explanation of base grinding

hey guys-
could somebody explain to a relative noob the importance of base
grinding? i feel like i have a good handle on waxing and edge tuning,
and their various effects on performance. however, this is not the case
for base grinding. how exactly does it work, and what do the different
techniques (structures? what are these?) affect your ride and board
life? thanks

-tucker

Base grinding can be done on 2 different types of machines. There a belt
grinding machines and stone grinding machines. The primary purpose of base
grinding is to affect the manner in which the base interacts with snow.

If your base is scarred up from hitting a lot of rocks or grinding a lot of
rails, it will be rather slow. Large gouges in the base can cause more drag
on one side of the board causing you to drift in one direction. Filling
these gouges and then base grinding the board will restore the board to a
more normal function and help make the board glide faster on the snow.

Belt grinding machines are less expensive than stone grinding machines and
therefore tend to be more common. They are in essence a wide belt sander
that the board is passed over. They have water jets in them that spray the
belt with water to cool the base and lengthen the life of the abraisive.

Stone grinding machines have a wide stone much like the stone on a bench
grinder. They are also wet machines. A stone will provide a bettetr finish
than a belt machine in many cases. This is because the stone will cut the
base material more efficiently. A belt tends to tear at the base, leaving
stringy hairs attatched to the base. Stone machines can also be dressed
with various patterns. These patterns can then be cut into the base of the
board. These patterns affect how the base interacts with the snow. The
basic purpose of these patterns (called structure) is to help break the
vacuum that can develop between the base and wet snow. By cutting channels
into the base of the board, it is much more difficult to generate the
suction that can occur with a very smooth surface.

Both belt and stone machines can leave effective structure in the base. A
stone machine can however produce a variety of structures and depending on
the opperator will usually produce a better result. If you are looking for
more speed while racing, a good stone structure is a must. If you plan to
spend most of your time in the park, then a belt finish is probably more
than adequate. For most recreational riders, stone finishes are nice, but
not really necessary. Unless you're looking for the most speed your
equipment can provide, you will most likely do just fine with a belt grind.

Hopefully that's a good start for you.

--
Sean Martin
Donek Snowboards Inc.

http://www.donek.com/
phone:877-53-DONEK

"Tucker Cunningham" wrote in message
...
hey guys-
could somebody explain to a relative noob the importance of base
grinding? i feel like i have a good handle on waxing and edge tuning,
and their various effects on performance. however, this is not the case
for base grinding. how exactly does it work, and what do the different
techniques (structures? what are these?) affect your ride and board
life? thanks

-tucker

For most recreational riders, stone finishes are nice, but
not really necessary. Unless you're looking for the most speed your
equipment can provide, you will most likely do just fine with a belt
grind.

Hopefully that's a good start for you.

I will agree with Sean that a belt grind, *done by a competent technician*,
is more than adequate for most anyone who isn't racing.

But...

In my experience, the local ski and snowboard shops with decent technicians
tend to have stone grinders.

That said, the Doneks that I've bought (and demoed) have had very nice base
finishes, and if Sean is doing them with a belt (which I've heard he does)
he's doing a hell of a job with them!

Mike T

Mike T wrote:
For most recreational riders, stone finishes are nice, but
not really necessary. Unless you're looking for the most speed your
equipment can provide, you will most likely do just fine with a belt
grind.

Hopefully that's a good start for you.


I will agree with Sean that a belt grind, *done by a competent technician*,
is more than adequate for most anyone who isn't racing.

But...

In my experience, the local ski and snowboard shops with decent technicians
tend to have stone grinders.

That said, the Doneks that I've bought (and demoed) have had very nice base
finishes, and if Sean is doing them with a belt (which I've heard he does)
he's doing a hell of a job with them!

Mike T








thanks much guys, that was exactly what i was hoping for =)