by Mr.
Klister
The New Fluorocarbon Waxes
Racing tends to improve the breed, and that has certainly
been evident with respect to ski waxes in the last few
years. The new fluorocarbon based waxes do a better job
of reducing the surface tension of water than earlier
hydrocarbon based waxes. Since skis slide on a layer of
water, this capability translates into better glide for
skiers who use the new waxes and less probability of icing
up. The fluorocarbon-based waxes also pick up less dirt,
have a wider useful temperature range, and tend to last
longer. Progress does not come without a price, however,
and the price of pure fluorocarbon wax ($110 for 30 g)
still blows the minds of some folks. If spending this
kind of money on ski wax bothers you, there are some reasonable
alternatives.
Most wax manufacturers now produce several lines of waxes
that vary in relative fluorocarbon content. SWIX, for
example, has a high fluorocarbon content series of kick
waxes (XF), a low fluorocarbon content series (VF) and,
a traditional hydrocarbon-based series (V). Costs vary
proportionately, V series waxes run $4 per tin (45 g),
VF waxes go for $12 and the XF stuff will set you back
$30 a tin.
The greater versatility of fluorocarbon waxes is evident
by virtue of the fact that there are only 5 waxes in the
two fluorocarbon lines, compared to 12 in the hydrocarbon
line. It's also interesting to note that the recommended
temperature ranges of the fluorocarbon waxes become very
narrow around the freezing point. This is also the temperature
range in which they have the biggest advantage over hydrocarbon
waxes.
If you want to try fluorocarbon waxes, you might consider
picking up and experimenting with some SWIX VF30 (blue,
-8 degrees to -1 degrees C) and VF40 (blue/violet, -1
degrees to 0 degrees C). Use them in place of Extra Blue
(V40) and Special Red (V55).
The other factor you can use to decide which fluorocarbon
wax to use is humidity. The more humidity in the snow,
the higher the fluoro- content should be of the wax you
use to get optimum performance. SWIX recommends using
V waxes for low humidity (0-50%), VF waxes for medium
humidity (50-65%) and XF waxes for high humidity (65-100%).
Determine the snow humidity conditions where you are skiing
by trying to make a snowball. If you can't, then conditions
are dry. If you can, but your glove is not wet as a result,
then the humidity is medium, If you can and your glove
ends up feeling soggy, then you've got snow with high
humidity.
If you do decide to give fluorocarbon waxes a try, keep
these two safety tips in mind: 1) fluorocarbon-based wax
melts at higher temperatures, so be careful you don't
damage your ski bases when ironing it into them; and 2)
the fumes from fluorocarbon waxes are very dangerous to
your health. Don't let the wax get so hot that it smokes.
Also, do your waxing in a well-ventilated area and use
a respirator if you are working indoors. It's even a good
idea to wear gloves when you are using wax remover to
clean fluorocarbon waxes off of your skis.
