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CRATEX Brightboy Gummy Stone
Interview With David Hibbert - EdgeTune Sharpening Tool
Ski Tuning Tools - How To Tune Skis
If you are looking for Swix gummi stone alternative, you're at the right place. Made of finest and highest quality aluminum oxide, rubber impregnated, this stone can remove rust and micro-burrs from your ski and snowboard edges in just a few moves. Used for years by professional ski teams, now it's available to recreational skiers and snowboarders.
Gummi stones are essential for final stages of sharpening, de-burring and polishing of the steel edges. They are also one of the first things you should get when assembling a ski edge tuning kit.
"15 years ago, I was at a ski show, and Burton Snowboards was all the rave then…I believe I saw they had a nice edge sharpening “tune-up” kit that included your CRATEX stones, so I tested them and liked them much better for our kits that the Swix or Wintersteiger stones, which are significantly softer."
Unlike other polishing stones, CRATEX Brightboy block doesn’t groove and has the greatest hardness in the market. Its size is perfect for hand held use - 3x1x3/8 (part #54973), meaning it will easily fit your jacket pocket.
CRATEX Brightboy block can be used to polish both side and base edges. Place the polishing stone at about 45-degree angle to the edge, and gently run up and down the edge. Apply light pressure and work from tip to tail to achieve sharp, but smooth and polished edge.
Diamond stones are less aggressive than files, and are great for deburring the base edge. On the other hand, a gummy stone is less aggressive than a diamond stone, and is therefore great for polishing and removing micro-burrs and light rust. Ski tuning kits usually include both stones.
For quality edge sharpening always look for a professional ski service or ski sharpening tool like this one. Don’t prepare your skies for the new season with your best mate by using files, since there is a good chance that you will only ruin the edge material. Some basic edge maintenance can be done at home, though.
You'll need sharp edges to have a good grip on the snow, but sometimes you can get in trouble if ski edges are extra sharp. A long-anticipated day on a mountain can turn into a devastating one, especially if you like to hit the rails and boxes at the ski park. Extra sharp edges need to be de-tuned and just slightly dulled, or your board or ski will catch an edge and you'll find yourself face down in the snow.
Depending on your technique and riding style, you'll need to de-tune different parts of the ski/board. Skiers and boarders who like jumping on rails will need to de-tune the whole length of the side edge. Others, who spend more time on slopes and tracks will slightly dull the area around the tip and tail (about 3-4 inches from each end). So, if you want to enjoy your rides and have an easy edge fix, always have your gummy stone in your pocket!
For inquiries about the shape, dimension and grit textures of CRATEX Brightboy stones, please fill out the form below or call customer support at 800-800-4077. Custom individual and wholesale orders are available.
Welcome, David! Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your company?
- EdgeTune, Inc was founded by myself in 2003 specializing in manufacturing ski/snowboard edge sharpening (“tuning”) kits. We have grown steadily through the past 15 years, with several redesigns and improvements, as we will soon ship our 3,000th kit! I am a retired design engineer (BSME Cornell ’74) and lifetime skier.
Please describe your latest product. How long have you been working to develop EdgeTune Sharpening Tool and how did you come up with such an idea? Is it intended for professional ski service only?
- I was motivated to design a simple kit utilizing a Dremel rotary tool (they aren’t just for making bird feeders anymore) to help fellow skiers, and to make my Friday night sharpening chores easier. We mostly cater to ski racing teams, as recreational skiers don’t seem to care about super sharp edges, and snowboard riders have told me they don’t want a sharp edge…as they have said to me, ”Dude, it’ll throw me on the metal pipe!”. Obviously, there are some that appreciate a sharp edge, but I am always amazed, when I ride up the gondola, and see how dull most edges are.
In one of your videos you say that you use CRATEX Brightboy abrasive block for ski/board edge polishing. You call it Gummi/Gummy Stone. Why did you choose CRATEX Brightboy in the first place (why not rubber abrasive stick)? What grit texture of gummy stone do you use for polishing and why?
