what is the best way to strip the old wax off a surfboard?
373924
Here's how I've been cleaning my boards for 20+ years:\n\n1. Lie the board, wax up, in the sun. If it's a hot sunny day, around noon-ish, it should only take a few minutes to start melting. You'll know it's ready when the wax starts to glisten (yes, I know, people say you're not supposed to leave a surfboard in the sun, but we're only talking about a few minutes and, when compared to the amount of time it sits in the sun while you're actually out in the water surfing, that logic doesn't really add up).\n\n2. Take a wood or plastic spatula from your kitchen and start scraping the wax off in long, even strokes (you could use a wax comb, but most of them are way too small...it takes forever). Using a paper towel, remove the wax from the spatula and dump it in a trash bag. Repeat until you've got the bulk of the wax removed.\n\nIMPORTANT NOTE: Wax is gnarly stuff. If you get it on your patio or carpet, it will stain pretty much permanently once it melts. I suggest doing this on your lawn or laying down a large towel or drop cloth. Also, if it's not warm and sunny, you can use a blow dryer to soften up the wax. It's kind of a hassle, but it works.\n\n3. Using paint thinner, take a rag and wipe the entire board down (both sides). This will remove all the remaining wax, as well as any dirt or gunk on the board. Some companies sell a liquid they refer to as "wax remover" or "fire water" - it's all just paint thinner with better packaging and a bigger price tag.\n\n4. Rinse the board thoroughly with water. \n\nAd far as paddling out for the first time, you'll have all kinds of people give you all kinds of advice. 99% of it is worthless. \n\nAs long as you have a basic sense of how surfing works - paddling, catching a wave, jumping to your feet, etc. - you're pretty much ready to paddle out. No amount of advice, studying, or practice on the beach will help you ride that first wave. You just gotta keep trying until you get it. \n\nWith that said, a few suggestions to at least get you in a position to do that (and not die or kill anyone else in the process):\n\n1. Paddle out at a spot with the least amount of people you can find. Beginners are a hazard. Everytime you lose control of your board, you run the risk of tagging someone in the head. Very dangerous. \n\n2. BEFORE you paddle out, sit on the beach and watch for at least a half hour. Get a sense of where the waves are breaking, how often, and any other patterns you can pick up on. Do the other surfers in the water appear to be drifting in one direction or the other? If so, there's a current. Be aware of it. \n\n3. Use the lineups. In other words, as you're walking out into the ocean, pick a few landmarks on the beach and remember them. Then use those landmarks to gauge your location once in the water. They'll let you know if you're drifting, in which direction, and how quickly. \n\n4. Make sure your board is plenty big. The biggest mistake that 90% of beginners make is using a board that's too small. Get a big enough board and you might get up on your very first try. Get a board that's too small and it could be a YEAR before you stand up successfully. \n\n5. If possible, surf with a friend. The buddy system is tried and true. Better yet, get a friend who already knows how to surf. Don't force them to sit with you and watch you fall off 50 times in a row. Just having them in the vicinity can be helpful, especially if it gives you a chance to watch them surf. With a little luck, they'll paddle over from time to time and give you a few pointers. \n\n6. 90% of the time a beginner has blown the wave before he even attempts to stand up. This happens by either being too far back on the board (these are the guys you see paddling with the nose of the board sticking up in the air), in which case almost every wave will pass you by. Or by being too far forward on the board (these are
277833
There's a discussion of cleaning at the link below, with a variety of cleaning methods suggested.  But, if the board has been damaged, there may be little you can do.
118435
pretreat with laundry detergent and a scrubber and Oxyclean,then wash it with oxyclean/regular wash!
18734
cover it with vaseline..
293072
You could probably just dehydrate it with concentrated sulfuric acid and heat.\n\nAnother method would be to generate a alkyl halide with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) and then eliminate it in a E2 reaction with sodium ethoxide in ethanol (especially strong base to be sure you get elimination, and not SN1)
1090037
let it dry, then shake the sand out =]
36098
From http://carpetbuyershandbook.com/spotchart.htm\n\nBlot Excess wax with a towel or scrape with a rounded spoon.\nUsing a brown paper bag, place bag on affected area and press down with steam iron set on Low-medium setting.  Be careful no to melt fibers.  Wax should be absorbed by brown paper bag.\nApply detergent solution  and agitate slightly.\nRinse with warm water and blot with a towel or extract with a spot removal (carpet stain removal) extractor.\nContinue to repeat the application of detergent solution as long as there is an improvement or as long as the spill transfers to the towel. Be Patient! Several applications may be necessary.\nApply rubbing alcohol and agitate slightly.\nRinse with warm water and blot with a towel or extract with a spot removal (carpet stain removal) extractor.\nContinue to repeat the application of rubbing alcohol as long as there is an improvement or as long as the spill transfers to the towel. Be Patient! Several applications may be necessary.\n Rinse with white vinegar and extract with warm water\nApply a half inch thick layer of paper towels and weigh down with a heavy object.
1130618
Toss it in the microwave for 30 seconds.  The end will peel up a bit.
1038227
You can just use windex or even water and tissue or a damp cloth.\n\nIts okay, you wont damage it.
191741
I think I would use drywall compound (spackle). just work it into the grooves and lightly sand it off after it dries. it is NOT water soluble, so you could rinse it with hot water to get it back out when you're done.\n\nI meant to say it IS water soluble
841762
I don't think any body's heard of this theory sold hold on:\n\nI get a blowdryer or leave your board in the sun (i have all epoxy boards) and use a sock to wipe the wax off reallllyyyy clean
807591
Usually, Vaseline works the best.  Put it on at night and let it sink in overnight.  In this morning, dab it with a tissue so it doesn't look greasy.
427778
Wax is placed on top of the board to provide traction when standing and paddling on the board. Most surfboards are covered with hardened resin which makes it extremly slippery when wet. Putting wax on the bottom of your board will slow your board down in the water.
371399
First, pick out all the wax you can. Take a brown paper bag and lay it over the wax. With a hot iron, no steam, iron the area and the wax will come up onto the brown paper bag.  Some people use ice cubes to freeze the wax, then pick it off, but I haven't had much success with this method.  There is also a product sold at Michaels craft stores called Wax Away that works pretty well.  It is in the candle aisle.  Good Luck. I prefer the iron method, myself, because it really gets more of the  wax out than other methods.
14999
Yeah, a bleach+water mix should be good.  Spray, let sit, then wipe down.
314563
Taek some tar soap and rub it until it is gone and use lots of really hot water too.
680514
remove the windsheild washer fluid container and use that to bathe in