DIY glide wax for skiing
A DIY glide wax for skiing prevents ball-up and improves glide. It is made inexpensively from tea candles and turpentine. It can be easily carried in a pocket in a modified plastic pill bottle that is fitted with an enclosed applicator made from a roll of some disposable dishcloth. The dishcloth can be pulled out of the bottle with a cord to easily apply wax any time during ski trips.
Introduction to DIY glide wax
Recently I was helping to lead our homebound ski trip. It started before sunrise with a large group of people. With loaded packs, in the darkness, with fresh falling snow, strong wind, head torches on, a time deadline to meet a coach. We had the added complexity of an injured skier who needed assistance during the ‘ski-out.
While fumbling around attaching my own ski tethers with flapping clothing and a failed head torch I heard the cry “Tim I’m balling up……have you got your glide wax?” Under a little pressure and without enough thought I gave a grumpy reply; “You should have done that last night!” Whilst my statement was true, in a moment I realized that if I quickly applied wax to the individual’s skis, with my DIY glide wax, the whole group could travel much faster and with less effort.
Later, another slow skier was balling up at the tail end of the group and I was able to quickly ski back and DIY glide waxed their skis, while they sat on a signboard, without taking off either their skis or the backpack. “I felt like Alpine equivalent of a shoe-shine-boy.”
This saved a lot of time standing around getting cold while waiting for the slowest skier to catch up before tackling a technically challenging ski passage. Even though I consider individuals should look after their own skis, it will always be important to have an abundant and convenient supply of DIY glide wax on hand for group ski trips where all must stick together.
I must confess that when I got home I examined my ‘faulty’ torch and found that I had not removed the little protective plastic disk inside the battery compartment. I could just hear that little voice in my head say; “You should have checked that last night Tim”
My confession
Challenging weather with fresh fluffy snow falling for skiing home. Not a good time for skis to start to stick and ball up unless you have your DIY glide wax handy. “What a waste to be going home with such nice snow falling.”
The end of the morning skiing.
DIY ski wax
DIY glide wax made from tea candle, turpentine, pill bottle and a tight retractable roll of disposable dish cloth as an applicator. Closed glide wax pill bottle (left). Open bottle with applicator exposed (right). A pocket-friendly wax to improve ski glide and prevent balling up’ any time when you or others need it. The fine cord that is hanging down the side of the bottle can be used to pull the applicator wad applicator out. It can be stored in the bottle with no mess when the waxing is done
DIY glide wax method and recipe
- Cut up a tea candle into about 10 pieces and place about 7 of them into the pill bottle,
- Half fill the bottle with clean mineral turpentine or mineral spirits (not gum turpentine),
- Seal the bottle and allow it to stand for two days, giving it a shake 2-3 times a day,
- For a quicker dissolution store the bottle in a very warm place.
A small bottle of mineral spirits or a larger bottle of mineral spirits makes a suitable solvent for the glide wax. You may consider the large bottle as the solvent has many other uses in backpacking tinkerer for projects. These uses include DIY RTV silicone rubber for backpacking gear, DIY silicone seam sealer and DIY tent stove jacks.
When fully dissolved carefully insert the roll applicator made of a disposable cleaning cloth. Do not be tempted to dissolve too much wax in the solution when warm as it can solidify at cold temperatures while out on the ski trail.
Bottle seal
A good sealing lid is essential to stop the turpentine smell from leaking out. The rim of the bottle must also be free of scratches or imperfections. If the pill bottle does not have a plastic disk seal, I cut a replacement sealing disk out of the soft plastic from a lid of 2L Safeway or Coles budget ice cream container. “A great tinker’s resource”. Carrying it in an external pack pocket or jacket pocket is another precaution as a tiny amount of leaked solvent makes quite a smell.
Discussion
Sneaky wax management.
If you care for your skis, as I do, it is good to have two wax bottles. One to use to clean your skis if they get crud on them. You can use this one to apply wax to other peoples skis that have had no cleaning or wax for years. It still stops balling up but the applicator will get dirty quickly. Keep the clean bottle for the glide coat for your own skis.
Glide performance.
I have compared the pace of my skis with DIY glide wax with a friends skis with freshly applied overnight hot wax and we had a near-identical pace down a big open schuss run.
“My wax costs nothing and can be applied quickly at any time for me and my buddies.”
Addendum 1- Toiletries as DIY glide substances
There is a residual stink of turps from the little pill bottle of my traditional turps based glide wax, regardless of my effort to make a good seal. Also, when flying to other places to ski we have had ski waxes confiscated at airports. So here is an alternative DIY ski lubricant that can hide in your toiletries. “There, I have said it without using the word wax.”
You may also be interested in the DIY magic anti-stink liquid. A couple of drops can change the most stinking ski boots, walking boots or sneakers into sweet-smelling objects in 5-10 seconds!
