http://www.slidewright.com/weblog Active Life Equipment & Gear Maintenance/Tuning Tips, Support, Ideas, Resources, Stoke and Musings Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:28:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/free-your-structure-free-your-glide-sale/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/free-your-structure-free-your-glide-sale/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:18:19 +0000 SlideWright http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/?p=1618
The key to optimal glide is establishing and maintaining your ski's or snowboard's base structure, coupled with appropriate wax. Often misunderstood is that simply waxing your bases and scrape smooth is all you need to do to protect your bases and achieve a good glide. Without 'freeing' your base structure (removing the wax from the [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/free-your-structure-free-your-glide-sale/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/plastic-kayak-welding/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/plastic-kayak-welding/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:54:18 +0000 SlideWright http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/?p=1325
One option to repair splits and slices in plastic boats is hot air plastic welding with compatible plastic welding rod. Check out this excellent video on how to weld a plastic boat submitted by 4CRS  aka Four Corner River Sports. Check out 4CRS on YouTube videos for excellent paddling action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bos4lfOA3k This is also a [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/plastic-kayak-welding/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/skivisions-file-base-flattener/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/skivisions-file-base-flattener/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:22:16 +0000 SlideWright http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/?p=957
The File Base Flattener is a powerful planing tool that uses a file to flatten concave snowboards and skis.  It is a different application from the steel blade in the Base Flattener, the steel blade is for fine flattening work, the File Base Flattener's purpose is to cut through concave metal and plastic quickly. New [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/skivisions-file-base-flattener/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-flattener-structuring-plane/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-flattener-structuring-plane/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:33:17 +0000 SlideWright http://f5e35741-566a-4556-95a7-1ad2cb73926e
(Updated) A ski base must be flat for optimum ski performance.  The SkiVisions Base Flattener is a powerful planing tool designed to quickly flatten and structure a ski base with a minimum of expertise, effort and potential for error.  (Patent # 4,884,343) Note the position of the M label on the Ruby Stone blade.  Each [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-flattener-structuring-plane/feed/ 1 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-repair-and-preparation/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-repair-and-preparation/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:32:27 +0000 SlideWright http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/?p=835
The flatter, properly structured and defect free base will accept wax and glide better than one that is not. A better slide will also help the turn and basically overall enjoyment while out ripping it up on the snow. Keeping the bases in shape also prolong their lives and value. One common misconception is that [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-repair-and-preparation/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/soldering-iron-base-repair/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/soldering-iron-base-repair/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:55:42 +0000 SlideWright http://bef98834-8eaa-4eb9-b828-a66d8b4670b8
While skiing or riding challenging terrain or sparse snow coverage, it's inevitable that your bases will get dinged. Core shots need to be sealed and protected, Gouges need to be filled to keep your bases running smooth. The days of burning ptex candles are over. A weld is a far superior repair option. The use [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/soldering-iron-base-repair/feed/ 1 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/edges-ski-snowboard/true-bars/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/edges-ski-snowboard/true-bars/#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:44:35 +0000 SlideWright http://8dc8776d-0ab5-470d-919a-6a965cfeec1e
How flat (or not) are my bases? What are my base bevel angles? How straight are my scrapers, edge guides & tools?....are among the typical bits of information needed to perform and gauge quality of work and determine what work is required. Like any tool we carry, there is a range of quality levels available [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/edges-ski-snowboard/true-bars/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/ski-mender-rp100-base-repair-gun/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/ski-mender-rp100-base-repair-gun/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:30:10 +0000 SlideWright http://c6d9923b-a706-40bb-b81e-35a63aaaf32d
Update: To avoid a ‘cold weld’ that has the potential to tear out while finishing the repair or while sliding on snow, it is very important to make sure the Ski (and Snowboard) Mender RP100 has enough time to achieve proper temperature and to carefully heat the area around a repair before injecting the welding [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/ski-mender-rp100-base-repair-gun/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-structure/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-structure/#comments Mon, 26 May 2008 02:41:31 +0000 SlideWright http://696ce54c-e43e-483a-ad0c-a1c5e9c809fb
(FAQ) The objective of structuring is to impart grooves into the base material. This removes suction that a perfectly smooth base would produce, especially in wetter snows. The structure also channels water that is produced by the friction between the ski or snowboard base and the snow. A finer structure is desired in colder snows [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-structure/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-repair-options/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-repair-options/#comments Wed, 07 May 2008 15:49:57 +0000 SlideWright http://1fccdb08-598f-4cc7-b717-ddcaab4fd981
(FAQ) 4/8/09: New! Soldering Iron Base Repair video can be viewed here. Long the low tech and easy to implement method for the home tuner to make temporary base repairs has been burning and dripping Ptex candles. Common problems are the inclusion of carbon and discoloration of clear Ptex repairs, burning hands and fingers and [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-repair-options/feed/ 2 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/fiberlene-or-shop-towels-or-both/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/fiberlene-or-shop-towels-or-both/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:53:34 +0000 SlideWright http://cc9cdeec-fd6d-476d-be84-a68a3fbfef66
(FAQ) Fiberlene (or lint free) towels are excellent for removing dirt and old wax after using wax remover to clean the base or absorbing wax and dirt in base when placed between iron and base. It is also can be used as a final polisher and cleaner after waxing and scraping because of it’s slight [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/fiberlene-or-shop-towels-or-both/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/prepping-for-sweet-corn-crust/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/prepping-for-sweet-corn-crust/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:26:56 +0000 SlideWright http://a35b82dc-3d24-4311-81a4-d8c192967551
FAQ One of life’s simple pleasures is getting out for skate skiing, touring or making turns on a warming bluebird day, with an inch or so of wet sweet corn on firm crust or solid base. Spring & summer predawn hikes on crust to harvest morning corn is right up there. The best corn comes [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/prepping-for-sweet-corn-crust/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/avoiding-carbon-using-ptex-candles/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/avoiding-carbon-using-ptex-candles/#comments Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:12:08 +0000 SlideWright http://e907517a-eee6-474e-82a9-7ce49839da3c
(FAQ) What is the best way to keep a p-tex candle from dripping carbon onto ski bases?. Light the candle, then holding a steel scraper to the lit portion wait for all the carbon to drip onto the scraper prior to placing the candle along the base to fill in the gap. Common sense with [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/avoiding-carbon-using-ptex-candles/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-cleaning-hot-scraping/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-cleaning-hot-scraping/#comments Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:14:43 +0000 SlideWright http://a69aad54-d7a9-4a15-b9b2-a2ca2a766ee2
(FAQ) Using a soft wax (for warmer snow temp) works very well to clean the base. It pulls debris and dirt from the base when scraped off warm. Also a good idea to apply a mid temp wax as a 'travel or storage wax' to protect the base. It's good for cleaning the base, but [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-cleaning-hot-scraping/feed/ 0 http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-cleaning-liquid-cleaners/ http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-cleaning-liquid-cleaners/#comments Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:11:26 +0000 SlideWright http://c6f9c949-15f9-4049-a3ea-4fab95235023
(FAQ) Maplus recommendations: Before applying the ski or snowboard wax, the base must be prepared in line with the latest criteria. Top results cannot be guaranteed if the skis & snowboards have not been prepared and cleaned properly: these ski or snowboard waxes are based on the very latest developments in chemical research into sliding [...]]]> http://www.slidewright.com/weblog/ski-snowboard/bases-ski-snowboard/base-cleaning-liquid-cleaners/feed/ 0