Surfboard wax
Encyclopedia
Surfboard wax is a formulation of natural and/or synthetic wax
for application to the deck of a surfboard
, bodyboard, or skimboard, to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave. It is also used to increase grip on the paddle of a surf kayak
or dragon boat
.
Surfboard wax is generally composed of a mixture of paraffin
, beeswax
or other hard waxes, petroleum jelly can also be added to create a softer wax. Often exotic scents like coconut
or bubblegum are added to give the wax an attractive scent. There are also natural alternatives available containing only organic substances like beeswax, vegetable oils (such as coconut or hemp oil), pine resin, tree pulp and natural essential oils. Many different commercial brands and varieties of surfboard wax optimized for different climates and water temperatures may be found at a surf shop.
Another method that many surfers prefer is to let their board lie in the sun with the deck side up. After about ten minutes, beach sand is spread onto the melted wax and the sand is then rubbed. This method enables surfers to take all the wax off at once. The board is then left smooth and ready to be stored away or to be re-waxed.
is used to maintain the grip of the wax. Usually, the comb is used to engrave a cross-cut pattern into the wax to create a tackier surface.
The second method is to take coarse beach sand and to rub it on the board to scratch the wax and create a rougher surface.
Some surfers layer different temperatures of wax to create the level of firmness and stickiness desired.
The normal procedure is to lay down a thin base coat of a high temperature wax, usually labeled for tropical water, to build up bumps and texture. This will not melt off. Then you put the temperature-appropriate wax or sticky wax on top of that. This ensures that as you change your wax for different temperatures, you will not end up with cold water wax on the board directly, which will melt off in sheets while you are surfing. However some waxes are designed to work in all water conditions and have the ability to remain on the board in all water conditions and temperatures.
There are a few techniques that can be used to apply the wax to a surfboard, from rubbing small circles to making diagonal lines. There is little difference in the end result, the application a surfer uses simply depends on preference.
Wax
thumb|right|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents...
for application to the deck of a surfboard
Surfboard
A surfboard is an elongated platform used in the sport of surfing. Surfboards are relatively light, but are strong enough to support an individual standing on them while riding a breaking wave...
, bodyboard, or skimboard, to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave. It is also used to increase grip on the paddle of a surf kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
or dragon boat
Dragon boat
A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft traditionally made, in the Pearl River delta region of southern China - Guangdong Province, of teak wood to various designs and sizes. In other parts of China different woods are used to build these traditional watercraft...
.
Surfboard wax is generally composed of a mixture of paraffin
Paraffin
In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the...
, beeswax
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis. It is mainly esters of fatty acids and various long chain alcohols...
or other hard waxes, petroleum jelly can also be added to create a softer wax. Often exotic scents like coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
or bubblegum are added to give the wax an attractive scent. There are also natural alternatives available containing only organic substances like beeswax, vegetable oils (such as coconut or hemp oil), pine resin, tree pulp and natural essential oils. Many different commercial brands and varieties of surfboard wax optimized for different climates and water temperatures may be found at a surf shop.
Removal
Removing the wax can be time consuming, or can take just a couple minutes. A plastic scraper (typically found on the back of a wax comb) can be used to remove the wax in large chunks. It is not recommended to use heat, blow dryer or the sun, as this can be damaging to the foam of the board. Residual wax that has not been removed by scraping can be dealt with using a soft cloth, either on its own or in combination with (for example) coconut oil. Various commercial are also available. Solvents, however, are usually avoided as they can damage the surface or paintjob of the board.Another method that many surfers prefer is to let their board lie in the sun with the deck side up. After about ten minutes, beach sand is spread onto the melted wax and the sand is then rubbed. This method enables surfers to take all the wax off at once. The board is then left smooth and ready to be stored away or to be re-waxed.
Maintaining
There are two methods that surfers use to maintain their wax. Usually a wax combWax comb
A wax comb is a tool used in the maintenance and removal of surfboard wax on a surfboard. Wax combs typically have features such a jagged or toothed edge and a straight, relatively sharp edge. The jagged edge is used to create textured grooves for improving the traction of the wax and the straight...
is used to maintain the grip of the wax. Usually, the comb is used to engrave a cross-cut pattern into the wax to create a tackier surface.
The second method is to take coarse beach sand and to rub it on the board to scratch the wax and create a rougher surface.
Temperature
Most surfboard wax comes labeled with a water temperature range that it is ideal for. Wax used in water colder than its rating will become hard and not provide the stickiness needed to stay on the board, while wax used in water warmer than its rating may melt.Some surfers layer different temperatures of wax to create the level of firmness and stickiness desired.
The normal procedure is to lay down a thin base coat of a high temperature wax, usually labeled for tropical water, to build up bumps and texture. This will not melt off. Then you put the temperature-appropriate wax or sticky wax on top of that. This ensures that as you change your wax for different temperatures, you will not end up with cold water wax on the board directly, which will melt off in sheets while you are surfing. However some waxes are designed to work in all water conditions and have the ability to remain on the board in all water conditions and temperatures.
Application
Surfboard wax is applied by first putting a basecoat onto the clean board. This harder basecoat forms a bump pattern on the surfboard which the surfer will then stick to. The basecoat is then topped with a top coat of wax of an appropriate temperature.There are a few techniques that can be used to apply the wax to a surfboard, from rubbing small circles to making diagonal lines. There is little difference in the end result, the application a surfer uses simply depends on preference.