If you are backcountry ski-crackers like me, you may be interested in my DIY breathing polyester pyramid tent to keep you drier at night, a tiny 400g wood stick fired backpacking tent stove to keep you warm and cook your dinner, improved DIY telescopic roll up stove pipes and a DIY stove jack to make it all light and safe.
Tim
Very cool
Hi Jakob, Thanks for the nice comment. Please let me know how it works for you. Make sure that you have a look at my other glide compounds for flying skiiers post:
https://timtinker.com/diy-ski-glide-compounds-a-sneaky-stowaway-in-your-toiletries/
Tim
When done, is this DYI wax a liquid or solid?
If aim is a solid wax, I don’t think this will occur.
Thanks.
Dick Byron
Hi Dick, It becomes a liquid or a paste that can slowly work its way through the cloth application tampon. It has worked well for many years to prevent ball up and a good glide. Tim
What exact wax or paraffin your tea candles were made of ? There are dozens types of waxes/paraffin out there, with different properties. It is very important to pick the right.
Also I wonder if turpentine can ruin the ski base?
Hi, Thanks for your comment. The tea candles I use are those cheap ones made from petroleum. Nothing fancy, although stolen high-church candles would suffice. There are special waxes with different properties to allow the skis to grip for climbing on various snow surfaces. However, my interest was in stopping balling up and allowing my skis to glide easily. In this regard, a tea candle works just fine and has done so since Adam was a boy. I have just shared my own simple and convenient way of applying the wax to the skis.
I also have a post on the applicator device that can be used for other base lubricants that don’t use wax or turpentine.
https://timtinker.com/diy-ski-glide-compounds-a-sneaky-stowaway-in-your-toiletries/
They are more suitable for ski trips that involve travel by aeroplane where ski wax and solvent are confiscated. They all work well.
Clean turpentine has not ruined the ski bases on a whole quiver of skis that have had many days of skiing pleasure over about 13 years. On the contrary, it is an excellent solvent that can be used to clean off accumulated ‘crud’ from skis. It is also excellent for cleaning and coating the skis for off-season storage.
Lastly, in my experience, the glide speed that can be achieved is equivalent to that achieved with skis that have been commercially hot waxed. It can be applied as often as you like, costs nothing and will clean the skis on those resort skiing days, where the surface is very ‘cruddy’.
Tim
Hi Tim,
Great post! I’m curious about the silicone oil method. Is it simply pure silicone oil without any wax? I don’t believe wax would be soluble in the silicone.
As a treadmill owner, I’m familiar with handling this slippery stuff. I think that would be a good choice for me.
(btw, I have some 7tm questions that I’ll post on your relevant page. Thanks!)
Hi Tom, Thanks for your interest in the ski glide compounds. I included the silicone oil as an alternative that had no wax in it so that it would not be a ski wax that would need to be declared. However, I am certain that wax will dissolve in it, just like it does in olive oil. I will check it out and get back. If carrying wax is not an issue I have found that a glide compound with wax in it has the most persistence, but oil alone works.
Tim
Hi Tom, I have just tested the dissolution of wax in the silicone oil and as I anticipated they dissolve easily in one another. They make a nice slippery creamy texture that would be ideal for rub-on application to skis. “Not so sure about the Elvis Hair Gel”.
It is rather interesting to see this inorganic man-made oil without any carbon content interact so well with our traditional organic waxes.
Elsewhere, I have commented about the permeability of silicone rubber to water vapour. I have even observed the milk fat from cows’ milk migrate through solid silicone rubber in milking equipment, so I am not surprised.
So may your ski tips ever point upwards and you glide on forever,
Tim
Made this and applied it before a ski in Bear Creek- east of Castle Mountain. And even tho the trail was icy with a thin dust of overnite powder- I was gliding like no one’s business! Loved it 🙂
Thanks Tim the tinker guy!)
Thanks for your comment. It is good to hear that it worked for you. When I go overseas for skiing I have had the wax confiscated by airport officials ( not that it matters when coming home). Consequently, I am working on a more benign recipe that could be considered a cosmetic, ointment, weight loss dietary supplement or even a personal lubricant–the officials will give that one a big miss in your toiletries. It also has no trace of a stink in your parka pocket or pack. Shhhhh…..just don’t call it SKI WAX! Stay tuned for the post or even better subscribe to my little infrequent newsletter. May you glide on with a big smile and a fatter wallet. Tim the tinker guy
Thanks Tim.
I’ll be ready with my was next time.
Great photos!
Di
Hi Di, Thanks for your comment.Sad that the virus stopped the skiing this season. Yes, I will take extra wax anyway and hopefully, I will remember to check my head torch batteries.
Tim