How Long Does It Take To Wax a Snowboard?

How Long Does It Take To Wax a Snowboard? [Tried & Tested]

by Ben
Updated:

Ever found yourself wondering, “How long does it take to wax a snowboard?” 

Well, my friend, you’re in luck because I’m about to break it down for you!

Introduction

I’m sure we’re all aware of what happens when you don’t wax your snowboard. Spoiler alert… it’s not good! 

But today I found myself doing anything possible to avoid waxing my boards (I even did the laundry). It got to around 10pm, and my poor snowboards remained unwaxed. I decided to bite the bullet and get started, but with a twist…

I timed myself per board waxed. 

And I thought the results may help some of my fellow procrastinating snowboarders…

The Short Answer

On average, a full wax job – from start to finish – will take about 25 to 30 minutes. Yep, that’s it! In the time it takes to watch an episode of your favorite sitcom, you can have your board waxed and ready to ride. 

There is of course some variation in how long it takes to wax your board. Allow me to explain…

Short on Time?

The good news is that if time is tight, a good coating with a premium rub-on wax takes less than 5-minutes!

Is it as good as a hot wax? Nope!

But it will certainly buy you some time. 

Waxing Your Snowboard: The Full Breakdown

First, let’s get this straight: waxing your snowboard isn’t an all-day project. I promise it’s not going to steal your whole evening or rob you of precious riding time. I’ve got it down to a science, and I’m here to share.

The process itself is pretty straightforward..

1. Set Up Your Workstation

If you don’t have a board bench, don’t worry. Simply balance your board top-sheet down, within reach of a power outlet. If I’m away from home, I’ll use a stack of books under each end of the board. 

Many people will remove their bindings to prevent heat damage to the base (from the metal binding screws). Personally, I keep mine attached but loosen them off a little. 

Time: 2 minutes

2. Cleaning Your Base

This step is easy, especially with a decent base cleaner. 

Simply spritz the base with the cleaner, wipe it down with a basic cloth and allow the base to dry. 

Time: 2-5 minutes

3. Getting Steamy

Grab your iron and wax next. When you’re applying wax, remember, slow and steady wins the race!

The iron should be hot enough for the wax to melt and drip freely, but not so hot that you’re seeing smoke.

This part could take around 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your board and the speed you’re working at.

Time: 10-12 minutes

4. Cooling Off

Now, once you’ve got your board all waxed up, it’s time to let it cool and absorb the wax. This is a crucial step!

Typically, you’ll want to let your board sit for about 10-15 minutes, but hey, a little extra won’t hurt. This is the ideal time to grab another beer.

Time: 10-15 minutes

5. Scrape It

It’s scraping time! With a snowboard wax scraper, remove the excess wax. Use smooth movements from the nose to tail of the board.

Pay close attention to your edges. Stray wax here can cause bails. 

This will take around 5-10 minutes (unless you applied wax too liberally!). A few more minutes for some buffing, and voila! Your board is ready to slide smoothly down the slopes.

Time: 5-15 minutes

Bonus Tips

  • Wax in a well ventilated room. Otherwise you’ll be breathing in fumes (and not the good kind). 
  • When waxing multiple boards, do each step at the same time. This is much quicker. It only takes me around 10-minutes longer to do 2 boards at the same time.
  • The time it takes to wax your snowboard will vary based on your experience and the condition of your board. If you’re new to this, it may take a little longer the first few times. And that’s okay! 
  • Use the right wax. If you’re not sure, use an all-temp wax.

How Long Does A Machine Wax Take?

For 15-30 bucks, most ski and snowboard stores will wax your board for you. 

If they use the hot wax machine, this can be done in a matter of minutes. 

Often, they’ll offer a hand-wax service for a little extra dough. They usually have the process down to around 15-20 minutes. However, as there may be a few boards in the queue, you’ll usually need to leave the board with them for 24-48 hours. 

hot wax machine for snowboards

Personally, I think you’re usually better off buying a budget-friendly wax kit and learning to do it yourself. Hot waxes usually last longer than a machine wax anyway!

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, folks! Waxing your snowboard isn’t as time-consuming as you might think. And trust me, the benefits of a well-waxed board on the mountain are absolutely worth the time.

Now go out, wax on, and enjoy the added speed (responsibly). 

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