Customizing a skateboard has become a fad these days. This process may include the addition of parts and the replacement of wheels and other skateboard elements. Apart from enhancing its looks, customization also improves the speed and durability of the board. In addition, it also provides the signature appearance of the one who owns it.
Suppose you’re planning to customize your skateboard for the first time. In that case, you may consider researching how to build a rockstar, customized board. This won’t just help create an artsy-fartsy board, but will also maximize your efforts and expenses. For that purpose, here’s an article to guide you. So, read on!
- Choose A Deck And Wheels
Typically, all terrain wheels for your board are grouped into hard and soft ones. The hard types are ideal for smooth surfaces, such as skate parks. On the other hand, the soft ones are best for street skating areas, such as rinks and manual pads.
In contrast, the deck will be the central part of your customized skateboard. It’s the canvas for your stickers, tape, and skateboard designs. In choosing a skateboard deck, you need to consider its size first. In most cases, people pick decks according to their foot size. As a rule of thumb, a deck width of 7 to 8 inches is ideal for men’s foot size range of 6.5 to 9.
Apart from this, the skateboard should be durable enough with sliding pipes and rails. Durable skateboards are also excellent for land switches and street skating. In addition, the deck should also be pop-friendly or be able to support tricks that require popping or the propelling of the board upwards by hitting the skateboard’s tail. This will make skateboarding comfortable in skating and in left or right leg landing.
- Apply The Grip Tape
The grip tape improves the friction of the skateboard, ensuring safe skateboarding. Because of this, it should be attached correctly. In many cases, it can be applied aesthetically by carving shapes out of it. If your custom deck has no grip tape, you can directly use a spare one. If it has one, you may need to peel off the tape or sand the edges of what’s left of it.
- Pop The Holes
Locate the holes for truck bolts and pierce through the grip tape using an Allen key or a screwdriver. You should do this carefully to prevent scratches and damage to the deck and grip tape. You may mark the hole spaces first before popping the holes.
- Insert The Truck Bolts
Insert the bolts through the grip tape and deck. Attach the colored ones near the deck’s nose if you have directional bolts. Remember to keep the kingpin and the bushings facing inwards and to one another. You can attach the bolts momentarily to hold the trucks until you fasten them tightly enough.
Use an adjustable wrench to lock the bolts. You may start with the upper-left bolt and continue with the others in a clockwise direction until all bolts are tightened. This will help in keeping the baseplate evenly pressed and held.
- Place The Bearings Into The Wheels
Inserting the bearings into the wheel sockets can be challenging, and you may need a special tool called a bearing press to place the bearings properly if you’re doing it for the first time. On the other hand, you can easily insert the bearings correctly if you’ve already used to it.
If you’re doing it for the first time, be careful in inserting the bearings and avoid damaging the threads. You should ensure that the locks fit perfectly to prevent wobbly wheels. This minimizes the risks, such as slipping and tweaking.
If your bearings have spacers, you must place them before slipping the wheels. You may buy an optional type or stick to a no-spacer assembly if there are no spacers. Remember that most skateboard wheels have a pair of bearings. With the bearings in place, you prepare for the insertion of the wheel.
- Attach The Wheels And Washers
To lock the wheel, you need to slide the washer first. Then, you can follow the wheels with bearings and another washer. Lastly, you must place the lock nut to ensure the wheel is tightly inserted. However, avoid locking the nut too tightly, as doing so may prevent the wheel from properly rolling.
After attaching the first wheel, you can start with the other three. You may try to ride it in a short space and check if it’s safe and ready for skating. You can adjust the locking if the wheels feel too rigid or too soft.
Wrapping Up
Building a custom skateboard can be challenging, especially if you’re a beginner. Fortunately, you can use some tried and tested tips and tricks to ensure that you’ve set up your board for the best flips and ollies. Reading this article can guide you in the process and ensure you’re up to a top-notch skating experience of your life.