Shredding Time: A College Student's Guide on Building and Assembling a Custom Skateboard
Time is something we don't easily have control over. We always have tasks, assignments, or meetings that require us to turn in or be present at specific period of the day or location. This can't be more true when it comes to being a student, or in my case, a college student. I have had my experiences where I had to be at a certain lecture or lab at a certain time. I also had other classes to get to where time was really limited or it was located on another side of campus, and this really didn't sit well with me. However, I had a solution that allowed me to shred the time it took me to arrive to my classes or finish assignments and it proved to be effective. My solution to my problem was a skateboard.
A skateboard was the perfect means of transportation that allowed me to get around in and out of campus, and even allowed me to spare some time to finish assignments and relax. I believe that a skateboard can also help out other college students and even those who outside of school when it comes to time related issues and as a good alternative to getting around to a certain destination. However, not all types of skateboards are meant for everyone and it varies depending on your choosing. In this guide, I will be explaining the types of skateboards to choose from, the parts that make the skateboard, and how to assemble your own.
Types of Skateboards
Skateboards come in a variety of shapes, graphics and sizes. Each type of skateboard serves a different type of purpose and can be appealing to different groups of people.
Popsicle
A Popsicle-style skateboard is one of the most common types of skateboard that you will come across. The main purpose of this type is for street skating, which involve flat ground and stairs/railing tricks. They can also be used for transition skating, which involves in air tricks around a bowl shaped/ramp structure, and cruising around. It's shape and concave allow it to pop up and down in order to perform such tricks.
Shaped
A Shaped-style skateboard may sound obvious to many as it may just be another term for the other styles but that is not the case. This type of skateboard includes some of the most unique shapes ever created. It has been used by many freestyle skaters such as Rodney Mullin, the innovator of many skate tricks such as the kickflip, and even street or transition skateboard. Although its purpose is still the same as the Popsicle-style, Shaped-style is still unique for its odd and funky style of what a skateboard could look like.
Cruiser
A Cruiser-style board is another board type whose main function is to get around a lot smoother and faster than the other types. The concave presented in the wheel base portion of the board allow bigger and softer wheels to roll without causing too much friction and less collision with debris to occur. This shape may be smaller in length compared to others but is wider for a more comfortable experience.
Long-board
A Long-board is another style that also serves the same purpose as the cruiser board. Besides the same purpose and difference in shapes, a long-board is also used for riding down hills as another form of skating. The free space that is given for the wheels allows for no collision with the board and debris, thus allowing it to be more stable for skaters who enjoy riding down hills.
Now that I have gone over the types of skateboards, I will now guide you in picking the right pieces and components needed for your custom skateboard.
Choosing the Right Pieces
For this guide, I will be helping you choosing the right pieces needed for building your skateboard. Because the Popsicle-style skateboard is the most common, I believe it will be easier to
Board Size
Board size is an important component when it comes to assembling your own skateboard. The size of the board allows you to determine the size of trucks and wheels needed. A smaller board allows you a better chance at doing tricks but also reduces your stability. A bigger board decreases your chance at doing tricks but offers a more stable and comfortable ride. The concave of the board may also vary by distributor and may affect your choice in size. A solution to this would be that if you visit a skate shop to buy a board, there is a chance that you can ask the employee there if you may step on the board to see how it feels. This may not work everywhere but there may be a chance if you ask.
Trucks
Trucks are a very important component for a skateboard as it serves as a base for the wheels to be placed and connect the other pieces that are needed. Each skate board needs a pair of trucks. There are various styles and sizes of trucks based on the distributor and producer. Some trucks may vary in weight and material while other trucks vary in size and style. The problem with different distributors and producers is that some trucks are listed with different measurements, making it harder to determine what size is needed. Instead of writing down every size there is, I will provide a chart that includes some of the more prominent truck brands to give you an idea on what trucks you need.
Wheels
Wheels, of course, allow the board to move in the direction you are going. Each skateboard needs at a set of four wheels. There are many types of wheels which come in size in diameter, color and the hardness of the wheel based on the Durometer scale.
The size of wheels also determine the speed and acceleration while moving. The bigger the wheel is, it will have more speed but less acceleration. The smaller the wheel is, the acceleration will increase but the overall speed will be less.
Bearings
The purpose of bearings is to set a stable connection between the wheels and trucks. Bearings are retainers that are equipped with small balls, which allows it to move, and is covered by a shield to cover the other components from debris. The inner and outer races of the bearings provide a track for the balls to roll around, thus allowing the wheel to roll as well. You will need a set of eight as a set of four wheels require two bearings each. There is a rating system known as the ABEC system which determines what kind of movement to expect from the bearing. The higher the rating, the more speed you are to expect from the bearing. Bearings are made by many types of distributors and by different materials such as steel, ceramic, and titanium.
Hardware
The hardware is crucial when it comes to attaching the trucks with the board and the trucks with the wheels. Each board needs at least eight pairs of nuts and bolts to attack the trucks while the trucks comes with two nuts on each of its side for the wheels and one in the middle for adjusting the truck's flexibility. The most common bolt sizes tend to be around seven-eighths of an inch to two inches. The most common types of hardware happens to be Phillip bolts and Allen bolts.
Grip Tape
Grip tape is another essential for a skateboard as it allows you to have a more stable experience while riding. There various types of designs of grip tape such as square sets and sheets with graphics. Grip tape is essential but it does not require much thinking when it comes to material. It is better to purchase a full sheet because this reduces the chances of awkward alignment when applying the grip tape.
