If you are reading this right now then it’s probably time for you to remove wax from your handboard. The good news for you is that it is very easy to do and I have provided simple step-by-step instructions on how to quickly and effectively remove surf wax.
How do you remove surf wax from a handboard? Here are the simple steps to take the wax off your board:
- Designate a working area and scratch-resistant surface
- Remove the hand strap with a screwdriver
- Soften the wax with hot water, blow dryer, or the sun
- Remove the wax & capture it
- Apply wax remover solution to clean and remove remaining wax
- Allow the board to dry and then reapply with new wax
Before diving into the details of each step let’s go over the tools and products you will need.
what you need
Before you begin removing wax from your handboard, it is important to have the following items at your disposal. These are necessary to help you to successfully remove wax from your handboard.
- Phillips head screwdriver (to remove the hand strap)
- Wax softener (options listed below)
- Hair dryer
- Hot water
- Hot towel
- Heat lamp
- Wax scraper (options listed below)
- Scrape pad
- Surf comb (get a comb that has an inward curve on one side so you can easily run it over the rails of your handboard)
- Credit card
- Wax removing solution
- Pickle wax remover
- Odorless mineral spirits
- Coconut oil
- Towel or rag
- Sturdy surface (tabletop or use the ground)
- Soft blanket or mat (to keep your handboard from getting scratched)
removing wax from handboard
Here are the step-by-step guide to remove wax from your handboard. These instructions are very simple to follow and understand.
step 1 – designate your working surface
Before you start removing wax from your handboard, it is important to designate a work surface. You want to make sure it is durable and flat. This will make it easy for you to remove the wax.
I also recommend placing down a thick, soft towel or some type of padded mat on your working surface. This will protect your board from getting scratched in case it accidentally slips from your grip.
step 2 – remove the handstrap
It will be much easier to remove wax from your handboard without the handstrap in your way. To remove the adjustable hand strap, simply use a Phillips screwdriver.
There are a total of two screws you need to unscrew in order to remove the hand strap completely. Sand tends to get stuck in the screw holes so be ready to catch it or make sure your working in an area where you can make a mess.
step 3 – soften the wax
There are a few different ways to soften the wax that is currently on your board. You can set it in direct sunlight for a few hours, use a hair dryer, set it under a few heat lamps, or use hot water and a cloth.
I recommend using hot water and a cloth because it is quick and easy. Watch the video below to get a better idea. I have also listed the steps after the video for easy reference.
- Fill a coffee pot or other container with very hot water. You can do this by boiling water or heating it up in your microwave.
- Take a cloth or rag and place it over the area where you want to remove the wax.
- Pour the hot water over the rag until it becomes completely saturated with the hot water.
- Slowly drag the rag off to one side of your handboard. It should remove the majority of wax as you slide it off your board.
step 4 – scrape the remaining wax and capture it for disposal
If the towel and hot water method did not remove all of the wax then you will need a scraper to get the rest of it off your handboard. You need to scrape it immediately after you melt it with the warm water and towel. The wax is weakest at this point, which will make it easy for you to scrape.
I recommend holding the scraper at a 45-degree angle. This will provide enough leverage as your apply firm pressure downward into the board to remove the old wax. One edge of the scrape should be pressed firmly into the palm of your hand for maximum support and to prevent it from slipping out of your grip.
Another key part of removing the wax is to catch it as it comes off, especially if you want to protect your floors and the environment. Simply take an old shoe box or paper plate and place it underneath the edge of the board that you are scraping towards. You can also gather the clump of wax with your hand and dispose of it in the garbage before it falls off your handboard.
step 5 – apply wax remover and clean your handboard.
After you have removed the majority of wax with your scraper and hot towel, it is time to apply a wax remover solution to remove the remaining wax. You can do this by wetting a cloth with a mineral spirit or pickle wax remover and then firmly wipe your board in circular motions.
