Holmenkol Ski Tuning Bench

I saw a sweet folding bench from Holkmenkol and my wife may get it for me for my birthday.

ANybody have any experience with them?

Also their Pro vices are $200 but they look pretty solid.

Sweet thanks. I know alot of you guys swear by this vice.

Any other place to get it then Racewerks?
http://race-werks.com/product.php?pr...ub_cat_id =40

Yeah I hear you.

I have been using the Swix table for about 3-4 seasons and I am getting sick of how unstable it is when scraping wax. The whole table rocks and slides.

Just buy the Homenkol bench and use the Swix as a travel one. You could always sell it to someone.

Well the wife ordered me some Holmenkol stuff so I can give a formal review once I get the bench and vice.

It's nice to have a wife who likes skiing.

I spoke to the NE race rep so I got some good pricing.

I ordered it from their website,
http://www.holmenkol.us/cartproducts...ordshow=H20720

I took a look at the link you posted and the Holmenkol bench is far superior for only $17 more.

They ship out of RI so ground shipping should be quick to New England.

It is sweet and you can't beat the price.

I am only 5' 7-3/4"so the Swix table is a little too high for me.

Tuning, waxing, and scraping that high can be painful after a while. Also you can be more accurate in a comfortable position while doing edge work.

The Swix benches rock back and forth when putting pressure on a scraper or sidewall remover. I put all my weight on the Holmenkol bench at the store and it didn't budge.

The bench area is smaller then some benches but it has extending arms to accomodate any length ski.

It also comes with a travel bag which you have to purchase separately with other benches.

They seemed pretty solid when I yanked on the ski in the vice.

Nah I do that anyway.

The trouble is I need to tune some skis and I am not getting the bench until Friday.

We usually leave for Maine on Friday night so I am going to have to use my crappy old Swix table and Lasso Vice on Thursday night.

I got the bench last Friday but did not set it up until Sunday.

I have not tuned on it yet but I have some opinions:
1. The thing is heavy as hell. Most people will have issues swinging the thing around by one arm with the handles for an extended period of time.
2. It is sturdy as hell. Once you adjust the legs the thing does not budge
3. The accessories they provide such as the ski rack and travel bag are included in the price where a company like Swix charges extra
4. For $150 you cannot buy a better tuning bench

http://www.holmenkol.us/cartproducts...ordshow=H20720

I am probably going to tune a few pairs of skis tonight using it.

I used the new bench and vice last night for the first time. The vice is exactly the same as the Ski Man Pro but it is blue instead.

Some more observations.
1. You can set it up in under 2 minutes
2. The blue paint they coated most of the metal with is soft and dings easily. This is not a huge problem. Just cosmetic
3. The legs kick out at angles so if you are not careful you can get caught up in them when making a full ski pass. I nailed my ankle bone once at the beginning but I learned my lesson quickly so now I just step around it.
4. The bench is lower then the Swix bench which is good for me. You can extend the legs out more to make it as tall as you need it.

Last night I did a full edge tune and noticed a big difference in stability and control over using the Swix home bench and Lasso ski vice. I used my SVST sidewall remover and it didn't skip once. I also set my side edge bevel on the Atomics with the Holmenkol panzer and fine tooth files which are great as Atomicman had recommended them earlier.

I also picked up their plexi sharpener and some scrapers. I already had a Swix plexi and Swix sharpener but I wanted to try the Holmenkol one. I think it is better for two reasons. One, it has notches on the sharpener that holds various size scrapers straight which helps sharpen them without removing a ton of plastic. Two, it uses ceramic instead of a metal file which helps keep the plexi straight instead of becoming concave or convex if you sharpen incorrectly. The metal files remove too much material too quickly.

Their prices are high on the vice and plexi sharpener but if you look on their website and contact your regional race rep he may give you a coupon code that will get you up to 50% on certain items such as the vice and plexi sharpener. You need to race or be affiliated with someone who races. Chances are he will hook you up.

If anybody cares I could take some pics tonight as I need to finish waxing and scraping.

The reason that I got it cheaper is because I contacted the local race rep and told him I was thinking of getting involved in a local racing program. I didn't have the time last year commuting wise but I am looking to possibly do something this year.

He gave me a coupon code which drops the price when you order it from their site.

It also knocks the price off of the vice and a few other items.

I can't wait to bust it out and prep the new Atomics.