Do you need base coat wax on a surfboard?
The first layer of surfboard wax is called Base Coat and forms the base so that your wax can hold on the board. For this you best use a Base Coat Wax intended for this purpose. If you don’t have one, you can also use a “Tropical Wax” for warm water temperatures. Most surf websites will tell you that waxing a surfboard is about grip and traction. While that’s technically true, it misses the deeper cultural and practical realities of why we wax our boards and how to do it properly. The simple truth is this: you’ll slide right off if you don’t wax your board.Surfboard wax (also known as surfwax) is a formulation of natural and/or synthetic wax for application to the deck of a surfboard, bodyboard, or skimboard, to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave.Wax should only be applied to the top of a surfboard and used wherever your hands and feet come in contact with the board.Hard Wax is the Basecoat Hard wax can act as a good basecoat, especially when a strong foundation is required to help surfers maintain balance during difficult manoeuvers. Soft wax also works, but it is more practical to use a more durable wax as a base to save you the trouble of continually reapplying wax.RSPro HexaTraction and Cork Traction are the best surf grip alternatives to wax.
What wax do I use for a base coat?
Basecoat is just tropical grade wax. Wax that is too hard to melt in all but tropical waters, so you put that on your board in any other conditions, then wax on it. The bottom coat won’t come completely off you won’t have those slick experiences. If the base of your snowboard begins to take on a cloudy appearance, especially around the nose and tail contact points, or along the edges, it’s probably time to pull out the waxing kit and get to work.After waxing, you will need to leave your board for at least 30 minutes, ideally even longer. If you don’t let the wax soak in the base will not properly absorb the wax and it will not run as fast or as long on snow.The hot iron will melt the wax into the base of your snowboard and you can brush and scrape off any excess that would slow you down.Surfboard wax helps provide a surface your feet can grip when you ride the waves. Without wax, it’s very easy to slip off your surfboard. It’s important to take off old wax and reapply a fresh coat on a regular basis so the wax doesn’t build up.
How long to let a surfboard sit in the sun to scrape wax?
Place your board in direct sunlight for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the wax to soften. In cooler climates or cloudy conditions, you might need longer exposure time. Just be careful not to leave your board out too long, as excessive heat can damage the foam core. Now with light pressure and the flat edge of the wax bar wax down the length of your board in the opposite diagonal direction to get those bumps you’re after. Finally with light pressure using the flat edge of the wax create a large circular pattern up and down the board a few times to get a nice bumpy base coat.You can wax your board before each session if you see fit to do so. Now, with that logic, we highly recommend that you do a full cleaning and re-waxing every two to three months. Unless you surf every day and wax every day, then we recommend cleaning your board slightly more often per season/year.If it’s sunny out, leave your board in the sun for about 5 minutes to let the wax heat up. It comes off so much easier this way. If the sun isn’t out, you can use warm water (depending on the temperature of wax on your board) to heat up the wax making it easier to remove.Using light to medium pressure, start applying it at a diagonal angle, then switch to another angle—the goal is to build up small, tacky bumps on the surface of the board to stick to your feet. Don’t push too hard while waxing; using too much pressure could flatten the bumps.Gently exfoliate the area to be waxed. Gentle use of a dry brush before a wax is also helpful as it helps remove dead skin. Before each wax we prep your skin with our miraculous and custom Buzz off Bumps pads that remove dead skin build up around and in the follicle, leading to an easier and more thorough wax.
How to tell if a board needs waxing?
You can tell when your snowboard needs a wax by how it feels. If you’re used to ripping but start slowing down while your crew flies past you, it’s probably time for a fresh wax. You’ll also feel sluggish transitioning from edge to edge. Alternatively, flip your board over and look at the base. Make sure that the wax melts all the way across the ski or snowboard, from edge to edge and tip to tail. If an area is too dry, add more wax. The wax layer should be thin enough that one end dries as you reach the other end. Wait for the ski or snowboard to cool and dry completely (30 minutes to 1 hour).So, can you just apply any wax (like candle wax) on your board? No, you can’t, and you shouldn’t. Other waxes can damage your board – without providing any grip, that is!How often you wax your surfboard is mostly up to the temperature of the water you’re surfing in. The warmer the water, the more will melt and wear off the board while you’re using it. Expect to clean and re-wax your board quarterly as build-up of old, non-sticky wax can prevent new wax from sticking.If you try to use cold water wax in warm water, it will soften and slide right off the board. And if you try warm water wax in cold water, it will be hard as a rock and provide little-to-no grip.
What did surfers use before waxing?
At some point surfers had discovered they could coat their wooden longboards with a thin layer of sand-infused varnish, which increased traction but also scraped their knees, chest, feet, and thighs. In 1935 a teenage Al applied a small amount of liquid floor wax to the deck of his surfboard, and liked the results. The kind of board you are on determines whether you can go out without waxing. The smooth surface of a fiberglass board offers little to no natural grip, and since about 70% of all the surfboards used in the world are fiberglass, there is little one can do without wax.Wax should only be applied to the top of a surfboard and used wherever your hands and feet come in contact with the board. The bottom of the surfboard should remain clean to allow water to flow smoothly around it.
Why won’t wax stick to my surfboard?
Harder warm water wax will not stick to softer cold water wax. Even just a bit of residue can trip you at the first hurdle so make sure to clean thoroughly. If you’re somewhere warm, leave your board in the sun for 5-10 minutes and simply remove with a wax comb or an old bank card. Lay out all of your tools along side the surfboard on the grass. Note: Being neat and tidy will help you a lot during this task.Diluted (1:5) household cleaners like Simple Green can provide adequate cleaning. Biodegradable citrus based cleaners can be great options for cleaning the base and removing wax when harsher solvent based cleaners are not needed or desired.Cleaning waxed surfaces – vinegar dissolves the wax, and should not be used to clean waxed furniture. However, vinegar is a reliable option for removing an old coat of wax from a surface. To clean waxed surfaces, a wax cleaning solvent should be used instead.Clean the Affected Area Apply isopropyl alcohol or a specialized adhesive remover to remove residual wax particles. Wipe thoroughly with a clean microfiber cloth.If you are prepping your base for hot waxing, a Citrus-based snowboard base cleaner or isopropyl alcohol can be used.