You want to make sure the iron is not ever smoking. Usually it's broken down into different temperatures. The hardness or softness of the wax depends on the temperature. Depending on the snow conditions, there are waxes in a large variety of temperatures. Snow conditions and individual preference play key roles in deciding what sort of tune-up work is done.
Hard wax is made for a colder, grainier snow.
The soft wax is better for a warmer, more humid, more moist snow. Bell said he has come to know how his regular customers want their equipment tuned. Snow conditions make a difference too. And how often you get a tune-up depends on the conditions and how frequently you go. I'd say an average is probably four to five times a season if you're skiing or boarding a fair amount.