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How To Make A Skateboard: Decks And Wheels
By:
Published: November 14, 2006
Building your own skateboard can be a short and simple task. Even for the inexperienced, the few steps involved can be overcome with ease. When preparing to assemble a board of your own, it is important to acquire the necessary elements and tools required to complete the project in a timely fashion.
Not only should you have all the skateboard parts themselves (from the deck to the wheels and so on) make sure you have a working area and the right tools before you begin.
After you have chosen a suitable deck, the first step is attaching the grip tape to its' surface. Grip tape is merely the sandpaper like cover that is placed over the un-designed side of the skateboard to increase friction between the board and feet of the rider. Because grip tape is usually sold in sheets, place the tape on carefully, sticky side down on top of the concave portion of the skateboard surface. Once pressed flat along the deck, cut the excess overhang off with an ordinary box cutter or razor. Once this process is complete, flip the board over design facing up, and move on to attaching the trucks and wheels.
Traditionally, riders have connected the trucks to the board before placing the wheels and bearings, however some riders prefer the reverse of this. Once you have chosen the right trucks to complement your board size and riding needs, fasten them into the deck via the hardware, or nuts and bolts. Use a ratchet or wrench to connect the trucks to the skateboard with four bolts and a King-pin. The King-pin is the single, larger looking bolt that moves diagonally through the truck and allows for a tightened or relaxed turning ability. The tighter the King-pin is screwed, the less easily the board will tilt and in effect turn, and vice versa.
After the trucks are secured, place the wheels and bearings on the board, tightening them to fit your riding needs. In the case of the bearings, the tighter they are fastened, the more force needed to push the skateboard. Most riders enjoy riding with the bearings tightened somewhere in the middle of too tight and too loose. Most skate shops and skaters will carry a skate-key, which is a multi purposed tool built to fit most if not all of your skateboard assembling needs.
The bearing test is performed by spinning the wheels with one strong push of the hand. They should spin freely, but eventually come to a stop after a few seconds. The average wheel size falls between 53mm and 55mm. Riders can select smaller sizes for increased trick facilitation or larger sizes to increase ramp stability. Often when using larger wheels, riders will compensate for their size by adding risers between the trucks and the board. This technique is used to prevent wheel bite, where the boards' weight sinks onto the larger wheels preventing free rotation.
Most of these parts can be acquired for a sum total between sixty and one hundred and fifty dollars. Riders will commonly refer to the trucks as the most essential part of the skateboard; however, since skating is also about style, the deck design is often what lures young and old riders alike into buying another skateboard.
Active Mail Order. 2006. AWG. 28 September 2006. www.activemailorder.com.
360 Skate. 2006. 28 September 2006.www.360skate.com.
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After you have chosen a suitable deck, the first step is attaching the grip tape to its' surface. Grip tape is merely the sandpaper like cover that is placed over the un-designed side of the skateboard to increase friction between the board and feet of the rider. Because grip tape is usually sold in sheets, place the tape on carefully, sticky side down on top of the concave portion of the skateboard surface. Once pressed flat along the deck, cut the excess overhang off with an ordinary box cutter or razor. Once this process is complete, flip the board over design facing up, and move on to attaching the trucks and wheels.
Traditionally, riders have connected the trucks to the board before placing the wheels and bearings, however some riders prefer the reverse of this. Once you have chosen the right trucks to complement your board size and riding needs, fasten them into the deck via the hardware, or nuts and bolts. Use a ratchet or wrench to connect the trucks to the skateboard with four bolts and a King-pin. The King-pin is the single, larger looking bolt that moves diagonally through the truck and allows for a tightened or relaxed turning ability. The tighter the King-pin is screwed, the less easily the board will tilt and in effect turn, and vice versa.
After the trucks are secured, place the wheels and bearings on the board, tightening them to fit your riding needs. In the case of the bearings, the tighter they are fastened, the more force needed to push the skateboard. Most riders enjoy riding with the bearings tightened somewhere in the middle of too tight and too loose. Most skate shops and skaters will carry a skate-key, which is a multi purposed tool built to fit most if not all of your skateboard assembling needs.
The bearing test is performed by spinning the wheels with one strong push of the hand. They should spin freely, but eventually come to a stop after a few seconds. The average wheel size falls between 53mm and 55mm. Riders can select smaller sizes for increased trick facilitation or larger sizes to increase ramp stability. Often when using larger wheels, riders will compensate for their size by adding risers between the trucks and the board. This technique is used to prevent wheel bite, where the boards' weight sinks onto the larger wheels preventing free rotation.
Most of these parts can be acquired for a sum total between sixty and one hundred and fifty dollars. Riders will commonly refer to the trucks as the most essential part of the skateboard; however, since skating is also about style, the deck design is often what lures young and old riders alike into buying another skateboard.
Active Mail Order. 2006. AWG. 28 September 2006. www.activemailorder.com.
360 Skate. 2006. 28 September 2006.www.360skate.com.
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