I just bought a bakoda waxing iron, because it was a bit cheaper than the toko one. But now I notice that the temperature range is between 140C (284F) to 150C (302) F. Here`s what I read from
www.tognar.com
HOT WAX WARNING According to the folks at Toko race service, the optimum temperature to heat a base is to 130C (266F)...this allows maximum wax penetration. But be very careful, because at 140?C (284? F) you can burn a base, effectively sealing it so it will not longer absorb wax. Most domestic irons lack an adequate heating element ...as soon as it touches the p-tex base it starts to cool quickly. This results in part of the ski or snowboard getting good wax penetration and other parts poor penetration. These irons can also jump up well past 140C (284F) when trying to reheat... so choose a good wax iron. We have tested all the wax iron models we offer in this catalog to insure safe performance in this regard. To guarantee correct waxing temperature, use a wax iron thermometer (we offer several) to accurately calibrate the temperature of your iron.
MELTING TEMPERATURES Paraffin wax 140-175*F
Speed Powders 175-250*F
P-Tex 302*F
So, at the low end of the range, 140C can melt some P-tex (I don`t know what the m.p. for a sintered electra base is) and at the high end, it can melt normal P-tex. Should I pay twice as much for an iron that can adjust temperatures, or am I worrying too much?