Feel free to use your scraper as needed to get those stubborn pieces of wax that stick to your board. A good alternative to a mineral spirit or pickle wax is coconut oil.
step 6 – reapply the wax
Once you have finished removing the old wax, allow your handboard 10 minutes to dry and then apply a fresh new coat of wax. Check out my post on how to apply wax to your handboard using the cross-hatching technique. This will give your board that extra sticky grip needed when out in the ocean.
Related Questions
how long does it take to remove wax from you handboard?
5 – 10 minutes. Handboards have a very small surface area compared to surfboards. Therefore it should take you less time than removing wax from a surfboard.
how to remove wax from a specific area of your board
If you want to only remove the wax form a specific area on your handboard you can either use hot water and towel or a hair dryer.
- Hot water & towel – place a small towel over the section of your handboard where you want the wax removed. Now pour the hot water over the towel until it is saturated. As you pull the towel off it may remove some of the wax. You can scrape the rest of the area to easily remove the remaining wax residue.
- Blow dryer – Crank up your blow dryer to its highest temperature and constantly apply to the desired area of your board until you see the wax begin to melt. Once it has started melting you can turn off the blow dryer and begin scraping that area immediately to remove the wax.
how to get surf wax out of dents
If you use your board frequently then there might be a few dents. Removing wax from a dent with a scraper can be challenging because the surface is sunken in. The scraper is a straight edge and will not be able to capture the wax.
To help you get wax out of dents, here is a list of helpful tips and actions you can perform:
- Try using the corner edge of your scraper to dig out the wax gently
- Use a rough rag saturated in white spirit
- Use the soft Velcro from an old leash or hand strap to wipe away the wax
how to get wax off a foam board?
Removing wax from a foam handboard such as the Grom is similar to removing wax from a hard top handboard. Simply use a hair dryer or hot water to melt the wax on your foam board. Then use a scraper to remove the wax.
The one thing you do not want to do is leave a foam board out in the sun for hours. Sun can do a lot of damage to your board.
how do dispose of the wax buildup?
There are a few ways to capture the wax that builds up as you scrape it off your board. I have listed a few ideas below to help with disposal since it can ruin your floors.
- old shoe box or shoe box lid
- Paper plate
- Paper or plastic bag
- Paper towel
- Grab it with your hand, roll it into a ball, and then throw away
what is in pickle wax remover?
Pickle wax remover solution is an environmentally-friendly, green solution. Its formula uses 100% recycled ingredients. It does not contain any toxic chemicals.
what can I use to clean my handboard?
There are a variety of different products and cleaning agents that you can use to clean and remove wax from your handboard. Here is a list of products you can use:
Wax remover solvents & cleaners:
- Coconut oil
- Pickle wax
- Denatured alcohol
- Mineral spirit
- Gasoline
Wax remover tools:
- Surf wax comb
- Scraper pad
- Credit card
- Plastic paint scraper
how to know when to remove surf wax
There are a few signs that will alert you that you should remove your surf wax. The sure-tell signs are:
- The wax loses tackiness
- The wax begins to pancake and crumble
When you feel your hand slipping while riding, then it might be time to remove and reapply with a fresh new coat. You can also see the wax age as it gets used more. It begins to flatten out like a pancake. In some cases, it may just turn into one gooey mess.
A good rule of thumb is to remove wax every 3 months if you are an active bodysurfer that uses a handboard. This is not only good to maintain the health of your board but also to prevent your hand from slipping.
why is old wax a problem?
Keeping old wax on your handboard is a problem because it becomes slippery and adds unnecessary weight. It loses tackiness, which will make it challenging for your hand to maintain its grip. Your hand might slip as a result and lose control of the board.
The additional weight of the old wax is a slight concern as well. Extra weight can potentially slow you down by decreasing buoyancy and lift.
how do you remove surfboard wax from clothing?
When you are removing wax from your handboard you may find that you accidentally get some on your clothing. Do not panic. Here is how to get it off.
Simply use coconut oil and water. Applying directly to the wax on your clothing and then thoroughly scrubbing will help to rid you of the sticky substance.
Make sure to rinse completely so it is free of coconut oil. Allow your clothes to dry naturally.