How can you lubricate hunting skis? To tar hunting skis or not

All athletes know that sports equipment must be carefully and regularly maintained, including skis, even if they are used exclusively by amateurs for family or tourist hikes in the winter forest. Every novice skier should know how to tar their skis and learn how to do it correctly before hitting the snowy trails.

Ski resins, paraffin and ointments are used to improve the performance of sports equipment:

Improve grip on the snow surface. To check this indicator, you need to lower the lubricated ski into the snow, put a little pressure on the cargo part and lift it up. You can talk about good grip when snow remains stuck to its entire surface.
Improve gliding using special tools that will ensure excellent skating on any type of snow. You can check this indicator by lowering the ski with adhered snow, which was checked for traction, again onto a snowy surface and moving it back and forth several times. There should be no snow left on the slippery surface.
Increase the holding properties of plastic and wooden products when they are so slippery that it is not possible to push off normally.

Resining will also protect wooden products from excessive moisture, prevent them from becoming saturated with melt water, and increase the density of the wood and its resistance to external factors.

What products need to be resinized?

Fewer and fewer athletes are faced with lubricating sports equipment with resin. This is due to the fact that only wooden products need to be treated with this product, and they are increasingly used for skiing.

Wooden sports equipment should be resined at the beginning of each season, as well as before its first use. Properly processed and prepared for use, new devices will last much longer than untreated ones, and during storage in the hot season, the material from which they are made will not dry out or crack.

How to tar at home?

In order for skiing to bring joy, you need to consider in advance the question of how to properly resin wooden skis. In order not to waste time looking for workshops that can work with such sports equipment, it is better to immediately use the home processing method.

It is necessary to consistently follow all the steps described in the instructions. Otherwise, the inventory will be poorly processed, and unpleasant memories will remain from the walk.

Choosing a location for the procedure

Ski waxes and resins contain harmful chemicals that will evaporate when heated. It is better to carry out the treatment outdoors or at least on the balcony. If this is not possible, you need to stock up on protective gloves and a respirator.

To position the skis with the bottom surface up, you need to install two or three chairs and place the products on them so that they are positioned level without tilting.

Selecting a Heat Tool

To ensure that the ski resin saturates them evenly, the surface of each wooden ski is heated before applying it. To do this, you can use the following tools:

gas burner;
industrial dryer;
blowtorch.

You can use any of the listed heating tools that are available.

Necessary equipment

To tar wooden skis, you need to prepare:

special resin (you can use birch tar purchased at a pharmacy as a lubricant);
a scraper or sandpaper, a brush with brass padding;
rags, cloths made of synthetic materials;
lubricant remover;
brush;
heating tool;
gloves;
spacer;
silver or ointment for holding, primer.

Process description

Instructions for resinizing wooden products consist of the following steps:

In order for the new layer of impregnation to adhere well to the surface, you need to wash off the old lubricant with turpentine or a special remover. You can remove the remnants of the old coating with a scraper, and then walk over the surface with sandpaper.
Preheat the container with resin in a glass of warm water. This way the substance will become liquid and be better distributed over the surface being treated.
Having placed the ski on chairs in a horizontal position, heat one third of the surface with a gas burner (or other tool), avoiding charring the wood. Apply a layer of resin to the heated part of the ski and spread it with a brush in a thin layer.
Heat the tarred ski until the resin begins to bubble, which should be smeared again with a brush. Then process the remaining two-thirds of the ski in the same way.
In order for the new lubricant to dry better, it is recommended to leave it for a day. Then reheat the surface and apply a second layer of resin, treating light areas especially well.

Resin stains should be promptly removed with an old rag before it has time to absorb or stain the floor.

After the procedure

If tarring is carried out before the new season, then after the treated surface has dried, a special primer and ointment must be applied to it for holding. If the weather is warm, then to prevent snow from sticking you can cover the sliding surface with silver.

What to pay attention to

If after treatment the skis will be stored until the next season, they should be placed with their tarred surfaces facing each other in a cool, dark place. You can't link them. For storage, special clamps are used, which simultaneously serve as spacers.

Attention! The equipment should not be treated with wax before use, as it will make the surface slippery, making it difficult to move uphill.

