waxing

I have noticed that my new pair of Atomics end up with what is either a dry
spot, or more likely, an area where wax is coming out of the bases after I
ski on them. I wax them almost every time I ski, usually with Rex Blue. I
brush them with a copper brush, then roto brush with horsehair. I keep them
in my garage, so they are brushed at a cold temp. What makes me think it is
wax residue is that I can brush the area out and the base then looks normal.
Also, the part of the ski where this happens is an area that tends to heat
up a bit more than most of the ski when I wax, so the wax stays molten
longer and has a better chance to soak in. This area is just behind my
heel. The thing that make me wonder about this is that I thought I was
brushing the ski pretty well, and the inside half of the ski is always more
affected than the outside half. In races, my skis are usually on par with
others. I usually ski about 15 to 25K.

Any advice, answers, tips, etc?

Stonegrind them.

Rob Bradlee

--- don martin wrote:

I have noticed that my new pair of Atomics end up with what is either
a dry
spot, or more likely, an area where wax is coming out of the bases
after I
ski on them. I wax them almost every time I ski, usually with Rex
Blue. I
brush them with a copper brush, then roto brush with horsehair. I
keep them
in my garage, so they are brushed at a cold temp. What makes me
think it is
wax residue is that I can brush the area out and the base then looks
normal.
Also, the part of the ski where this happens is an area that tends to
heat
up a bit more than most of the ski when I wax, so the wax stays
molten
longer and has a better chance to soak in. This area is just behind
my
heel. The thing that make me wonder about this is that I thought I
was
brushing the ski pretty well, and the inside half of the ski is
always more
affected than the outside half. In races, my skis are usually on par
with
others. I usually ski about 15 to 25K.

Any advice, answers, tips, etc?









=====
Rob Bradlee
Java, C++, Perl, XML, OOAD, Linux, and Unix Training

I get the same thing on a pair of RS10 skate skis. It's right behind
the heel. I think it is the nature of a foam nomex core. It tends to
hollow out sometimes. A stone grind will eliminate a little of it. MAke
sure your iron doesn't get really hot...not good. The good thing about
the Atomics is the tips and tails don't go convex from ironing and
being in my hot box like Fischers and Rossi's. When they go convex it
's history.

don martin wrote:
I have noticed that my new pair of Atomics end up with what is either
a dry
spot, or more likely, an area where wax is coming out of the bases
after I
ski on them. I wax them almost every time I ski, usually with Rex
Blue. I
brush them with a copper brush, then roto brush with horsehair. I
keep them
in my garage, so they are brushed at a cold temp. What makes me
think it is
wax residue is that I can brush the area out and the base then looks
normal.
Also, the part of the ski where this happens is an area that tends to
heat
up a bit more than most of the ski when I wax, so the wax stays
molten
longer and has a better chance to soak in. This area is just behind
my
heel. The thing that make me wonder about this is that I thought I
was
brushing the ski pretty well, and the inside half of the ski is
always more
affected than the outside half. In races, my skis are usually on par
with
others. I usually ski about 15 to 25K.

Any advice, answers, tips, etc?

My atomic classics from a couple years ago too, always had this. Untill
Zach Caldwell stone ground them. Now they do seem to behave better
ironing wax into them (they take the wax uniformly), and they do not
white out anymore. And they are faster. And they handle much better -
can't explain it. I almost got to the point I wanted to sell them, and
now I love them.

Atomics are foam core of course - watch it on the iron heat - the foam
holds the heat, which can cook the base, also causing whiteouts. If I
might go 3 passes on other skis, I go 2 passes on the atomics, with
more "comebacks" (I'll come back to that ski after the next one)

Atomic bases seem to have this issue, and others. All are fixed via the
stone grinder.

* The "factory grind" is crap, useless, a major point of "aftermarket"
improvement

* The new bases arrive looking white, oxidized, old, kinda dirty

Breathe new life into them, even if they are new, with a grind.
Wouldn't hurt you to get some fluoro waxes in there either,
occassionally. Much better durability. (ie: HF's, not powders. Well
powders do help durability but that is another conversation)

The atomics are good skis, they just need to be ground before you
realize it.

Yeah, stonegrind 'em.

The petex that remains warm sounds like a high spot. If so, it gets
more heat and has less wax, so I bet the area is cooked. Stonegrinding
will remove the cooked petex and flatten the petex to prevent it from
happening in the future.

Jay Wenner

It's possible that the flex is too soft.

Gene

don martin wrote:

I have noticed that my new pair of Atomics end up with what is either a dry
spot, or more likely, an area where wax is coming out of the bases after I
ski on them. I wax them almost every time I ski, usually with Rex Blue. I
brush them with a copper brush, then roto brush with horsehair. I keep them
in my garage, so they are brushed at a cold temp. What makes me think it is
wax residue is that I can brush the area out and the base then looks normal.
Also, the part of the ski where this happens is an area that tends to heat
up a bit more than most of the ski when I wax, so the wax stays molten
longer and has a better chance to soak in. This area is just behind my
heel. The thing that make me wonder about this is that I thought I was
brushing the ski pretty well, and the inside half of the ski is always more
affected than the outside half. In races, my skis are usually on par with
others. I usually ski about 15 to 25K.

Any advice, answers, tips, etc?