Read our guide to skateboard parts buying.
Whether you’re an experienced skater or just stepping on the skateboard for the first time, our Skateboard Parts Buying Tips is here to help you understand what each part of a skateboard does and how it contributes to your overall skateboarding experience.
By knowing what makes up your skateboard, you can make informed choices when buying new parts or even building your own skateboard custom setup. We invite you to join us on this journey to becoming a skateboard parts expert – let’s learn and grow together!
Key Takeaways
Here, in this guide, are the basic things you need to know about the skateboard:
- Deck: The flat surface of the skateboard, usually constructed from several layers of plywood.
- Trucks: The metal components that attach the wheels to the deck.
- Wheels: Made of polyurethane, come in various sizes and durometers, and determine the speed and grip of the skateboard.
- Bearings: The small metal pieces inside the wheels that allow them to spin.
- Grip Tape: The adhesive-backed sandpaper that covers the top of the deck, providing grip and traction for the skater.
Consider Your Skateboarding Style
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of skateboard parts, you’re ready to make informed decisions when buying your skateboard deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip tape. Keep in mind the parts that will suit your riding style the best.
Different Options
There are many different types of skateboards, such as shortboards, longboards, and cruisers, each tailored for a particular purpose. The trucks are the metal pieces that attach to the board and come in different sizes and shapes, such as low, mid, and high. Wheels come in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials, such as polyurethane, clay, and plastic, each providing different levels of grip and speed. Bearings are the small round metal objects that attach to the wheels, and grip tape is the adhesive material that coats the board. When shopping for a skateboard, consider the size, as it’s a crucial factor in finding the best fit, and be sure to consult a helpful guide for making the right choice at the skate shop.
Understand Your Board
Knowing your ride is essential in choosing the right parts for your skateboard. With the right information, you can make an informed decision when it comes to buying skateboard parts. Here at FamilyHype, we understand the importance of finding the parts that fit your style of riding. That’s why we encourage you to stay safe and have fun while shredding the streets!
Skateboard Parts
Before you hit the pavement, you need to understand the different parts of a skateboard and how they contribute to your ride’s overall performance. Effective skateboard maintenance and successful skateboard customization depend on a good understanding of key parts such as skateboard wheels, skateboard decks, deck trucks, skateboard hardware, riser pads, and selecting the best skateboard that suits your needs, considering factors like wheel size, deck size, and where to find them at your local skate shop.
Explore the diverse parts of a skateboard, including the deck, trucks, wheels, hardware, and grip tape, each with unique attributes.
Skateboard Deck
Peering down at the deck, it’s not just a piece of wood with wheels attached; it’s the soul of your skateboard where balance and control converge.
Deck designs and materials can widely vary:
Deck Designs:
- Traditional: Offers stability for tricks.
- Cruiser: Great for commuting or downhill rides.
- Drop-Through: Offers a lower center of gravity for greater stability.
- Longboard: Offers a bigger platform for more stability, especially with specialized longboard trucks.
Deck Materials:
- Maple Wood: Durable and flexible.
- Bamboo: Lightweight and eco-friendly.
- Composite: Lightweight and durable.
- Lightweight and strong, ensuring less weight.
Now let’s shift gears to comprehend how the trucks influence your ride. Skateboarding involves the use of trucks to turn, pivot, and slide the skateboard, making them an important part of the skateboard setup.
Skateboards Trucks Importance
Feel the thrill as you carve your path with precision, all thanks to the magic of low trucks. Truck durability matters greatly in serving our skateboarding community, and high-quality truck materials such as aluminum, steel, and magnesium provide high trucks stability and control, impacting every turn and trick. With these materials, skateboarders can benefit from durability, stability, and control.
Understanding the importance of trucks empowers us to better help others in their skateboard selection journey. Let’s now roll into exploring how choosing the right wheels can further enhance your ride experience.
Skateboard Parts Guide
Choosing The Right Wheels
Choosing the right wheels is an important part of any skateboarding adventure. Just as you’d select the perfect pair of shoes for a long run, it’s crucial to handpick wheels that’ll make your skateboarding journey smooth and effortless. It is also important to have a small skate tool for sudden breakdowns
Guide: Factors To Consider When Buying
- Wheel Hardness – The hardness of the wheels affects your ride. Soft wheels provide more grip while hard ones are best for sliding, offering more speed.
- Wheel Design – Custom designs add personality to your ride, featuring designs made from different materials.
- Wheel Size – Larger wheels provide more stability, and the wheel diameter plays a crucial role.
Understanding the dynamics of skateboard wheels is essential and will help you make the right decision. After gaining an understanding of wheels, the next step is to familiarize yourself with bearings.
