You bought new skis and now you want to try them out, but as soon as you hit the slopes, you realize that the skin on your nose is glued to the ski. What a bummer! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. Maybe you got a little too carried away during the sale and bought a really expensive pair of skis without even trying them out first. Then, when you finally do hit the slopes, your poor ski experience has been completely ruined because of one small issue—the skin is glued to the ski.
Luckily, there is an easy way to remove skin glue from skis. All you need is a little bit of patience and a few household items. And before we get started, it is important to note that this article will only cover the process of removing skin glue from wooden skis. If you need help removing skin glue from plastic skis, please refer to our informative article on how to remove skin glue from plastic skis.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Shred It
The first thing you need to do is take your ski and push down on the sides to break it in half. You can also use a metal rod to slide into the grooves of the ski and break it in two.
Once you’ve broken it in half, you can grab the edges of the ski and pull them apart. Now you’ve got two pieces of material, the top piece and the bottom piece. Some people call the bottom piece the tail because it sticks out at the end. The majority of the material should be from the middle to the front.
You’ll need to pull the two pieces apart, but it’s also important to keep them together. When you tug on the edges of the ski, it is important to keep the two pieces of material connected. This will help prevent the ski from snapping back together in an unresponsive manner.
Step 2: Remove The Glue
Once you’ve broken the ski in half and removed any pieces of material that are stuck on with skin glue, it’s time to start peeling off the layers of glue. Use a bit of water to help remove it, but don’t saturate the area where the skin is located. When you’re done applying water, use a clean bit of cloth to dry off the area. This will make it easier to remove the glue when trying out your new skis.
The first layer of glue you’ll need to remove is the wax that the ski manufacturer applied to the bottom of the skis before they were shipped to the stores. It doesn’t matter whether you’re skiing straight away or after some heavy use, wax will eventually build up and need to be removed in order to improve your experience.
Once you’ve removed the wax, it’s time to start removing the topmost layer of glue. When you pull your ski, you’re actually pulling off a thin layer of glue, wax, and skin. The uppermost layer is usually a combination of the three, and since wax is generally a clear product, you’ll have no issues seeing what you’re removing. Plus, it’s always nice to have an extra set of eyes checking out what you’re doing.
Step 3: Scrape It Off
Now that you’ve got the topmost layer of glue off, it’s time to start scraping it away. Be careful not to damage the bottom piece since you’ll need it later on. Once you’ve removed the uppermost layer, it’s important to start laying down more layers of glue. Every time you remove a layer, it’s like stripping off the layers of an onion. Be patient and careful not to damage any of the underlying layers while removing the top ones.
Once you’re done removing the topmost layers, it’s time to start smoothing the edges with some sandpaper. You can also use an edge smoothing tool if you have one. It is important to do this before you put the top back on the ski. Once you’ve finished sanding the edges, it’s time to apply some lubricant to the area where the skin will touch the ski. This will make it easier for you to slide around on the ski.
After you’ve applied the lubricant, it’s time to put the top back on the ski. When you do this, make sure that the edges are lined up evenly. Check to see if it’s sticking somewhere else before you start moving around. If it is, then you’ve got some serious glue issues that need to be resolved, stat!
Step 4: Season And Go For A Ride
After you’ve followed the above tips and prepared your new skis for use, it’s time to hit the slopes and have some fun. Make sure to follow the instructions that came with your skis and use the right equipment. This will make a difference in how you experience your skiing session. Besides, be sure to dry off the area where the skin is located after every ride. This will help prevent further glue issues from occurring.
Once you’ve followed the above steps and had some fun on your new skis, it’s time to take them apart and clean them thoroughly before storing them for next time. Don’t re-use the same pair of skis if you’ve had issues with skinning. This will help ensure that you get the best possible experience out of your new pair of skis.
To learn more, check out our informative article on how to get skin glue off plastic skis.