Hot Boxing snowboards and skis

Question
Hi Ron,

I decided to do some research on the internet about hot boxing. I found lots of mixed reviews. Some people (especially who builds them) say that they are very good, and that 8 hrs at approx 50 Degrees Celsius of hot boxing is equivalent to almost 15 wax jobs. On the other hand, some guys said that kind of heat for more than 30 min can soften, alter or damage the resins inside the snowboard/skis, and that hot boxing is only good for new equipment.

What is your take on this subject?  

Answer
Hi Joe,

I think hot boxing is a great way to go- that there is far greater risk of damaging a ski with too hot an iron than too long in a controlled hot box. The only concern for skis is that you can heat the grease in the bindings, for a snowboard, I'd pull the bindings off to hot box it.

Swix makes a portable, insulated bag for deep waxing, many shops make hot-boxes out of plywood lined with reflective material, heated with an incandescent bulb and a thermal switch. I do not really know the temperature settings and times for hot boxing- I use a shops box and just leave the skis overnight- you'll have to go with your research on that one.

Ron