Are you going to tune your (touring) skis yourself? Make sure you have the right equipment at hand:

  • Clean cloth: for removing dirt.
  • Edger: holder for your tuning stones to tune the sides of the ski.
  • File guide: holder for your tuning stones to tune the base of the ski.
  • Oxyd tuning stone: for removing burrs and damages.
  • Fine tuning stone: for tuning.
  • Diamond file: for polishing and repairing small damages and burrs.
  • Grinding rubber: to remove the initial sharpness from the contact points (only for freestyle skiers)
  • Water
  • Optional: stand or holder to secure your skis.

Preparation

While tuning, you want your skis to be securely held with the steel edge facing up. In our webshop, you'll find a special holders for skis. Of course, you can use something else, as long as the ski is securely fastened. Also, make sure the ski stoppers are not in the way. You can use stopper horlders, but also pulling the stopper towards the binding with a rubber band. Then use a clean cloth to remove dirt from the steel edge, and you're ready to start tuning.

Step 1: Ensure the correct angles

Create the correct angle for your steel edge with the edger and file guide. Use the edger for the side and the file guide for the base. For the side edge, the most commonly used angles are 88 or 89 degrees. Note that you use the same angle in all steps. The smaller the angle, the sharper the edge, and the more aggressive the ski. For the base edge, an angle of half a degree is often used. The final angle has a significant impact on the properties of your ski.

Step 2: Check for burrs

Burrs are small protrusions on the steel edge caused by damage during use. Gently run your finger along the edge looking for irregularities; these are the burrs. Remove the burrs with an oxyd tuning stone. Place the tuning stone in the edger and remove the protruding parts with short, even strokes. Always make this movement from the front of your ski towards the back. Then place the tuning stone in the file guide and remove the burrs on the base edge the same way. You're done when the steel edge is completely smooth and free of irregularities. Finish each step by cleaning the steel edge with the clean cloth.

Step 3: Tuning the steel edge

Replace the oxyd tuning stone with a fine tuning stone. Place the fine tuning stone in the edger to tune the side edge. Move the edger from the front to the back of the ski with even strokes. Do the same with the base edge by placing the tuning stone in the file guide. Finish again with the clean cloth.

Step 4: Polish

For polishing, use the diamond file. Before use, wet the diamond file so that it lasts longer. Then place the diamond file in the edger for polishing the side edge. And then in the file guide to polish the base edge. While polishing, move the diamond file gently back and forth along the steel edge from front to back. Again, finish with the clean cloth.

Step 5: Check if the edges are sharp enough

Gently run your nail over the edges. If a small amount of your nail remains on the steel edge, then the sharpness is good.

Step 6: Detune the tip and tail

This step is mainly used by freestyle-oriented skiers. So if you're not into tricks and jumps, you can skip this step. For detuning the tip and tail, use a grinding rubber. By detuning, you remove the initial sharpness from the contact points. This makes the ski less "grabby" and more forgiving.

Place your ski on a flat surface to determine where the contact points are. These are the points that touch the ground and therefore the snow. Put the ski back in the holder and detune by moving your grinding rubber over the contact points.

And that's how you tune your own ski or touring ski! 

You have now finished tuning your skis. Next, it's wise to wax your skis for optimal glide. See our article on waxing your (touring) skis yourself for more information.