The purpose of this article is not to blame G3 (although some reservations could be found), but to point out certain troubles and shortcomings in included user's guide, troubles you will face in case of trimming skins on your own with provided tools (applies to all current versions of G3 climbing skins). Original trimming tool was described in Czech at Ořez carvingových tuleních pásů – G3 Trim Tool.
New G3 Trim Tool
I. New Trim Tool
Including the 2007–2008 season, all G3 climbing skin packages provide New Trim Tool. Compared to previous tool (link na Tvoji recenzi), the new one is double-edged, with new ergonomic grip and – to my greatest delight, built-in offset from ski edges. Presice trimming of every shaped skis should be then an easy job with perfect result. However – if the previous word would be true, you woun't be reading this text, will you? Well, why all the expectations remain unmet?
Waste from trimming catched on skins
The most critical problem is shape of new tool, in combination with synthetics, of which the climbing base is made. During the trimming – regardless of use of your thumb to keep skin pushed on the base – the shape and height of the offset part of the tool causes the surrounding part of skin to be raised quite high (viz foto č. až č.). And because lots of tiny synthetic hairs are getting to the air during the trimming, the reason is obvious: these are being caught by both the glue and the offset part of the tool, pushing them to glue even more. You can take a look at such trimmed skins – trimmed according to provided user's guide below. And one more note, this guide is still, unchanged, available on G3's website.
Raising of skin without thrust
Skin raises really high
Skin is flying
Only long-term testing will reveal, how much is glue, weakened like this, effective. But it's out of question, that such a doubtful result is unneeded and regrettable. Especially in case, when such a trimmed skin easily unglues under the binding even without move (despite repeated efforts to push it to the base) – see photo.
Trouble on the residue of skin
G3 guys are suffering by such a problems from the beginnig of their bussiness – up to 2002, well-known problems with unglueing of the skins (or similar related to glue quality) appeared, resulting in one season cancellation of production ; this case has beed solved by new glue few years ago. G3 is likeable company with their innovation efforts (i.e. good system of fixing skins on the skis, soon adopted by much more renowned Black Diamond company), but these efforts do often end with very poor results – partly because of insufficient testing, I dare to say. Another – and still relevant, up to date – example of serious and extensive problem is G3 Storage Mesh Kit, being supplied with every package of any G3 climbing skins as well.
Where skin does not keep
II. Storage Mesh Kit
These mesh inserts, intended for improving long-time skins storage, extending the persistence of the glue and ease later separation, proved right in the contrary – to be total wrecker of the skins ; new, stronger glue dissolves the mesh, the glue is quickly filled with plastic crud and does not stick anymore, leaving the whole skin completely useless. This is, by the way, confirmed by G3 themselves in the following article::
http://www.g3houseblend.com/…-skin-scraps
I'm not sure, if these nets are being packed into 2008 – 2009 kits, but these from season 2007 – 2008, still being available at many sellers, include it – beware of its use! An e-mail with question related to replacement and overall use of this has been sent to G3 – still no answer. I use protective trasparent sheet, with which the skins come from the production (no reaction with glue at all, in a long term).
Despite the issues stated above, the skins in iteslf are of very good
quality – zde dej nebo nedej podle libosti link na tu anglickou recenzi http://www.telemarktips.com/SkinRev.html
and fullfil, what one wishes to: low weight, very good temeperature and snow
range of use, quick and reliable system of fixing to the ski and finally –
durability. And in additon, compared to other skins in same quality range –
more affordable pricing. For these positivee and practical reasons, it is
meaningful to consider buying of them. And for those, who decided to give them a
try, got it like a present, or do have these skins from any other reason :), the
following guide how to cut with new trim tool without weakening the glue, is
meant for.
III. Trimming with New Trim Tool without weakening the glue
Ignore the guide, included in the package, in whole second part, related to skind width trimming; length trimming can be done according to included guide. If you're done with the first part, lets go to the width trimming. For the exemplificative photos, the rest of skin has been used.
- Cut a tape of 3/4" (20 mm) from the protective trasparent sheet, with which the skins come from the productiono (could be more for skis with singnificiant sidecut, less for straighter).
New procedure for cutting foil
- Stick the prepared tape on the glue, on the trimmed side.
New procedure for gluing-on
- Most of the glue surface remains uncovered, so it would be possible to fix the skin safely enough for cut – to prevent even the smallest move, at the same time, the border of the skin will be protected against flying synthetic hairs.
New procedure for sticking
- The boreder after trimming, with the rest of the sheet.
New procedure – results
- The final result is perfect – after removing the rest of transparent sheet, glue looks just like it has to
Results of new trimming procedure
One sheet should be enough for trimming of both skins (four tapes). Use the other for skin storage, instead of that destructive mesh net, mentioned above.
Unusable foil
I believe, that G3 will succeed in avoiding such a problems in the future, producing keeping the quality at affordable prices, and articles like this one would become needless.
Residue of trimming
