Picking a pre-assembled skateboard is a great option for novice skaters, but most experienced skateboarders want to set up their own custom boards in order to be able to enjoy this fun pastime fully. If you’re one of them but haven’t built a skateboard before, you’ll be glad you started reading this article for it will help you make all the right choices and thus assemble the ideal ride for you. All right, let’s begin.
First of all, you need to choose the skateboard deck that suits your skating style, height, shoe size, and personal preferences. The size of the skate deck shouldn’t be taken lightly for if you pick a board that’s too wide for you, you’ll be forced to apply excessive power which can make performing tricks rather tricky (no pun intended). If, on the other hand, your skateboard deck is too narrow for you, you won’t be able to balance easily.
Experts say full size decks (7.5” wide or wider) are meant for all skaters over the age of 13. If you intend to surf the streets and perform complicated tricks, then you definitely need a board that’s from 7.5” to 8” wide. Keep this in mind when you search for skate decks online or look for these skateboard parts in physical stores.
The skateboard trucks are another immensely important piece of the skateboard puzzle. They are the metal parts that keep the skateboard wheels and bearings securely attached to the deck. The skate trucks you pick will affect your stability and determine what kind of tricks you can perform on your board. When it comes to choosing the right skateboard truck size, you should know that in most cases the truck axle is approximately as wide as the deck. This is so because this setup provides stability.
The skate wheels are the skateboard parts that allow and determine how fast you can move. If you plan to use your board for trick riding in skate parks, you should look for smaller, slower wheels (skateboard wheel diameter: from 50 to 53 mm). Larger wheels (skate wheel diameter: 60+ mm) are ideal for longboarders for they offer both speed and balance.
As you may already know, the skate bearings are the round metal parts that fit inside the wheels to mount them to the axle. They can be steel or ceramic. Ceramic bearings are really smooth, produce very little friction, and don’t require much maintenance, which is why they are becoming more and more popular.
The skateboard trucks are connected to the skate deck with the help of skateboard or mounting hardware. The hardware size depends on what type of board you use. If you have a standard skateboard, the best hardware length for you is 1”, whereas 1 1/8” is good for longboards.
Skateboard grip tape is applied to the skate deck surface in order to provide grip. When it comes to choosing skateboard grip tape, most skaters rely on brand preferences as there are no scales to measure the quality of grip tape. Applying grip tape is usually the last step when building a complete skateboard.
So, whether you choose to look for grip tape, skateboard hardware, skate bearings, skate wheels, skate trucks, and skate decks online or in physical shops, don’t forget the aforementioned rules.
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