Surfboards are expensive, and many people want to keep them in pristine condition. Wax is a great way to help protect your surfboard from the elements and make it last longer. But what do you do when things go wrong? What should you do if your surfboard gets wax on it? Don’t worry- there are plenty of ways for how to remove wax from a surfboard! In this blog post, we will discuss 10 tips for removing wax from a surfboard in various situations.
Table of Contents
What is a Surfing Wax?
Wax is a substance that surfers put on the surface of their boards to make them more slippery and smooth. Wax also helps protect the board from getting damaged by saltwater, friction with other objects, or anything else you might accidentally run into while surfing.
Why do we need to remove wax from surfing boards?
There are 3 reasons why you need to remove wax off your surfboard:
- Reason one is that the wax can be too hot and it will melt on top of the board, which could ruin its finish or make it slippery when you’re using it in a wet environment.
- Reason two is that if the waves come up and get into all your stuff, they could wash away some of the wax from around your edges. It’s important because this might lead to water getting onto your board’s center core, which would cause a lot more damage than just washing off some of the wax.
- The third reason why you should always clean out old wax every season is because over time different types of residue can build up on there like salt residues and even mildew stains! And then when you spray on new wax over all of that, it’s just going to make the board look weird or worse yet not work as well.
In order for your surfboard to stay looking great and be safe in wet environments, follow these ten tips:
- always clean out old wax every season;
- take care of newly painted boards by covering them with a thin layer of Vaseline before putting your wetsuit on so they don’t get scratched;
- rub some petroleum jelly into any metal edges or hardware like bolts, screws, rails and fins to help keep them from rusting;
Read on below on TOp 10 tips on how to remove wax from your surfing boards.
1. Wax Scrapper
If you have a lot of wax on your surfboard, use a scraper to scrape off the excess wax. Scraping it off while the wax is still wet will make this process easier, but you can also use a scraper to remove excess wax that has dried and hardened onto your surfboard. Wax scrapers come in all shapes and sizes- some are flat like spatulas, others have pointed tips for getting into hard-topped boards.
Use an old credit card or hotel key to scrape off the excess wax. A lot of surfers will keep these in their board bag for easy access! The width and height give you lots of scraping surfaces, so you can get a really good grip on the job. Just make sure that your scraper is clean before use.
2. Hairdryer
Using a hairdryer to heat up the wax and then peel it off with your hand or an old credit card. The downside to this is that you need to keep the hairdryer in constant contact with your board, which means it can become a bit of an arm workout. Place hairdryer near the top edge of the surfboard- hold firmly and work your way down the board.
This can be a messy option, and you should beware of the hairdryer cord while using it. It’s also not really effective for getting wax off deep into fins or rails- only use this method if you have lots of time to spare!
Do Not Use Hot Waxing Option: The hot waxing process is great for removing excess surfboard wax (and will save your skin), but we don’t recommend doing it when there are still fresh paint lines on the board. You’ll run the risk of lifting up that freshly applied paint with iron from hell.
3. Baby Oil
Put some baby oil on the board and rub it in until all of the wax is gone (or near enough). This is a relatively simple, straightforward way to get wax off your surfboard.
Oil and Go: Push the oil into the board with an old toothbrush or some other soft bristle brush (an SOS pad will work too!)- you can use more baby oil if it’s necessary for removing all of the wax. Rinse out any excess residue in water afterward- dry immediately before sanding or painting.
4. Salt in Boiling Water
Add salt to boiling water and pour it over your board – this will loosen any remaining wax Vinegar and Water
Add one cup of vinegar to a gallon of water, then submerge your surfboard in the mixture. Leave it there for about 15 minutes before removing
Be Gentle: You don’t want to rub too hard while you’re scrubbing off all that wax- this will only serve to scratch up the board more as well as remove any new paint or varnish. Gently work on getting out what you can with an old toothbrush, soap, and water (or another gentle household cleaner). Rinse thoroughly afterward!
The DIY Way: If nothing else is working, get some dish soap and a bucket full of hot water. Scrub away until your board feels smooth again! Be careful not to use anything abrasive
5. Liquid Dish Soap to remove was on surfing board
Rub liquid dish soap onto the board, wait for 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water. This is a good solution to the problem of wax, but it will not remove any residual stains.
You can also put dish soap on a surfboard with a cloth or paper towel and rub it into the wax. This will loosen the grip of wax so you can wipe it off more easily later
Then, wait for five minutes before rinsing with warm water, use running water if available. You may need to scrub a little bit in order to get rid of all the residue from your board’s surface area. Be careful not to scratch your board’s surface by using too much pressure when rubbing!
If you’re looking for an easier way to remove wax from your surfboards without any harsh chemicals involved then try these tips below! These methods involve using items that most people have at home making them easy
6 The Magic Eraser Method
This method works best when there are just small clumps of wax on the surfboard that need taking care of quickly! Hold one end of a magic eraser over each clump (it should stick) and rub until they’re gone. Repeat as needed along edges and creases.
The best thing about this method is that you can use it on any surfboard surface, including the new paint job! This makes it perfect for people who are looking to preserve their board’s shiny finish without having to worry about damaging it in the process of removing wax. The magic eraser will not scratch your surfboards’ surface and leaves a smooth finish upon removal!
This method also works great on larger surfaces because all you need is one or two magic erasers per board depending on how much wax needs taking care of. It doesn’t require water which means there’s no mess involved either – just grab some paper towels if necessary and let them dry naturally overnight before storing them away.
7. WD-40 Sprays
The key is ensuring you have all the necessary materials on hand before getting started. This includes paper towels, an old rag or tarp – which will be used as your work surface, and something sharp like a razor blade or box cutter. Layout two sheets of paper towel near where you want to do this project. Spray the entire surfboard with WD-40 then spray it again after about 30 seconds (no need to wait longer than that).
Next, pour some soap onto one sheet of paper towel, saturate it well and start scrubbing away at the board in circular motions with moderate pressure. The best way to get into those smaller spaces would be using a razor blade or box cutter if you have one handy.
When scrubbing the board with soap and water, be sure to rinse it off afterward by running your wet rag over the surfboard in order to remove excess dirt and grime from its surface. Dry it well before applying any wax – this will help prevent future rusting problems as well as keep your investment looking good for years on end.
WD-40 spray removes most of the wax quickly when spraying the entire surfboard first then resoaking large areas while using moderate pressure with circular motions.
Finally, rinse surfboard after rinsing with a soapy rag; dry before putting a new coat on it
The bottom line
Whether you are new to surfing or have been riding waves for many years- there is always something new and exciting to learn. The surfboard wax removal tips we’ve provided should help you get started thinking about how you can care for your board while still enjoying the wave of a lifetime! If all of this sounds intimidating and you want help enacting these principles, let us know. Our team of experts are ready and waiting to partner with you in whatever capacity necessary so that your surfboard will be free from any wax residue. Do any of these 10 steps seem like they could work well for removing wax from a surfboard? Let us know below!