Sharp edges on your skis enables a good grip in the snow – which makes skiing on hard snow a lot more fun!
In this article, I present a step-by-step guide on how to sharpen your edges, so you will get a great result without having to pay a shop to do it. Remember, though, that tuning your skis is a skill that will be improved through practice. These seven steps will take your ski edges from dull to razor sharp.
1. Find a good location
2. Secure your skis in the ski vises
3. Deburr the edges
4. File the side edges
5. File the base edges
6. Polish the edges
7. Detune the tip and tail
DISCLOSURE: For each step, I link to buying options on Amazon for the equipment, I recommend. Please note, that I am an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to buy any of the products I recommend – or any other product – on Amazon within 24 hours after clicking on one of our links, we will earn a small commission. Your support is much appreciated and will help us produce more inspirational material that can help you and others improve their skiing. Thanks!
I only recommend equipment of high quality, whether you go for a simple beginner kit or want a more advanced setup. It will make the process more enjoyable, easier and often with better results - and the equipment will last longer. Swix is the brand I have always used and known for excellent quality. I therefore primarily recommend them through the links, although brands like Demon, XCMAN, Toko, Dakine, Racewax or Wintersteiger also make great equipment.
How to sharpen your ski edges!
1. Find a good location
Tuning will produce metal shavings and if you wax the skis after sharpening the edges excess wax will most likely end up on the table and the floor. You should therefore choose a location easy to clean and where this is ok. Wooden floors and carpets are usually not a good option. Instead I recommend concrete floors, tiles, stone or another smooth surface that can take small metal ringlets and excess wax. You can of course also cover the floor with an old carpet or something similar.
2. Secure your skis in the ski vises
The two identical vises should be placed so they can hold the ski with a bit of distance to the binding on each side. Place the single vise in the middle. Secure your skis with the base of the ski facing away from you. Use a strong rubber band - a ski brake retainer - to hold the ski brake in.
The vises can be mounted on almost any table that can handle a few scratches, marks and wax spots from the work.
I recommend the Swix World Cup Ski Vise for a high quality solution.
If you want to have a perfect travel table for ski tuning and waxing, the Swix Economy Waxing Table provides a sturdy solution.
3. Deburr the edges
Please note, that there are two sides to the edge: the base side parallel to the base and the side edge parallel to the side of the ski.
Before you start the file work, you want to remove the any irregularities or burrs on the edge to make the process efficient and prolong the life time of your files. This is done by rubbing the diamond stone on the edge a few times until the edge feels nice and regular. I prefer to use the file guide (please see step 4) to maintain the diamond stone flat on the edge, so it does not round it by accident. Do this on both the side edge and the base edge, if necessary.
Depending on the size of the burs, you can either use a 200 (coarse), 400 or 600 (fine) grit stone.
PRO TIP: Some people prefer to use water, human spit or ideally a 50-50 blend of alcohol and water as lubricant to collect excess material and allegedly make the diamond or file last longer. This might be true, but great results are definitely possible without any kind of liquid, so I find lubricant optional.
4. File the side edges
Hold the guide so it slides tight on the base and the file slides tight on the side edge without pressing too hard. You are aiming to grind off fine metal ringlets of the edge. Use long, regular and overlapping strokes from tip to tail of the ski. Some people argue that you should always drag the files from tip to tail, but the other way around will make the edge just as sharp. Do as you like.
Control the sharpness with your fingers regularly and continue filing until the edge feels sharp. Be careful. When properly done, the edge cuts like a knife.
FAQ 1: What angle degree should I choose?
The angle degree is either adjustable or given by the chosen file guide. For most recreational skiers a side edge angle of 90-88 degree and a base edge angle of 0,5 degree will be just fine. Just stick to the same edge angle each time, you tune your skis. Race skiers prefer a more acute angle like 87 degree, but that requires more maintenance and will feel a bit too aggressive for most recreational skiers.
FAQ 2: What files should I use?
Depending on the state of the edge and how often you tune your skis, you can choose between different file options. Normally, if I have not tuned the skis for a while, I start with a coarse file, switch to a medium and do a few rounds with a fine file before I polish with the diamond stone (step 6). If you only want one file, you should go with the medium.
The files shown here are not the cheapest, but they cut smoothly into the edge and will last a long time.
