Dave Mayo-Kiely 1 March 2005 20:08:20 [ permanent link ]
This is to anyone that has a fair amount of experience with Helx.
Friday afternoon before the Birkie, I had my skis all prepped to put Helx Cold on. Had a friend watching as I was saying how easy it is and that you are supposed to get around 10 applicaitons per can and this is only my 3rd maybe 4th application. After I sprayed one pass on one ski I went back to do a few touch ups and nothing came out of the can, then a few drops. I was stunned and my mind was racing. Do I drive to New Moon and buy a new can? How would it work to have one ski with Helx and one with out? Where did all the Helx go? I put the other ski up on the bench and as I worked the nozzle in any direction it would go, a few drops started dripping out. I then started spreading these around with my finger. Finally the nozzle began to work again but still not that great. I ended up with good coverage, probably more than was needed. But it was quite the panic. I have always kept the Helx in its own ziploc and as I said have only used it 3 maybe 4 tiem prior to this Birkie. So my real qustions are:
How many applications can you get out of a can (I know there will be some fluctuation in terms of how much you put on)?
Do the nozzles clog and if so how do you fix that?
Is there anyway to know how much is left in the can? In telling the story to a friend after the race he said he started next to a guy who had a can run out after one ski and that is how he skied the Birkie, no end report though.
Do temp fluctuations have an effect on the bottle? It was in my car fo rmy drive over Friday but had been in a warm house for about an hour prior to application.
Is there any good way to rip the nozzle off and get the Helx out without it spraying all over the place?
Is my bottle just deffective and can I get a new one?
In the end, my skis were good and I was happy I used the Helx I just wish I could have avoided the mass panic.