- I chose the CRATEX Brightboy stone because it is by far the most durable stone. The problem with most “gummi” stones is that they are soft (duh) so they tend to “groove” which is not good, as the groove actually envelopes over the edge, and will slightly dull it. The Brightboy medium grit stone is really not a “gummi” stone, but we carry the term for industry “old school” boys (and believe me, there are a tone of them!)
What’s the difference if we compare CREATX Brightboy with other gummi stone alternatives in the market, like Swix instead. Price? Quality? Durability, etc.?
- As stated above, it is all about durability. Price is not a factor, as using the right tool for the job is far more important. My favorite quote, “The bitterness of poor quality long outlasts the sweetness of low price.”
Sharp, smooth edges are very important for the fast and precision turning. Is there any difference when sharpening, polishing and de-burring ski edges for real snow and artificial snow for dry slopes? Do skiers need extra sharp edges for dry slopes surfaces like Dendix and Snoflex?
- Yes, the artificial surfaces are much tougher to hold an edge. Our largest customer base is in the UK, where they only ski on the artificial Dendix, which is like skiing on a Brillo Pad. The serious racing clubs there sharpen after almost every run, so they look for less aggressive edge sharpening tools (ie, save their edge material…a new pair of racing skis costs $1,000+, so they want them to last at least a season or 2).
Are there other types of abrasives you use in your shop: wheels, points, cones, etc.? If yes, please let us know their application.
- EdgeTune Pro II kits have refined over the years…we now use a fine 600 grit ceramic bound grinding stone, as well as a medium grit Dremel 8193 Aluminum Oxide stone which works great for initial grinds. Deburring is with a fine grit DMT stone, and polishing is best with CRATEX Brightboy (good name for this…in fact, if you want the edges to be super bright, we found that a dab of Permatex valve grinding compound works best). Engineering teaches us that it is all a matter of choosing the proper hardness for the job…a very hard diamond is best for deburring to prevent rounding, while a softer polishing stone that is “sacrificial” works best.
How did you learn about CRATEX products? The official website, forum/blog, word of mount?
- 15 years ago, I was at a ski show, and Burton Snowboards was all the rave then…I believe I saw they had a nice edge sharpening “tune-up” kit that included your CRATEX stones, so I tested them and liked them much better for our kits that the Swix or Wintersteiger stones, which are significantly softer.
When did you start using CRATEX abrasives in your shop?
- 2003
Why did you choose our products instead of some other manufacturer?
- Hardness/durability.
What do you like the most? Quality & Material? Price? Customer service? Other?
- Hardness/durability
Would you recommend CRATEX products to others, and if yes, how would the recommendation sound?
- Yes, we have chosen your Brightboy stone for all our kits, along with DMT diamond stones, Norton Industries ceramic stones, Dremel AlOx stones…in other words, the very best we can find, as our served market lives with these tools. All our business is word of mouth, with no advertising. If we sold an inferior tool, word would get out very quickly.
Ski or snowboard base and edges must be in perfect condition if you want to enjoy slopes, no matter if you are the beginner or a pro rider. Flat base and sharp edges allow you to ride your gear in the way it is designed. Small rocks, dirt, salted snow, park ride, rails, boxes or oxidation can damage your base and edges easily, meaning that you’ll need to tune your skis or board every season.
If you have just bought a new pair of skis, you don’t need to tune them since all manufacturers deliver their gear sharp and smooth. In this situation, you can probably slightly de-tune edges and make them less grabby, but that’s up to you and it depends on your riding style.
What is Ski Tuning?
It is a process of removing small burst and rust from skis and repairing scratches on the base. Basic ski tuning includes:
Light base repair and edge sharpening can be done at home, manually by hand, but if your gear has a lot of damage, better leave the repair to the ski repair shop. It will cost you a few bucks, but they have professional equipment like tuning machines that can sharpen your edges quickly (with recommended bevel angle) and bring them into the perfect shape.
