Light Rust on Ski Edges

[Fred Pabst]

I am guilty of not taking care of my skis in the off season as in no storage wax. So then i have to deal with cleaning them up come fall. Its never much and a gummi does a great job but looking for a shortcut. Looking for something that could be put into a drill to buff edges clean without screwing the edges up. Tognar have anything?

[old goat]

You could try something like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Met...BK71/205642376
or just sharpen the side edges and ski the rust off.

Edit--on second thought--getting buffing compound on your bases is a really bad idea. Forget I said it. Ski them.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Ski them.

[galibier_numero_un]

Assuming that you don't have major base work (requiring grinding/re-setting the bevel), and since you didn't do anything since the last day skiing, they must need (at a minimum) a light stone/touch-up on the side edges. Then clean the bases, wax 'em & ski 'em as stuckathuntermtn said.

Cheers,
Thom

[gregL]

You think using a gummi stone is too time consuming and you're posting on TGR as if you care about your skis?

[stuckathuntermtn]

You think using a gummi stone is too time consuming and you're posting on TGR as if you care about your skis?

Good point.

[Benny Profane]

Ski them.

Good point.

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

Scotchbrite 3M pads are perfect for removing surface rust off of ski edges. They work like magic.

[El Chupacabra]

Scotchbrite 3M pads are perfect for removing surface rust off of ski edges. They work like magic.

This.

Or, since the OP wanted something that could be chucked into a drill, use a wire wheel. Shouldn't affect the edge tune much... might not be so great for the bases however.

[XXX-er]

IME if I separate my skis to let them dry indoors without edges touching they won't rust. If I did let them rust to the point that area is pitted they will have a tendency to rust in those pitted spots until they get ground, in any case letting them rust indicates a low level of care so just ski the rust off or get them ground

[whitekingsalmon]

Lick the rust off kook

[Fred Pabst]

IME if I separate my skis to let them dry indoors without edges touching they won't rust. If I did let them rust to the point that area is pitted they will have a tendency to rust in those pitted spots until they get ground, in any case letting them rust indicates a low level of care so just ski the rust off or get them ground

Yup. Wiped dry than air dry, not sandwiched together. Pretty minor actually. It just happens when skis are kept in the basement of my house. Scotch 3m pads sound good. Will give that a try. Of course just ski 'em clean.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Lick the rust off kook

That could end very painfully. What a mess. Yeesh.

[Timberridge]

Next year when you store them you should cathodically protect them.

Solder a small wire to the tip and another wire to the tail. Connect the loose ends of each wire to a zinc bar (the sacrificial anode). The zinc will corrode before the steel edge. Remember to desolder and remove the wires before skiing.

If your skis are really long, sometimes the wire's resistance can't be overcome with passive cathodic protection as above. You'll need an impressed DC current source. I will detail this procedure in another post.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Next year when you store them you should cathodically protect them.

Solder a small wire to the tip and another wire to the tail. Connect the loose ends of each wire to a zinc bar (the sacrificial anode). The zinc will corrode before the steel edge. Remember to desolder and remove the wires before skiing.

If your skis are really long, sometimes the wire's resistance can't be overcome with passive cathodic protection as above. You'll need an impressed DC current source. I will detail this procedure in another post.

Deserves it's own thread and a sticky. Please post pics. How do you recommend measuring corrosion? I'd like to know the mils penetration per year of my 7XKs. I anxiously await your reply.

[auvgeek]

Timberridge has been killing it lately.

[shroom]

Timberridge has been killing it lately.

did you not expect this with Obama leaving office? sprint to the finish

[galibier_numero_un]

Next year when you store them you should cathodically protect them ...

Where's that ROFLMAO emoji when you need it?

... Thom

[Timberridge]

Deserves it's own thread and a sticky. Please post pics. How do you recommend measuring corrosion? I'd like to know the mils penetration per year of my 7XKs. I anxiously await your reply.

Unfortunately I don't have pics of the setup right now. I removed the wires in preparation for the upcoming ski season. But I'm going on 3 years now and my edges are as rust free as the day they left the factory.

As far as measuring corrosion, the best tool I have used is the scanning electron microscope, or SEM. You can take a baseline image of edge prior to storage, then after storage, and compare the two images for oxide penetration.

You can usually find a good deal on used SEM's by calling around to universities in your area and asking if they have any SEM's for sale. Let them know its for non-commercial home use and you will often get a better deal. I was able to obtain an older 25nm unit from a university for not much more than the price of a well-used 2010 Subaru Forester. Some of the older units can be a bit bulky so make sure to ask the Mrs. if she's ok with it first!

[SILENCER]

Scotchbrite 3M pads are perfect for removing surface rust off of ski edges. They work like magic.

Seconded. This is my go-to.

[2clue]

Seconded. This is my go-to.

I'll third. Those scotchbrite pads are pretty quick and they do the job.

[Dee Hubbs]

make sure to ask the Mrs. if she's ok with it first!

And you call your self a scientist.

[XXX-er]

Next year when you store them you should cathodically protect them.

Solder a small wire to the tip and another wire to the tail. Connect the loose ends of each wire to a zinc bar (the sacrificial anode). The zinc will corrode before the steel edge. Remember to desolder and remove the wires before skiing.

If your skis are really long, sometimes the wire's resistance can't be overcome with passive cathodic protection as above. You'll need an impressed DC current source. I will detail this procedure in another post.

wow this is great ! I'm gona hook it all up to the battery in my Arcteryx Voltair airbag back pack so I will be protected all the time!