Stripping wax of my Fuego

[grego]

Hey all,
I bought my first Firewire- 6'1 El Fuego- about 5 months ago and have to say it is the most fun board I have ever owned! Cheers prjwebb, gnubee and chris for your sizing advice at the time of purchase... 6'1 was spot on for my size and ability. Still undecided as to my next purchase, but I'm thinking a 6'2 Hellfire would be the perfect companion for when the waves are cranking!

Just wondering about the best way of stripping old wax off as its coming into winter and I need to switch to cool water wax. For my older PU boards I've always just stripped back with a wax comb, then used a small amount of kerosene on a rag to give a final clean- never had any problems doing this but wondering about whether it is safe with a RF Firewire? Any recommendations?

Cheers!

[Slowman]

If you have warm water wax on, just leave it on. It is harder and the softer cold water wax will apply easily over the top. It doesn't work the other way around! The harder wax acts like a scraper and removes the softer wax.

[Slowman]

I must be lazy! I hardly ever strip old wax off unless there's too much or for some reason it is getting really dirty under my front foot (rear foot on the tail pad). And even then it will be the minimum required to get the job done. I try to make sure it doesn't get too thick in the first place as it does seem to make the board feel more responsive with a nice thin coat.

[buzzy]

I've never applied a wax remover. I just use sun, wax comb or similar, elbow grease and finish off with an old rag.

[prjwebb]

I usually give a quick wipe over with white spirit after scraping the worst off then rinse it off thoroughly.

[core personal training]

struth guys, why are you polishing under where the new wax is going??..just scrape it and rewax it...done...!

[prjwebb]

Get's all the dirty brown bootie stained residue off. Maybe that's not an issue for you? :p
I also wipe the bottom too, get those waxy fingerprints off.
OCD Phill signing off.

[core personal training]

ha..!!..so do all your wax beads need to be the same size...???..

[prjwebb]

Don't get me started. I tried out this French wax yesterday. it's 100% natural, no petrochemicals, called GreenFix. Anyway, no beads what so ever. Just a smeary, sticky mess. I'm not sure if it's even going to work properly.

[Slowman]

ha..!!..so do all your wax beads need to be the same size...???..
I know this dude and he is fastidious about his wax, he waxes it in this diamond pattern, it sort of looks funky but crikey I think that's getting carried away a bit!

[Gnubee]

I use a wax comb, a bit of sun and an old towel to finish things off. I've never used kerosene or any other chemical. Warm water now and then (I am always using cold water wax, so warm water works when the sun isn't out).

[grego]

I'm with you on the OCD thing Phill! Gotta have that wax just right- especially with some solid autumn swells on the way. Speaking of which, attached is a shot from last easter... fingers crossed for more of the same soon. 565

[Chris]

sick shot! The Alternator may be an epic board too for the good days. The Hellfire and El Fuego do ride very differently...

Cheers

[iggy]

I'm with you on the OCD thing Phill! Gotta have that wax just right- especially with some solid autumn swells on the way. Speaking of which, attached is a shot from last easter... fingers crossed for more of the same soon. 565

Wow, nice!

[grego]

Thanks Chris and Iggy! Chris, just a question re the alternator. What do you see as the main differences between that and the hellfire? My reasoning for interest in the hellfire was that I thought it might be easier to adapt to as I already ride a hybrid, as opposed to a true performance short board shape. Locally, we get some solid swells in winter but mainly beach breaks that don't hold much more than 6 ft, and probably only surf that size a few times a year. Most of my waves are in the 1-5 ft range. Definitely need a second board to compliment my Elf tho, for 3-5 foot good conditions. Maybe I need an alternator AND a Hellfire- cover all the bases!

[core personal training]

hellfire....but ride it small to get its benefits.....if you want "normal" length then look at the conventional boards...or a razor....or... :P

[Chris]

i give my wax a comb every night before bed. and all my boards have their own bed too...

[prjwebb]

Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax.
Clean, clean, clean, gotta wash my hands. Gotta wash my hands, gotta wash my hands.