If you decide to repair base and sharpen edges on your own, these are the tools that you'll need for basic ski tune in your garage. Most of them are inexpensive and in case you get them all, you'll have a decent DIY ski tuning kit:
If you don’t tend to buy ski tuning tools one by one, you can buy a tuning kit. This way you can save a few bucks. The downside is the fact that you can’t pick tools that come in a kit, so you can customize your kit. Most of the ski tuning kits consist of a file, edge tuner, wax scraper, gummy stone, diamond stone, iron and a carrying case.
These are the best 3 Ski Tuning Kits you can buy online:
Below is a step-by-step guide that will help you learn how to tune up your gear at home. Prepare ski tuning tools mentioned previously, follow the instructions closely and your gear will be snow adventure ready within an hour.
Place skis into the ski vice and clean them using metal and a nylon brush, clean cloth or towel with some rubbing alcohol.
Use the wet diamond stone to remove all burrs, rough spots and rust from the edges. Work from tip to tail, focus on critical spots, but cover the full length of the edge. Now proceed with the steps below.
IMPORTANT: Before starting with edge tuning and sharpening always check base and side edge angles for your ski/board manufacturer or a particular model. All ski and snowboard manufacturers have edge bevel recommendations on their official websites. Usually, base edge bevel is set to 1°, side edge bevel from 1° to 3°.
Always sharpen the base edge first and then move forward to the side edges. Edges must be sharp and rust and burrs free. Steps to follow:
When done with base edges, continue with side edges. They require more frequent maintenance.
If you find that the side edges are too sharp you can smooth them a bit by using the CRATEX gummy stone. It's all up to you, and this is an optional step. A lot of riders, beginners and especially those who like to jump on the boxes and rails like to slightly dull contact points.
CRATEX gummy stone in medium grit 3”x1”x3/8” (part #54973) is a very convenient little accessory that is perfect to smooth and polish the edge. That is the reason why you should have it in your pocket all the time. Simply run the gummy stone down the edge at 45-degree angle for a few times and inspect the edge with a finger.
If your base is damaged by stones on the track and has a lot of scratches and dents, restore the factory shape by using P-Tex candles or sticks. In case of severe base damages take your gear to a ski tuning shop and have a professional staff to take care of it.
How to apply P-Tex for base repair?
ATTENTION: Leave windows or doors in your garage wide open when working with P-Tex. The place should be ventilated as much as possible. You should not inhale smoke from the burning stick. When lit, the stick develops a very high temperature. Avoid contact with skin!
Ski waxing is done out of two main reasons – to protect skis from abrasion and improve friction with the show. For smooth handling on the slope, it is recommended to wax your skis several times during the season, and wax racing skis every day.
How to Wax Skis?
And that is all! Job done! You are ready to hit the slope!
If you don’t have the time or knowledge to tune ski edges by yourself, find a local ski service. Ski tuning prices vary in different locations. Services provided by the ski rental and repair shops on a mountain will cost more. Here are some ski and board tuning prices in average. Be sure to check and compare all available ski repair shops available before you arrive at the mountain resort.
Different shops offer different services, but we can divide ski tuning into three levels or packages: Standard, Custom and Pro. Ski tuning for kids costs around $30 (for skis up to 47'' long)
The prices are approximate. CRATEX is not responsible for the price change.
You can order all tuning services separately, it all depends on the shape of your gear. For example, P-Tex (with base welding included) will cost you $10.
ADVICE: During the peak of the winter season it can be difficult to find a ski shop that can finish tuning your gear and giving it back on the same day. Thus, you should probably schedule a visit to the shop to make sure you don't lose one day of riding on fresh powder. Some shops even offer the possibility to book turning online, so you should invest some time in doing research of the available shops online.