this is an entertaining thread, and old... :P anyways for horse hair brush unless you have a proper base grind and are racing you dont need it as it is a finishing brush, use a copper or nylon those do fine in our wet climate. DONT put base cleaner or paint thinner on your base!!! base cleaner was made by ski companies so you buy more wax, if you use it you are taking out all your hard work as wax will build up inside your pores and accumulate to make you go faster. Dont use an iron with holes in it. Always go tip to tail when working one your base. There is no such thing as a factory wax or grind unless you get volkl's highest end skis. Most skis and boards are dragged across a belt and wont absorb wax till you get a proper grind from a shop. As for edges they come from the factory generally at 90degrees and not consistent, if you are not a ski technician or very experienced I would recommend you get the edges done by a machine for the first time then its a million times easier for you to tune them your self once the side edge is set, for normal recreational riding you dont even need this though. If you want to ask me some more specific questions feel free to ask away
