Making Surfboard Wax

25 comments

With surf wax being so cheap we don't know why anyone would like to make it themselves, but it is a question that has been asked over again. We've got two different recipes for you to try out. Be careful with this tutorial as it can get a little messy.

 

Basic Surf Wax

Here are the ingredients:

  • Paraffin wax
  • Microcrystalline wax
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Adhesive (Vistanex)
  • Small amounts of scent and dye if you want a nice look / smell

Take all the ingredients and melt them down together at around 100 degrees Farenheit in the following proportions.

60 to 70 percent paraffin
15 to 20 percent microcrystalline
5 to 10 percent petroleum jelly
5 to 10 percent adhesive
A dash of dye and scent

The reason that there is a range of percentages above is so that you can vary the mixtures to suit the water temperature in your region and the stickiness of the wax.

To adjust for temperature:

  • Warmer water temperatures: Increase the amount of wax and decrease the amount of petroleum.
  • Colder water temperature: Increase the amount of petroleum and decrease the amount of wax.

The microcrystalline wax and Vistanex give it the "stickiness."

So that's the first method for making your own surf wax. Let's now have a look at the organic wax.

Alternatively - buy some!

  • Bubble Gum Surf Wax
  • Far King Surf Wax
  • Magma Surf Wax
  • Mr Zogs Surf Wax
  • Matunas Surf Wax
  • Mrs Palmers Surf Wax
  • Sticky Bumps Surf Wax
  • Waxy Surf Wax

Organic Surf Wax

Here are the ingredients:

  • Beeswax
  • Coconut oil
  • Tree resin (cool water wax only)

For Sticky Warm Water Surf Wax:
You need only two ingredients — beeswax and coconut oil. That's it. (Talk about simple) With this recipe you don't have to worry about the scent as it will smell really nice already.

All you do is mix 2,250 g of beeswax with 750 ml of coconut oil. First melt the wax, then warm the oil and stir into the wax. Stir well, stir some more, and then continue stirring. (You get the idea!) Pour into paper cups and let it set.
There is a temptation to use other vegetable oils. Don't bother. Coconut is the one.

How about that for an easy-peasy method? Child's play! (Hence the use of "easey-peasey" on a surfing site)

For Sticky Cool Water Surf Wax:
The mixture now is three parts beeswax, one part coconut oil, and one part tree resin. Make it in the same way, adding the beeswax, coconut oil, and tree resin together and stirring well.
(Tree resin can be bought in the form of granulated incense (as used by the Catholic Church) but can work out to be quite expensive. It can also be taken at the source, straight from the tree.)

So that's it, hope you have found these recipes helpful. Don't come crying to us if you cover your kitchen in huge wax blobs!

Thanks to Jonny and Roy over on the forum for these "How to Make Surf Wax" guides.

Comments

Guest
on May 22, 2011
Cool yo this is the only reliable website.
Guest
on Jun 1, 2011
i think im the only surfing beekeeper in the world and this looks awsome
Guest
on Jun 21, 2011
How much tree resin do you use for the coldwater organic wax??
surf patrol
on Jun 22, 2011
one part tree resin.
Guest
on Aug 5, 2011
cool
Guest
on Aug 11, 2011
what is better, organic or basic?
Portugal
on Aug 24, 2011
Hello,
Someone can tell me where to find the vistanex?
Some oputro product to replace it?
thanks
paml@sapo.pt
NJ
on Aug 25, 2011
i made the warm water organic surf wax and it doesnt make bumps or work that well...any suggestions
dizon
on Sep 26, 2011
what can be a replacement to vistanex or any alternative for it??
Guest
on Sep 28, 2011
Many thanks Guys
This cool way• why buy
From surf Beach Company
South Island Fiji
MeowMix
on Oct 14, 2011
good stuff
Jim
on Oct 27, 2011
Thank you very much, i tried your organic formula and tinkered with it a little. To make it more bumpy one could add some powderous substance e.g. chaulk or ground up horse manoure, the sticky factor increases with the pine resin but make sure not to overcook (burn) it. Eventough you say not to bother with other vegetable oils i would like to find a substitute for coconut oil because i do not live in the tropics and for me to make organic wax with coconut oil that is shipped by polluting containership seems a bit contradictory. So if anyone has experience with a substite for coconut oil that will work just the same and could be produced in colder climates please let us know. Anyway, great site!!!!
Guest
on Oct 31, 2011
This stuff works great and it is so easy to make
Guest
on Nov 20, 2011
Hey guys,

how many pieces of selfmade wax you get when you use 2,250g beeswax and 750ml coconutoil?

Cheers, Sarah
Jpow
on Nov 21, 2011
Hey guys,

I made the organic surf wax (i live on east coast of australia) and made it 3 parts beeswax and one part coconut oil and it didn't stick to my board when i tried to wax it on and as a result in the water, it turned out too oily....should i add one more portion of beeswax...? Sorry to ask, i just don't know where the hell to get the tree resin from...without tapping into our heritage pine trees.
Guest
on Dec 10, 2011
hi
does any body know haow to make cold water surf wax. i live in eastern canada and the water is fuckin frezzing i tried the cool water one and i slid right off my board and got ragdolled under the waves. if you know how to make some my email is wmmatt@live.ca
Guest
on Jan 13, 2012
How many grams of tree sap exactly is for this recipee
Lindsey
on Jan 13, 2012
Is this for one bar of wax?
Lindsey
on Jan 14, 2012
Is this for one bar of wax?
karuna
on Jan 22, 2012
do u people sell beeswax. Iam interested in buying this product from u
Guest
on Feb 8, 2012
where do you get vistanex in Austalia or what can I use a substitute Im trying to make traditional wax any help would be great adheavyv@yahoo.com.au
Borneo Rod
on Feb 17, 2012
Thx man,
getting surfboard wax on Borneo is a pain in the butt.
But there is beewax and coconot oil everywhere....
Guest
on Mar 13, 2012
Just tried out the organic warm water recipe...works great!!!
Guest
on Mar 24, 2012
Great info especially the Organic wax who wants to lye on the other ones which have petroleum bases in them cheers!!!
DIDNT WORK! NEED HELP!
on May 14, 2012
3 parts beeswax and one part coconut oil didnt work! the board became oily and slippery! need help someone please!

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