[iggy]

Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax. Gotta clean the wax.
Clean, clean, clean, gotta wash my hands. Gotta wash my hands, gotta wash my hands.
jajajaj I think I see where this compulsive behaviour might be coming from...

[iggy]

i give my wax a comb every night before bed. and all my boards have their own bed too...

You sing them good night as well??

[prjwebb]

Just thought I'd add to this thread.
I'm trying to get away from using chemicals to clean my boards up so I picked up one of those Wax Pickle things. Works real well. I hear you can make your own out of a stocking or tights, pantyhose or whatever you US folks call them and some PU foam dust from your local shaper or even some flour. I think the Pickle is probably a bit safer to be using than fine PU dust but that's your call.

720

[surfgumby]

Well I guess its clear most of us have different ideas about wax, waxing & the removal thereoff!

But like grego I was also wondering how to get rid of unwanted wax & wax marks, mainly found on the bottom of my firewires (think its transfered from the board bags or else there a fondler sneaking around putting their dirty little mits all over my boards while I'm not looking)!

Is kero or metho ok or will it damage the top coating of RF & FST? Is white spirits metho? If not what is it?

Anyway, look forward to your answers & more stories about the boardscapers out there!

[prjwebb]

White Spirit and Mentholated Spirit are pretty similar but I think the Metho is stronger. Neither will harm your board unless you have open dings, but if your board is nanotuned I reckon it'd strip that off. The wax pickle is ideal for cleaning the grubby prints off the bottom without using any chemicals though. Precisely what I bought it for.

[core personal training]

before swapping the thick MB for the thin one i cleaned it back to new....first time in over 30 years and zillions of boards i ever bothered to remove every trace...FAR OUT...took hours with damp cloth and kitchen roll and SO MUCH elbow grease...sweated out kilos..!!.........NEVER AGAIN......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[prjwebb]

ha! a rag with a splash of white spirit and you're done in seconds Dave.

[core personal training]

i'm anti chemicals mate...only things in the house for cleaning are bi-carb and vinegar....back to the way us "normal" mammals do it....rip the bulk off with the scraper and re-wax........who care about the marks....i scuff my bright white sneakers up before walking out in em too..!!

[prjwebb]

yeah only reason i have the white spirit is for washing out paint brushes.

good on ya though, i agree a lot of the stuff people use is unnecessary and harmful. the pickle or home made alternative seems like a better option for those of us who like to keep boards clean though.

[core personal training]

how do you clean it afterwards?? doesn't it clog up like a towel would???

[prjwebb]

Nah it says the dirtier the better. It seems to lose a little of its dusty contents as you use it which clings to the wax so it wipes away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TCnEBojsmg

[core personal training]

cool....

[surfgumby]

The pickle is coming, the pickle is coming! Got noe from fleabay $20.....can't wait to unbottle it & get pickled all over my boards!!!!!

[Chris]

that thing works so well.

[prjwebb]

yeah i was skeptical at first but now a full convert.

[Chris]

is a pickle a vegetable still?

[prjwebb]

yeah, when you're finished with it you can eat it.

[surfgumby]

Yep, vegi it is but my packet says not to ingest it! So maybe its a bit sticky & sour after it gets full of mouldy old wax!

[surfgumby]

Wax off board Sorted!

BUT.

What ingenius system do the good people out there in forum land use to get wax out of/ off their board sock when a well meaning mate shoves your board in the wrong way around resulting in wax blobs/hunks sticking to the bottom of your board & circumventing the nanotune effect?

[prjwebb]

Hot wash?

[Chris]

trash buy a new one?

[surfgumby]

Hi Chris,

Hey I'm trying to help prj save the planet here! Will try the hot wash & see how it goes.

O the pickle does a very good job, thanks for that tip prj!

[Chris]

ha i was just kidding. hot wash and dish detergent. dish detergent is designed to isolate fats and cut grease. go super hot though. Only thing is the fabric may lose a bit of color or bleed a bit. just keep in mind you can't go back to the company if the hot wash alters the bag in any way. Ha.

Good luck...

[Bergie]

I use the pickle best thing around and good for the planet give it a try it work goood!!