UKC

Hi - apologies in advance for ignorant queries, but I'd appreciate some help/advice:

I've got a 20 yr old, but still functional ski touring set I bought second hand via ukclimbing - Fritschi Diamir freeride bindings on 173 skis and some Black Diamond skins. I have some newer lightweight Scott Cosmos boots that fit well. I enjoy some simple Scottish day or bothy tours, when I get the opportunity. The skis are now sticky with adhered glue from the skins and do not ski well at all. I've had them serviced a couple of times in the distant past, mainly to use on ski holidays. Is there a quick and cheap way of DIYing this problem myself for a forthcoming Scotland trip? Presumably i need to solvent off of the glue, then re-wax them? This doesn't look like an easy  or cheap job without buying a lot of kit, eg wax irons/scrapers/brushes. Do the wax ski sprays you can buy work at all, even as a temporary solution to get through a short trip? Does it prolong the life and effectivity of the skins to re-wax them? Will the skins still stick well to a re-waxed ski base?

Sorry if these are obvious questions, but am keep to benefit from yout experience!

Thank you

White sprit and rags, plus a lot of rubbing. A scraper would help, you don't need anything fancy just a straight edge. Your skins could probably do with re-waxing but that's a big and horrid job. 

Expensive but quicker way would be to take them to a shop and get your bases and edges skimmed. That would get rid of the crap and make your skis ski better.

All of that's easier than you think.  And probably cheaper too.

1.  As already mentioned, strong solvent (meths won't do it) plus rags plus elbow grease will take the glue (and any remaining wax) off your bases no problem.

2.  Get a small travel iron for £11.99.

3.  Buy a chunk of wax - make sure it's "universal" - not temperature specific.

4.  Re-wax your skis.  I know all the instruction videos say you need to scrape it but I never do - the skis work just fine and your skins will stick fine too.

5.  Once you've done that, lay your skins sticky side up on a flat surface and iron the glue.  It's surprisingly amenable to being nicely flattened out and pushed back into and areas of the skin that are looking a bit bare.

6.  Use a bit more white spirit and rags to clean any glue off your iron.

traditional way of cleaning nordic skis is to apply a thick coat of base/parafinn wax with an iron, then scrape it off with all the crap being incorporated into the wax. Then rewax with glide wax of choice, probably a universal glider wax for ski touring skis. Seems to work & doesn't need smelly, possibly dangerous, solvents.

Excellent advice, thank you all!

Ive waxed my skis before and all ill say is dont get them too hot - ive seen bubbles form under the p-tex base on others peoples skis and thats a sign of the end of your skis.

Its very messy but worth it i think - particularly when putting them away for the summer - i quick clean and then a thick coat of wax keeps them happy.