Why use top-coats?
Different fluoro application methods create different surfaces, and provide different performance characteristics. A hot application such as our favored iron-application of a fluoro powder melts the fluoro compound allowing it to flow over the base to form a uniform coating. This coating is well bonded to the base, and provides very good durability. However, the structure of the coating isn’t organized directionally, and the fluoro compound loses some of its hydrophobic qualities when it is heated beyond its melt point. So we end up with great durability, but sub-optimal performance.
Hand-Corked Fluoro Block
A hand-corked application “smears” the compound onto the base without crystallizing it. The fluoro coating retains its plasticity and all of its chemical properties. The back and forth corking action, in line with the base, orients the compound in the direction of travel. Brushing further aligns the coating. The result is a coating that is faster than a hot application in nearly all conditions – especially new snow.
Hand-corked applications have very low durability on their own – only one or two KM. However, when the fluoros are applied on top of a hot powder application the benefit can last 15KM or longer.
Liquid Fluoros
There are a whole bunch of different kinds of liquids, fluid suspensions, sprays, emulsions and gels. Most companies have specific instructions for applying and spreading these products. Sometime you’re supposed to cork them, sometimes you just let them dry and brush them out, and sometimes you just leave them alone after application. What is common is that the liquids provide very even, uniform and complete coating of the entire base surface. The result is often superior performance in rounded and dull crystals. When liquids are good they are a totally different feeling than anything else. In the right conditions liquids feel glassy – almost frictionless.
One phenomenon I have noted is that liquids tend to produce good races. It’s one thing to pick a wax in testing, but it’s something else to have it reliably produce good race performances. I have often felt that if a liquid could be found to test close against a powder or fluoroblock, then it would produce a superior race result. This kind of feeling is hard to test, but the proof is in the race results. It’s hard to compete against liquids when they’re the right answer!
About the chart
This chart features a lot of Ski*Go products because we have a very high level of confidence in those products based on experience. This is particularly true of the Ski*Go liquids, which are outstanding. We have had very limited opportunity to test Vauhti top-coats, though we had very good luck with the black liquid last season on a lot of cold mixed old/new snow and manmade snow. Vauhti has a new line of hfC liquids as well as hfC fluoro-blocks and we’ll be testing those extensively this season.