How To Do A Ski Edge Sharpening Tune Up

Do you want to know how to do a ski edge sharpening tune up? Perhaps one of the most important features of a ski is it´s edge. With a rounded or worn edge, carving is impossible, making it hard to turn and even more important, lower speed when skiing on hard snowpacked surfaces or icy slopes. So you really like your edges to be sharp.

What you will need to do a ski edge sharpening tune up is:

• A work bench
• A set of jaws, to hold the skis while sharpening the edges. You can buy the dedicated ones, or improvise them with regular jaws, taking care of protecting the skis with a piece of rag, avoiding scratches.
• A sharpener. Again, commercial ones are preferable, but you can do without them.
• A set of sharpening stones. Different grains are sure to allow you to get to a super fine sharpening.
  

The steps to do a ski edge sharpening tune up are:

1. Place the jaws on the bench and adjust them.
2. Put a ski in the jaws, with one of it´s sides up. Make sure to protect the ski with a rag, not to scratch it with the jaws.
3. Locate the most worn spots on the edge, and mark them with a highliter.
4. Work with the sharpener, starting with an open setting, slowly tightening it.
5. If using stones, start with a wide grain, sliding at medium speeds and not putting much pressure to avoid consuming too much metal. Remember that the edge is a non renewable part!
6. Gradually use finer grains to get to a mirror like surface. Placing an eye at the tip of the ski, you should be able to see the original curve of the profile without side scratches.
7. Once you've achieved a smooth side surface, look at the base of the edge. If it shows irregular material, try erasing it with a very fine stone or even sandpaper, making sure you don´t lift the base material or wax.

8. Repeat the process with the rest of the edges. The tips don´t need any sharpening. But if you want to sharpen them, be specially careful not to open any gaps between the edge and the ski cover.