What is a Waxing Iron?
A waxing iron is a special type of heating iron used to apply wax to skis and snowboards. Before discussing types and uses of a waxing iron, it is important to understand the structure of modern skis and snowboards and why it is important to wax them. Ski bases. The bottoms of modern skis and snowboards are made from polyethylene which have a very high molecular weight. This base material is dense, resists abrasion, and has a low friction rating. It is treated to absorb wax and bond easily with epoxy resin, allowing it to efficiently mold with the upper parts of the ski or snowboard. It is marketed worldwide as P-tex, Isospeed, or Durasurf. Why wax? When skis, or a snowboard, glide over snow, the friction generated produces a very thin layer of water between the ski and the snow. This continuous layer of water creates suction and slows down the ski. Ski wax and snowboard wax, in effect, make skis waterproof and breaks the layer of water up into tiny droplets which allow the ski to move