Preparing sports equipment for the skiing season is mandatory, even for beginner athletes. It is almost impossible to ride untreated products. Correctly carried out preparatory measures will protect equipment from damage and rapid wear.

To make your ski trip enjoyable, you need to carefully prepare your skis by applying the appropriate lubricant. How to lubricate skis at home- more on this later.

Why lubricate your skis?

If previously the range of skis was limited only to wooden models, today you can purchase plastic and combined ones. However, this does not detract from the advantages of wooden skis, and their use is still relevant.

The need to lubricate wooden skis is partly related to the characteristics of the material: the wood needs to be protected from moisture. Also, a lubricated surface glides better and reduces friction with snow.

Therefore, if you are wondering whether you need to lubricate your skis, we give you a clear answer: yes, this procedure is required. Moreover, it concerns not only wooden, but also plastic products.

What you need to lubricate your skis

"Wax the skis" - this is exactly the definition that skiers came up with for this procedure. Use of paraffin a is one of the most famous methods of lubricating skis in at home.

You will need:

Iron. Every ski professional has a special ski waxing iron that makes the procedure twice as fast. An economical option is a regular old household iron. Attention: we need an old iron that has not been used for ironing clothes for a long time. There is a high probability that after lubricating the skis, it will be impossible to iron clothes with them.

Working surface. You need a large table to put your skis on. Do not forget to cover unnecessary oilcloth or newspapers so as not to spoil the surface.

Paraffin ski lubricant. Contact a sports store - they will offer you several types of paraffin lubricant to choose from. The price range is very wide; for amateur skating, an inexpensive universal lubricant with a wide temperature range is suitable. An economical option is an ordinary paraffin candle, which you probably have at home.

Ski brushes. It is ideal if you buy a set of 3 brushes: thin metal, medium hard nylon and soft nylon. But you can get by with a medium-hard nylon brush. Warning: Regular household brushes can be too harsh and risk damaging the surface of your skis.

Scrapers. They are used to remove excess wax and clean the groove.

So, everything is ready. Skis, clean and dry, lie on the table, iron and lubricant are at the ready. Now let's move on to the process itself.

How to lubricate wooden skis yourself

The first thing you need to do is prepare your skis. Obviously they need to be clean and dry. Take a brush and lightly clean the surface of dirt.

Next, take the lubricant and rub it on the sliding surface of the skis. By the way, many people end there. However, keep in mind that without exposure to high temperatures, the lubricant will not be absorbed, and it will last for a maximum of 2-4 km.

Now turn on the iron to the lowest temperature and carefully iron the surface of the ski. The grease will melt and soak into the wood. If you don’t know how to properly lubricate skis, or are doing it yourself for the first time, then keep in mind: you shouldn’t hold the iron in one place for a long time, 2-3 seconds is enough.

After this, take a break. Let the skis cool to room temperature. Then take a scraper and remove excess from the surface and groove.

That's all. You know how to lubricate classic skis with paraffin. As you can see, the process is not the most difficult, but you will have to tinker.

How often should you lubricate your skis?

Don’t forget that you need to lubricate your skis regularly, at least 3 times a season. Thanks to this, you will be comfortable skiing on them, and the service life of your skis will increase several times.

How do you know when it's time to lubricate your skis? A sure indicator will be the appearance of a light gray coating on the surface of the skis.

If you do not want to devote too much time to this procedure, contact a specialized workshop in your city or a sports store. Nowadays various paste-like lubricants and lubricants in cans are sold, which can be used even outside the home while riding.

Workshops (ski services) that provide the service of resining wooden skis are almost impossible to find today. After all, wooden touring skis are considered a dying format. Despite this, they have their fans and connoisseurs, and not only for the much lower recoil when climbing uphill (you can read about improvised methods of dealing with recoil). And they are simply a budget option for equipment for winter hiking.
So, to get your wooden equipment ready for combat, you'll have to roll up your sleeves and master tarring skis at home.

How and how to tar wooden skis

Tarring is necessary in order to protect skis from water, because wood absorbs it well from wet snow. After processing, it becomes denser and more resistant to wear.

