Replacement Skin Glue

[Nick D]

I ordered and paid for a pair of the replacement glue sheets from G3 last night and spent this morning with an iron and brown paper stripping off the original crappy G3 glue. Now I’ve just received an email from G3 saying there was a glitch in their inventory and the sheets aren’t available - aaaargh!!

I’ve trawled the internet for those sheets and also Gold Bond, which I have used in the past with good success. Nothing is available as far as I can see. Is there any other any other alternative glue I could use?

[bobbytooslow]

I’ve trawled the internet for those sheets and also Gold Bond, which I have used in the past with good success.

Uhhh, I swear by Gold Bond too, but for a different type of sticky skin issue.

But for real, Black Diamond Gold Label glue is great. I just scraped and re-glued some Pomoca skins with it, and they work great, better than any factory BD skins I've had. A quick search shows it is indeed sold out everywhere. Local ski/outdoor shops are probably the best bet.

You could order Pomoca glue from Europe. I've never used their re-glue stuff, but the glue that comes on Pomoca skins from the factory is the best there is.

[cesare]

What ^^^ he ^^^ said.

[telemarkmark]

I found the sheet glue not easy to use....perhaps the clue is in the name!

[montuckykid]

I did a g3 sheet glue on skins last spring and it was a very sticky mess. I don't know that theres a good solvent to remove skin glue from unintended locations. Once done, I had to use cheat sheets to keep the skins from completely sticking together. The good thing about g3 kit was it took only one application.

Gold label is nice cause you can just apply it as needed to touch up nonsticking spots rather than an entire re-do. But it also requires multiple coats for complete re-up.

Maybe you could find a shop that does reglues for a fee? Here's a mail in option:
https://skiskinsonline.com/shop-bsmp...eglue-service/

I bought a pair of skins from this company this winter and have only used them a couple times due to lack of snow here, but glue seems good.

[chamonix]

I have been touring , even yesterday, with a friend with brand new Pomoca "teal" colored skins. He has a hell of a time, pulling his skins apart, when we do laps, and has to step out of his skis to de-skin. His skis were just waxed.
Meanwhile, yesterday, as we skied, I used an older set of BD Mix skins with my Carbon Converts. Well, it's getting more and more difficult to pull these skins apart while skinning laps. And I used to be able to easily rip these skins with my skis on. Now I can barely rip these skins. The skins seem to be leaving some kind of residue on the ski bases now. Also, the glue seems to stick to my leather gloves, as I pack the skins in my pack, and the storage skins savers are getting tacky to handle.

So I've had it with crappy skins with traditional hot glue !
Just ordered a new set of Contour Hybrid skins; a vacuum /silicon type, for my best powder skis, the CC above, with ZEDs. I already have a set of Kohla Vacuum skins, for a shorter ski, and they work great ! They have a smooth, almost plastic "sticky" surface, easy to pull apart, rip skins, no need for skin savers, I can even carefully apply these skins with B&D coils still attached to my boots.
I can't obtain Kohla Vacuum skins in the US anymore, so I will try these Contour ones.

[chamonix]

I ordered and paid for a pair of the replacement glue sheets from G3 last night and spent this morning with an iron and brown paper stripping off the original crappy G3 glue. Now I’ve just received an email from G3 saying there was a glitch in their inventory and the sheets aren’t available - aaaargh!!

I’ve trawled the internet for those sheets and also Gold Bond, which I have used in the past with good success. Nothing is available as far as I can see. Is there any other any other alternative glue I could use?

Nick,
I have an old set of G3 Alpinist nylon skins for my Zenoxides. These skis are 177cm. I will send you these skins, free if you pay the postage ! They have been stored with the red G3 skin savers, and the glue seems to still be ok.

ps. If you are in Canada, this might not work

[cesare]

A heat gun and a metal scraper work best to remove glue.

When re-gluing with Gold Label, work in very thin coats. I squeeze a little out of the tube or pour it out of the can, a small amount at a time, spread it even and thin with a small metal spatula, and repeat until you have a full coat. Smooth it out with a hot iron through the release paper that came with your skins or with kitchen parchment paper, shiny side down. If using the release paper you can leave it on until completely cool but with parchment, I find it impossible to remove once the glue has completely cooled. I pull it off while it is still warm. Hang the skins up overnight before applying a second coat. Another overnight airing is necessary before folding them. If you get little globs of glue along the edge of the skin, you can pinch them off after the skins are cool using a small piece of fiberlene paper.

[bobbytooslow]

I have been touring , even yesterday, with a friend with brand new Pomoca "teal" colored skins. He has a hell of a time, pulling his skins apart, when we do laps, and has to step out of his skis to de-skin.

Tell him to keep the faith! My teal Pomocas are the best skins I've ever owned. Took maybe 5 days to break in the glue. Mine lasted about 800-1000 transitions (with occasional tip/tail touchups) before I had to do a full reglue. I don't mess with skin savers, just fold the skin in half, sticking to itself, wad it up in a ball, and jam it down the front of my shirt. To put them on, I attach the tip, then pull on the tail, and then smooth them on. Real easy. His glue will get there!

[bobbytooslow]

I do almost the exact process cesare described. Have a cardboard box anchored to your workbench so you can wipe your scraper/putty knife off on it real easily. I like using the heat gun to warm the glue after I sqeeze it on, so it spreads thin and easy. Parchment paper and a clothes iron set to medium-high gives the glue a real nice finish.

[chamonix]

To put them on, I attach the tip, then pull on the tail, and then smooth them on. Real easy. His glue will get there!

Well, that's what he was doing. We've toured , with his new skins about 10 days now.

I have an older pair of Pomocas, that were pre-cut for an earlier pair of 182 cm Atomic Backlands 95s. Never used the skins, with those skis, so recently I trimmed them for a narrower pair of BC Orb Freebirds, 91 UF.
Great skins, easy to rip, great glide. They have a black plush, with the smaller tail clips and narrow strap.
here is a picture, of the skins.
Pretty sure they are Pomocas.

[Nick D]

Thanks for the kind offer Cham, but I’ve ordered Colltex glue sheets from SkiUphill in Canmore. Apparently they’re getter than the G3 ones.

[Dostie]

Been impressed with Kohla climbing skins (OEM for Volkl skins). They offer a transfer tape of their Smart Glue.