Ski base cleaner formula

[Smitty]

Never thought I would be reading about Safety Data Sheets in a ski forum.
What's next, lockout-tagout procedures?
Job safety analysis?
Slips, trips, and falls?

Haha, yeah, I wish my biggest contribution to the forum so far this season had been ski related. But I am happy that Rod's happy, I'll take it.

[Rodbelan]

I do not know, but discussing gear isn't directly related to skiing—and that's what we do most of the time. I would say it is indirectly related... And—don't get me wrong—still interesting. If you talk about ski trip, skating and turning techniques, etc, that's another story (more strictly focussed, but not as common on TT)...

I know Joe is joking. But Smitty's contribution is very, very useful. Just try to find that kind of info on the web... Good luck!

[lowangle al]

I don't know if this was mentioned. After scraping and applying base cleaner and scraping again I use an abrasive scouring pad like Scotch Brite to clean thing up further. In a pinch I've used gas and paint thinner.

[fgd135]

For hard wax removal, I try to scrape most of it off the base; putting the skis outside in really cold weather makes this very easy, as opposed to doing it in a warm room while the wax is very soft and hard to scrape.
in addition to that, I also use off-the-shelf citrus cleaners, but in the past have also used odorless paint thinner with some success. The absolute best base cleaner I've ever used is by Zardoz, but I do not believe it is still being sold.

Certainly another base cleaner is around that works as well as that?

For klister removal, I use a trick I was taught by a master XC instructor many years ago--sprinkle talcum powder, aka foot powder, onto the klister, which changes the klister into an easily scraped, (almost)non-sticky, putty. The amount you use can vary, depends on the amount of klister, but a generous amount really is best--anyway, the klister scrapes right off--presto! The talcum powder--or climbing chalk if you want to use something besides foot powder--doesn't cause any problems when it comes time to reapply waxes, if you've scraped all the visible stuff already.
After that if you really need deep cleaning then use a wax remover as usual.

[Genoah77]

I use goo gone original. Worth noting that the SDS encourages ventilation and gloves (I was in charge of SDS in my last workplace, which included goo gone). I have mild asthma and find that I cough when using it (even outside), so I wipe my skis down outside with a respirator mask on. Judge me if you want, but I like to listen to my body.

If you're considering naphtha/white gas for skis or just camping fuel, I use Recochem Camping Fuel in my MSR Whisperlite International, which is more pure than Coleman fuel. You can buy it at Gregg Distributors from western Canadian locations. I personally wouldn't use Coleman, but that's just me.

[bgregoire]

If you're considering naphtha/white gas for skis or just camping fuel, I use Recochem Camping Fuel in my MSR Whisperlite International, which is more pure than Coleman fuel. You can buy it at Gregg Distributors from western Canadian locations. I personally wouldn't use Coleman, but that's just me.

Great advice Genoah. Will make sure I get that one next time.

[Rodbelan]

I use goo gone original. Worth noting that the SDS encourages ventilation and gloves (I was in charge of SDS in my last workplace, which included goo gone). I have mild asthma and find that I cough when using it (even outside), so I wipe my skis down outside with a respirator mask on. Judge me if you want, but I like to listen to my body.

If you're considering naphtha/white gas for skis or just camping fuel, I use Recochem Camping Fuel in my MSR Whisperlite International, which is more pure than Coleman fuel. You can buy it at Gregg Distributors from western Canadian locations. I personally wouldn't use Coleman, but that's just me.

I have mild asthma too... So, I understand. Strong chemical make me cough. Consequently, I also use a respirator. There is noting to be judged there; actually, I have asthma probably because earlier in my life I wasn't paying attention... Using all kind of crap without ventilation...

[Genoah77]

I will wear my respirator proudly then

On a somewhat related topic: does the glob stopper need to be occasionally removed from skins? Or is it an everlasting gobstopper?

[Nick BC]

GloPstopper is like any wax. The abrasion of skiing will wear it off.

[Ptarmigan]

I have a somewhat related question to this thread. When changing between kick waxes of the day, do you have to completely clean off the last layer with base cleaner? For instance, if I used Swix green on one tour and then blue on the next excursion, how much of the green do I really need to remove? So far, I have just been scraping the previous layer off with a red beveled scraper. However, so little wax shows up on the scraper--just a tiny sliver--and I wonder if it is even doing anything. At that point I just cork in the new wax. However, is it better to remove the last layer with base cleaner? Thanks!