✏️ Updated on 2nd September 2022
Intro
Hola surfers, welcome to my very quick ‘How To Wax a Surfboard’ guide.
This post encompasses everything you’d want to know before waxing a surfboard. I created a video as well as a written guide with the exact same steps if you’d prefer the read.
1. How To Wax a Surfboard Video
2. You Will Need…
3. Steps To Follow
4. Single Coat vs Base & Top Coat
It’s really easy, so let’s get started!
1. How To Wax A Surfboard Video
2. You Will Need…
First and foremost, you’re going to need some surfboard wax.
Single Coat Wax
The one I’m using in the video is a single coat surfboard wax and I’ve included a link below to where you can buy it on Amazon. We’ll talk a little bit more about single coat waxing vs two coat waxing in a bit.
Base Coat & Top Coat Wax
If you’re already aware of what two coat waxing is, sex wax do some great wax combinations specifically made for the base coat and top coat method. I’ve left another useful link below to where you can find them on Amazon.
3. Steps To Follow
Step 1 – Remove Old Wax
The first step of waxing your surfboard is to make sure your surfboard is clean.
By this I mean that you’ve removed all the surfboard wax and or greasy residue from your surfboard. If you haven’t done this or are unsure if you’ve done a good enough job, checkout my ‘How To Remove Surfboard Wax’ guide.
Step 2 – Use The Right Wax
The second step is to check you’ve got the correct surfboard wax for the temperature of water you’ll be surfing in.
Luckily, most waxes have a temperature guide on them so just check it against the water temperature of where you’ll be surfing. For a quick reference I’ve created the table below which shows the water temperatures of the most popular surfboard wax brands.
Step 3 – Create Cross-Hatching Effect
Once you’ve done steps one and two, it’s time to start actually waxing your surfboard. Grab your wax and start creating a cross-hatching effect on your surfboard. The purpose of the cross hatching is to create a great foundation for the rest of the wax to build ‘bumps’ on.
If you’re using the two coat method you need to be doing the cross-hatching with your base coat wax. Out of the two waxes that are provided in a two coat set, the base coat is typically the ‘warmer‘ wax out of the two.
Step 4 – Finish With Circular Motions
Once you’ve finished off your cross-hatching, it’s time to use a circular motion. This will help build up the ‘bumps’ that provide all the grip when you’re trying to stand up on your surfboard.
Again, if you’re using the two coat method you’ll need to be using the ‘colder‘ wax for the circular motions.
Step 5 – Check Your Rails
Once you’ve finished your circular motions the final step is to just check your rails (edges) of the surfboard.
This is an area surfers commonly forget to wax but as it’s where your hands go when you pop-up, it’s an important area to remember. Again, if you’re using a two coat method you can use the same base/top coat combination you used on the face of the surfboard for the rails.
4. Single Coat vs Base & Top Coat
Now, let’s look at the good and the bad of each method we’ve discussed so far…
1. Single Coat
- The single coat method method is the cheapest method out of the two.
- As you’re only putting on one coat it’s the quickest out of the two methods.
- There’ll be half the wax so your surfboard will be lighter than using the two coat method.
- Less wax falls off when removing it from your surfboard so is less messy.
- With only a single coat of wax it won’t last as long.
- Again, the less wax used the less grippy the surfboard will be.
2. Base & Top Coat
- Using the two coat method means the grip on your surfboard will last much longer.
- Having a base coat and a top coat provides much better grip.
- As you’re using two waxes instead of one, it’s more expensive.
- By putting a base coat and then a top coat it takes twice as long to wax your surfboard.
- More wax is on your surfboard so it’ll be heavier.
- The more wax applied the more there is to remove so it’s messier.
Personally, I use the single coat method. It provides enough grip and doesn’t take long to re-wax. It’s also cheaper, which suits me down to the ground.
Summary
So that guys is my guide to ‘How To Wax a Surfboard’ – I hope you found it useful.
Of course, there is no real right or wrong way to wax a surfboard, these are just some of the things I’ve found that help me wax my surfboard. If you’ve got any other tips or tricks you use whilst waxing your surfboard I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
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