What level of tuning do you do yourself?

[dr. sandman]

Just finished slathering the quiver w/ a thick coat of hotwax for the summer. Had to p-tex a little spot on the Donek (I still subscribe to the flaming candle method) - Had read years back that using a sureform was a good way to remove the excess material - happened to have one on the workbench...man did that work great!

So I got to thinking, how many of us do our own tuning, and to what level?

Also for fun, what creative (unorthodox?) methods or tools have you come up with to facilitate a good tune? (my original cork was one of my mom's nylons wrapped around a piece of wax:freak3: ).

[Gecko]

but that was years ago when I was working(building snowboards) at Flite. These days I get the base ground 1-4 times a season (depending on how many times I get to the mountains) by a reputable shop and I do the rest. I have no problem welding Ptex, waxing, sharpening, beveling etc

[tcross.au]

I do everything excluding base grindings, so waxing, structuring, ptex and edging

[D-Sub]

but that was years ago when I was working(building snowboards) at Flite. These days I get the base ground 1-4 times a season (depending on how many times I get to the mountains) by a reputable shop and I do the rest. I have no problem welding Ptex, waxing, sharpening, beveling etc

4 times a SEASON?

wow. you must buy a lot of boards!

season before last was the first time I ever had a base grind...wait..no it wasnt...I got one done in steamboat in 96, too...and I was pissed that the base wasnt smooth! I didnt even know what structure was

heh. Danny VanDevender musta thought I was stupid! hilarious. I had forgotten about that

I do everything but base grinds myself. never done an edge replacement but Ive fixed core shots.

[Allee]

Thanks U of C and the outdoor program!

U of C does the base grinds at the beginning of the season, and I look after the rest during the season. The only things I wouldn't do are an edge replacement, and maybe a really bad core shot.

The other half just loves gliding past everyone on the flats with a nice wax job every third day. Now I just have to teach him to do his skis (I hate skis, they're fiddly ... boards are much more fun).

[skatha]

Thanks U of C and the outdoor program!

U of C does the base grinds at the beginning of the season, and I look after the rest during the season. The only things I wouldn't do are an edge replacement, and maybe a really bad core shot.

The other half just loves gliding past everyone on the flats with a nice wax job every third day. Now I just have to teach him to do his skis (I hate skis, they're fiddly ... boards are much more fun).

My skier will not do anything with his skis either....he feels $30 is a good price to pay to save them the effort...

I wonder how many skiers wax and tune?

[Derf]

As I am putting my flame retardant suit, I say:

I put on and remove my bindings, shop does the rest. On the other hand, I do everything on my bicycle, except build wheels (not yet...)

[Pow]

I hot wax, but the other stuff id rather leave to a professional... im 16 and i havnt even taken shop, so im not much of a DIY kinda guy at this point.

[LeeW]

used to do 'em all myself. now-a-days, i just simply dont have the time, and i recall its quite tedious. so i take 'em to racer's edge at breckenridge, whenever there' s a race coming up. otherwise, i just simply slap new wax on 'em and sharpen edges myself, which is really simple. otherwise, they do the work.

[Pow]

I think some of the serious DIY guys are ganna be mad that there's no "I build em" category:rolleyes:

[Guest NEngineer]

I used to do full tunes (including bevels, etc) on all my stuff. My PTex repair skill were (and still are) very lacking.

These days there just isn't any time and I've also found someone in Boulder that does one hellofa job.

[boostertwo]

...all work except base grinds.

<img src="http://i6.tinypic.com/1498r4y.jpg" border="0" alt="Darren Ratcliffe, A-Basin, CO">

Haven't needed to do any major repairs since I moved west as the snow has been deep, but I would definitely bring it in to a shop to do base welds, edge replacement, etc.

[Ernie00]

I do everything myself except basegrinds. I don't really like leaving my boards to shops, here in Montreal no one I really trust well with the boards.

Preparing the board takes some time but at least it's done the way I like it. Also it has become a ritual so it's actually part of the riding and very relaxing. Makes me disconnect for a few minutes.

This was taken about a month ago when I waxed and tuned the boards for the summer, Right in my kitchen in our small appartement. I'm getting my new house and garage/workshop in 2 weeks. I reallly can't wait.

[Gecko]

4 times a SEASON?

wow. you must buy a lot of boards!

I do everything but base grinds myself. never done an edge replacement but Ive fixed core shots.

yes well you ride out west where you have depth and the words "Boiler Plate" aren't related to snow (or something posing as snow). I have only base ground a board 4 times in a season once but at that time I wasn't buying I was building. One pass over a base grinder is usually all I require so 2 in a season isn't that bad.