This procedure also protects skis from drying out and cracking in the off-season - in the summer, when they are stored in a barn, on a balcony or mezzanine. In addition, tarring skis is the “basic” protection against sticking. Checked - skis that are tarred, but not lubricated with anything, nevertheless glide. Of course, not like running ones, but in a completely “working” mode.

The resin layer should be renewed before each season. True, hunters prefer to do this after winter, so that the specific smell disappears over the summer and does not scare away the animal.

You can purchase special resin for skis in stores for fishermen and hunters, as well as in equipment stores for tourists.

If, for some reason, you do not find resin, you can use birch tar, which is sold in pharmacies. In extreme cases, wood stain will do.

Below is a universal step-by-step instruction that is suitable for all types and models of wooden skis. We hope that after reading it you will not have any questions, including how to tar hunting skis.

Useful articles:

Step-by-step instructions for tarring skis

Step 1. Using turpentine and scrapers, remove the old ointment from the skis, sand the “sole” with sandpaper. If the skis are new, treat their sliding surface with fine sandpaper or a piece of window glass.

Step 2. Before tarring your skis, heat a bottle or tube of resin in a glass of hot water to make it more liquid. Place the ski tip and tail on two points, for example, on the backs of two chairs. Mentally divide it into about 3 parts, since it is better to resin the ski in sections.

Step 3. Heat one part of the ski with a torch, blowtorch or industrial hair dryer, but not to the point of scorching. Pour some resin onto the heated area of the ski and immediately spread it with a brush. Do not pour too much so as not to stain the floor and everything around. If resin gets on the sides of the ski, immediately wipe it off with a dry cloth.

Step 4. Heat the treated area of the ski again until bubbles form and rub the resin again. If the resin flares up, blow it out sharply and continue. Do the same with the entire ski. Let it rest and dry, then do the second one at this time.

I will modestly voice my opinion on whether hunting skis need to be tarred.

Sure. No need. Those skis that appear, those with a quality mark - they were produced in 1978, and now it’s 2011. They no longer have sharp edges, and the surface is a little scratched, but it’s scratched with the slag that was sprinkled on the roads, because it’s difficult to climb onto the pass of the car on ice they couldn’t, and we, hunters, were lazy not only to crush the powder along the way for 10 kilometers, but also to descend from the hill on foot. I put on my skis and zip down, only to feel how the slag under the ski sometimes gnaws out the wood from it. Back then I didn’t even think that skis could last so long. Please note they are not resinous.

I recently discussed this topic with colleagues and they gave me one of the YouTube videos about tarring skis as a clear example. There a guy grinds his skis and says - I read it on the internet, it needs to be grinded, I don’t understand why they don’t do it at the factory. Here, according to Freud, he hit the nail on the head. This is not done at the factory since this procedure is not necessary on modern VENEER skis. Which disintegrate only in one case, in case of IMPROPER STORAGE. Store them out of season in a fabric cover in the shade, not in the sun (or without a cover, but in the shade, not near a heat source (on a stove or radiator) and do not allow the backs of the skis to stand where water periodically appears, for example , rain. That's all, they will never dry out or get wet and nothing will happen to them. People burn leaves, not understanding the stupidity, but having gotten used to it from childhood, from school, from their yard, knowing that “that’s how they do it” - so do it themselves. And looking at them, their children, etc. The circle is closed. And so it is here. Everyone has forgotten the origins, where it came from. And this masturbation goes back to the time when skis were not veneered, but were simply wooden. I also found these. So that they would not dry out (and we are talking about cross-country racers and this procedure was then carried over from them to hunting by analogy), they were tarred. And then many did not understand why and thought “so that they would ride and glide better,” so athletes tar. And athletes tarred in order to apply “paraffins" - less consumption of paraffins and lay down more evenly. I’ll say right away that paraffins are not paraffins as such, but ointments based on them with the addition of temperature additives - i.e. ski waxes. And people will grab the candle and “refine” the skis - well, now they’ll just carry it, hold on. And they are very surprised that they go to one temperature, but not to another. Heating, cork and hot iron, all to ensure that the layer is not just thin, but even - the glide depends on this, all the unevenness of the ski is leveled out. Now swimmers shave and use smooth suits for the same purpose (they seem to have decided to cancel suits). But look how far we have gone towards sports and how far we have gone from hunting skis. But ski wax is a good thing (if you guess the temperature, otherwise: either the skis will give back, or vice versa, you will scratch them like slag). But if you have a piece lying around in your backpack for above-zero temperatures, that’s a plus (forgive the tautology), in case of a thaw and a potential scam. Although, when we have a podlip, the season is closed for a month and a half. But they also ski in other areas, and a piece of ointment is not large or heavy. Once you use it, you don’t even need to rub it; after 10 minutes, nature will do everything itself. She's such a magician.

