Snowboard Tuning Instructions
Tuning your snowboard is an essential part of riding. You'll want to tune it often to ensure the best performance each and every time you ride. Adjust how often you tune based upon how aggressively you ride and how much abuse your snowboard takes. While you could bring to the shop for a tune, all you need is some simple supplies and basic knowledge and you can do it yourself. Here's a list of snowboard tuning instructions.
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Things You'll Need
- Workbench/clamps or flat work space of some kind
- Base cleaner
- Rag or paper towels
- Snowboard Wax for the temperatures you'll be riding
- Iron
- Deburring stone and/or gummie stone
- Edge tool or file
- P-Tex
- Torch or candle
- Metal scraper
- Plastic scraper
- Metal brush
Instructions
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Prep the Board
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1
Take the bindings off. You'll be doing your work on the base, so it's much easier to be able to lay the snowboard flat.
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2
Get the nicks and burrs out of the edges. Use the deburring stone on both the bottom and side edges (front and heel) to smooth them out.
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3
Sharpen the edges. Set your edge tool or file guide to the bevel (angle) that you prefer on your bottom edge and run it down both the front and heel bottom edges using a long, steady filing motion. Repeat process for side edges.
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4
Once sharpened, use the deburring stone or gummie stone to smooth out any rough spots on the edges. Make sure that they are smooth and sharp.
P-Tex and Wax
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5
Clean off any dirt or debris on the base using a rag and base cleaner.
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6
Use P-Tex to repair any deep scratches, holes or gouges in the snowboard base. Heat the P-Tex with a torch or candle and drip or rub onto the damage until it's fully covered. Allow to dry.
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7
Use a metal scraper to scrape off excess P-Tex and make it flush with the base.
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8
Wax the base. Heat up the iron and hold it point down over the base. Apply wax to iron and drip or rub all over the area of the base.
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9
Rub wax evenly into the base with the iron. Allow to dry.
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10
Scrape off excess wax with plastic scraper using steady scraping motion.
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11
Touch up wax job with a metal brush or scrubbie pad.
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12
Remount your bindings, ensuring that they're tight and set correctly. You are ready to ride.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you have any scratches that go to the snowboard's core or any other serious damage, consider taking it to a shop for professional repair.
Perform tuning in a well-ventilated area.
Do not heat the iron too high as this can burn the board. Temperatures will vary by iron so use a waxing iron, or begin on a low setting and raise heat slightly as needed.
Do not stop in any one spot when ironing wax, as this may burn/damage the base.
