How to Tune Skis at Home

A tuneup is essential to extending the life of your skis. Tuning skis involves regular maintenance, sharpening and waxing them. It is important to tune skis before each season in order to freshen up skis that have been sitting around since the previous winter ended. A tuneup will ensure that your skis are in good condition for the new season and give you better performance on the slopes.

Things You'll Need

  • Rag
  • Ski wax
  • Ski waxing iron
  • Coarse diamond stone
  • Scraper
  • Nylon ski waxing brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wipe down your skis with a rag and make sure they are dry and warm. Wax won't stick to cold, wet skis.

    • 2

      Rub the coarse diamond stone along the base side of the edge of the ski and then the side of the edge. Make sure to rub the stone lightly along the edge at a 45- degree angle. This will help maintain the edges of your skis and keep them sharp for carving turns.

    • 3

      Drip melted wax from the iron onto the bottom of the ski, known as the ski base. Hold the iron about 5 to 7 inches above the ski base and drip the wax continually onto it. One 60-gram ski wax bar is enough to wax five pairs of skis.

    • 4

      Iron the wax onto the ski base by moving the iron constantly back and forth over the melted wax. Make sure not to stop moving the iron--if the iron is left in one spot for too long, it can damage the ski base. Waxing the ski will help give you a smooth glide on the slopes. Let the wax cool for one hour.

    • 5

      Scrape off the excess wax from the edges of the skis by moving the scraper back and forth while holding it at a 45-degree angle. With the nylon brush, start brushing at the head of the ski and move to the tail. This will help remove any excess wax from the ski.

    • 6

      Wipe down the skis again with a clean rag to complete the tuneup.