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Time passes, manufacturers, technologies, standards change...

The most popular is skiing. To avoid problems while skiing and to make the movement comfortable, you need to take care of your equipment in advance. There are several options for special ski lubricants that need to be selected individually.

Why lubricate your skis?

This question arises among beginner skiers, since many consider this procedure unnecessary. During driving, a frictional force is created, which depends on the quality of the equipment and the condition of the snow. To reduce it, lubrication is carried out. There is another reason why wooden skis and equipment made from other materials should be lubricated, since the use of ointment prevents slipping back during the push. Thanks to the application of a special product, the middle part of the ski sticks well to the snow. With constant use of lubricants, the service life of equipment can be extended.

Which skis don't need lubrication?

There are different opinions regarding whether preparing equipment is mandatory. If we turn to the competent opinion of specialists, they, discussing whether it is necessary to lubricate skis, say that if you want to enjoy perfect gliding, then it is recommended to carry out a simple lubrication procedure before each walk. In addition, this will allow you to preserve the equipment for a long time.

How can you lubricate skis at home?

In stores and other points of sale you can find many different products designed for ski fans. If a person does not plan to engage in it seriously, then there will be no need to spend money on expensive formulations presented in the form of aerosols or branded paraffins. For those who are interested in how to lubricate their skis for better glide, a wide range of different ointments are offered.

Such products are presented in two types: for better glide and grip. Beginning athletes can use universal kits from well-known brands: Visti, Swix or Briko. All products are color coded according to the temperature at which they must be used. If the temperature is above zero, then liquid formulations are used. For negative values, the following classification applies:

0 to -2 – purple color;
-2 to -8 – blue;
-5 to -12 – light green;
-10 to -25 – dark green;
-15 to -30 – black.

When figuring out how to lubricate skis, you need to pay attention to common paraffins, which, according to their properties, are divided into options for sliding and securing. It is worth knowing how to lubricate your skis so that the snow does not stick in the absence of other means, you can use wax and paraffin from candles, but medical grade is better. There is a widespread belief among people that you can use soap, but in reality it will not do any good.

How to lubricate skis at home?

To care for your own equipment, you don’t need to turn to specialists, because, knowing some of the subtleties, you can carry out all the procedures yourself at home. For those interested in how to properly lubricate skis, you should know that it is important to consider not only the material from which the equipment is made, but also the style of intended riding.

How to lubricate plastic skis?

If such equipment was purchased, then it is necessary to apply lubricant to a clean and dry surface at room temperature. When understanding this, it is worth considering the basic rules:

When using a solid ointment, apply it in several layers, rubbing each of them. After this, leave everything to cool and apply the last layer outdoors.
It is recommended to carry out the test after walking a couple of kilometers, and if necessary, the product should be changed. Those who are interested in why plastic skis need to be lubricated should know that without this, the glide will not be as good.
For classic skating, it is customary to apply paraffin or gliding ointments, but only to the back or front, but the central area is lubricated with holding agents.
When using paraffin, it is applied in drops, leveling them with an iron. After this, it is cooled and removed with a scraper. Finally, treatment is carried out with a nylon brush.
There is another important topic - how to lubricate plastic skis with notches. Such equipment does not require lubrication, but over time the notches wear off and then paraffin should be applied.

How and with what to lubricate semi-plastic skis?

This type of equipment is made of wood, but a plastic plate is applied on top of the sliding surface, which protects against wear. In operation it is the same as for products made of plastic. For those who want to know how to lubricate skis so that there is no kickback, then you should use the recommendations described above for the plastic version.

How to properly lubricate wooden skis?

