Bee Wax & Board we use different wax brushes for our premium Ski & Snowboard maintenance servicesWe do this because every step, but also every job, requires a different approach.
However, we notice that these brushes are often a misunderstood and misused tool. For example, we see many skiers who wax their own skis, but buy 1 brush for the entire maintenance. Almost always, they take the cheapest brush "because that one does the job". Nothing could be further from the truth; there is indeed a difference in a more expensive brush but also between the materials used. Think of copper, nylon or horsehair.
Do you want to wax your skis or snowboard yourself? Then read on before you buy your new wax brushes in our shop.
In this article:
- Brush shape
- Dual function
- Brush material
- Pre-Wax & Post Wax
- Metal brushes
- Nylon brushes
- Natural fibers
- Roto brush
- Fiber-Tex
- Cork
- Finally
Form wax brushes
The first thing you can notice is that there are different shapes on the market. You have small brushes, large brushes, but also rectangular, oval and even round brushes! These different sizes and shapes have a twofold reason. For example, a small brush is cheaper than the larger version, where the manufacturer has to deliver much more material and therefore gives a more expensive price. On the other hand, a larger brush works faster than the small version, the large brush covers more surface area, which makes working more efficient.
The specific shape is important for ergonomics. For example, the oval brush will fit better in your hand than a rectangular version. In addition, the oval brushes are usually equipped with a strap with which the brush hangs on your hand. That is something very simple, but super handy as soon as you want to start the next movement. We can only recommend this to you!
Dual function
There are a few manufacturers on the market that sell Ski wax brushes with a dual function. The most common variant is a 50/50. Half of such a brush consists of a nylon brush, for example, and the other half of a copper brush, for example. In addition, you have models where a narrow outer edge is made of a different material, but also types where the material is criss-crossed.
Personally, we advise against these brushes. They are mainly a marketing pitch. Research shows that people who want to wax their skis or snowboards themselves often make a budgetary choice. These double brushes therefore seem to suggest that with 1 (cheaper) purchase you actually have 2 brushes. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise: you can only wax properly with brushes with one specific function. In addition, these brushes do not wear out quickly and you can also see it as a better long-term investment to buy the correct set. Not convinced yet? Then read on to find out why!
Brush material
The most important feature of a Ski & Snowboard wax brush is the bristles. The bristles come in different thicknesses and also with different stiffness. These two features determine what you should use the brush for. A large diameter (thickness) is better suited to remove heavy dirt and old wax. This also covers a larger surface area, allowing you to clean faster. A small diameter is intended for finishing, i.e. polishing and removing small excess wax residues.
The stiffness is similar; the stiffer the better for removing dirt from your ski or snowboard base. And the softer the better for polishing.
Brushes can be found in 3 categories;
- hard,
- medium &
- soft.
If your budget does not allow it, we advise you to buy a medium brush. However, if your budget does allow it, you better buy all three categories at once, only then you will be able to clean your skis yourself Good to wax.
Pre-Wax & Post Wax
We have already referred to cleaning and polishing a few times. Cleaning is of course part of Pre-wax, and polishing is part of Post wax. The purpose of Pre-wax tools is to remove dirt, open up your ski or snowboard pores, but even more: to add structure to your base. Do not underestimate Pre-waxing, only by removing imperfections such as oxidation, dirty wax, etc. can you get an optimal end result. I think we do not have to explain that applying wax to a bad surface is just as good or bad as not waxing?
After waxing, the Post Wax process starts, the goal here is to remove all excess wax because you actually only want to refill the pores in your Ski or Snowboard with clean wax. Too much wax slows down your gliding performance; this will form a barrier that prevents water (snow) from flowing away smoothly. Before you start brushing, scrape away the excess wax. Once you are done with that, take a clean brush to polish. Tip, do not use your Post Wax brushes for this because then you will smear all the dirt you removed earlier back in!
Metal brushes
There are three types of metal Ski & Snowboard wax brush to help you wax your Ski or Snowboard yourself. That is: copper, bronze and steel.
These three materials are extremely suitable to clean the base and restore the structure during the Pre-Wax process. The purpose of these brushes is to generate a surface that can absorb wax better and will therefore slide better.
The best tool to remove contamination is steel, this brush is quite expensive, but stands head and shoulders above copper brushes and bronze brushes. On the other hand, a brush made of copper or bronze is more universal, they remove oxidation more difficult, they are also softer in texture, which makes them suitable as a first Post Wax brush. Something for which you obviously better not use a steel brush.
