I also use the "paper towel" trick. I use it on my last few passes with the iron, only to absorb some of the wax and make scraping eaiser and less messy. I do use it as well for the hot scrape cleaning method and find it is good for drawing out the embeded dirt...at least I think it is perhaps the dirt is just more visable on the paper. I agree with Max and only use the specialty paper... Swix I think, and avoid Kitchen paper towels. The blue stuff from Reliable Racing is good too.
I usually wax our skis every other ski day, and tune every other waxing. Hot scrape is done every third waxing except in the Spring when I do it every other waxing. Spring snow is really dirty...at least here in Tahoe. I also agree with Max here, and never use solvent on the bases. I do use solvent to clean up side walls and top skin and clean brushes and scrapers...works great...only Citrus type.
I started using some overlay waxes last season and liked the results. Graphite wax combined with temperture specific waxes was giving me nice results, and lasting/preforming longer.
You simply cannot brush your skis enough after a wax job... WC tuners say they wax for hours on end...begin with a good steel brush before waxing to open up the bases too.
I also try to let the wax set up for 45min to an hour before scraping.
I'll be waxing next week as we
JUST PICKED UP OUR NEW SKIS..IM 88 AND FAST THANG SL'S