How to Build Your Own Skateboard
There are two options from which a person could choose to have his or her own skateboard. The first is to go to shop and choose from the widely varied pre-assembled skateboards.
The other is to customize and build the skateboard on one’s own. If you are interest in this second option, let this article guide you on the step-by-step process of how to build your own skateboard.
To properly assemble a skateboard, one must know the key details about the materials and how these materials play as factors of skateboard performance. The first thing that one needs to consider is the deck.
The deck is the board or the platform and it is the part where one puts his or her feet on the skateboard. The appropriate deck size depends on the user’s height.
Size appropriations are as follows: Deck width of 56.5-6.75” and with length of 27.2” to 27.6 suit users below 4ft. tall; deck width 7.0” with length 28” suit users under 4ft and 4 inches height; deck width 7.3” and length 29” suit users around 5ft and 2 inches tall; deck width 7.5” above are for users more or equal to 5ft and 3inches tall. If the person has bigger feet, then he or she should opt for wider decks.
The second thing to consider when you build your own skateboard is the trucks. These are where the skate board wheels are supposed to be connected.
The simple rule in choosing a truck is that low truck gives more stability when doing tricks and are more apt for smaller wheels while high trucks height are for speed and larger wheels.
The third thing is the wheels: small wheels are for grip and stability although they tend to give slower speed while bigger wheels are faster and great for cruising.
Another rule of thumb in choosing the wheels is this: softer wheels are suitable for doing tricks and flips as they provide more stability and grip while giving the user more control while harder wheels are great for increased speed.
The bearings are the thing used to connect the wheels to the truck. The existing ABEC rating for bearings do not really apply for skateboards as it only measures durability, not mobility.
A bearing that has the highest rating may be tolerant of wear and tear but can be immobile. Choose the bearing that would not easily break when you use them- the usual recommendation is the ones rated 4 in the ABEC index as it has a sufficient level of both durability and mobility.
Now you are prepared to put the grip tape on the board, it is similar to a sand paper that functions to give a better grip of your shoes unto the board.
You may want to design your tape and put on some graphics for a more unique character statement. An optional material is the riser which you should have if you opt for larger wheels.
Risers are a must-have to execute hard turns safely. These also prevent breaking of the board as they act as cushion against stress coming from the truck. If you are using wheels as small as 52mm, then you may leave risers out.
The screws and bolts are used secure everything together. These come either as plain or colored. These are all the essential stuffs that you need to build your own skateboard and all of them are available in stores and even online shops.
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