Hot Boxing has become a «hot issue» and readers will come across seemingly conflicting information as experts attempt to extoll the virtues of this waxing time saver. In a nutshell, hotboxing is a step whereby the base is saturated with a special thermo/hot box wax. There is no doubt that hot boxing will save time if you have multiple skis to prepare. In order to have maximum wax saturation the skis should be freshly stoneground and the first application should always be so-called thermo, hot box or base prep wax. This wax should have a melting point below 55ºC. Hot Boxing is a very valuable time saver when doing multiple pairs of skis. NOTE: Wax absorption is the same when done manually or hot boxing.

Let's think through this process of waxing and rewaxing the skis. In order to have maximum wax absorption and adherence all oxidation must be removed from the surface of the base material regardless whether the skis are new or used. The best way to do this is by stonegrinding.

It's important to note that hot boxing is a step in the process of Proper Base Prepping. Click here to find out how to properly prep your skis. Surprisingly only a very small amount can be absorbed into the base; just a few grams. Therefore the wax layer that goes into the base is only a few thousands of a millimeter thick!

It's believed that cyclical heating and cooling will facilitate the best wax absorption. From physics we know that heat will cause an object to expand and cold will cause it to contract. This property is what the heating-cooling cycle is taking advantage of. In other words, every time the cooled ski is again heated, by melting the wax into the base, a little more absorption takes place. A few such cycles should do it.

Tazzari ThermoBox

How does the Hot Box work? The Hot Box mimics the procedure described above. Initially a layer of special Hot Box stonegrinding wax, with a melting point between 52ºC – 55ºC, is applied to the ski base using a heat-tray roller. The skis are then placed into the Hot Box. The most effective Hot Box has a computer controlled system that enables heat cycling to occur. The Hot Box heats to a max 58ºC (just above the Hot Box wax melting point) and then cools to room temperature cyclically for the desired number of cycles. During this heating and cooling process the base will expand and contract allowing for maximum wax penetration and absorption.

The Heating-Cooling Cycle

Hot Boxing works, there's no question about it, but make sure special Hot Boxing wax is used that has a melting point between 52ºC – 55ºC. Any wax harder than this will not melt and no amount of time in the Hot Box will have any effect on wax absorption. Using temperatures warmer than 58ºC, over a prolonged period of time, may adversely affect your skis!

Hot Boxing is a time saver and a fantastic tool if you have multiple, freshly stoneground skis to prepare.
If the ski bases are oxidized or worn stonegrinding must be done before Hot Boxing. After the saturation with thermo/hot box wax the harder glide wax prepping should be applied by proper manual ironing.

Do you need to get your skis stoneground? Find out how at Gatineau Nordic!