Dave Clark -- Wax Removal from Surfboard

Ben Gallop

Ben Gallop

Member
Hey Dave,

I noticed in one of your pics awhile back that you surf. Given that and your boat building background, you are the perfect person to answer a question for me. Sometimes when I buy a new board I'll add some trac-top to the tail and sometimes I'll leave it bare depending on what shape the board is and what sort of surf I plan to use it in. I've never added trac-top to a board AFTER waxing it. I have also never seen anything that completely removes wax from a board. Well, I've got a board that I should have put trac-top on originally, but I didn't. What do I use to remove the wax so I can actually make the trac-top stick? Looking forward to your response or anyone elses...

Thanks in advance.
 
Ben,
I used to surf when I was a kid growing up in Florida. WE would just leave it in the hot sun then take a sqwegee (sp?) to it. Then finish it of with a little boiling water. Hope that helps some Ed
 
Thanks Ed. I use a similar process to occasionally remove wax to start anew, but it still leaves a residue and I need a way to remove it that I can make something adhere to to the glass. I have found in the past that even acetone will leave some wax residue still there. There was a product at one time called X-Wax that came pretty close to getting it all, but I can't find it anymore and don't know what it "really" was.
 
I have found That any citrus based wax remover worked the best. Any surf shop should have some there is a bunch of differnt brands. DING ALL is a good brand and cost abot 4 bucks for 8 OZ spray bottle
 
You can also use Interlux #202 Fiberglass Solvent Wash. We use it to remove wax and mold release from our boats to prep for painting. Works great and keeps the wax in a liquid state longer than most other products. You should be able to find it at any retail boating supply store that carries paint and fiberglassing products
 
Dave, I could have sworn I saw a surfboard in the background of one of the pics of your shop. Maybe it was somebody else's shop picture. Not headed to Maui any time soon, but I'll be glad to take you surfing, hunting or fishing if you're ever in NC (although I can guarantee you'll catch any waves, shoot any ducks or catch any fish :)). Thanks for the reply.

Patrick, I bet Ding All bought that X-Wax product. I have seen any solvents with the ding repair kits in the shops I usually go into, but I haven't looked closely either. I'll check it out.

John, Thanks for the input. I'm sure there is somewhere around here to pick that up given all the boat building going on. Be careful bringing boats through the Oregon Inlet bridge when you are coming through here... Otherwise, this might happen...

Thanks all.

-Ben
 
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Ben,
That looks pretty nasty. I have been under that bridge many times in large vessels, but like any other bridge. I only use the span that is marked for passage in the direction I'm going. I would hate to have to make the call to a customer and tell them I hit a bridge while outside the marked channel. By the way, almost every time I have come in Oregon Inlet there has been a dredge out there clearing sand. I just get on ch 13, hail the operator and tell them my intentions. They have always been more than accomodating and have given me clear passage. I may have to wait a few minutes but whats a few minutes on a 5 or more day trip down the coast. I just don't like the back waters going into the Oregon Inlet fishing station. There a 2 spot that I bump bottom just before the CG station in Walter Slough by R"6" and R"8". Be careful if you find yourself in there, very skinny water.
 
According to the write up that acident hasn't happened yet ( July 25, 09 ) I always knew the Coast Guard was forward looking.....( : )

 
John, my understanding is that the main channel span currently has only about 5ft of water at MLW. The auxillary channel the boat was using is what everyone's been using. Also, the USACE is replacing/repairing the fenders on the main channel span and has a barge (or something) partially blocking the auxillary channel that folks are using. The boat was going slow (6-8 knots) and the current was running laterally which pushed the boat into the pilings. The current in Oregon Inlet can be (and usually is) rediculous. I was flounder fishing out there a few summers ago when the tide was running out and had to be at about 3/4 throttle to make any headway into the current.

The channels around there move a lot. I would follow one of the bigger charter boats in if you can. They go every day and usually know where to be at whatever tide/wind they are dealing with. They get some awfully big boats through there all the time. My 18ft boat probably doesn't have to worry about the same depths that your boats do :)

-Ben
 
Toluene or hexane works great to remove wax. Toluene you can find at places that sell octane booster products for cars and hexane is a bit more difficult. Be sure to wear a respirator when using toluene, it is considered a cancer causing agent.

3M makes a product called General Purpose adhesive cleaner and it works very well at removing wax.

I'd be weary of any citrus based cleaner. There is always a residue of some type left behind when using these cleaners.

Mark W
 
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