On race skis, I agree, I'm just deburring. On recreational skis though, I am more aggressive than just deburring especially at the tip and tail.
Define " NO DETUNE......EVER! ", please.
How old are the kids? How skilled? Kids do not need or want to be on the same bevels many are recommending above. Kids on skis 100 to 130 cm long, probably should have a 1/1 tune. Even race kids up to 13 to 15, except for the most talented of them, don't run 1/2 per their coaches. If I get a 150 mm GS ski with a request for .5 and 3, I call the parent and have a discussion with them about what is right and not so right for their athlete.
I'd love to hear from instructors that deal with kids with their opinions on what kids need in a ski tune. I could be all wet, but so far, I haven't had any parents give me bad feedback on the tunes they receive. Racer parents, yes, but that is because they want their U12 on skis tuned like Miki's (Mikaela Shiffrin).
As to setting up race skis for younger athetes no argument here again, I said 1/3 works for most and is a good starting ground. Personally I feel the base is important at 1, side a little less so. As to worrying if its 1, 2, 3 or 4 for that matter is really a null point, it matters more if a hanging burr is left accidentally and your light touch with a gummie ensures that this is not an issue.
Define " NO DETUNE......EVER! ", please.
As a professional tuner, I always take a gummi, with almost no pressure, at a 45° angle to the edges following a tune, with a little more focus on a few inches of tip and tail, to remove excessive sharpness that cause 95% of recreational skiers trouble with overly sensitive skis. I may refer to this as detuning to the customer.
In the old days detuning was a completely different ball of wax. It involved taking a file at a 45° angle to remove any grip at all from the edges up to 12" from the tip and tail.
How old are the kids? How skilled? Kids do not need or want to be on the same bevels many are recommending above. Kids on skis 100 to 130 cm long, probably should have a 1/1 tune. Even race kids up to 13 to 15, except for the most talented of them, don't run 1/2 per their coaches. If I get a 150 mm GS ski with a request for .5 and 3, I call the parent and have a discussion with them about what is right and not so right for their athlete.
1/1 for kids of that age, size and ability. 1/2 would be ok but I'd take a lot of the sharpness out of their edges with a gummi. I'm not suggesting rounding the edges with the gummi, just making them not sharp like an adult would use.
They don't need edges as much as they need glide. Kids need predictably slippery skis, so wax is much more important than edge.
I'd love to hear from instructors that deal with kids with their opinions on what kids need in a ski tune. I could be all wet, but so far, I haven't had any parents give me bad feedback on the tunes they receive. Racer parents, yes, but that is because they want their U12 on skis tuned like Miki's (Mikaela Shiffrin).
Quick question, is one side 86 and the other 94????I put a metal cutting blade on a little table saw and set the blade angle at about 4 degrees. A quick pass and my edges are done. It takes longer to secure the brakes than to sharpen the edges. Definitely something doable before every firm snow day.
This technique leaves a somewhat rough edge. Awesome grip in ice. Like a serrated steak knife. It lasts reasonably well (my old crappy steak knives still cut after years of neglect too).
Now, a properly sharpened steak knife is the tool of choice for serious cooks. Of course, they will also choose Kobe steak which is so tender that you only need a butter knife. Still, the sharpened smooth tool is best.
A ski with ragged edges will be slower in a race than a polished edge. My preferred zero degree base bevel edge is also probably slower than a bit of bevel keeping both edges from engaging simultaneously. So if you have enough skill to notice this then absolutely put the effort into a quality tune.
But my inflexible skeleton and mediocre racing skills mean that having a consistent edge grip allows me to ski a better line - and get better times. Even if my skis are slower.
@Scotskier sold me a pair of magically tuned SL skis. I loved the first couple days! But I was never capable of getting tunes like that. My quick rough tune makes the skis as fun now and I can't notice the speed change. And they are sharp for every day they go out.
The coach for your kids should be able to recommend the best tune. If you aren't in a program like that, having the kids on sharp edges still matters. Worry about perfect edges later.
Eric
You could have said yes left turns soft snow right turn ice......Depends on how many beers I've had...
Eric
I agree, if you detune you can’t ski
That’s a slight amount of gatekeeping I think, and also pretty unfair. I tune for a large group of senior skiers, many of who request some variant of detuning, allowing them to have the tune angles they want, but at a more appropriate (for them) turn engagement speed. Sorry for recycling an older thread, I’m new. HollaI agree, if you detune you can’t ski
It is important to explain how tuning has changed and the importance of setting things up correctly. Those that care will find it enlightening and will be pleasantly surprised by a correct set up.That’s a slight amount of gatekeeping I think, and also pretty unfair. I tune for a large group of senior skiers, many of who request some variant of detuning, allowing them to have the tune angles they want, but at a more appropriate (for them) turn engagement speed. Sorry for recycling an older thread, I’m new. Holla
Get a solid metal edge guide for a single angle. If you want more angles get more edge guides. The single angle solid metal ones work much better.
I like 1 base 2 (what you call 88) side for moguls, and 0.5 base 3 side for harder snow and on-piste. You would probably be happier with 1 base 3 side; a lot of folk find they prefer 1 base over 0.5 base because the 0.5 base is too responsive for them. Stock is most likely 1 base. Powder skis can be whatever edges they came with so long as you only ski powder, but if you encounter some hard crust or ice it's nice to have an edge that's sharp.
Edges get touched up almost every day, bases hardly ever, but not never.
It’s just reversed.I'd like to tune the side angle to 3degrees on my Blizzard Bonafieds. When I checked the factory angles, they are listed as 2.8 degrees for the base and 0.7-1.1 for the side edge. Any idea why it opposite just about every other ski brand? I assumed they would be 1 degree +/- for the base and maybe 1-3 degrees for the side bevel. That base bevel standard is listed for every Blizzard ski, so I'm guessing its not a typo error for the 22 Blizzard skis on the factory setting list on the Evo website.
I think they just got it backwards when they wrote up the spec on an electronic document. It's amazing how far one little error can carry with copy and paste.That base bevel standard is listed for every Blizzard ski, so I'm guessing its not a typo error for the 22 Blizzard skis on the factory setting list on the Evo website.