How Safe Is Your Ski Wax?
January 16, 2008 by Jennifer
Tis the season for sliding the slopes. However, a recent article in the Daily Camera points out that the The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), thinks that some ski waxes may be toxic. The issue is with the PFCs; the chemicals found in some ski waxes. The waxes in question are the fluorinated ski waxes – expensive but slick. The article notes, “The EPA says a derivative of some PFCs called perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, is a possible carcinogen.” This is where that whole issue surrounding Teflon cookware came from – remember that?
Because these specific waxes are so costly, it’s unlikely you’d be using them unless you had cash to spare or happen to be an advanced or pro ski racer. Still, since wax rubs off onto snow, which then melts; the chemicals end up in everyone’s water supplies. Lastly, these aren’t chemicals that ever go away. PFOAs just continually build up in your body according to the EPA. There’s not much of a solution here, other than banning PFOAs, which the EPA has failed to do.
The best thing you can do is wear a face mask when coating your own skis – there have been documented cases of folks falling ill from the wax fumes. After that, well, we’re back to the ban. Unless of course you’d like to quit drinking water and playing in the snow at the mountain.
It was a good article, however, everybody that looks at this issue seems to be caught up in the PFOA, PFC, and Teflon issues. Don’t get me wrong, that is a very important aspect of the toxicity of ski and board wax, but what is being missed is that the main ingredient in ski and snowboard wax is petroleum based! Even the most basic ski waxes are crude oil and petroleum based and toxic to the environment. Well, at least it got some people thinking.
Thanks
I know, that’s the problem. Even though the old school waxes aren’t quite so toxic, they sure aren’t earth-friendly. But, people aren’t giving up their waxes anytime soon – so what to do. I heard about some beeswax options but I don’t know that they work as well.
THIS WILL PUT THE SKI WAX COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS
Ingredients and formula for super fast ,all temp, racing ski wax:(1)5 lbs of paraffin wax(preferably 150degree or higher melt temp)
(2) 1/2 lb of paraflint wax hardener (3) a bar of Ivory soap (4) a regular size tube of Crest high fluoride toothpaste (5)a heaping tablespoon of spruce gum(resin from a spruce tree)
The paraffin and paraflint hardener can be easily and cheaply obtained from most candle supply companies.The soap and toothpaste should be easy enough.The spruce gum can be obtained from any specie of spruce tree.It exudes from wounds in the bark or broken branches.Make sure it is soft and clean,free from any dirt or bark.
In addition to these ingredients you will also need: An outdoor cookstove or grill,a freezer,a large and small cooking pot,stove mitts,a butterknife,a blender,a clock or watch,a bowl,and a few pie tins or tin bread molds to pour the liquid wax into.
CAUTION:MELTING WAX CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.IT IS ADVISABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PRESENT WHEN MAKING THIS WAX.MELT IT OUTDOORS AWAY FROM BUILDINGS TO AVOID FIRE.KEEP CHILDREN AND ANIMALS AWAY
Step1-Put the pie tins or tin bread molds in the freezer to get them cold.
Step2-With the butterknife grate the entire bar of soap into the bowl.(you could also use a wood rasp or cheesegrater to grate the soap into tiny pieces.)
Step3-With the butterknife thinly spread the spruce gum on one side of all the bars of paraffin.(To make this easier you may need to warm the gum near a gentle heat source)
Step4-Pour the paraflint into the small cooking pot,put it on the burner and turn on the flame(low heat).
Step5-Put a bar of paraffin in the big cooking pot(gum side up),put it on the burner and turn on the flame(high heat).When the bar melts put in another and when that melts another…until all are melted.(If any impurities rise to the top,skim them off with a spoon or mesh spoon.There shouldn’t be any if the gum is clean.)
Step6-As soon as all bars of wax are melted begin blending the wax and gum while pouring in the soap.Continue blending.(high speed)
Step7-When the soap and wax are thoroughly blended, squeeze the entire tube of toothpaste into the mixture while blending and continue to blend until the toothpaste is thoroughly incorperated into the mixture.
Step8-By now the paraflint hardener should be completely melted.If it is turn off the flame under the small pot of paraflint and pour it into the big pot of wax.
Step9-Continue to blend the mixture for 2 minutes.
Step10-Get the wax molds out of the freezer,turn off the flame of the big pot,put on the stove mitts and carefully pour the hot wax into the molds.(THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO,DO NOT POUR THE WAX TO THE TOP OF THE MOLDS)
Step 11-Carefully but quickly put the liquid wax in the freezer.(It is important that the wax cool quickly) Wait for it to harden in the mold.
Step12-You now have a super fast,long lasting, all temp ski wax.Enjoy!
I can’t believe what a racket the ski wax industry is.
Being a recreational ski racer and skiing often I go through a lot of wax. I realized I just couldn’t afford the expensive waxes and powders anymore so I decided to make my own. After much study and experimentation I finally got it.I can’t believe it is so simple and cheap.
WHY IT WORKS:
The addition of the hardener makes the wax fast in cold, dry conditions. Hard wax is also more resistant to dirt and doesn’t wear off as fast.The spruce gum acts as a flexible bonding agent to the base of the ski and a bond and vehicle for the chemicals in the other ingredients.The soap also has some of these properties as well as being a surfactant and detergent to break the surface tension of the layer of water between snow and ski and repel dirt and grease.This is also chemically enhanced by the surfactant in the toothpaste.This makes the ski faster in all conditions and temperatures but is especially helpful in warm weather when snow gets wet and greasy. And the toothpaste? What a cheap way to get fluorinated ski wax! The turpines in the spruce gum and chemicals in the soap and toothpaste combine to chemically alter the fluoride in the toothpaste,bonding and completely suspending it as fluorinate throughout the ski wax during the heated mixing.This makes the wax so much faster. And there you have it- Over 5 lbs of durable,superfast,all temp and condition,fluorinated ski wax for less than $30.
Note:I am not responsible for anything that may happen as a result of anyone reading the above.
Sorry. When copying this formula from my notes to computer,I mistakenly left out an important step.Before pouring the wax into the molds,you must strain out the insoluble soap and toothpaste particulates.Use a fine mesh strainer. I use curtains for this. streched over the pot and fastened with an innertube.
Update: Just last night I found out that Walmart has fine mesh strainers in the cooking aisle.Pour the hot wax through the strainer into the mold. Do not try to scoop the particles out because you will never get it all. Be careful not to get burnt.Get the finest mesh possible. Walmart also has cheap electric handmixers and cooking pots.Also cheap bread tins for molds. You could also try a dollar store. Best of luck,
John Provocative
can soy wax or beeswax be used in the formula instead of the Paraffin wax?
when you say spruce gum, do u mean the kind ppl chew?
soy and bees wax can work.you might want to use more wax hardner because soy and bees wax is softer than paraffin. Spruce gum is found on trees. I have tried to chew it but it sticks to my teeth and is very unpleasant. The taste lasts for more than a day. very bitter, terrible. A cheap wax that is already the right hardness is unscented candles found at walmart. much cheaper than buying paraffin and paraflint. Just buy the big candles at walmart and there is no need to buy paraffin and paraflint.I should have put that in my original formula. It saves a lot of time and money.
is there a place where i can buy paraflint wax hardener online?
How do you add a scent to these waxes