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Ultimate Guide to Surfboard Wax Combs

Surfers apply wax on their boards for better grip or help keep their feet firmly planted on the surfboard. But this is not a one-time deal. Wax coatings should be properly maintained and replaced from time to time to keep them in tip-top shape. And when performing maintenance on your board’s wax coating, a surfboard wax comb is an indispensable tool.

What is a Wax Comb?

A surfboard wax comb is a surfing tool used for removing or maintaining the wax coating on a surfboard. It is aptly named because it resembles a comb with one flat side and the other with teeth-like projections.

It is not uncommon these days for a surf wax comb to include additional features such as a fin key and, if you're lucky, a bottle opener. The fin key is used to tighten and loosen grub screws when installing and removing fins and the bottle opener is essential to enjoy a refreshing beverage to celebrate an epic session. An example of a wax comb that includes both the fin key and a bottle opener is the Premium Wax Comb by Creatures.

What is a Surf Wax Comb Used for?

The Surfboard Wax Comb is a very handy, simple tool that every surfer should have. The wax comb has two primary uses:

  • Remove old wax from your surfboard by scraping it off (using the straight edge); and
  • Rough up the existing wax on your board to give it more traction (using the jagged "comb" edge).

How to Use a Wax Comb?

Scraping the old surf wax off your board is essential if you are going to go on any surfing vacations. Chances are you are going to a place with different water temperatures than your local, so you need to remove the old wax in order to apply the new. It is also a good idea to use the wax scraper to scrape the wax off your board before you throw it in your surfboard bag, helping to keep old wax from sticking to other boards or items that are stored in the bag.

Once all the old wax has been scraped, you can apply a fresh coat of surfboard wax to get that fresh grip under your feet. For tips on what surfboard wax is best for you, check out our article How to use the right wax.

What to Look for When Buying a Wax Comb

Scraping Surfaces

Surfboard wax combs basically come with two scraping surfaces, a flat edge for removing old wax, and a jagged edge for creating a textured surface for better grip. Some wax combs go the extra mile and offer three or more edges for helping you comb and scrape every inch of your board.

Handle

Another important thing to consider is how comfortable the surf wax comb sits on your hand. The standard wax combs have two edges, so all you have to do is alternate your hand placement depending on what side you’re using. However, wax combs with multiple edges come with a handle which gives you a variety of options when holding the surf comb. There’s even surf wax ‘knuckle’ which gives you better leverage when scraping off the wax from your board.

Accessories

Most of today’s best-selling wax combs come with additional tools such as bottle openers or fin keys. While these features are considered as add-ons and do not affect the general purpose of wax combs, having them for a few extra dollars wouldn’t hurt either.

How to Remove Wax Without a Surfboard Comb

Removing your old wax coat and applying a new one without a wax comb is possible but is a little bit more challenging. To remove old, hardened wax; leave the surfboard under the sun for 5 to 15 minutes. If the weather is cold or cloudy you could use a blow dryer to soften up the wax. To remove the wax coating. you could use any hard, straight edged object or your credit card, for example, to slowly peel away the wax.