool to remove any burrs from the edges of your skis before you start sharpening them.

6. Put a diamond stone on your "to buy" list. This is a handy burr remover and sharpening that you should keep on hand for sharpening on the slopes.

7. Look for a hydrocarbon, universal temperature range wax. You'll need to use this tuning tool about every five ski days to make sure you skis glide through the snow.

8. Add a plastic scraper to your list of tuning tools to buy. You'll use this scraper after you wax up your skis to remove any excess.

9. Pack away a P-Tex candle and steel scraper to repair any gouges you might find on your skis after a particularly rocky day on the slopes. You may not need to buy these tools for your first tuning kit but keep them in mind.

10. Get back to the mountain and ski once you've purchased emery paper, cork and an iron to heat your wax.

Tips & Warnings

• Because of the sharp nature of many of the tools required to tune your skis, you might also want to put a pair of safety goggles and gloves on your shopping list.

• Use care when handling hot wax and equipment for heating wax. Seek medical assistance immediately if you are severely burned while tuning your skis.