I'm replacing wax on a surfboard with a deckpad. Once the wax is scraped off how should I clean off any remaining wax so that the pad sticks?
after removing the wax, give the surface a good clean with wax and grease remover (aka - prepsol) then a light scuff with some abrasive paper 240-400g
Select to expand quoteGazuki said..
Leave it in the sun and poor boiling water over it.
Be very careful using boiling water, can cause delam if you're not careful and it's happened to me when I was a kid. I leave it outside in the heat for 10 mins to soften up the wax, then comb it off, then use a rag with mineral turps.
I have been warned about using turps before too as it could degrade the resin but I'm a bit sceptical about that as I've been doing it for yolks now with no dramas.
Leave the pad in the sun or a hot car.
Use wet and dry 600g and lightly sand the area.
Clean the area with wax and grease remover.
Stick pad down, leave for 24 hours if you can 
which is all well and good until you punch your foot through it ever over week and need to rip the pad off 
Soften in the sun, scrape with a wax comb then use a rag to wipe and soak wax away. Citrus based cleaner orange power or the like. Prepsol if you're anti environment.
No boiling water and watch the sun exposure.
scrape as much wax off as possible
then acetone and rag, to remove last of the wax and to clean the surface
or nail polish remover
PS acetone removes the top layer of fiberglass gloss so careful to clean it all off after, this is why the deck grip sticks so well after using it. Probably only use it where your sticking the deck pads onto.
Use either isopropyl alcohol or meths to get the last bit of the wax off. Thinners or acetone nay stuff yoyr design up depending his they done it, pinstripes etc.
I don't think keying the deck helps much but it must be clean. Keep in mind you will want to take the grip off later.
Once you have stuck your grip on, go around the edges with your thumb pushing it down hard.
Never had issues doing this.
Cheers
Rich