Additional Material
Other materials that may be used when building your skateboard includes risers, railings, spacers, etc. Although they each serve a small purpose, they are not as crucial as the other components when it comes to building your skateboard.
Now that I gave you some insight of what you should look into when picking out the right pieces, we can now move on to assembling a skateboard. The steps I will present is based off my experience when it comes to setting up a board.
How to Set up Your Skateboard
You will need the following tools in order to set up your skateboard:
- Wrench for the appropriate size of the trucks and hardware
- Screwdriver that corresponds with the hardware type(allen head, phillips head, etc.)
- A File (If you don't have a file, a tough flat edge can serve as an alternative)
- A box cutter (Any sharp tool can be used but is not recommended. Plastic blades are sold in skate shops as another alternative)
You can purchase a skate tool that can replace the need of the first three objects. It is highly recommended to do so if you are missing the first three tools.
Applying the Grip Tape
Align and Press
Remove the plastic wrapping over the board. After that, remove the cover on the opposite side of the grip tape. Every grip tape has a cover to protect the adhesive side before use. During the process, make sure to pinch the first end of the uncovered tape and continue the removal process. Once you are done, pinch the other end and bring it over to the top of the board. Align the ends of the grip tape to the ends of the board(nose and tail) and put it down gently. After the ends of the tape are aligned, you may now apply pressure with your hands along the whole tape so it sticks on to the board. You may encounter some minor air sockets but you can pop them with a sharp edge in order to remove it.
Removing the Edges
Once the grip tape is applied, the excessive tape must now be removed. Use the file(or and alternative if needed) and run the tool across the edges of the board which is covered. This will create an outline on the grip tape in order to show you where you need to cut. Make sure the outline is clear before cutting. Once the outline is formed, bring your box cutter(or sharp alternative) and make a cut in the middle of the side of the outline. Once this cut is formed, follow the outline and cut through it. Make sure the blade is facing out and not towards you. Continue cutting till you reach one end of the board and cut off the leftover tape. Turn the board around and repeat the previous steps you did on the previous side to the next one. Once you reach the other end, cut the excessive tape. After this, you can move on to the nose and tail portions of the covered board. Make a cut into the middle of the outline and begin cutting the excessive tape. When cutting around the edges, make sure to do so as slow as possible in order to follow the round outline. Once the excessive tape is removed, you can use the leftover scraps or the file and run it down the edges of the covered board. This process will make sure that the tape won't peel off too much overtime.
Applying the Hardware
Now that the tape has covered the top of the board, use the bolts(eight bolts in total; four bolts per side) and push them into the uncovered holes of the board(eight holes in total; four holes on each side). This will create holes into the grip tape. Take out the set of bolts and place them into the eight holes in the grip tape and apply pressure. This will get rid of the leftover pieces of the hole. Leave the bolts in the board for the next step.
Applying the Trucks
To apply the trucks onto the board, align the holes (four holes per each base plate) of the truck's base plate with the bolts. Make sure the king pin portion of the both trucks face each other when aligning them. Once the base plates are aligned with bolts, use the nuts(8 pieces) and hand tighten them onto the bolts. Once you tighten it enough by hand, use the screw driver and wrench to continue. Make sure to apply pressure with the screw driver on the head of the bolt in order to keep it straight. Tighten the nut on to the bolt with the screwdriver until it is completely secure. Once the first pair is done, tighten the pair that is facing the loose pair of your secure one. This will allow you to have more stability when it comes to tightening the remain pairs on the first side. Once the first set is complete. Repeat the same step follow for the next batch. Once the trucks are aligned and secure on the board, remove the nuts on the sides of the trucks for the next step.
Applying the Wheels and Bearings on to the Trucks
Remove the wheels from its packaging and open the box of bearings. Place two bearings on to any side of the two trucks where its hardware was removed(2 sides per truck; 4 sides in total; 8 bearings in total). Once the bearings are in place, grab one of the wheels and place it over the pair of bearings. Once its on top of the bearing, use your hands and apply pressure on to the wheel. This will force the bearing into the wheel, thus reducing the huge gap in the wheel. You then turn over the wheel to its other side and do the same thing to the remaining bearing. Once both bearings are inserted to the wheel, use one of the removed hardware and tighten it on to the truck. Tighten it with your hand first then move on to a wrench. It must be tight enough for the wheel to be in place and loose enough so the wheel can rotate. Once the first wheel is done, repeat the same steps for the remaining wheels and bearings. Once each wheel is secure and in place on the truck, your skateboard is now complete.
Further Customization
You can further customize your board such as applying stickers, drawing a design on the grip tape, etc. As skateboarding is known for creativity and having fun, you should enjoy yourself when it comes to your own custom skateboard.
Now that you have completed your building and assembling your very own custom skateboard, this will truly help you get around campus and other locations you head off to. I saw a skateboard help me so much when it came to managing my time around school and other activities. I know that if this was able to help me, it might just be able to have the same effect on other people. You'll truly see time being shredded as you enjoy your ride on your very own custom skateboard.
Caution/Warnings:
- Make sure to wear proper safety gear when riding a skateboard. You may fall a couple of times and the impacts may vary if not prepared.
- Make sure to ride around areas where there is minor debris or where you might feel safe. Over time, you may grow accustom to certain parts of the area but it is always good to know your limits.
- Make sure to be aware of those far and close to you when riding a skateboard to avoid any collision or accidents.
- Not all campuses may be keen with skateboards so make sure to follow your campus guidelines before riding yours.
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