Edge Sharpening Procedure

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Brand new skis come from the factory with sub-optimal edges. Used skis could arrive in practically any condition. Either way, it's probably best to do a "from scratch" job on each pair of skis when you first acquire them.

The focus here is pretty basic. Get a flat bottom, a 1-degree base angle, and a 3-degree edge angle. This configuration seems widely accepted as best for most people.

Tools

If you do this yourself, you'll need to spend money on tools. Paying a shop to do it may be cheaper. It depends on how many skis you'll do over the years, how much you want to be involved, and how much you trust a shop. Below is the set of tools I've found necessary. A great source is Tognar Toolworks.

• Ski vise with tip & tail supports
• Wintersteiger (ergo) sidewall planer (skyver)
• SkiVisions ski flattener
• Beast 1-degree base edge file guide
• SVST Pro-Edge 3-degree edge bevel guide (and tumbscrew clamp)
• files, 4", coarse and fine
• DMT diamond stones, 4", black, blue, red, green
• gummy stone
• base tape
• small spring clamp
• brass brush
• horsehair brush

Procedure

For each ski:

Plane sidewalls
Flatten base
Coarse file base edges:
  Left
  Right
Fine file base edges:
  Right
  Left
Flatten base again
Base-tape left side
Left side edge:
  Coarse file
  Fine file
  Black stone
  Blue stone
  Red stone
  Green stone
Remove left side base tape
Apply right side base tape
Right side edge:
  Coarse file
  Fine file
  Black stone
  Blue stone
  Red stone
  Green stone
Remove right side base tape
Left base edge:
  Black stone
  Blue stone
  Red stone
  Green stone
Right base edge:
  Black stone
  Blue stone
  Red stone
  Green stone
Gummy stone edge burrs:
  Left
  Right

Miscellaneous

It's useful to mark edges with a black Sharpie before each pass. You'll know the pass is over when all the black is gone.