Rub on Wax vs Hot Wax

Originally posted by Jdiggidy Ok, here we go again. There are no "pores" in your base. Think of them as ravines (google image snowboard base under microscope for proof). Extruded bases have deeper "ravines" so they hold more wax. Sintered bases hold less wax, but are harder by design, hence the lack of friction. All else being equal, they will be faster and more durable because of the hardness.

I think you have that last part backwards. While there might not be "pores" in your base, a sintered base is more "porous" and allows for more wax absorption. Extruded bases are harder, hold less wax and are more durable.

Rub on if your on the go and feeling lazy. If you want to go all out then most defiantly hot wax. I wish my shop hooked us up with free wax. It seems like theirs less and less mom n pop shops and more "Big Business" shops who don't care for the individual customer.

Originally posted by nieve5552 Hot wax is definitely better because - it seeps into the micropores in the base (in case of sintered bases) - which means it lasts longer Rub on wax is only for last minute boosts and for racers where every 1/10th of a second counts - it only 'rubs on' to the surface of the base - which means it comes off after like one run - good for giving it a last minute boost for races etc - but not really practical for normal everyday rides - doesnt protect the base as well as hot wax Sintered base eats wax real well because its got much more micropores in its ptex. Extruded doesnt so they dont absorb much wax at all. However sintered bases perform the best when theyre waxed, so unwaxed sintered would be slower than a waxed extruded. Get ya gear waxed at all times for a good ride!

Hot wax is definitely better because
- it seeps into the micropores in the base (in case of sintered bases)
- which means it lasts longer

Rub on wax is only for last minute boosts and for racers where every 1/10th of a second counts
- it only 'rubs on' to the surface of the base
- which means it comes off after like one run
- good for giving it a last minute boost for races etc
- but not really practical for normal everyday rides
- doesnt protect the base as well as hot wax

Sintered base eats wax real well because its got much more micropores in its ptex. Extruded doesnt so they dont absorb much wax at all.
However sintered bases perform the best when theyre waxed, so unwaxed sintered would be slower than a waxed extruded.
Get ya gear waxed at all times for a good ride!

yeah rub on wax sucks, hot wax is the way to go

I just bought my board there at the end of the season so this year I'll probably stop in there at least once a week just because its free.

My local shop offers free waxing for life with any board purchased there. They're supposed to use the machine to do it but I have a buddy who works there that will give my board a hot hand wax.

Originally posted by humdingaling do you need wax for rails?

It will give you a tiny layer of protection but will be quickly scraped off. All in all it won't hurt to give your base a little bit of extra protection.

been snowboarding for 4 seasons and have never gotten a wax haha. Im throwing my board down rails the whole time so i figured it will just get messed up quick. 

i normally use hot wax and it does the job well

Originally posted by spenser Originally posted by qwe740 i prefer hot wax too, but i keep on screwing up our irons... is there a way to keep my irons from getting screwed up? are you using a regular clothing iron with holes?  that's your problem right there.  get a waxing iron. if you are using a waxing iron, you would have to consciously do something on purpose to mess it up.

Yup, never mix your wax and clothes irons. Have one for each purpose. Could you be more specific with how you are screwing up your irons? *are you just ending up with wax on your clothes? Irons designed for waxing are great because they have specific temp settings for wax, have rounded edges for smooth application, and no holes.

Originally posted by qwe740 i prefer hot wax too, but i keep on screwing up our irons... is there a way to keep my irons from getting screwed up?

I've tried both. Rub one is easier but did not seep into the pores and does not last long. Hot wax is a pain more work but makes me go faster and last more than 3 days of riding. or maybe i did a bad job of rub-on?

Hot wax goes deeper and is all around better. It's completely fine to carry rub on wax with you on the mountains nd use it if your board feels a little sticky but you should hot wax at the very least twice every season

Hot wax is always the way to go. It is much better than rub on since is doesn't just sit on top of the board, it gets in the grooves and is much better on edge burn, and to go along with PunkPhilosophy different kinds of wax matter for different conditions but my favorite wax site is: Purl they have all kinds of wax for all conditions, I personally use the purple wax most.

I am liking most of what has been said...

I just wanted to reiterate that you do not have to buy expensive kits or irons.

I bought a $6 iron at Walmat, and made a stand out of scrap wood in my garage, threw that on top of a couple of saw horses and bam… full on waxing station… melt it on… scrape it off… simple. AND yes, the RIGHT wax matters for the right conditions… I like the ONE BALL JAY wax they offer several different options for different temperature conditions.

I think it also depends on how many times you go down the mountain. I am kind of a newbie and I probably don't need to wax nearly as much as some of these guys.

Originally posted by jdogrideon! Sounds like a good idea to me I was wondering how long it take for the wax to disapear from the board after a hot wax. In other words how often should i wax my board

rub on sucks don't waste your money

Yeh.. scraping is a manual process, I usually crack open a beer and take my time. To make it easier ensure your scraper is sharp and that your technique is correct with nice long strokes.

You could also save some time with a longer scraper like 8 to 10 inches.

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Just clarifying that hot wax is when they do the whole process, drip wax and use an iron to melt the wax into the board?

Or is hot wax also referring to the belt wax that takes them a second to do and costs about $5? Wanted to know the benefits of that process vs a rub on.

I picked up some blue bird wax.
Not sure if its the wax, my application of it, or the supper icy days I have been going; but it seems to be wearing off pretty quickly.

i like using rub on for colder days when i dont have money for hot wax. the rub on stuff comes right off on warmer days though so hot wax is the way to go 

Originally posted by LittleShooey Originally posted by ghostsnstuff do you have to brush off the excess wax tho, wouldnt it eventually come off from your runs? Extra wax that sloughs off in the first run isn't going to hurt you on the mountain, but it's usually good practice to wipe down your board with a rag after scraping and brushing before you go out.