Skateboards contain several components. You have to arrange all these things first. It is wise to buy high-quality separate parts. Obviously, it needs a handsome budget. However, if you have sufficient ideas about different materials, you can manage to gather the parts at a reasonable cost. Let’s see the names of the necessary supplies.
- Skateboard Truck:
Trucks are perhaps the most crucial material for the skateboard. All the brands sell the trucks in pairs. It is because the board requires two trucks.
- Skateboard Deck:
Shops are filled with different-sized decks for the skateboard. The term size refers to the width of the item. The standard width is nearly 8 inches. You need to go for the size which is most comfy for you.
- Bearings:
The most common bearings are ABEC 1, ABEC 3, ABEC 5, ABEC 7, and ABEC 9. The slowest bearing is the ABEC 1, whereas the most speedy bearing is ABEC 9. Skaters should determine their choice according to preference and experience. 8 bearings are necessary for a skateboard.
- Wheels:
You have to purchase 4 skateboard wheels. In terms of the wheel, you may see various options having different hardness and size. Choose the products based on your liking.
- Grip Tape:
Grip tapes are widely available for the skateboard. To assemble the board, you require one strip of tape. As they come with numerous designs, select your favorite one.
- Riser Pad:
Usually, a riser pad is composed of plastic. People insert these pads between the deck and truck to increase the setup’s overall height. 2 riser pads are enough for one skateboard.
- Hardware:
You must get a package of hardware that contains 8 screws and bolts.
STEP 1:Using the Grip Tape
- Like a sticker, detach the plastic sheet of the tape. After detachment, please keep it in a safe place as you will be using it later.
- Put the tape on top of the deck. If it is not even, the board won’t look decent. Try to place it evenly to cover all the areas.
- Take the plastic sheet back in your hands—Rub down the newly applied grip tape so that it attaches correctly. Don’t forget to press the corners.
- Even after pressing for a while, sometimes there are still one or two bubbles. Use a needle for popping and then rubbing those. It won’t be visible anymore.
STEP 2: Removing Unneeded Tapes
- A grip tape can never be a flawless fit to a deck. There is likely an excess part remaining. It is necessary to remove that.
- Draw a line around the edges with the metal file. Now take a razor blade and cut the areas following the line.
- Additionally, you may smooth out the edge too. For the smoothing procedure, utilize the metal file again.
STEP 3: Poking out Holes of the Bolt
- The bolt holes require poking. It is not difficult at all. Firstly, find the eight holes.
- Secondly, a screwdriver is necessary. You should already have it at home. Use the screwdriver to poke holes correctly.
STEP 4: Placing the Riser
- The skateboard riser needs an appropriate alignment. Locate the holes on the board. You have to set the riser in place according to these holes.
- Make sure the alignment is up to the mark. Otherwise, the riser pad will not be effective. The pad operates to lessen a notable amount of wheel bite. It is also responsible for absorbing the shock of impacts.
STEP 5: Setting up the truck
- You have to go through the task of installing the truck carefully. Since trucks are vital parts of a skateboard, an unnoticed mistake can lead to accidents while riding.
- Begin the installation procedure by putting the trucks over the holes. The biggest bolt of the trucks must face inwards. Now push the other small bolts with your hands through the holes.
- Next up, place the nuts on to the existing bolts. Screw them using your hands as much as you can. Now it is time to provide an adequate tightness to the bolts. Bring a Phillips head screwdriver to do it. If you do not have the screwdriver, you may use a socket or wrench to tighten those bolts.
STEP 6: Adding the Bearings
- The bearings are a must for the wheels. One wheel accommodates two bearings because of its structure—position two bearings on each side of every wheel.
- Placing the bearings is not sufficient as they can fall off the skateboard wheel. You have to press these items. Use your fingers to push these components inside.
- You need to ensure that the bearings are entirely inside the wheels. Doing it wrongly may result in unexpected occurrences during a ride. Hence, add the wheels in trucks and press once again. Bearings should be well secured inside each of the wheels.
STEP 7: Installing Wheels
- Each truck has an axle. On each axle, you have to put the washer. Once you added it, now should be the right time to place the wheels.
- Add wheels to both of the trucks. Tighten the axle nuts using your hands.
- Now take a compatible socket or wrench. Fasten those bolts. It would be best if you made sure the axle bolts are tightened adequately. However, overly tightening is not advisable. It results in a poor spin of the wheels.
STEP 8: Tightening the Trucks
- Tightening the trucks refers to the tightness of the kingpin bolt. It is essential to tighten the kingpin properly. It is because it has a direct connection to the riding experience.
- For instance, if you tighten the kingpin bolt, you will get decent stability even at high speed. On the other hand, loosening the bolt will make the skateboard greatly maneuverable at a low-speed rate.
- You can use a proper size wrench to adjust. However, a skate T-Tool will make the job easier than other tools.
Final Words
Putting all the components together to make a skateboard is a long procedure and requires patience. Nonetheless, it is not the most challenging task. You have to think about one step at a time to assemble the skateboard without any issues.
As a precautionary measure, ensure the trucks are joined to the deck securely. Stand on your long-awaited skateboard to test if the wheels are spinning freely. If you feel everything seems alright, you are ready for your first ride.