Tip from Wax & Board! As we have already indicated, it is better not to reuse a Pre-Wax brush in the Post Wax process. If you do not have the budget to buy both a steel brush and a copper brush, consider 2 copper brushes. Is that not an option either? Then consider a chemical cleaning product to clean your copper brush between steps.
Nylon brushes
A Nylon brush is known to almost everyone. This type of Ski & Snowboard wax brush is used exclusively in the Post Wax process, following the bronze or copper brush. When you are going to wax your Ski or Snowboard yourself, you should pay attention to the fact that there are also 3 categories here; hard, medium & soft. Fortunately, there is an agreement in the wax industry;
- Black nylon brush is hard,
- White nylon brush is medium,
- Blue nylon brush is soft.
The hair brushes of the black and white nylon brushes are often thicker in structure than e.g. a medium bronze ski wax brush. That makes them useful as an alternative for cleaning, although you will have to brush more often to get a similar result.
Tip from Wax & Board! If you would like to use a nylon brush as a cleaning brush, buy hydrocarbon wax or biological wax. You won't be able to clean the top of the line and harder waxes with this.
The white medium Ski & Snowboard wax brush is something everyone should have in their assortment, if you want to wax yourself. However, we also advise you to buy the softer blue nylon brushes, these are extremely useful as a third brush in the Post wax process –so after copper & standard nylon– because the fine texture can penetrate deep into the ski base, to remove excess wax without changing the structure you have just applied.
Natural fibers
Brushes with natural fibers are a must when using wax with Fluor. If you do not have such a brush, you better not buy wax with Fluor. In the article about the different types of wax we already wrote it; you have to be careful not to have an overload of Fluor. If you are going to use Fluor, you do not want to contaminate all your brushes with this product. You will therefore best buy a brush for use with Fluor, and one for use without Fluor.
If you have decided to buy Fluor, then you also buy a brush with pig or boar hair. These stiffer long hairs are extremely suitable for finishing your Fluor wax.
For all other waxes, use a horsehair brush as a finishing brush. These horsehair brushes are even softer to use than the softest blue nylon brush and therefore ensure perfect drainage while skiing or boarding.
Roto brush
So far we have mainly looked at the materials of a Ski & Snowboard wax brush, but did you know that there is also an efficient tool? If you are going to wax weekly, you can consider purchasing a Roto-brush. You mount this tool on your drill, after which you need less muscle power to brush. These brushes are available in nylon, metal or natural fibers. And of course also in hard, medium or soft variant. If you are considering this tool, you better open your wallet immediately because they are expensive! This is of course due to the many bristles that have to be mounted during production.
There is more than 1 disadvantage though. The rotating brushes spread tiny wax particles in the air, and that is toxic to your health so invest in at least a half face mask. Personally we advise a full face mask so you can't inhale it but also can't get it in your eyes.
In addition, a cordless drill does not have enough power to make these brushes turn, so you better take a corded screwdriver, and note that we wrote power! Letting it turn at high speeds is absolutely out of the question, because you will destroy your ski or snowboard base.
Fiber-Tex
Compare it to the scouring pad you use when washing dishes. Fiber-Tex is used for waxing and consists of aluminum oxide. The rough version is often gray in color and red for the extra fine version. Although Fiber-Tex is not really a brush, it does fall into this category. The purpose of this type of brush is to extend the life of your ski or snowboard, you can compare it to a “stone grinding” maintenance service:
you use this to remove rust, as well as to open up the base. Also comparable to the metal brushes, but you use those again after first cleaning with the gray Fiber-Tex..
When your base starts to dry out, and therefore looks white like chalk, then you start polishing with this gray variant, before you follow the normal wax process. The red extra fine variant can always be used for waxing, this will not change the structure of the base.
Good to know: Fiber-Tex lasts a long time!
Cork
Finally, we have cork. Almost no one really understands the purpose, cork may look like normal wax brushes but it absolutely does not have the same function. You use cork to apply wax, not to remove it.
You can use cork on the track to apply rub-on wax, but also to apply Fluor just before the race starts. In theory, you can also replace your wax iron with cork, provided you only buy liquid wax, although we do not really recommend that given the limited lifespan of this wax.
Finally
Hopefully, after this extensive article, you have gained some more insight into which Ski & Snowboard wax brushes exist, and what you use them for. For the recreational user, we at Wax & Board recommend at least the following set:
- Copper brush
- Nylon brush (white)
- Horsehair brush
If you have extra budget, we advise you to buy a steel brush and only use the 3 brushes in the Post Wax event. On the other hand, if you really have no budget, you should buy 1 good white nylon brush and come at least once a season maintenance at Wax & Board.
Have fun waxing your own skis or snowboard! Be sure to visit our shop to wax , scrapers or brushes to purchase.
