| By choosing a quality built wooden sled or toboggan, | | | | country ski scraper. |
| you will have minimal maintenance and years of fun. | | | | 2. |
| Constructed with solid birch, held together with | | | | Dry and warm it with a hair dryer. Then, stroke the |
| stainless steel screws and coated with a marine grade | | | | wax on evenly to the bottom side of the toboggan or |
| finish, Mountain Boy sleds and toboggans are built to | | | | sled using a cross country ski waxing cork. Hold a hair |
| last. Cheaper toboggans are made with thinner | | | | dryer on low heat close to the surface as you apply |
| material and often held together with staples. During | | | | the wax. Warming the sled causes the pores of the |
| use, the staples can lose their grip and the toboggan | | | | wood to expand, allowing for the wax to melt and |
| will begin to fall apart. | | | | penetrate better. |
| | | | 3. |
| Wax the bottom of your wooden sled or toboggan for | | | | Allow the base to dry for at least 10 minutes after |
| best performance (though you'll find that it flies down | | | | applying the wax. |
| the hill right out of the box). Waxing not only coats the | | | | 4. |
| bottom to increase speed, it creates a thin wax layer | | | | Remove any excess wax with the scraper tool, |
| that sheds the film of water formed as snow melts | | | | holding it at a 45 degree angle as it moves across the |
| beneath a speeding sled. Wax sticks best to a | | | | board. |
| surface that is clean, warm, and dry, so bring the sled | | | | 5. |
| indoors and let it warm to room temperature prior to | | | | Check for any dry spots where the wax is too thin or |
| waxing. | | | | has been totally scraped away by the scraper tool. |
| Specialty ski or toboggan glide waxes are the best. | | | | Reapply a coat, if necessary, and scrape away the |
| These are available at most ski shops or sporting | | | | excess wax. When there are no rough spots, the |
| goods retailers. While you are there, pick up a plastic | | | | toboggan is fully waxed. |
| wax scraper and waxing cork. | | | | 6. |
| Ski-go Easy Glide is an easy to use liquid glide wax. A | | | | Wait for an hour or more to be certain everything is |
| solid crayon glide wax, such as Toko Toboggan Wax | | | | dry and fully absorbed before putting your sled or |
| works well and is longer lasting. If you’re a cross | | | | toboggan to the test on the slopes. |
| country skier, you may already have glide wax. Just | | | | Storing and Maintenance |
| remember that it must be glide wax, not grip wax | | | | |
| (which is used to help your skis grab onto the snow | | | | 1. |
| when you kick for uphill climbs). No ski wax? In a pinch | | | | After use, bring your wooden toboggan or sled inside |
| try using paraffin wax used in many candles and for | | | | to dry and wipe off any moisture. |
| canning. | | | | 2. |
| Waxing Steps: | | | | Use furniture oil to protect the top surfaces of the |
| | | | wooden toboggan or sled. |
| 1. | | | | 3. |
| Wipe dirt off the bottom of the toboggan or sled. If | | | | Stow sleds in a dry place away from direct sunlight. |
| there’s old, dirty wax on the bottom, remove what | | | | Putting a toboggan lying flat on its running surface will |
| you can with a plastic putty knife or a plastic, cross | | | | help keep it from warping. |