Getting To Know Skate Bearings
Now, let’s delve a bit deeper into the world of ball bearings, shall we? These tiny marvels work behind the scenes to keep your wheels spinning smoothly and seamlessly.
Bearing maintenance is crucial for any skateboarder, and knowing about bearing varieties aids in picking what suits you best. At FamilyHype, we understand the importance of a reliable bearing system and the impact it can have on your skateboarding experience, which is why we want to provide you with the knowledge necessary to make sure you have the best ride possible.
When looking for bearings, you should consider the type of skateboard you have, as well as the size of your wheel. There are different kinds of bearings available, such as ABEC, ceramic, and shielded bearings, from other brands that all provide different amounts of speed and durability. You should also consider the materials used for the bearings, as they affect the performance of your skateboard.
The Impact Of Skateboard Grip Tape
Believe it or not, grip tape can dramatically alter the way you skateboard and significantly improve your performance on the skateboard. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional skateboarder, it’s essential to understand the role of grip tape and how to properly maintain it.
Here at FamilyHype, our goal is to help parents and their kids learn about the importance of proper skateboard maintenance. So, we wanted to share our knowledge on grip tape maintenance. This includes ensuring its cleanliness, checking for wear and tear, and helping someone discover their Tape Texture Preferences. These preferences can range from fine to coarse, or regular to heavy-duty.
Conclusion
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of skateboard parts, you’re ready to make informed decisions when buying your skateboard deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip tape. Keep in mind the parts that will suit your riding style the best.
The skateboard truck is the metal piece that attaches to the skateboard decks and comes in various sizes and shapes, making it crucial for vert skating.
Wheels come in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials, each providing different levels of skateboard wheel grip and longboard wheel speed.
Bearings are the small round metal objects that attach to the wheels, and grip tape is the adhesive material that coats the skateboard.
All of these parts must be considered when buying a skateboard.
Knowing your ride is essential in choosing the right parts for your skateboard. With the right information, you can make an informed decision when it comes to buying skateboard parts.
FAQs
How Do I Know What Size Hardware I Need For My Skateboard?
To determine the right size hardware for your skateboard, consider the deck width and personal preference. If you have a complete skateboard, the hardware is usually included and designed to fit the deck properly.
How Can You Tell If A Skateboard Is A Good Quality?
A good quality skateboard can be identified through several key factors, such as the use of quality parts like ceramic bearings. Check if it has high-quality parts like ceramic bearings and Bones Reds bearings, ensuring smooth and efficient rides with excellent ball precision.
How Do I Choose The Right Skateboard Parts?
To choose the right skateboard parts including the best wheels, consider your style of skateboarding and the terrain you’ll be riding on for a smooth ride. For street skateboarding and technical tricks, smaller wheels with a higher wheel durometer are ideal for better control and slide. Alternatively, if you prefer a smoother ride or plan to skate on rough surfaces, opt for softer wheels with a lower durometer to absorb impact and enhance comfort. Whether you’re building a custom skateboard or buying a complete skateboard, ensure the components, such as trucks and wheels, align with your preferences and style for an optimal skateboarding experience.
Do 55mm Wheels Need Risers?
Whether 55mm wheels need risers depends on the skateboard setup and personal preference, especially if you have skateboard risers. If your skateboard trucks are high and you experience wheel bite, riser pads can help increase the distance between the wheels and the deck, reducing the chances of wheel bite.
Is There A Big Difference Between 8.0 And 8.25 Skateboard?
The difference between an 8.0 and an 8.25 skateboard lies in the wider deck width. The 8.25 skateboard will be slightly wider, offering a larger platform for your feet, which can provide more stability and control for certain styles of skating.
How Do I Choose Skateboard Bolts?
When buying trucks and skateboard bolts consider your style of skateboarding. For technical skateboarding and street skating, where technical tricks are common, shorter bolts are often preferred to prevent interference with the skateboard’s performance.
What Is The Difference Between Allen And Phillips Hardware?
The main difference between Allen and Phillips hardware lies in the type of screw head. Allen hardware uses hexagonal sockets and requires an Allen wrench for tightening, while Phillips hardware has cross-shaped slots and requires a Phillips screwdriver.
How Do I Choose A Skateboard For Beginners?
For beginners, choose a fully assembled skateboard from a skateboard parts buying guide. Opt for the right deck width and wheelbase for stability. Add riser pads to prevent wheel bite and enhance clearance during turns and tricks.
How Many Ply Should A Skateboard Be?
What Does 99A Mean On Skateboard Wheels?
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