If you have equipment made of wood, it will be impossible to do without lubricating it, which is applied to a dry and clean surface. First you need to carry out priming, for which paraffin is used and it is better to take a candle-tablet. You need to rub harder, and then run a hot iron on top. Remove any excess that is not absorbed. This procedure should be carried out before each trip to the snow. Instructions on how to wax skis are as follows:

Lay the equipment downside down on a flat surface and clean them with a rag.
Hold the heated iron 2.5 cm above the skis and start processing from the edge. Apply a little wax to the iron itself until it melts and drips. Walk it over the entire surface.
At the bottom, perform back-and-forth movements with light pressure. The resulting layer of wax should harden, and then, using a scraper, remove it, moving from the highest point to the bottom.
An important step in the instructions on how to lubricate wooden skis is to treat the entire surface with a special brush, making only translational movements and applying slight pressure on the tool.
Skis should be taken out into the cold for several hours, and then left overnight at room temperature.

How to lubricate combination skis?

Some manufacturers have created special combination equipment that is suitable for both classic and free style. It is worth noting that you can find them on the market less and less often. To choose an easy way to lubricate your skis, you need to consider what running style will be used in a particular case. Processing schemes will be described below.

How to properly lubricate cross-country skis?

For amateur skiing, you can simply use special ointments that are selected depending on weather conditions. They should be 2-3 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Lubricate the pad area with ointment, applying 2-3 layers, rubbing each layer with light movements. Finally, it is recommended to leave the equipment for 10-15 minutes. cool down. After riding, using a scraper and rinsing, the remaining product must be removed. The diagram on how to lubricate cross-country skis with paraffin is more complex.

First they need to be mounted on a table or machine. At the first stage, the process of “hot” cleaning is carried out.
Using an iron heated to the minimum melting temperature of paraffin, smooth out the melted lubricant. It is important to avoid delays.
Without allowing the paraffin to harden, clean it using a scraper and a stiff brush. The final layer should be 0.5-1 mm.
After this, paraffin is applied taking into account weather conditions. The procedure is similar to the steps described above, and after removing the residue, the skis should cool for half an hour.
Using a scraper or nylon brush, remove remaining paraffin, bringing the surface to a shine.

How to lubricate skis for classic skiing?

Fans of this kind of skating should use slip and grip ointments. The first is usually applied to the sliding surface, and the second to the last (the area in the middle, which is determined from the heel of the shoe plus 15-20 cm). For those interested in how to lubricate skis, you should know the following information:

At the first stages of treatment, cleaning is carried out, and then a gliding ointment is applied.
After this, treat the block with a holder ointment, which must be selected based on the temperature and humidity of the snow.
If it’s warm, then use liquid products, and if it’s cold, then use solid ones. In the second case, a grinding plug is used.
It is important to consider that grip and glide ointments should not be mixed.
After applying the first layer, the product must be given time to set, and only then re-lubrication is carried out.
The preparation is completed by polishing with a nylon brush.
Another important point is how to lubricate skis with paraffin; it is applied only to the ends of the equipment.

How to lubricate skating skis?

Processing equipment for such riding is simpler, since only gliding ointments are used. Not for professionals, one layer of ointment, selected according to air temperature, will be enough. As in the previously described treatment schemes, the surface is cleaned. After this, you can proceed to the instructions, which concern how to properly lubricate skis at home:

First, heat the iron to the temperature indicated on the paraffin wax.
Place the block on the surface of the iron and move it so that the drops of paraffin are evenly distributed.
After this, run the iron from heel to toe to completely melt the wax. A uniform shine will indicate that everything was done correctly.
An important step in the instructions regarding how to lubricate skis with paraffin at home is to remove excess with a scraper after the layer has hardened. Move against the direction of the ride. Finish the procedure with polishing.

How to lubricate skis?

Before going out into the snow, it is necessary to hot-treat the equipment, which will help fill the pores. The procedure for lubricating skis is similar to the options described above. First, dirt and existing unevenness are removed. Be sure to lubricate everything with a degreasing compound. At the next stage, apply the blue ointment hot, and then, after it hardens, remove excess with a scraper. You can also use liquid ointments that are spread with a sponge.