Core shots are easy as long as the wood isn't spongy (if so you're SOL) I've done a LOT of edge repairs plus I installed edges on like 200 flatlam boards after they were shaped one month back in 88, so I have a real good system for that repair.

[DrCR]

I do all my own work and spent a couple hundred of so on the tools required. Probably would have someone else do a core job or edge replacement for me though. I'm very much a DIY kind of guy but mainly I just don't trust anyone in my area.

Besides, I like my edges stone polished to mirror smooth. You just don' get that kind of perfection in a shop. :D I only ride about a week max per year, so tweaking my boards almost serves as a stopgap for me really.

DrCR

_________

[Mike T]

I leave base grinds for shops as well as core shots on my "A decks". Edge beveling, gouge filling, waxing, structuring w/ riller bar - I do that at home. Tuning is a nice way for me to unwind. I always have a rock board so I get plenty of pratice on that!

I did send my FC 175 along with my wife's to PTC this summer, since those are the dekcs that come out in firm conditions. My edge work is "good enough" but I want to try an over-the-top edge job to see what that is like. Bachelor *does* have some runs that tend to get pretty hard overnight (groomers on Outback) when it hasn't snowed in a week.

[carverboy]

I work winters as a tuner so I do all my own work. I use the stone and belt grinders sparingly. Base weld core shots. sharpen edges with a hand file only under foot ( I dont get into bevel or special structure )My customers have me doing enough of that! I wax my boards every time I ride. debur edges whenever they need it(often) and cringe every time someone tells me how crucial it is that there skis have a extra .5 of bevel and no detune because they used to race!

[bobdea]

I've done a LOT of edge repairs plus I installed edges on like 200 flatlam boards after they were shaped one month back in 88, so I have a real good system for that repair.

duuuuuuuuuude!!!!!

if you would do thread demonstrating your process for this it would be much apreciated

I am sure someone around here has a deck that needs surgery.

post lots of pics with it too.

you will earn a beer or two from me for this.

[dr. sandman]

duuuuuuuuuude!!!!!

if you would do thread demonstrating your process for this it would be much apreciated

I am sure someone around here has a deck that needs surgery.

post lots of pics with it too.

you will earn a beer or two from me for this.

DITTO - was thinking the same thing!

[Gecko]

duuuuuuuuuude!!!!!

if you would do thread demonstrating your process for this it would be much apreciated

I am sure someone around here has a deck that needs surgery.

post lots of pics with it too.

you will earn a beer or two from me for this.

well I haven't had to do this recently but next time I do (or if I find a good and beat up practice board on) I'll be sure to document it. In my experience Solid edge will makes a better patch but segmented edge is waaaaayyyyy easier to work with. Use lots of clamps. So deciding how much life you you expect the board to have if the edge hadn't come out is important to deciding which edge type to work with. Use lots of clamps. Original edge type doesn't matter as much as you think, I've put segmented edge on a solid edge ski and vice versa. Slow curing glues, heated (hot box or room) make a better bond than quick dry glues (which cure too fast to work with when hot). Use lots of clamps. A clean dry wound in the board is a must before you begin anything. Use lots of clamps. Try not to remove too much material and lastly remember to use lots of clamps to squeeze out as much of the glue and air as posible creating a better bond.

[dr. sandman]

well I haven't had to do this recently but next time I do (or if I find a good and beat up practice board on) I'll be sure to document it. In my experience Solid edge will makes a better patch but segmented edge is waaaaayyyyy easier to work with. Use lots of clamps. So deciding how much life you you expect the board to have if the edge hadn't come out is important to deciding which edge type to work with. Use lots of clamps. Original edge type doesn't matter as much as you think, I've put segmented edge on a solid edge ski and vice versa. Slow curing glues, heated (hot box or room) make a better bond than quick dry glues (which cure too fast to work with when hot). Use lots of clamps. A clean dry wound in the board is a must before you begin anything. Use lots of clamps. Try not to remove too much material and lastly remember to use lots of clamps to squeeze out as much of the glue and air as posible creating a better bond.

Sounds interesting. But I'm wondering, should one use clamps? :rolleyes:

[Gecko]

Sounds interesting. But I'm wondering, should one use clamps? :rolleyes:

I think I used 11 clamps of various types the last time I did an edge repair...the edge in question was less that 12" long...I snapped the board 2 years later backcountry riding in Jackson Hole, the edge was fine for all that time.

[Pow]

Gecko is now sitting on a goldmine... theres a room full of people who have found the board tuning god. Its only a matter of a few posts before somebody offers to pay for your services:biggthump

[big mario]

I like to indulge in ritualistic behavior.

[philfell]

I voted other. My boards I rarely touch anymore. But I have acess to a few Wintersteiger machines so I usually do a few grinds to athletes boards from time to time. And of course do the whole speed sauce overlays at races.