How to Remove Old Surfboard Wax

Take some time to remove old surboard wax before your next trip to the beach.

Old surfboard wax can build up, gathering dirt and sand, eventually becoming less effective. The purpose of the wax is to provide additional traction for your feet while you surf. You need to reapply new wax before you head out to the ocean to catch some waves. But before you do, you must first remove the old wax from your board. There are tools for the job but you can also effectively remove the wax with a few household items.

Things You'll Need

• Floor covering: tarp, old blanket or newspaper
• Wax comb or old credit card
• Rag
• Surf wax remover or denatured alcohol

Instructions

1. Place your surfboard in direct sunlight. Lay an old blanket, a tarp or some newspaper under the board to catch any wax droppings you miss while scraping. Periodically check the wax. As soon as the wax is sticky, you can move on to the next step. If it's taking too long for the sun to warm the wax, use a blow dryer on low heat to help speed up the process.

2. Scrape off the old wax using a wax comb or the edge of an old credit card. Continue until you've scraped off the majority of the wax. It's OK if there is still some wax residue left on the board.

3. Dampen a rag with surf wax remover or denatured alcohol, and wipe the board for any wax residue.

References

• Charles & Hudson; How to Remove Wax from Surfboard; Timothy Dahl
• Surfing Handbook: Surf Wax 101