Altai Kom Waxing

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yoyoing
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Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 6:33 pm

Altai Kom Waxing

Post by yoyoing » Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:31 am

Greetings,

I had my first season on the Koms last year and absolutely loved it. I upgraded from 2 years on the Hoks and it was a huge improvement for my tele turns. I wish I had went for the longer 174cm version though, but that's another matter...

Anyways, I diverge! I went a whole season without waxing them and the base is really dried out now (white'ish), so they're needing a good waxing now.

I am wondering what you guys do through the fish scale section?

I'm thinking of a few options but am not sure what's best:

Wax the whole ski tip to tail as normal; wax just the tip/tail and silicone spray the scales; or wax tip/tail and grip wax the fishscales. What are your experiences? I'm especially curious if grip waxing is possible or if it will completely destroy the ski's glide since there isn't much camber to begin with.

Thanks for your help!

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Woodserson
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by Woodserson » Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:38 am

First, the glide sections should be glide waxed regularly throughout the season as you would any other ski. Glide wax, iron, scrape, etc.

The scales are another story. You can do two things:

1. Use a paste/liquid glide wax such as Maxiglide, which I use on scales with good results, though it must be applied regularly depending on snow conditions. I even carry a small can of it with me for touch ups on tricky days.

2. Hot wax the scales. This takes technique and is tricky. You do not want to fill the gaps in the scales with wax. I use a soft warm wax when I do this, and I wipe immediately with paper towels/cloth rag while the wax is still wet. I'm trying to work it in there but also remove it so I don't clog the scales. Sometimes I go back with a pick and painstakingly remove the wax from around the scales.

The subject of hot-waxing scales was covered on this excellent thread, please review: https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 55&p=22271

Super happy you love the Koms! they are THE BEST



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voilenerd
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by voilenerd » Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:33 pm

Howdy,

On my fat fish scaled skis I hot wax the tips and tails with temp specific wax depending on conditions. As for the scales, I only use rub on wax in the spring when the snow is sticky. Putting rub on wax on scales really hampers the climbing abilities especially in colder and harder snow. So I would not recommend it until spring/summer rolls around.



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lilcliffy
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:34 pm

I have a 162cm Kom.
Central New Brunswick Canada.
200-600m elevation.
Lots of snow.
Very cold for extended periods mid-winter- lots of fresh snow.
Extended skiing on deep, melting spring snow.
I grip wax the ENTIRE base of my Kom with a very hard-grip wax- saved it from the yard sale.
I simply could not get enough grip with this ski except on warm spring snow.
My verticals are typically 50-300m- I do not want to be constantly putting on climbing skins.
Grip wax cured my problem.
And I never need to use a paste/liquid glide wax on the scales.
Love this ski.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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fisheater
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by fisheater » Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:04 pm

Gareth, are you using an iron, or just crayoning the kick wax onto the scales? I mounted the S-112 for a friend. Anything I can do to make it easier for him.



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johral
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by johral » Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:04 pm

lilcliffy wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:34 pm
I have a 162cm Kom.
Central New Brunswick Canada.
200-600m elevation.
Lots of snow.
Very cold for extended periods mid-winter- lots of fresh snow.
Extended skiing on deep, melting spring snow.
I grip wax the ENTIRE base of my Kom with a very hard-grip wax- saved it from the yard sale.
I simply could not get enough grip with this ski except on warm spring snow.
My verticals are typically 50-300m- I do not want to be constantly putting on climbing skins.
Grip wax cured my problem.
And I never need to use a paste/liquid glide wax on the scales.
Love this ski.
So that technique should work with my Sbound 112s...right?



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Rainbow83
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by Rainbow83 » Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:59 pm

Y'all wax your fischscales? I only ever do glide wax on the glide sections of the base and leave the scales untouched on my skis. Does that have adverse effects? I always kinda figured that if glide was good and grip was good, no need to touch the scale to try to adjust things.



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lilcliffy
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Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
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Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:05 pm

fisheater wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:04 pm
Gareth, are you using an iron, or just crayoning the kick wax onto the scales? I mounted the S-112 for a friend. Anything I can do to make it easier for him.
I cork on a light layer of very hard grip wax over the entire base- then iron- then buff the entire base.
Works like a charm on all snow warmer than ~ -25C.
Below that temp the polar wax starts working as a kick wax...
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



User avatar
lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:09 pm

johral wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:04 pm
lilcliffy wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:34 pm
I have a 162cm Kom.
Central New Brunswick Canada.
200-600m elevation.
Lots of snow.
Very cold for extended periods mid-winter- lots of fresh snow.
Extended skiing on deep, melting spring snow.
I grip wax the ENTIRE base of my Kom with a very hard-grip wax- saved it from the yard sale.
I simply could not get enough grip with this ski except on warm spring snow.
My verticals are typically 50-300m- I do not want to be constantly putting on climbing skins.
Grip wax cured my problem.
And I never need to use a paste/liquid glide wax on the scales.
Love this ski.
So that technique should work with my Sbound 112s...right?
Yes
I use the same method with my Fischer 78/88/E99/E109 Crowns.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



User avatar
lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: Altai Kom Waxing

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:10 pm

Rainbow83 wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:59 pm
Y'all wax your fischscales? I only ever do glide wax on the glide sections of the base and leave the scales untouched on my skis. Does that have adverse effects? I always kinda figured that if glide was good and grip was good, no need to touch the scale to try to adjust things.
Agree- totally.
If what you are doing works for you- where you ski- keep doing it!
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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