FAQ 3: What file guide should I use?
There are different types of file guides, you can use. I prefer Swix Racing Side Edge File Guide at 88 degree because it gives me a good feeling of contact with the edge and allows me to use files at any size.
This file guide is used with a strong clamp. It takes a bit of practice to master the grip and hold for this file guide with the clamp and the file.
For a beginner, a simple solution like the Swix Base Side Dual Edger, can be a good solution. It is a bit easier to use and you can chose between different edge angles.
PROTIP 1: To get a more smooth turn entrance and turn exit, leave the ski tip lifted from the snow and the last 5 cm of the tail unsharpened.
PRO TIP 2: To protect the longevity of the file only let the file touch the metal edge, when you drag it in the direction where it cuts.
PRO TIP 3: In case you experience small pieces of plastic coming off when filing on the side edge, it means you have to take of some of the plastic from the side of the ski. For this purpose, you should use a sidewall cutter. It is fairly easy to use. You hold the sidewall cutter so that the round knife cuts off small ringlets of plastic from the side, when you drag it down the side of the ski. Adjust the cutter on the little knob so it only takes off what is necessary. Keep cutting until no more plastic comes off. Be aware that the round knife should not touch the metal edge, only getting really close.
The professional solution: Swix World Cup Sidewall Planer
The beginner solution: Swix Sidewall Planer/Economy Cutter
5. File the base edges
Now the time has come for tuning the base edge. To do this you should flip the ski so the base is facing upwards. Fasten the ski in the middle vise and support it on the two side vises. You can use a file guide especially made for the base edge to give you a precise result. Use gentle but firm and overlapping strokes from top to bottom, just like when you did the side edges.
6. Polish with the diamond stone
For a smooth grip in the snow and longer lasting sharpness, you want to finish of the sharpening process with the diamond. This will hone the edge to perfection! Just like with the file work, I prefer to place the diamond in the file guide. I recommend using a 400 or 600 grit stone for the polishing. Unlike when you did the file work, where you only want to drag in the direction where the file cuts, you can polish the edge with back and forth movements on the edge. When the edge is nice and shiny without any micro file marks, it is done - and ready to provide grip in hard packed snow with ease.
7. Detune the tip and tail
For a smooth turn entrance and turn exit, you want to detune the part of the tip that is lifted from the snow and the last 5 centimeters of the tail. This is done with a gum stone. You place it at a 45 degree angle to the edge in the desired area and gently round the edge a bit.
Now you are done with sharpening the edges and ready for waxing the skis!
BONUS TIP! If you take care of your skis every day, you can keep your ski edges razor sharp only by doing step 6. I usually just put on the rubber band to lift the ski brake and give the skis a quick polish with the diamond while standing. I do not even use the vises and it only takes me 3 minutes before I am ready to go.
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BEGINNER KITS
The options I have recommended in the text makes for a complete kit for those who wants a high quality and long lasting solution for sharpening their skis. These are the items I prefer to use. However, if you are looking for a cheaper solution to get started, I have listed a few options for beginners that will serve you well.
Swix Carving Kit 1 2016
This kit is for you if you want a minimum set to maintain sharp edges. It fits in a pocket and will definitely make a great difference after you have used it. It can be used without vises, but I recommend using vises for a much more comfortable work flow.
I haven’t tried these exact tools from Demon, so take it more as an example of a complete package that can get you started with everything you need for tuning and waxing your skis.
Remember, there are of course other great options.
I hope this article gave you an idea of the basic equipment you need, so you can find the solution that fits your needs and ambitions. Just check if a desired kit contains all the equipment necessary to perform the 7 steps, I have listed in this article.
Let’s go skiing!
With sharp skis, you are ready to hit the slopes! Here is a video for you, that can help you maintain balance on skis. You can also check out our other free how to ski video tutorials.
Golden Carving Long Turns Course
If you are already carving with confidence and want to know how to get those high edge angles and and some dynamics to your carving, feel free to check out our Golden Carving Long Turns Course!
I hope you found this article helpful. Please enjoy your time preparing your skis - and the next time you go skiing with much better grip in the snow!
Have a nice day and see you on the slopes (with good grip in the snow!)!
Janus Hecht
Professional Ski Instructor