Dull Wax Scrapers

[kbahus]

I am new to this whole ski tuning thing but have been getting quite annoyed with plexi wax scrapers. I purchased an new one and have used it three times and it's pretty dull at this point and makes scraping painfully difficult. What do you guys do to keep these sharp without spending $100+ on a sharpener or are they more of a disposable item? I feel that I am missing something here.

[Cayuse]

There are lots of sharpeners out there for less than $100 or make one with a 2x4 and some drywall sanding screen.

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[newe english]

get a thick one, get a file. screw down the file to your workbench, butted up against the wall or something like that, so you get a nice 90 degree jig. file 'er down as needed.

[bfree]

I have some cheap $10 Toko thing. Seems to work fine. It's mostly about cleaning off the gunked up wax anyways.

[greasyslope]

There are lots of sharpeners out there for less than $100 or make one with a 2x4 and some drywall sanding screen.

I second this option. I just have the sanding screen plunked down on my tuning table. A few swipes, and good to go.

[kbahus]

The sanding screen option sounds very cost effective.

[oftpiste]

sanding screen rules. use 2 1x2/3's screwed together in an "L" shape with a small gap just big enough for the screen. screw it to your bench. works amazingly.

[AlpiNord]

From: Plastic Wax Scraper Sharpening

Like any cutting tool, you need to keep sharp for quicker, easier & better results. Why waste the material and just toss them when they can be used for years. Having a few sharpened scrapers around is also nice when you have a lot of scraping.

A plexi-scraper works best when it’s edge is straight and smooth and the corners are sharp without burrs or jagged areas. Very much like wood, plastic can be cut and formed with a variety of methods and tools to achieve desired results:
1) A dedicated scraper sharpening guide with a file, ceramic cutters or a carbide blade.
2) Setting up a 90° dedicated or multi-angled side edge guide with a panzer or very coarse file.
3) A large, flat or panzer file secured to a bench or in a bench vise
4) Power tools: belt sander, jointer, router table, etc
5) Coarse sandpaper or drywall screen on flat surface
6) Securing a plexi-scraper in a bench vise and quickly scraping edge with sharp metal scraper

[kbahus]

sanding screen rules. use 2 1x2/3's screwed together in an "L" shape with a small gap just big enough for the screen. screw it to your bench. works amazingly.

You wouldn't happen to have a pic of this setup would you?

[oftpiste]

easy as pie. a ski-tuning geek buddy made this for me.

[Rideski]

[jmedslc]

I sharpen mine using a sheet of 100 grit sandpaper and a block of wood. Set the block on the paper and run the scraper to and fro against the block on the paper. Voila

[arild]

This. Haven´t used a plastic scraper in years. All steel for me. Got the swix one, taped it with masking tape to get a handle of sorts. Doesn´t really get dulled down, either, just plastered in wax with use. Cleaning that off with basecleaner and fibre tex, good as new. My current one has lasted for at least five years, don´t think it´ll die any time soon.

[RXPXSkier]

^^ is great but my fav is taking my scraper to the belt sander that's if you have access to one

[El Chupacabra]

I sharpen mine with a 4" angle grinder.

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

Metal scrapers are for removing P-tex. Plastic scrapers are for removing wax.
I keep mine sharp by simply using a ski edge to put a fresh cut on the edge . Then once on each side to remove any burrs.

[XXX-er]

I don't use metal for waxing either and I sharpen on a swix file scraper screwed to my waxing bench or a file or sandpaper

[Skirotica]

the wood jib is a great solution. The cheapest, easiest solution, though could be error prone is to just put a sheetof sand paper on the table, hold it with one hand and run the scraper over it with your other.

for the slow ones - the error is in not getting a 90 degree angle. But it could work.

[SgtSkidmark]

A sharp metal scraper is a great tool to sharpen a dull plastic scraper. Also, go with a short thick hard one rather than a long skinny soft one.

[farmer]

I just give it a pass or two through my edge sharpener. It eventually get's clogged w/ plexiglass, but that's what a file card is for. I'm pretty sure that it won't make a difference if it's at 88* or 90*

[bfly]

A sharp metal scraper is a great tool to sharpen a dull plastic scraper. Also, go with a short thick hard one rather than a long skinny soft one.

+1

I do the same. The metal scraper puts a pretty good edge on the plastic scraper.

[El Chupacabra]

go with a short thick hard one rather than a long skinny soft one.

...............

[Onward]

Ultimate ghetto low cost solution: sharpen the scraper on the ski edge.

[Pegleg]

"Dull wax scrapers" sounds like a description of the shop guys at my local ski shop.

[1080Rider]

I just use a metal paint scraper, one of the ones that are pretty flimsy. I make sure not to divit the base and I have no problems. I used to get annoyed at my plastic scraper for being dull. No longer. Go metal and forget about sharpening your plastic...